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

[Chris Bergin]

Correct. Just like Shuttle, you have a NET date, then the Agency FRR to set the date.

[manboy]

Has anyone realized that Dragon's 19 days at the ISS will be longer then that of any other American spacecraft (I believe the current record is 12 days). And the mission following that will be another record breaking flight (30 days berthed to ISS).

And slightly off-topic, the initial Commercial Crew flights will beat the record "for the longest spaceflight of any American manned spacecraft" which is currently held by the 1973 Skylab 4 mission (84 days).

[Comga]

Has anyone realized that Dragon's 19 days at the ISS will be longer then that of any other American spacecraft (I believe the current record is 12 days). And the mission following that will be another record breaking flight (30 days berthed to ISS).

And slightly off-topic, the initial Commercial Crew flights will beat the record "for the longest spaceflight of any American manned spacecraft" which is currently held by the 1973 Skylab 4 mission (84 days).

Isn't this "grasping as straws" and "apples to oranges"?

The Dragon will be berthed, not "flying", getting attitude control "for free".

Why isn't a stint on the ISS "spaceflight of any American manned spacecraft" and how does the mode of transport affect that?  Does it matter that the Russian segment is providing attitude control?

Are you a baseball fan? :-)

[manboy]

Has anyone realized that Dragon's 19 days at the ISS will be longer then that of any other American spacecraft (I believe the current record is 12 days). And the mission following that will be another record breaking flight (30 days berthed to ISS).

And slightly off-topic, the initial Commercial Crew flights will beat the record "for the longest spaceflight of any American manned spacecraft" which is currently held by the 1973 Skylab 4 mission (84 days).

Isn't this "grasping as straws" and "apples to oranges"?

The Dragon will be berthed, not "flying", getting attitude control "for free".

Why isn't a stint on the ISS "spaceflight of any American manned spacecraft" and how does the mode of transport affect that?  Does it matter that the Russian segment is providing attitude control?

Are you a baseball fan? :-)

I have no clue what you're trying to say.

[Antares]

From the updates thread:

noticed yesterday, in the COTS Status Report for Feb 23:

Demo C2+ Key Mission Objectives
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/627984main_4-Status%20of%20COTS_508.pdf

So is that the "brain-in-a-tub" at the bottom of page 5?

have no idea... 
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28586.msg885026#msg885026
but now i'm curiouser! brb

If you zoom way in on that picture on slide 5, there's an Iron Maiden poster on the left, behind the Honeywell box/poster.  Both Iron Maiden and DragonForce are heavy metal bands.  Coincidence?

[JimOman]

Has anyone realized that Dragon's 19 days at the ISS will be longer then that of any other American spacecraft (I believe the current record is 12 days). And the mission following that will be another record breaking flight (30 days berthed to ISS).

And slightly off-topic, the initial Commercial Crew flights will beat the record "for the longest spaceflight of any American manned spacecraft" which is currently held by the 1973 Skylab 4 mission (84 days).

Isn't this "grasping as straws" and "apples to oranges"?

The Dragon will be berthed, not "flying", getting attitude control "for free".

Why isn't a stint on the ISS "spaceflight of any American manned spacecraft" and how does the mode of transport affect that?  Does it matter that the Russian segment is providing attitude control?

Are you a baseball fan? :-)

He is comparing Dx to Shuttle in terms of duration of mission and time docked/berthed to station.

The Shuttle also was "docked, not flying" and "got it's attitude control 'for free" as you put it. That is directly comparable and irrelevant.

The point is Dragon will set some new US records. That's a good thing no matter who you cheer for.

Jim

[northanger]

If you zoom way in on that picture on slide 5, there's an Iron Maiden poster on the left, behind the Honeywell box/poster.  Both Iron Maiden and DragonForce are heavy metal bands.  Coincidence?

Heavy Metal is a step beyond science fiction.

[QuantumG]

If you zoom way in on that picture on slide 5, there's an Iron Maiden poster on the left, behind the Honeywell box/poster.  Both Iron Maiden and DragonForce are heavy metal bands.  Coincidence?

I'll start worrying when I see a Steel Panther poster.

[Moe Grills]

 I have yet to see an ground-to-orbit manifest from SpaceX for the Dragon spacecraft COTS(C2).
I wonder if any of you have?

 And furthermore, SpaceX isn't even saying if the Dragon will be hauling
anything back to Earth from the ISS, either in the role  of a glorified orbital "garbage scow", or as an recyclable-collection orbital 'truck' (bringing back ISS hardware for repair, reconditioning and reuse.)   

[Robotbeat]

...
 And furthermore, SpaceX isn't even saying if the Dragon will be hauling
anything back to Earth from the ISS, either in the role  of a glorified orbital "garbage scow", or as an recyclable-collection orbital 'truck' (bringing back ISS hardware for repair, reconditioning and reuse.)   

Actually, they have. Up to 660kg of downmass.

[QuantumG]

am I the only one impressed that NanoRacks have managed to get upmass onto the C2+ flight?

[manboy]

I have yet to see an ground-to-orbit manifest from SpaceX for the Dragon spacecraft COTS(C2).
I wonder if any of you have?

 And furthermore, SpaceX isn't even saying if the Dragon will be hauling
anything back to Earth from the ISS, either in the role  of a glorified orbital "garbage scow", or as an recyclable-collection orbital 'truck' (bringing back ISS hardware for repair, reconditioning and reuse.)   

There's info in it in the FRR and some info was released in some earlier interviews.

They're launching 521 kg of low value cargo like food and clothes. They're not launching any unpressurized cargo but Canadarm2 will inspect the interior of the trunk (I think this what they said but I would have to rewatch the video).

They're returning up to 660 kg of cargo but that number isn't finalized yet. They plan to return some replaceable ORUs because returning them in Dragon would allow them to  potential refurbish them instead of having to procure new ones. The ORUs are a pump, a couple of multifiltration beds that were in the water processor, and a JAXA supply power box used for the JAXA communications system. I'm unsure of what else they are returning.

[dunderwood]

Iron Maiden is probably a reference to something like this.
http://www.airbus.com/innovation/proven-concepts/in-design/iron-bird/

[Moe Grills]

I have yet to see an ground-to-orbit manifest from SpaceX for the Dragon spacecraft COTS(C2).
I wonder if any of you have?

 And furthermore, SpaceX isn't even saying if the Dragon will be hauling
anything back to Earth from the ISS, either in the role  of a glorified orbital "garbage scow", or as an recyclable-collection orbital 'truck' (bringing back ISS hardware for repair, reconditioning and reuse.)   

There's info in it in the FRR and some info was released in some earlier interviews.

They're launching 521 kg of low value cargo like food and clothes. They're not launching any unpressurized cargo but Canadarm2 will inspect the interior of the trunk (I think this what they said but I would have to rewatch the video).

They're returning up to 660 kg of cargo but that number isn't finalized yet. They plan to return some replaceable ORUs because returning them in Dragon would allow them to  potential refurbish them instead of having to procure new ones. The ORUs are a pump, a couple of multifiltration beds that were in the water processor, and a JAXA supply power box used for the JAXA communications system. I'm unsure of what else they are returning.

    Thanks for the info.
ORU's and a supply power box for the 4R's (returning, refurbishing, recycling, reusing) .

[tigerade]

I see the date for Atlas V launch moved up.

May 3 - AEHF-2 - Atlas V 531 - Canaveral SLC-41 - 18:46-20:46

Does this mean that if the April 30th launch date is scrubbed, Dragon will need to wait until May 6th or later?

[mr. mark]

I still see may 5 as the Atlas launch date..... April 27th moved up? Very confused.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

I still see may 5 as the Atlas launch date.....

It's from here: http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php

5/3/2012, 1846-2046Z

Maybe the two teams have agreed that if C2+ was launched on April 30, then AEHF can take the May 3 slot, but if there's a delay/scrub C2+ can take May 3 and AEHF will take the May 5 slot?

[mr. mark]

What you just said is the best outcome. It looks like April 30th is still the COTS2+ launch date.

[kevin-rf]

Two very important, and spectacular rocket launches in the same week. Can we all be so lucky (Of course my bias is AEHF-2 is very important, but I will take that to the Atlas threads).

[northanger]

Iron Maiden is probably a reference to something like this.
http://www.airbus.com/innovation/proven-concepts/in-design/iron-bird/

Extremely helpful, thanks!

SAIL = Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory = OV-095 = iron bird.

more...HITL = Dragon Force

SpaceX's Hardware in the loop simulator