Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES (Read 245081 times)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #80 on:** 04/16/2012 08:12 pm »

Riding up the RBar:

rcoppola · « **Reply #81 on:** 04/16/2012 08:13 pm »

I like how NASA continues to make the point that SpaceX is responsible up until ISS approach and then again for decent, recovery. It's an important distinction for the public to know. This is not a NASA vehicle. It is a privately owned and operated vehicle. (we know this, but many do not get this yet)

Lurker Steve · « **Reply #82 on:** 04/16/2012 08:17 pm »

Quote from: rcoppola on 04/16/2012 08:13 pm

I like how NASA continues to make the point that SpaceX is responsible up until ISS approach and then again for decent, recovery. It's an important distinction for the public to know. This is not a NASA vehicle. It is a privately owned and operated vehicle. (we know this, but many do not get this yet)

But whatever gets returned from the ISS, even if it is just dirty laundry, still belongs to NASA. It doesn't get displayed in the SpaceX lobby.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #83 on:** 04/16/2012 08:18 pm »

25 hours of cargo transfer expected ahead of unberthing.

manboy · « **Reply #84 on:** 04/16/2012 08:18 pm »

Another slide

ugordan · « **Reply #85 on:** 04/16/2012 08:19 pm »

Quote from: Lurker Steve on 04/16/2012 08:17 pm

But whatever gets returned from the ISS, even if it is just dirty laundry, still belongs to NASA. It doesn't get displayed in the SpaceX lobby.

Isn't that stating the obvious.

Jim · « **Reply #86 on:** 04/16/2012 08:20 pm »

Quote from: Lurker Steve on 04/16/2012 08:17 pm

But whatever gets returned from the ISS, even if it is just dirty laundry, still belongs to NASA. It doesn't get displayed in the SpaceX lobby.

But that doesn't mean Spacex can launch and return somethings of its own

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #87 on:** 04/16/2012 08:22 pm »

Questions.

Q) About software and follow on FRR.

Mr Gerstenmaier: Test reports to come from the software testing. Testing with the actual vehicle in Florida. NASA will look at those results too. No formal review, but on the 23rd they'll hear how the testing went. Final week includes the firing. One more SpaceX FRR style review.

Today we had enough assurance to head towards the 30th, but we're not completely there. We still reserve the right to look at the testing results.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #88 on:** 04/16/2012 08:24 pm »

Q) Could Dragon launch from Texas?

Elon: (Doesn't really want to talk about it as this is about ISS) are interested in a Texas launch site. A lot of good action taken by the local authority. Not so much at the State or Federal level. Important to look at a third launch site for cargo and potentially crew.

Also looking at one of the Shuttle pads at the Cape for crew flight. Don't want to encounter launch site constraints.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #89 on:** 04/16/2012 08:28 pm »

Q) On constraints for the launch to other vehicles.

Elon: Probably comparable, not entirely certain.

Mr Gerstenmaier: Same lightning and visibility rules. Winds aloft more restrictive for Shuttle. Pretty comparable.

Q) If everything goes successful (Elon: That would be awesome), what is the next timeline.

Elon: A steady stream of flights to the ISS would be super great. Will be gaining a lot of knowledge of how crew flight will work. Best to find that on a cargo flight. Optimistic Dragon will be carrying crew. Probably about three years, maybe 2.5 years.

Q) On International partners.

Suff: One is how the entire partnership rely on it. Lions share of upmass for USOC will be via commercial. All agencies were represented. They worry about safety issues that we need to prove like plumes etc. So we aren't causing any hard to the ISS. We show them the data to show it's safe.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #90 on:** 04/16/2012 08:33 pm »

Q) On comparison with HTV and Dragon.

Mr Gerstenmaier: We learned a lot from HTV. Did a very similar approach with HTV for the first flight. Same kind of approach of testing capability before using capability. Working with ISS partners gave us experience on how to exchange data through to getting to the berthing box - which is very similar to HTV, which paved the way.

Elon: Thankful for HTV too. Dragon is different as it returns to Earth. If you stored an oxygen bottle on Dragon you could have a crew on Dragon (as Cargo and Crew versions are very similar). Have an upgrade plan for Dragon.

manboy · « **Reply #91 on:** 04/16/2012 08:34 pm »

Two more missions to space station this year. One in the summer and the other late in the year. Basically the same info from the March 3rd FPWG.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #92 on:** 04/16/2012 08:35 pm »

Q) Marcia Dunn saying some people still question SpaceX, do you feel the pressure.

Elon: No question some people will put too much weight on this flight, because it is a test flight. We may not succeed in getting to the ISS. Hopefully there will be two more flights to the ISS, and I'm confident if this one doesn't work, the others will. Should be no doubt about our resolve. We will get to the Space Station on this flight or another.

Have to work with NASA on the next two flights, but one in the summer one at the end of the year at the moment.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #93 on:** 04/16/2012 08:38 pm »

Elon looks like he just woke up. Seems a little subdued.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #94 on:** 04/16/2012 08:39 pm »

She says SpaceX is reserving margin for contingencies. Elon says that CRS regular missions will probably have daily opportunities, but because of the desire for maximum propellant margin for getting to ISS, the opportunites are once every three days for this mission.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #95 on:** 04/16/2012 08:39 pm »

Philip's on the KSC line for us!!

Asking Ms Ridings about the flight profile.

About 38 hours to get on to the racetrack (FD3). FD1 is far field phasing. 22 hours for the racetrack (F4 berthing). Berthing May 3 on this scenario. 7:30am Central for capture on FD 4.

On no daily launch ops.

Some of it is mission specific. A lot more things on this demo flight, such as the unique flyunder. SpaceX also reserving some launch date margin for launch ops. ISS traj is in flux with other VVs arriving, so that results in a splattering of launch dates.

Elon: Future missions will be closer to daily opportunites, and need to have as much prop as possible.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #96 on:** 04/16/2012 08:44 pm »

Q) On launch window constraints.

Mr Riding: There's always Range conflicts, some beta angle. Soyuz and Dragon conflicts. Dragon recovery constraints. Want to land in daylight.

Q) On the amount of slips.

The rocket could have launched several times last year if it was just the rocket. Tricky part was prox operations such as LIDAR and comms systems (NASA TDRSS etc.) A lot of new electronics. Solar arrays debut and radiator system are new elements too. The schedule driver was the software schedule.

Huge test matrix, for an autonomous Dragon. No joystick, so a lot of intellegence on board.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #97 on:** 04/16/2012 08:45 pm »

Elon: Launch vehicle is not the constraint for this flight. Could've launched several more rockets at this time. The other parts of Dragon that have been tested before on COTS 1 (heatshield, parachute, etc) are not the constraint either. Constraint is prox-ops. LIDAR, communications, autonomous operations, being absolutely sure software operates as designed, etc.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #98 on:** 04/16/2012 08:46 pm »

HA Wash Post had elevator music playing. So does Wired!

Basic stuff on training with SSRMS and cameras etc.

Good note that there may be a capability to redo some test objectives, such as going all the way around and flying under the station again. Approach for berthing uses a lot of prop, so if they didn't go well, so Dragon would have to go off and flyaround again, based on consumables.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #99 on:** 04/16/2012 08:56 pm »

Suff notes about how they are verifying a system, but NASA doesn't access the design elements of the spacecraft. Thinks it's been a fascinating process because they had so many years perfecting everything from the ground up. Now they have gone to a company and given them a requirement. SpaceX engineers learned a lot from the NASA guys, and the NASA guys have learned from the way the SpaceX guys dealt tackling similar problems.

Q) On cargo breakdown.

Suff: It is crew provisions, food, some replacement consumables. One nanorack payload (student experiments). 521 kg up, 660 kg down, but the latter not finalized. Looking at non-required ORUs on the down manifest side, it's in the plan. (Pump, multi-filtration beds, and comm box for JAXA).