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

[psloss]

NASA video about Dragon berthing for this flight.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?collection_id=80591&media_id=142266251#

Thanks for pointer.  Didn't see this in today's ISS Update, but also posted on the ReelNASA YT channel.  Good interview and show and tell ("Josh Byerly talks with space station training instructors Jeff Tuxhorn and Graeme Newman"); looks like one of the domes at the Systems Engineering Simulator in Building 16 at JSC:

[Jorge]

NASA video about Dragon berthing for this flight.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?collection_id=80591&media_id=142266251#

Thanks for pointer.  Didn't see this in today's ISS Update, but also posted on the ReelNASA YT channel.  Good interview and show and tell ("Josh Byerly talks with space station training instructors Jeff Tuxhorn and Graeme Newman"); looks like one of the domes at the Systems Engineering Simulator in Building 16 at JSC:

Yes, the Alpha Dome. The cupola is in there permanently now that the shuttle aft cockpit is retired.

[psloss]

Yes, the Alpha Dome. The cupola is in there permanently now that the shuttle aft cockpit is retired.

Thanks, Jorge.

[Chris Bergin]

Nice video. Some decent quotage in there! (Got to do that big flight profile overview article this week).

[Danderman]

Integration pic.

High res version attached

[go4mars]

The scale in the background says 12746.  If that is in fact a scale...

Useless anyways.  No idea how much that holding frame weighs...

[oiorionsbelt]

Yes, some good details in that video I'd not seen before, for example the FRGF appears to attach directly to the 'door' once it's opened. Starting about 4:54 into the video.
 

[robertross]

The scale in the background says 12746.  If that is in fact a scale...

Useless anyways.  No idea how much that holding frame weighs...

Looks like 1240 lbs for the front one 

[Space Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 01/05/12

In Node 3, André Kuipers installed the CCR (Cupola Crew Restraint) at the Cup RWS (Robotic Workstation) in preparation for the subsequent SSRMS OBT (Space Station Remote Manipulator System Onboard Training) session (later removing it again), and Don Pettit set up the SSRMS DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) application. [DOUG is a special application running on the MSS (Mobile Service System) RWS laptops that provides a graphical birdseye-view image of the external station configuration and the SSRMS arm, showing its real-time location and configuration on a laptop during its operation. CCR serves to stabilize an SSRMS operator at the worksite in micro-g, acting similar to a seat belt.]

André & Don then spent ~2 hrs on the 3rd (of 3) SpaceX Demo Offset Grapple OBT session, practicing SSRMS misaligned grapple approaches in preparation for the Dragon capture (the 1st OBT was performed on 4/18, the 2nd on 4/20). [Objectives of the OBT are: Familiarization with robotic operations from the Cupola RWS, practice good hand controller techniques and successful grapple approaches, and execute a Hot Backup transition and CCP (Crew Command Panel) relocation to the Lab RWS. There are a total of three SSRMS Offset Grapples sessions in the OBT plan for Dragon capture. For the sessions, the robotarm is pre-positioned at the PMM FRGF (Permanent Multipurpose Module Flight Releasable Grapple Fixture) High Hover Position, and the crew is free to complete misaligned grapple approaches to the PMM FRGF in order to familiarize themselves with operations from the Cupola RWS (volumetric constraints, stabilization, camera lighting, CCP lighting, etc.). During the final session, Don & André had the opportunity to practice a full Hot Backup transition, including the CCP relocation to the Lab RWS in the 3rd session.]

[corrodedNut]

This is a decent 4-part interview. Elon talks about the upcoming mission, but you'll have to suffer through some car rental ads:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/47207833

[Chris Bergin]

Working it in L2, but we expect the May 7 launch date to slip.

Updated the Static Fire article (UPDATE 2) to reflect:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/falcon-9s-merlin-engines-for-may-7-target/

NOT official, but multiple sources.

[sojourner]

Damn.

[tigerade]

Damn.

A SpaceX launch delay?  Unheard of!   

We all know it will launch when it launches, and not a minute sooner.  It's good that people that are newer to spaceflight will realize the true difficulty of this type of mission.  I would anticipate that the delays will continue until there are simply no other practical ways to reduce risk.  Right now they are trying to hammer out every tiny detail. 

[Wyvern]

Gah, any word on how back the slip will be?  I hope it's just another week or two.

[FinalFrontier]

Working it in L2, but we expect the May 7 launch date to slip.

Updated the Static Fire article (UPDATE 2) to reflect:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/falcon-9s-merlin-engines-for-may-7-target/

NOT official, but multiple sources.

Do we know if this is engine related or ongoing issues with the software coding?

[b ramsey]

Well after a year and half of waiting for this launch its now unfortunatly going to be a night launch, that makes for lame viewing. Bummer

[FinalFrontier]

Well after a year and half of waiting for this launch its now unfortunatly going to be a night launch, that makes for lame viewing. Bummer

We don't know what the new NET will be or when so there is no way to know that.


And night launches are spectacular so why would this be a bad thing?

[ChrisC]

No idea of slip amount or reason, but we should know more in the morning.

[b ramsey]

More than likely it well be a night launch unless it slips a month

[mr. mark]

very depressing...most likely it won't be a night launch as they are bringing out all the cameras for this launch. Looks like June. There will be a public roasting for sure. All I can say is they better not launch on Memorial day weekend as most of us will be away.