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

[robertross]

Okay guys, we're slipping again. No need for another 'software' debate

[Chris Bergin]

Moved a couple of posts into the General Discussion thread.

I think when we get a new launch date we might need a new thread for pre-launch updates. Amazing amount of interest in this mission, with mega long threads and such! It's like shuttle days (huzzah!)

It's currently NET May 10, by nature, but that's not yet set until they have their next meetings (tonight and/or tomorrow I'm told). I'll give it a new article when they do.

[Thunderbird5]

Moved a couple of posts into the General Discussion thread.

I think when we get a new launch date we might need a new thread for pre-launch updates. Amazing amount of interest in this mission, with mega long threads and such! It's like shuttle days (huzzah!)

It's currently NET May 10, by nature, but that's not yet set until they have their next meetings (tonight and/or tomorrow I'm told). I'll give it a new article when they do.

Excellent coverage Chris, thanks.

You know, the suspicious types among us might begin to wonder if you've been secretly paying-off those SpaceX folks to deliberately delay the launch date to help push up the L2 subscriptions! 

[edfishel]

Thunderbird has let the cat out of the bag! 

[sojourner]

Still no confirmed date?

[robertross]

Still no confirmed date?

Chris will no doubt post it if it shows up on L2 (and it hasn't yet)

[Garrett]

Still no confirmed date?

Chris will no doubt post it if it shows up on L2 (and it hasn't yet)

Jeff Foust mentioned this on Twitter:

Jeff Foust ‏ @jeff_foust
A NASA manifest now lists the SpaceX COTS launch as "TBD", placed after the 5/15 Soyuz launch and a 5/17 H-2A launch: bit.ly/IGNBsq

Long version of link to NASA manifest: http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php

[Wyvern]

After the 17th?  That doesn't sound so bad after all the flight was just pushed back from the 30th to the 7th, that's a little more than a week and this new date sounds about the same.  I'm not saying that is the new date but if it's true then it does sound like plenty of time to finally fix their software issues.

I guess whoever said the 19th was right (was that you Peter?) Although I do admit to perfering launch on the 10th.

[Chris Bergin]

Moved a couple of posts into the General Discussion thread.

I think when we get a new launch date we might need a new thread for pre-launch updates. Amazing amount of interest in this mission, with mega long threads and such! It's like shuttle days (huzzah!)

It's currently NET May 10, by nature, but that's not yet set until they have their next meetings (tonight and/or tomorrow I'm told). I'll give it a new article when they do.

Excellent coverage Chris, thanks.

You know, the suspicious types among us might begin to wonder if you've been secretly paying-off those SpaceX folks to deliberately delay the launch date to help push up the L2 subscriptions! 

Heh. Yeah, cause Elon needs the money, so I keep slipping him 20 bucks

Still no confirmed date?

Chris will no doubt post it if it shows up on L2 (and it hasn't yet)

Yeah. Potential update later today per the NASA side talking on L2, but by no means certain. I think we're talking May 19 or later - (after Soyuz) at this stage, but don't take that to the bank.

A good amount to write up as we've looked into the June windows and such. So if they do update the launch date, I'll write an article....I might write one tonight regardless if I get time.

[rds100]

I was wondering, how log can the Dragon stay in orbit flying autonomously?
Can't they just launch it when they are ready to launch and then just wait until the traffic around ISS clears and allows them to continue with the proximity ops?
 

[mr. mark]

Here the picture of Dragon and Falcon 9 I posted earlier but here it is in extreme close up. You can see every little detail!

[psloss]

Jeff Foust mentioned this on Twitter:

Jeff Foust ‏ @jeff_foust
A NASA manifest now lists the SpaceX COTS launch as "TBD", placed after the 5/15 Soyuz launch and a 5/17 H-2A launch: bit.ly/IGNBsq

Long version of link to NASA manifest: http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php

FYI, there's a circular reference there -- look at their Change Log page:
http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/change_log.php

The source for the TBD points here:
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

They are sourcing media reports for other changes, so I wouldn't read too much into this.  Not necessarily a primary source.

[Comga]

Aerospace America says "There is a restrictive period of high solar beta angles during late May and early June."   How would beta angle impact the ISS or COTS-2+ operations?

anik's very detailed ISS schedule shows no activity between May 17 and July 1 other than COTS-2+.  Is that time really available for SpaceX or are there some other restrictions like beta angle? 

edited to fix wording

[Space Pete]

Aerospace America says "There is a restrictive period of high solar beta angles during late May and early June."   How would beta angle impact the ISS or COTS-2+ operations?

anik's very detailed ISS schedule shows no activity between May 17 and July 1 other than COTS-2+.  Is that time really available for SpaceX or are there some other restrictions like beta angle? 

edited to fix wording

Yes, the high beta angle period would be prevent C2+ from occurring due to Dragon solar array power generation concerns. With beta angle cutouts and range conflicts, June is a fairly tight months in terms of available launch windows.

[Jorge]

I was wondering, how log can the Dragon stay in orbit flying autonomously?
Can't they just launch it when they are ready to launch and then just wait until the traffic around ISS clears and allows them to continue with the proximity ops?
 

Welcome to the forum.

Better to stretch that particular envelope post-unberthing, methinks. The list of C2/C3 rendezvous objectives is long enough without adding a "long-duration" test on top.

[gladiator1332]

Here the picture of Dragon and Falcon 9 I posted earlier but here it is in extreme close up. You can see every little detail!

Right down to individual nuts and bolts! Nice shot!

[ChefPat]

I was wondering, how log can the Dragon stay in orbit flying autonomously?
Can't they just launch it when they are ready to launch and then just wait until the traffic around ISS clears and allows them to continue with the proximity ops?

Welcome to the forum.
IIUC, Station Keeping with another object, like the ISS, requires fuel, & on this mission fuel is at a premium already.

[Chris Bergin]

May 19 is the new NET with May 22 as the second opportunity

[starsilk]

May 19 is the new NET with May 22 as the second opportunity

any times to go with those? day or night launch?

[ChrisC]

I calculate around 4:30am liftoff time.

It's a little surprising that they'd do a night launch, but the Falcon 9 rocket isn't really the interesting part of this mission so they don't really really need the imagery.