Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) GENERAL DISCUSSION (Read 510323 times)

WulfTheSaxon · « **Reply #500 on:** 05/22/2012 04:21 am »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 05/22/2012 03:49 am

Quote from: AirmanPika on 05/22/2012 01:36 am
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

Quote from: Spaceflight Now

Question: Can you describe what modifications you're making to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral?

Musk: The extension to the existing hangar is for payload processing and it's also for Falcon 9 version 1.1, which is longer. It's about 50 percent longer than version 1. We need a little bit of extra length and some extra facilities for the satellites that are coming.

Q&A with SpaceX founder and chief designer Elon Musk: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/120518musk/

docmordrid · « **Reply #501 on:** 05/22/2012 05:04 am »

Cleaned up & cropped

AirmanPika · « **Reply #502 on:** 05/22/2012 05:40 am »

Since you guys were interested in the addition here's another image from a different angle on the causeway. Shows a bit more of the structure. I won't shrink the image down but it will be blurry. Viewing isn't the best and my camera was acting up too.

sanman · « **Reply #503 on:** 05/22/2012 05:50 am »

Regarding the 1-second launch window, suppose hypothetically that 1 or 2 of the merlin engines fail during flight, with the others picking up the slack as per the design. Would they still be able to make their orbital rendezvous with the station within the constraints of the time window and perform their planned test maneuvers for proving purposes? Or would there be some adverse impact due to the tighter margins of this particular flight?

Lars_J · « **Reply #504 on:** 05/22/2012 05:55 am »

AirmanPika,
Nice pic - It looks like a more significant payload processing area extension than I thought.

The added height - perhaps they want to be able to do vertical payload processing, at least for the payload and fairing?

manboy · « **Reply #505 on:** 05/22/2012 06:01 am »

Here's one from flickr taken on the 18th.

Lars_J · « **Reply #506 on:** 05/22/2012 07:38 am »

The 720p SpaceX stream looks great for the pad shots - although the rocketcam does not appear to be HD.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #507 on:** 05/22/2012 08:04 am »

I'm not holding high hopes for this, but I would like to see if someone got the details of the phasing burns the Dragon will do during the 3 days to ISS, like the number of burns and burn time, dV, burn duration etc.

Lars_J · « **Reply #508 on:** 05/22/2012 08:08 am »

The SpaceX stream really was flawless for this launch. Great 720p quality, no lagging. (the only quality issues seemed to be the downlink issues)

Chris-A · « **Reply #509 on:** 05/22/2012 08:10 am »

I'm kinda disappointed the streaming sources didn't hold up for the live thread. I'll continue to download the 720 feed and post screen caps in a new thread or post.

Mader Levap · « **Reply #510 on:** 05/22/2012 08:11 am »

So... now that blind squirrel nabbed nut third time, what now? Do we wait to Friday?

Jason1701 · « **Reply #511 on:** 05/22/2012 08:13 am »

Quote from: Mader Levap on 05/22/2012 08:11 am

So... now that blind squirrel nabbed nut third time, what now? Do we wait to Friday?

We watch the post-launch presser in an hour, for starters.

Lars_J · « **Reply #512 on:** 05/22/2012 08:14 am »

Quote from: Chris-A on 05/22/2012 08:10 am

I'm kinda disappointed the streaming sources didn't hold up for the live thread. I'll continue to download the 720 feed and post screen caps in a new thread or post.

I had no problem with the SpaceX life feed. It was buttery smooth.

Lars_J · « **Reply #513 on:** 05/22/2012 08:15 am »

Quote from: Mader Levap on 05/22/2012 08:11 am

So... now that blind squirrel nabbed nut third time, what now? Do we wait to Friday?

Heh, yeah - Looks like the blind squirrels pullud off another launch.

Jason1701 · « **Reply #514 on:** 05/22/2012 08:15 am »

Launch is Breaking News on LA Times and is on the front of NY Times' website.

sdsds · « **Reply #515 on:** 05/22/2012 08:18 am »

Quote from: iamlucky13 on 05/22/2012 08:06 am

Quote from: Nick L. on 05/22/2012 07:55 am
Falcon and Dragon in orbit. Orbit 346x297km.

Press kit says target is 310 x 340. I assume this is well within their tolerance.

310 x 340 implies an orbital period of 5,461 sec.
297 x 346 implies an orbital period of 5,457 sec.

5457 / 5461 = 0.9992; good enough for government work.

jongoff · « **Reply #516 on:** 05/22/2012 08:19 am »

Quote from: Jason1701 on 05/22/2012 08:13 am

Quote from: Mader Levap on 05/22/2012 08:11 am
So... now that blind squirrel nabbed nut third time, what now? Do we wait to Friday?

We watch the post-launch presser in an hour, for starters.

No, I think most of us go vainly try to get back to sleep to salvage our productivity tomorrow (and watch the presser bleary eyed in the morning). Oh, and most of us will be walking around with a stupid grin on our faces for at least a couple of days. :-)

~Jon

Swatch · « **Reply #517 on:** 05/22/2012 08:21 am »

Quote from: jongoff on 05/22/2012 08:19 am

Oh, and most of us will be walking around with a stupid grin on our faces for at least a couple of days. :-)

I might just have a stupid grin on my face for a couple weeks.

corrodedNut · « **Reply #518 on:** 05/22/2012 08:44 am »

I heard on the replay that MECO 1 was engines 1 and 9, the corners. Is this a change from previous flights? I thought its was either 6&4, or 8&2.

ugordan · « **Reply #519 on:** 05/22/2012 08:52 am »

No, same engines.