Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) GENERAL DISCUSSION (Read 510271 times)

MP99 · « **Reply #680 on:** 05/25/2012 01:39 pm »

Question re Dragon fitting into the outline on the monitors.

Watched yesteday while the cameras were being aligned. Can anyone confirm whether this is to line up the Dragon outline on-screen with the SC's expected position?

Given that Dragon has been a little off-centre, is it possible that the camera alignment is a little off, or is this definitely Dragon slightly away from it's ideal position?

cheers, Martin

corrodedNut · « **Reply #681 on:** 05/25/2012 01:43 pm »

Quote from: corrodedNut on 05/18/2012 05:19 pm

Quote from: Comga on 05/18/2012 05:16 pm
Gwen Shotwell just mentioned Dragon's strobe lights.
Where on the capsule or trunk are these lights?
Have they been included in published illustrations?

Trunk

Now we know, neither one of those colored lights are the strobe light. It's located lower left in the photo, obscured by that person.

Svetoslav · « **Reply #682 on:** 05/25/2012 02:03 pm »

I did not understand - will the robotic operation be broadcasted on NASA TV?

cro-magnon gramps · « **Reply #683 on:** 05/25/2012 02:04 pm »

Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 05/25/2012 02:00 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2Tz1Ph0e_4&feature=youtu.be

Awesome Capture of Dragon tail Ron,
Thank you for the great coverage;
it has been the greatest!!!

Gramps

asmi · « **Reply #684 on:** 05/25/2012 02:05 pm »

Quote from: manboy on 05/25/2012 02:00 pm

Dragon isn't docking, its berthing. The Common Berthing Mechanism (what's on Dragon) dos not support dockings.

I know. I wonder why haven't they come up with some sort of automated docking mechanism, and installed it on ISS, so all future vehicles would be able to use it, and not require manual operation, so still leaving human error as a factor. I know Russians have been using auto-docking for ages, and all docking-related accidents have happened when using manual approach...
IMHO it just sounds wrong to use manual docking in 21st century...

Jason1701 · « **Reply #685 on:** 05/25/2012 02:06 pm »

Quote from: asmi on 05/25/2012 02:05 pm

Quote from: manboy on 05/25/2012 02:00 pm
Dragon isn't docking, its berthing. The Common Berthing Mechanism (what's on Dragon) dos not support dockings.
I know. I wonder why haven't they come up with some sort of automated docking mechanism, and installed it on ISS, so all future vehicles would be able to use it, and not require manual operation, so still leaving human error as a factor. I know Russians have been using auto-docking for ages, and all docking-related accidents have happened when using manual approach...
IMHO it just sounds wrong to use manual docking in 21st century...

Does anyone know - is the robotic arm operation actually manual, or does SSRMS follow preprogrammed commands?

Norm38 · « **Reply #686 on:** 05/25/2012 02:12 pm »

Is there anything at all in the trunk? Once berthing is done, are any exercizes planned with the arm, to verify how well they can go in and grab things?

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #687 on:** 05/25/2012 02:14 pm »

Quote from: Norm38 on 05/25/2012 02:12 pm

Is there anything at all in the trunk? Once berthing is done, are any exercizes planned with the arm, to verify how well they can go in and grab things?

I saw a picture with the SSRMS poised over the back of the trunk but that may not have been a mission-specific illustration, just a way of saying "this is how we will do that".

robertross · « **Reply #688 on:** 05/25/2012 02:16 pm »

Quote from: Jason1701 on 05/25/2012 02:06 pm

Quote from: asmi on 05/25/2012 02:05 pm
Quote from: manboy on 05/25/2012 02:00 pm
Dragon isn't docking, its berthing. The Common Berthing Mechanism (what's on Dragon) dos not support dockings.
I know. I wonder why haven't they come up with some sort of automated docking mechanism, and installed it on ISS, so all future vehicles would be able to use it, and not require manual operation, so still leaving human error as a factor. I know Russians have been using auto-docking for ages, and all docking-related accidents have happened when using manual approach...
IMHO it just sounds wrong to use manual docking in 21st century...

Does anyone know - is the robotic arm operation actually manual, or does SSRMS follow preprogrammed commands?

It can do it both ways. In complex tasks back in the shuttle days (like with EVAs), they pre-set the path on the RWS and the arm followed the prescribed path (sometimes do to operating envelope constraints). It could also accept the manual input of the operator. I'm not sure if Dragon is being commanded manually or semi-automatically though.

sojourner · « **Reply #689 on:** 05/25/2012 02:17 pm »

Pretty sure they plan to at least use the arm to visually inspect the trunk.

PahTo · « **Reply #690 on:** 05/25/2012 02:24 pm »

Good deal on the grapple. Thought I'd note we had a four+ minute pass this morning at 04:12 local (11:12 GMT) and I could not make out the Dragon. I imagine it was just a bit too close to ISS (and of course basically directly nadir of ISS).
On to berthing!

sojourner · « **Reply #691 on:** 05/25/2012 02:29 pm »

How would ISS handle debris in the CBM of Dragon? do they have a fine manipulator they can go in with to attempt removal?

A_M_Swallow · « **Reply #692 on:** 05/25/2012 02:34 pm »

Does Dragon need lights to make grappling easier?

sanman · « **Reply #693 on:** 05/25/2012 02:44 pm »

Whenever Dragon capsules leave the ISS, why throw away the trunk? Couldn't trunks be successively stacked somehow, to make use of their solar arrays for station power? Otherwise, it seems a shame to throw away useful hardware.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #694 on:** 05/25/2012 02:46 pm »

Quote from: sanman on 05/25/2012 02:44 pm

Couldn't trunks be successively stacked somehow, to make use of their solar arrays for station power?

No. Nowhere to attach it; Dragon needs it until after de-orbit.

Idiomatic · « **Reply #695 on:** 05/25/2012 02:49 pm »

Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 05/25/2012 02:46 pm

Quote from: sanman on 05/25/2012 02:44 pm
Couldn't trunks be successively stacked somehow, to make use of their solar arrays for station power?

No. Nowhere to attach it; Dragon needs it until after de-orbit.

Still interesting though. If they put a mechanism to attach it they could have a dozen more solar panels

Not that I think they need the power.

sanman · « **Reply #696 on:** 05/25/2012 02:53 pm »

Maybe Bigelow could somehow find a way to make use of Dragon-trunks.

Say, how would Dragon dock with a Bigelow hab anyway, if there's no robotic arm? Would it all have to be done with LIDAR?

A_M_Swallow · « **Reply #697 on:** 05/25/2012 02:55 pm »

Quote from: Idiomatic on 05/25/2012 02:49 pm

Still interesting though. If they put a mechanism to attach it they could have a dozen more solar panels Not that I think they need the power.

The ISS may not need the solar panels but a Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) tug needs its solar arrays lifting to orbit. The mass saved can be used for structure and propellant.

sojourner · « **Reply #698 on:** 05/25/2012 02:56 pm »

Dragon to Bigelow would require a replacing the CBM on dragon with a docking port.

Edit to Add: as is often stated on this site, Spaceships are not Lego. You can't just unplug a piece and build something new with it.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #699 on:** 05/25/2012 02:57 pm »

Quote from: sanman on 05/25/2012 02:53 pm

Maybe Bigelow could somehow find a way to make use of Dragon-trunks.

Say, how would Dragon dock with a Bigelow hab anyway, if there's no robotic arm? Would it all have to be done with LIDAR?

They'd probably use the LIDS docking system instead and write some auto-rendezvous software similar to that used on ATV. Although there's no reason why a Bigelow couldn't have a robot arm mounted on a node to make use of CBM's bigger hatch diameter.