SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES

[ugordan]

Geez, take the code discussion over to this topic, that's what it's for...

[ugordan]

Via @ReigelLaw, was this linked to yet?

This notice concerns two petitions for waiver submitted to the
FAA by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX): a petition to
waive the restriction that the risk to the public from the launch of an
expendable launch vehicle not exceed an expected average number of
0.00003 casualties (Ec <=30 x 10^-6) from debris;
and a petition to waive the restriction that the combined risk to the
public from the launch and reentry of a reentry vehicle not exceed an
expected average number of 0.00003 casualties (Ec <=30 x
10^-6). The FAA grants both petitions.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-24/html/2012-9737.htm

[Chris Bergin]

May 7 NET confirmed.

SpaceX PAO:

Update on SpaceX COTS 2 Launch

NASA and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station have approved SpaceX’s request to set May 7th as the target launch date for the upcoming COTS 2 mission. 

We will send out updated information on launch activities in the coming days.

[IRobot]

I've had code reviews done by costumers. If your integration level is high, it is perfectly normal.

[ugordan]

May 7 NET confirmed.

Also, James Dean of Florida Today reports the static firing is now scheduled for April 30.

[mr. mark]

Great news about the new NET May 7th launch date. Let's hope it holds this time. Just under 2 weeks away!

[ugordan]

Let's hope it holds this time. Just under 2 weeks away!

I've heard this one before somewhere.

[psloss]

PAO has updated the NASA.gov portal:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html

TV schedule is updated:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/cots_tv_schedule.html

[tigerade]

Great news about the new NET May 7th launch date. Let's hope it holds this time. Just under 2 weeks away!

I wouldn't get too attached to any date until all the software testing is complete. 

[Mark Max Q]

Actually getting excited with this. L2's coverage is awesome and the news articles are making me feel a bit "shuttley" again as other non shuttle missions are mainly launch and docking articles only.

[psloss]

PAO has updated the NASA.gov portal:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html

TV schedule is updated:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/cots_tv_schedule.html

Fly-under day back to FD3, May 9th; TV schedule reflects that:

May 6, Sunday

    1 p.m. – SpaceX/Falcon 9 Dragon Pre-Launch Briefing – KSC (All Channels)


May 7, Monday

    8 a.m. – SpaceX/Falcon 9 Dragon Launch Coverage Begins (Launch scheduled at 9:38 a.m. EDT) – KSC (All Channels)
    11 a.m. – SpaceX/Falcon 9 Dragon Post-Launch News Conference – KSC (All Channels)


May 8, Tuesday

    11 a.m. – ISS Update – JSC (All Channels)


May 9, Wednesday

    2:30 a.m. – SpaceX/Dragon Fly-Under of the ISS Coverage – JSC (All Channels)
    10 a.m. – SpaceX/Dragon Mission Status Briefing – JSC (All Channels)
    11 a.m. – ISS Update – JSC (All Channels)


May 10, Thursday

    2 a.m. – SpaceX/Dragon Grapple and Berthing Coverage – JSC (All Channels)
    1 p.m. – SpaceX/Dragon Mission Status Briefing – JSC (All Channels)


May 11, Friday

    7:30 a.m. – SpaceX/Dragon Hatch Opening Coverage – JSC (All Channels)
    TBD a.m. – ISS Expedition 31 In-Flight Event – JSC (All Channels)
    TBD – ISS Update – JSC (All Channels)

[Lurker Steve]

Great news about the new NET May 7th launch date. Let's hope it holds this time. Just under 2 weeks away!

Remember the No-Earlier-Then part. They are still working the software.

[mr. mark]

"Filling of the Dragon capsule's hypergolic propellant tanks was supposed to be completed Tuesday, according to Kirstin Brost Grantham, a SpaceX spokesperson.

The spacecraft was scheduled to be rotated from a vertical position to a horizontal orientation Thursday and attached to the upper stage of the Falcon 9 launcher inside SpaceX's hangar.

The aerodynamic nose cone is set to be integrated to the forward end of the Dragon capsule Friday.

A brief firing of the Falcon rocket's nine Merlin first stage engines is scheduled for April 30. SpaceX conducts a hotfire test of the Falcon 9's engines before each launch to check their health.

A technical review meeting is planned for Friday, and a SpaceX launch readiness review is set for May 5, according to an official familiar with the Dragon mission".

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/120424date/

[kch]

Great news about the new NET May 7th launch date. Let's hope it holds this time. Just under 2 weeks away!

Remember the No-Earlier-Then part. They are still working the software.

Exactly -- the No-Earlier-Than part is the one a lot of posters ignore or just get screwed up on (seen it happen *way* too often).  I'm confident they won't launch before May 7th! 

[FinalFrontier]

Actually getting excited with this. L2's coverage is awesome and the news articles are making me feel a bit "shuttley" again as other non shuttle missions are mainly launch and docking articles only.

I would have to agree here. This reminds me alot of the shuttle program, and I guess that is a good thing.

Makes me feel like we are finally getting back to work in space. I know its still along way from commercial crew but every step helps.

[yg1968]

Great news about the new NET May 7th launch date. Let's hope it holds this time. Just under 2 weeks away!

Remember the No-Earlier-Then part. They are still working the software.

Exactly -- the No-Earlier-Than part is the one a lot of posters ignore or just get screwed up on (seen it happen *way* too often).  I'm confident they won't launch before May 7th! 

True but Musk also said that they could probably launch on the 3rd of May but are being conservative by asking for the 7th.

[mr. mark]

"Filling of the Dragon capsule's hypergolic propellant tanks was supposed to be completed Tuesday, according to Kirstin Brost Grantham, a SpaceX spokesperson.

The spacecraft was scheduled to be rotated from a vertical position to a horizontal orientation Thursday and attached to the upper stage of the Falcon 9 launcher inside SpaceX's hangar.

The aerodynamic nose cone is set to be integrated to the forward end of the Dragon capsule Friday.

A brief firing of the Falcon rocket's nine Merlin first stage engines is scheduled for April 30. SpaceX conducts a hotfire test of the Falcon 9's engines before each launch to check their health.

A technical review meeting is planned for Friday, and a SpaceX launch readiness review is set for May 5, according to an official familiar with the Dragon mission".

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/120424date/

If they stick to the plan above, we still won't know anything until after the reviews which are a few days before launch.

[rsnellenberger]

Is it necessary to have the Dragon sitting on the booster during the hotfire test?  Seems like it would be safer and easier to leave it in the clean room for the test, then bolt it on when you bring the booster back into the hanger for final checks.

[ugordan]

What's the point of the hotfire test *without* the spacecraft on top? The stages themselves have been shaken up several times already in McGregor.

[Robotbeat]

What's the point of the hotfire test *without* the spacecraft on top? The stages themselves have been shaken up several times already in McGregor.

Not integrated on top of each other, though.