OMG it's the SpaceX Party Thread!

[Jorge]

They can't make out the strobe light - so does Dragon get a free pass on that step? 

They got feedback that the command was sent and accepted by Dragon, so yes, it's considered a success. The purpose of the test is to confirm the crew can command Dragon, not whether the strobe light works per se.

[MP99]

From the updates thread:-

Twitter...

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX
Telemetry confirms that astronauts on the space station were able to command on the strobe light on the Dragon spacecraft.

NASA ‏@NASA
Strobe light successfully commanded “on” by @astro_andre & @astro_pettit, verifying #ISS crew can send commands to @SpaceX #Dragon capsule!

From the General Discussion thread:-

The ISS is now sending commands to the Dragon.  How much control do the astronauts have over the spacecraft using the CUCU?

'bout like this, except no "public access"! Honestly, they could have scripted this scene for today, even the music:-




cheers, Martin

[corrodedNut]

Watching this tiny dot on NTV reminds me of watching the first ultrasound of my sons. There it is, just a tiny dot.

[Maciej Olesinski]

Oh God please someone on station make HD pictures of Dragon!!

[sanman]

Still don't see how anyone's going to see that strobe.

Note to SpaceX: use multi-colored strobe next time, not white strobe for white vehicle against white cloudy Earth

[corrodedNut]

Still don't see how anyone's going to see that strobe.

Note to SpaceX: use multi-colored strobe next time, not white strobe for white vehicle against white cloudy Earth

I just "saw" it on the NTV feed...

[robertross]

But if the air in ISS is clean and filtered, I can't imagine that it would pose a foreign object debris problem for electronics.

remember those funny pictures of the crew eating in space? Crumbs, water balls, or how about just from sneezing. And if you could see the HD picture of one of the ISS filter screens...yuck.

(or just think back to the classic Simpsons episode with Homer in space on the shuttle).

[Chris Bergin]

Not exactly a Shuttle RPM. Nothing's going to beat that, but this first time is always historic.

[sanman]

they should make those Dragon solar arrays capable of emitting light, so that they can act like one giant strobe

[Jorge]

Still don't see how anyone's going to see that strobe.

Note to SpaceX: use multi-colored strobe next time, not white strobe for white vehicle against white cloudy Earth

They'll see it fine at night within 250 m, which is what it's designed for.

[joncz]

they should make those Dragon solar arrays capable of emitting light, so that they can act like one giant strobe

And improve their efficiency -

http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/04/solar-cells-must-emit-light-to-attain-perfection-research-suggests/

[corrodedNut]

Ok, Kid. Once more around the block...then the training wheels come off!

[beancounter]

Ok, Kid. Once more around the block...then the training wheels come off!

Oh excellent and so right

[tigerade]

Welp, we are 3 days into the flight, and I have yet to hear any bad news.  I will take the lack of bad news as good news, as that's all I've been hearing.  I am thinking we are going to get Dragon berthed to the station.  Making that prediction now.

In other words, this picture on the left that I've had for 2+ years now will finally become a reality. 

[Chris Bergin]

It's all about completing objectives and no issues that provide constraints for completing the mission.

As such, it's all good so far.

[Antares]

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

Someone loss a bet? 

That's actually the NASA/FAA seat.

[majormajor42]

The image from 7:30ish during the closest part of the approach Dragon, actually kinda looks like a dragon with it's relatively very large "wings", especially high above the clouds of Earth moving in the background. Looking forward to tomorrow's "Dragon Lancing".

[apace]

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

Someone loss a bet? 

That's actually the NASA/FAA seat.

Do we have a plan which console is for which function in the MCC-X?

[Lars_J]

They look pretty standardized/modular to me. Any station can probably be configured to be used by anyone.

[tigerade]

The ISS crew was excited by this launch too 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/astro_andre/7251083078/in/photostream/