SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) GENERAL DISCUSSION

[Zed_Noir]

Apologies if this has been covered already.  I haven't yet worked my way through all of the SpaceX threads (uncharacteristcally I know).  Actually just watched the launch for the first time just now.  Believe be when I say I'm swamped!

My very technical question:

At 49-54 seconds, what is the flame from the upper stuff...

I think that's water being vaporized lit by the exhaust. IIRC the condensation from LOX tank area melts and moves to the base of the LV during flight. You can also see water dripping down after the 2nd stage was ignited later.

[ugordan]

At 49-54 seconds, what is the flame from the upper stuff...

I think it's air rushing down by the LOX tank that still has enough time to cool down for water vapor to form.

This brings me to something I've been wanting to ask: why haven't we seen launch replays from this tracker or, for that matter, why have all the other shots in launch replays been cut off before MECO?

[Rik ISS-fan]

I don't know if this has been posted jet, but when you look at SLC40 (Falcon 9 launch site at KSC). You see a falcon 9 (cargo version) on the launch mount. And when you look it up in Google Earth you get the image i've added.

 

[Jason1701]

We discussed that about a year ago. Some people thought it wasn't a coincidence that they got a picture of F9 on the pad venting.

[manboy]

So when should we expect Dragon to arrive at McGregor?

[saturnapollo]

And when you look it up in Google Earth you get the image i've added.

Well you can see it's been faked, or at the very least drawn over.The towers and the launch vehicle isn't of the same quality as the landscape.

Keith

[Jason1701]

So when should we expect Dragon to arrive at McGregor?

It probably did 2-3 days after returning to land.

[Crispy]

And when you look it up in Google Earth you get the image i've added.

Well you can see it's been faked, or at the very least drawn over.The towers and the launch vehicle isn't of the same quality as the landscape.

Keith

Probably just because they added a more recent photo of the pad itself on top of older surrounding imagery.

[Robotbeat]

And when you look it up in Google Earth you get the image i've added.

Well you can see it's been faked, or at the very least drawn over.The towers and the launch vehicle isn't of the same quality as the landscape.

Keith

That's because you're looking at a 3d rendering of the launch pad and Falcon 9, not just a satellite image. If you turn off 3d buildings in Google Earth, it will disappear.

EDIT:I mean, it's a conspiracy!

[starsilk]

Haigh-Farr provided antennas for the COTS-2+ Dragon, and Falcon.

http://spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=37613

Since 2007, Haigh-Farr has proudly worked with SpaceX in developing antenna systems that are used to provide flight safety, telemetry, tracking, GPS and video on Falcon9, as well as command control, telemetry, GPS and other communication functions on Dragon. On both previous launches, and during this most recent launch and docking, Haigh-Farr antennas successfully provided dramatic live video feeds as well as telemetry and other communication links. As a testament to the quality of the SpaceX technical team, continuous contact with Dragon was maintained with the NASA TDRSS network of communication satellites used to transmit and receive data.

[starsilk]

seems everyone wants a press release to capture some of the glory:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/alion-protective-coating-used-in-first-spacex-flight-to-international-space-station-2012-06-29

Alion applied a conductive thermal control coating to the "Dragon Trunk," the cargo portion of the Dragon spacecraft. Since shipping aerospace hardware to a stationary coatings facility can often be difficult, costly and time-consuming, Alion engineers developed a portable coatings application system that can be easily transported. Using this new system, Alion's experts sprayed protective coatings onsite at SpaceX facilities.

[starsilk]

another one.. presumably NDAs are expiring.

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/SpaceX_Dragon_Utilizes_Cooper_Interconnect_Non_Explosive_Actuators_999.html

Cooper Interconnect has announced that Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) utilized Cooper Interconnect non-explosive actuators on the Dragon Spacecraft to support the mission to become the first commercial vehicle in history to attach to the International Space Station.

The non-explosive actuators were installed on the Dragon capsule to facilitate a broad range of mission-critical functionality including nose-cone deployment needed to expose the docking adapter, release of the trunk before re-entry into the atmosphere, opening of the main-parachute door before splashdown and for the contingency flight release of the grapple fixture that was not required in this mission.

[Robotbeat]

another one.. presumably NDAs are expiring.

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/SpaceX_Dragon_Utilizes_Cooper_Interconnect_Non_Explosive_Actuators_999.html

Cooper Interconnect has announced that Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) utilized Cooper Interconnect non-explosive actuators on the Dragon Spacecraft to support the mission to become the first commercial vehicle in history to attach to the International Space Station.

The non-explosive actuators were installed on the Dragon capsule to facilitate a broad range of mission-critical functionality including nose-cone deployment needed to expose the docking adapter, release of the trunk before re-entry into the atmosphere, opening of the main-parachute door before splashdown and for the contingency flight release of the grapple fixture that was not required in this mission.

I know this might seem like a dumb question, but are those single-use actuators, or are they able to be actuated several times (perhaps with the need for reset in between)?

[dragon44]

I know this might seem like a dumb question, but are those single-use actuators, or are they able to be actuated several times (perhaps with the need for reset in between)?

I read through the Cooper website and the devices are listed as "refurbishable for field testing". When you read how they work it looks like they could be refurbished for another mission, but not used twice in one mission (in other words the GNC door on the side of Dragon must have used a different sysetm).

Basically there is a plunger with a compressed spring trying to move it. It can't move because it is blocked by a two(or more?) piece 'spool'. The spool is held together by wrapping it with wire. The wire doesn't unravel because a smaller wire is holding it together. When you pass a current though the smaller wire it heats up and breaks. At that point the force of the spring is enough to overcome the holding power of the spool which unravels and splits apart letting the plunger move. Depending on which side of the plunger you are connected to it will either be a 'puller' or a 'pusher'.

[Robotbeat]

I know this might seem like a dumb question, but are those single-use actuators, or are they able to be actuated several times (perhaps with the need for reset in between)?

I read through the Cooper website and the devices are listed as "refurbishable for field testing". When you read how they work it looks like they could be refurbished for another mission, but not used twice in one mission (in other words the GNC door on the side of Dragon must have used a different sysetm).

Basically there is a plunger with a compressed spring trying to move it. It can't move because it is blocked by a two(or more?) piece 'spool'. The spool is held together by wrapping it with wire. The wire doesn't unravel because a smaller wire is holding it together. When you pass a current though the smaller wire it heats up and breaks. At that point the force of the spring is enough to overcome the holding power of the spool which unravels and splits apart letting the plunger move. Depending on which side of the plunger you are connected to it will either be a 'puller' or a 'pusher'.

Ah, I see. Makes sense. I was wondering because SpaceX seems to have an affinity for mechanisms that can be used again and again, partially because they're a little obsessed with reusability but also because it allows them to ground test the crap out of everything. This sounds roughly halfway between a totally reusable mechanism and a totally expendable one. You can ground-test it, but it takes effort to reset it, and parts of it are expended. As long as they're reliable.

[FinalFrontier]

Know this is a bit OT but I am looking forward to whenever the first cargo mission for F9 will be (IE non dragon customer).

Really want to see what the full up cargo F9 will look like when the time comes, and I am anxious for them to start flying customers besides NASA again.

[Jason1701]

Know this is a bit OT but I am looking forward to whenever the first cargo mission for F9 will be (IE non dragon customer).

Really want to see what the full up cargo F9 will look like when the time comes, and I am anxious for them to start flying customers besides NASA again.

You probably won't have to wait too long. Now that M1D has been fired at full duration, they are likely acceptance-testing the rest of Flight 6's engines. Then integrating them into the first stretched core!

[ugordan]

Ralf Vandebergh has imaged the rocket 2nd stage in orbit before it decayed last month:
http://www.startje.be//vieuw.php?qid=390273

[Silmfeanor]

Ralf Vandebergh has imaged the rocket 2nd stage in orbit before it decayed last month:
http://www.startje.be//vieuw.php?qid=390273

Those are some very impressive images!

[Robotbeat]

Ralf Vandebergh has imaged the rocket 2nd stage in orbit before it decayed last month:
http://www.startje.be//vieuw.php?qid=390273

Those are some very impressive images!

Indeed!