OMG it's the SpaceX Party Thread!

[Targeteer]

Visible here in Ohio in 8 minutes.  Saw them both yesterday and dragon was dimmer than I remember the Soyuz/Progress being.

[Targeteer]

Dragon is barely visible even with binoculars trailing the station.

[rickl]

I've been engrossed by watching the NASA TV feed, but I just caught myself about to make a cup of coffee.  I haven't been to bed yet, and I normally wake up for work in two hours.  This is insane.  Time to shut down the computer and catch a little (very little) sleep.

There is an excellent chance that I will sleep right through the alarm.

[sanman]

Couldn't help but notice the contrasting styles between NASA and SpaceX.

For instance, the NASA control room have these larger bulkier desks, while the SpaceX control room have the simple minimalist desks that seem typical at most startups and newer companies.

The NASA people look a lot older and are a little more formally dressed. The SpaceX people seem to look younger and are dressed more casually. A very different style and aesthetic.

The future look of space operations?

[Targeteer]

Someone is actually wearing a suit and tie at SpaceX  this morning 

[sanman]

Well, at least nobody's playing Galaga 

[robertross]

Couldn't help but notice the contrasting styles between NASA and SpaceX.

For instance, the NASA control room have these larger bulkier desks, while the SpaceX control room have the simple minimalist desks that seem typical at most startups and newer companies.

The NASA people look a lot older and are a little more formally dressed. The SpaceX people seem to look younger and are dressed more casually. A very different style and aesthetic.

The future look of space operations?

MCC had to carry all the complexities of shuttle, so it's a slightly unfair comparison (plus the years of heritage). Better to contrast EELV or ESA launch centers

[Zed_Noir]

Someone is actually wearing a suit and tie at SpaceX  this morning 

Someone loss a bet? 

[Jorge]

Couldn't help but notice the contrasting styles between NASA and SpaceX.

For instance, the NASA control room have these larger bulkier desks, while the SpaceX control room have the simple minimalist desks that seem typical at most startups and newer companies.

Ironically, the NASA MCC console design was led by John Muratore, who is now advising SpaceX. They are really not all that fancy, just sheet metal panels. They were more functional back in the days of CRTs and big workstations.

The NASA people look a lot older and are a little more formally dressed. The SpaceX people seem to look younger and are dressed more casually. A very different style and aesthetic.

The future look of space operations?

NASA MCC has a dress code; they don't really have a choice in the matter.

[rickl]

Couldn't help but notice the contrasting styles between NASA and SpaceX.

For instance, the NASA control room have these larger bulkier desks, while the SpaceX control room have the simple minimalist desks that seem typical at most startups and newer companies.

The NASA people look a lot older and are a little more formally dressed. The SpaceX people seem to look younger and are dressed more casually. A very different style and aesthetic.

The future look of space operations?

MCC had to carry all the complexities of shuttle, so it's a slightly unfair comparison (plus the years of heritage). Better to contrast EELV or ESA launch centers

And back in the day, the MCC workstations held built-in cathode ray tube monitors.  State of the art.

I was going to use the abbreviation CRT, but realized that the young'uns might not know what that meant.   

[robertross]

And back in the day, the MCC workstations held built-in cathode ray tube monitors.  State of the art.

I was going to use the abbreviation CRT, but realized that the young'uns might not know what that meant.   

My personal computer monitor, and TV screen, of choice

[sanman]

Somebody at SpaceX is munching on potato chips.

A lot more getting up and pacing being done by the NASA people.

What's the blue ring on one of the monitor windows for the guy sitting at the back? Is that a Quicktime logo, or some kind picture of the Earth?

[Chris-A]

I have a visual on Dragon!
First one on the forum?



http://imgur.com/DU2mm

[majormajor42]

First one posted I think. If anyone got something on the prior flights they weren't in the USA, since it was daytime. Definitely the first with ISS. Very Nice!   

[Jorge]

What's the blue ring on one of the monitor windows for the guy sitting at the back? Is that a Quicktime logo, or some kind picture of the Earth?

You got a hardcopy of that?

[sanman]

So they're using regular consumer-level laptops in the ISS then? And this equipment doesn't have any problems with being in space? (ie. radiation, etc)

[robertross]

So they're using regular consumer-level laptops in the ISS then? And this equipment doesn't have any problems with being in space? (ie. radiation, etc)

If (or when) they fry, they replace them. Apparently it's cheaper.

[Maciej Olesinski]

I have a visual on Dragon!
First one on the forum?



http://imgur.com/DU2mm

I am going to wake up today at 4 am local time - to see ISS and Dragon. Hope weather will not be my enemy!

[Jorge]

So they're using regular consumer-level laptops in the ISS then? And this equipment doesn't have any problems with being in space? (ie. radiation, etc)

If (or when) they fry, they replace them. Apparently it's cheaper.

Yep.

These laptops do have modifications from the normal consumer-grade equipment. They have locking power connectors, and coated circuit boards to prevent arcing.

The "real" ISS control computers, the MDMs, are rad-hardened.

[Targeteer]

I have a visual on Dragon!
First one on the forum?



http://imgur.com/DU2mm

That offset is interesting. They looked to me to be in trail and that would seem to make sense and be necessary for a docking tomorrow.