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

[Ben the Space Brit]

The ISS is now sending commands to the Dragon.  How much control do the astronauts have over the spacecraft using the CUCU?

[Jorge]

The ISS is now sending commands to the Dragon.  How much control do the astronauts have over the spacecraft using the CUCU?

The crew can send the following commands using the CCP through the CUCU:

Free drift arm/exec
Depart arm/exec
Hold arm/exec
Resume arm/exec
Retreat arm/exec
Abort arm/exec
FRGF SEP arm/exec
Strobe on/off
Disarm all

[MP99]

The ISS is now sending commands to the Dragon.  How much control do the astronauts have over the spacecraft using the CUCU?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28920.msg903572#msg903572

cheers, Martin

[beancounter]

The ISS is now sending commands to the Dragon.  How much control do the astronauts have over the spacecraft using the CUCU?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28920.msg903572#msg903572

cheers, Martin

Looks like it's all gone well for today.  Onya SpaceX.

[ChefPat]

this might help people to understand what the narrator on the NTV feed is saying about the various burns;

Is there a Legend for the Acronyms?

[corrodedNut]

The crew can send the following commands using the CCP through the CUCU:

FRGF SEP arm/exec

I hope they have a nice big cover over that one!

[peter-b]

The crew can send the following commands using the CCP through the CUCU:

FRGF SEP arm/exec

I hope they have a nice big cover over that one!

AFAICT all the buttons have covers (in the photos of the panel as unpacked after launch, you can see that the covers are taped down with kapton tape). IIRC the FRGF Sep buttons are the ones surrounded by red/white striped "warning" boxes.

[robertross]

The ISS is now sending commands to the Dragon.  How much control do the astronauts have over the spacecraft using the CUCU?

The crew can send the following commands using the CCP through the CUCU:

Free drift arm/exec
Depart arm/exec
Hold arm/exec
Resume arm/exec
Retreat arm/exec
Abort arm/exec
FRGF SEP arm/exec
Strobe on/off
Disarm all

Thanks for helping out with all these answers Jorge! Appreciate the info.

[Lars_J]

The crew can send the following commands using the CCP through the CUCU:

...
FRGF SEP arm/exec
...

Can someone explain what FRGF SEP is?

[Silmfeanor]

The crew can send the following commands using the CCP through the CUCU:

...
FRGF SEP arm/exec
...

Can someone explain what FRGF SEP is?

The Grapple Fixture is fixed to with frangible nuts - nuts that you can blow up. In case the arm cannot release the dragon and you want to let it go anyway, you basically blow up the bolts holding the Grapple Fixture connected to the dragon. -
The grapple fixture stays connected to the CanadArm, but the dragon is free.

AFAIK there has to be an "OK" signal for this from both MCC and the CUCU console - the astronauts can't accidentaly press this button.

[apace]

The Grapple Fixture is fixed to with frangible nuts - nuts that you can blow up. In case the arm cannot release the dragon and you want to let it go anyway, you basically blow up the bolts holding the Grapple Fixture connected to the dragon. -
The grapple fixture stays connected to the CanadArm, but the dragon is free.

AFAIK there has to be an "OK" signal for this from both MCC and the CUCU console - the astronauts can't accidentaly press this button.

And perhaps you need after such a procedure some EVA to clear the CanadArms front.

[Lobo]

one small detail, I think SpaceX will need to ask for NASAs and the ISS Partners permission to experiment with a new landing system, as it is there down mass that will go "SPLAAAAAAT" if there is any problems

That may be true, but what will be downmassed that will be of significant value?  Mostly it's just garbage and small failed components (like old laptops, etc) and such, isn't it?  Lots of things they mainly just don't want to have to jettison into orbit, or would rather not just burn up in a progress or ATV if they can avoid it?

I might be wrong, and please correct me if I am, but I am not sure Dragon would be downmassing anything of much cost significance.  And even if there are a few things that NASA or an international partner would like in tact, if it did got "SPLAAAT", SpaceX would probably rather just compensate them a few hundrew thousand dollars for it or whatever it cost, rather than expend the tens of millions of dollars needed for a dedicated F9/Dragon test flight.   Anything less money than that, and SpaceX would be money ahead to pick up the cost of whatever is in the smoking crater in the desert.  :-)

I imagine there will first be a series of test drops form a helecopter or the back of an airplane or something.  Then once they can get DRagon to land where and how they want it, they'll send up a couple of COTS missions with the full propulsive dragon, and try and land them in "real world" tests.  If there is something of particular value that NASA or someone wants safely downmassed, they'd just do a standard water recover for that.  But otherwise, they can do a series of COTS capsule propulsive landing recovery tests.  Once there's a large enough track record of success with it, then they can start trying it with crews.    Note that crews may already be flying on Dragon for some time prior to full certification of the propulsive landing method, (assuming SpaceX gets the crew contract too, as well as the COTS contract).  And just doing water landings. There would be no rush to try propulsive landings with crews.

[starsilk]

one small detail, I think SpaceX will need to ask for NASAs and the ISS Partners permission to experiment with a new landing system, as it is there down mass that will go "SPLAAAAAAT" if there is any problems

That may be true, but what will be downmassed that will be of significant value?  Mostly it's just garbage and small failed components (like old laptops, etc) and such, isn't it?  Lots of things they mainly just don't want to have to jettison into orbit, or would rather not just burn up in a progress or ATV if they can avoid it?

I would bet NASA are going to try hard NOT to put garbage in Dragon. they have all sorts of alternative vehicles that can take care of that.

Experiment returns, failed or retired equipment for analysis are more likely for Dragon, since it's the only way they can downmass. presumably NASA will also be providing downmass (via Dragon) for Russia and Japan, too.

[peter-b]

Maybe take this discussion over to the general thread, since it's not really related C2+ any more? 

[mgfitter]

Moved this from the other thread...

Does anyone know what the seating arrangement is at MMC-X in Hawthorne?

Most of the 24 (?) seats seem filled, but other than a couple of the folk up front who we've seen in interviews its difficult to tell what the others are in charge of.

-MG.

[mgfitter]

And why are there no computers in view in MMC-X? There are monitors, keyboards and mice -- but no computer boxen. Clearly they're doing something interesting, but I can't figure out what.

-MG.

[JBF]

What is a bravo block?

[mrhuggy]

And why are there no computers in view in MMC-X? There are monitors, keyboards and mice -- but no computer boxen. Clearly they're doing something interesting, but I can't figure out what.

-MG.

They are properly using thin clients of some kind with the computers/servers been else where in the building.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Man! Those thrusters are sure getting a workout!!

Question: Is there a minimum 'safety' limit of remaining Draco propellent that, if reached, would rule out berthing?

[manboy]

I bet they're getting some pretty amazing pictures of Dragon while its in the r-bar.