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

[raketen]

It was the LOX fill and drain valve.  And they did have a tight launch window.  They had two 1 second launch windows, about 40 minutes apart. 

I thought for ISS inclinations there was only one launch window, not two?

[ugordan]

The flight he's talking about wasn't to the ISS. Mars Exploration Rover launch on a Delta II.

[Art LeBrun]

What engine chilldown?

[raketen]

The flight he's talking about wasn't to the ISS. Mars Exploration Rover launch on a Delta II.

OK - got it.

[Jason1701]

What engine chilldown?

Merlin engines are cryo-chilled soon before T-0.

[Art LeBrun]

What engine chilldown?

Merlin engines are cryo-chilled soon before T-0.

Thanks. Off to study Merlin.

[Citabria]

Just wondering: has Elon been waiting in the Dragon since the scrub or did he sneak out for a break?

Just wondering.

[Jason1701]

Just wondering: has Elon been waiting in the Dragon since the scrub or did he sneak out for a break?

Just wondering.

He left in disguise to go to a Roger Waters concert.

[dcporter]

Just wondering: has Elon been waiting in the Dragon since the scrub or did he sneak out for a break?

Just wondering.

He left in disguise to go to a Roger Waters concert.

Further discussion of the unexplained extra 80-kg payload should be moved to the party thread.

[Norm Hartnett]

It appears that the NASA Media channel is carrying COTS C2 info. At this time they are playing more tapes but they just had a live update.

http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7332&Itemid=55

[FinalFrontier]

Count is underway folks. T-7 Hours give or take.

Lets see how it goes this time around.

[AirmanPika]

So I did the Cape Canaveral Then and Now tour finally today (been to the Cape 3 times and never did it the previous times). While driving over NASA causeway I was able to get a decent shot of Falcon 9 on the pad.

I was hoping they might get us a closer view since we were on that side of the cape but I guess that was just wishful thinking. Did get a good view of a Delta V Heavy in the service structure though from LC-34.

[Idiomatic]

Found a wired article on the scrub. It has a good explanation as to the check valve in question (no new information but a decent read).

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/spacex-nitrogen-purge-valve-abort/

[FinalFrontier]

Just wondering: has Elon been waiting in the Dragon since the scrub or did he sneak out for a break?

Just wondering.

He left in disguise to go to a Roger Waters concert.

Remember the crane on the pad earlier?

There ya go 

[MP99]

What engine chilldown?

Merlin engines are cryo-chilled soon before T-0.

Thanks. Off to study Merlin.

The SpaceX feed showed this heavily, NASA TV not so much. Started at T-10:00, IIRC.

I'd guess any engine with cryo oxygen needs to be chilled before startup?

cheers, Martin

[MP99]

Trivia alert.

Muse, those of the famous backing track for "that" SpaceX video were in UK news yesterday, as they carried the Olympic torch for 300 metres as part of it's relay around Britain.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18133072

cheers, Martin

[edkyle99]

So I did the Cape Canaveral Then and Now tour finally today (been to the Cape 3 times and never did it the previous times). While driving over NASA causeway I was able to get a decent shot of Falcon 9 on the pad.

I was hoping they might get us a closer view since we were on that side of the cape but I guess that was just wishful thinking. Did get a good view of a Delta V Heavy in the service structure though from LC-34.

Is that an addition to the SLC 40 hanger under way?

 - Ed Kyle

[AS-503]

With only one cheese wheel on board since the last scrub, Elon must have gotten hungry.

[GBpatsfan]

So I did the Cape Canaveral Then and Now tour finally today (been to the Cape 3 times and never did it the previous times). While driving over NASA causeway I was able to get a decent shot of Falcon 9 on the pad.

I was hoping they might get us a closer view since we were on that side of the cape but I guess that was just wishful thinking. Did get a good view of a Delta V Heavy in the service structure though from LC-34.

Is that an addition to the SLC 40 hanger under way?

 - Ed Kyle

Definitely looks like thats whats going on, like Elon said they would.  Based off its height I would assume it is a new payload processing building so they would have more room in the main hangar for the Falcon 9 v1.1 and Falcon Heavy.

[oiorionsbelt]

So I did the Cape Canaveral Then and Now tour finally today (been to the Cape 3 times and never did it the previous times). While driving over NASA causeway I was able to get a decent shot of Falcon 9 on the pad.

I was hoping they might get us a closer view since we were on that side of the cape but I guess that was just wishful thinking. Did get a good view of a Delta V Heavy in the service structure though from LC-34.

Is that an addition to the SLC 40 hanger under way?

 - Ed Kyle

Definitely looks like thats whats going on, like Elon said they would.  Based off its height I would assume it is a new payload processing building so they would have more room in the main hangar for the Falcon 9 v1.1 and Falcon Heavy.

Yes, thank you Airman, I was searching the net for a picture like this, this morning