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

[Chris Bergin]

SpaceX confirm (that was fast!):

Update on SpaceX COTS 2 Launch

SpaceX and NASA are nearing completion of the software assurance process, and SpaceX is submitting a request to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for a May 19th launch target with a backup on May 22nd. 

Thus far, no issues have been uncovered during this process, but with a mission of this complexity we want to be extremely diligent.

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

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

[psloss]

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

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

PAO has updated their pages:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html

4:55 am Eastern T-0 for the 19th.

[Chris Bergin]

Mr ISS himself, Pete Harding, is going to write up the article for this new NET for Saturday morning (GMT) publication.

He'll do a far better job on this than I, especially considering the Beta Angles and VV schedules and such. We'll start the new launch day update thread with his article when it goes on.

Continue in this one for now and I'll post a redirect when we start the new one.

[SpacexULA]

If they do a 0430 launch what will be the closest public viewing location? 

[corrodedNut]

4:55 is an hour and 34 minutes before sunrise that morning, so how long after liftoff and at what altitude will it cross into sunlight?

[Comga]

4:55 is an hour and 34 minutes before sunrise that morning, so how long after liftoff and at what altitude will it cross into sunlight?

In the two dimensonal, spherical Earth approximation, 1 hr 34 min before sunrise the sunlight is 577 km overhead and the terminator is 2616 km away.

Assuming that the insertion altitude long before the second stage circularizes the orbit is about 100 km, the Dragon and second stage will be far away before it is sunlit, possibly below the horizon.

My spherical cow won't see it from Florida.  :-)

[corrodedNut]

4:55 is an hour and 34 minutes before sunrise that morning, so how long after liftoff and at what altitude will it cross into sunlight?

In the two dimensonal, spherical Earth approximation, 1 hr 34 min before sunrise the sunlight is 577 km overhead and the terminator is 2616 km away.

Assuming that the insertion altitude long before the second stage circularizes the orbit is about 100 km, the Dragon and second stage will be far away before it is sunlit, possibly below the horizon.

My spherical cow won't see it from Florida.  :-)

Now you made me go and do stuff. 

That placemark is from Flight 1, this flight should be more to the North. I'm still holding out hope.

[Chris Bergin]

NASA ISSUES STATEMENT ON NEW SPACEX LAUNCH DATE

WASHINGTON -- In response to today's SpaceX announcement finalizing a
new target date for the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon
spacecraft, NASA issued the following statement from William
Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Human Exploration and
Operations at the agency's Headquarters in Washington:

"After additional reviews and discussions between the SpaceX and NASA
teams, we are in a position to proceed toward this important launch.
The teamwork provided by these teams is phenomenal. There are a few
remaining open items but we are ready to support SpaceX for its new
launch date of May 19."

[Antares]

The file name on your jpeg (along with the higher inclination) makes me wonder if the transition might be visible from Ft. McHenry.  That would be a heckuva shot.

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

Prox ops stationkeeping requires lots of fuel. At longer distances, not so much.

[corrodedNut]

@elonmusk
Almost done reviewing Dragon code with @NASA. Looks good so far. Target launch date is May 19, right after Soyuz docks.

[Mapperuo]

NASA updated their TV coverage for the 19th launch date:

May 18, Friday
1 p.m. - SpaceX/Falcon 9 Dragon Pre-Launch Briefing - KSC (All Channels)

May 19, Saturday
3:30 a.m. - SpaceX/Falcon 9 Dragon Launch Coverage Begins (Launch scheduled at 4:55 a.m. EDT) - KSC (All Channels)
7:30 a.m. - SpaceX/Falcon 9 Dragon Post-Launch News Conference - KSC (All Channels)

May 21, Monday
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)

May 22, Tuesday
2 a.m. - SpaceX/Dragon ISS Grapple and Berthing Coverage - JSC (All Channels)
1 p.m. - SpaceX/Dragon Mission Status Briefing (Time subject to change) - JSC (All Channels)

May 23, Wednesday
7:30 a.m. - SpaceX/Dragon Hatch Opening Coverage - JSC (All Channels)
TBD - ISS Expedition 31 Post-SpaceX/Dragon Hatch Opening Crew News Conference - JSC (All Channels)

[rickl]

Looks like I may be facing some sleep deprivation if that schedule holds.

It's just as well.  My boss tends to complain when I try to watch this stuff during work hours.   

[manboy]

Here's hoping the new launch date sticks.

[mr. mark]

Oh man! Pre launch for me is 12:30am and launch is at 1:55am. I'll be up until at least 3am and I have to get up for work at 7 well it's time for a few rock star drinks. 

So let me get this right. The launch is at 4:55 eastern time so, technically, it's a night launch but according to the flight plan it could reach daylight by the time of MECO or shortly after.

[Halidon]

Could be worse.

Not to be fatalistic, but what's the next available date in the event of a scrub?

[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?

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

I meant maybe launch to an orbit 10-15km higher (or lower) than the orbit of the ISS, perform what ever checks they have to perform, then just let it float there until the time comes to adjust the orbit and continue with the proximity ops. Would this require much fuel?

[Geron]

NASA ISSUES STATEMENT ON NEW SPACEX LAUNCH DATE

WASHINGTON -- In response to today's SpaceX announcement finalizing a
new target date for the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon
spacecraft, NASA issued the following statement from William
Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Human Exploration and
Operations at the agency's Headquarters in Washington:

"After additional reviews and discussions between the SpaceX and NASA
teams, we are in a position to proceed toward this important launch.
The teamwork provided by these teams is phenomenal. There are a few
remaining open items but we are ready to support SpaceX for its new
launch date of May 19."

I have a really solid feeling about this launch date. For one, there have been enough delays at this point that this might actually be the real launch date. I am in Phoenix. My birthday is May 19th. Do you think it is reasonable for me to fly to Florida for the 19th? What are the odds of it being cancelled due to weather? The ticket is like $500. If I devide the cost of the ticket by the expected value of the launch, that should give me the real price of the ticket, so I can ask my wife if I can go...

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

I meant maybe launch to an orbit 10-15km higher (or lower) than the orbit of the ISS, perform what ever checks they have to perform, then just let it float there until the time comes to adjust the orbit and continue with the proximity ops. Would this require much fuel?

Not much, but subsequent rendezvous opportunities from that orbit would be fairly infrequent. You could *make* them frequent... at considerable fuel cost. And you're pushing the envelope on flight duration of a spacecraft that has a grand total of two orbits experience. Not wise. NOT wise. Better to wait on the ground than in orbit.

[Jorge]

Could be worse.

Not to be fatalistic, but what's the next available date in the event of a scrub?

Once every 3 days, barring range conflicts. Think they have the 22nd reserved as a backup.