Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) LAUNCH and FD1 UPDATES (Read 195193 times)

yoann37 · « **Reply #160 on:** 05/22/2012 08:02 am »

solar arrays

grakenverb · « **Reply #161 on:** 05/22/2012 08:03 am »

Great coverage, guys, thanks for doing this! Good luck to the SpaceX team and NASA on the rest of the mission!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #162 on:** 05/22/2012 08:03 am »

Realigned the thread to FD1!

Remember, this is still a live update thread. It's now open to all to post, but they have to be updates. Use the other threads for cheering etc...as much as I'll allow people to post congrats, cause this is historic and it's only right

Space Pete · « **Reply #163 on:** 05/22/2012 08:04 am »

Well, what can I say about that. Last time I felt that about a launch was July 8, 2011 (STS-135).

Awesome. The word is used a lot, but there really is no other. Awesome.

Let's get Dragon to station.

Great coverage Chris and team.

JimO · « **Reply #164 on:** 05/22/2012 08:04 am »

Quote from: Targeteer on 05/22/2012 08:00 am

Love the informal look in the control center

Agreed. The comparison with the potemkinesque facilities we were shown in north korea was striking. Attaboys all around.

TheFallen · « **Reply #165 on:** 05/22/2012 08:04 am »

Congratulations on an awesome launch, SpaceX...and Godspeed on the DragonC2+ mission!

And to think, I was planning to sleep through this morning's launch (What with me living on the West Coast)

Looking forward to seeing great high-res pics that the ISS crew take of Dragon upon berthing at the station a few days from now

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #166 on:** 05/22/2012 08:04 am »

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation Congratulates SpaceX and NASA on the Successful Launch and Orbital Insertion of the Dragon Capsule

Washington D.C. – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation congratulates Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and NASA for a successful launch and orbital insertion of the Dragon spacecraft this morning. Dragon was launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off from Cape Canaveral, FL and will continue to perform maneuvers and system checks, while maintaining communications at a fly-under distance of 1.5 miles from the International Space Station as part of a demonstration mission under NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

CSF President Michael Lopez-Alegria said, “The entire team at SpaceX and at NASA should be commended for their success on this third test flight of the Falcon 9 rocket. The preparations and precautions taken by SpaceX and NASA in months past have contributed to their exemplary performance today. After seeing the smooth launch SpaceX just executed, it is easy to forget that this is indeed rocket science.”

“This is a testament to the viability of the commercial spaceflight industry,” CSF Chairman Eric Anderson said. “Congratulations to SpaceX for successfully completing the first steps of this demonstration flight. Elon and his team’s success today is an important milestone in achieving a sustainable space program.”

“SpaceX’s successful launch this morning is a great accomplishment, and is an important milestone for commercial spaceflight,” said Mark Sirangelo, former Chairman of CSF and current Chairman of Sierra Nevada Corporation Space Systems. “The Shuttle may be retired, but the American dream of space exploration is alive and well, and the commercial space industry is working hard to provide U.S. access to low-Earth orbit.”

John Logsdon, Professor Emeritus at the George Washington University, Space Policy Institute said, “This demonstration flight for NASA’s COTS program provides valuable experience for SpaceX, but also for NASA and the entire industry that will be carrying cargo and eventually crew to the International Space Station. Congratulations to SpaceX for extending their streak of successful Falcon 9 launches. ”

About the COTS Program

The Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) is a NASA program created in 2006 to work with the private sector to develop safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to the International Space Station. The program is fixed-price, milestone-based, and requires cost-sharing with the private sector to protect taxpayer dollars and incentivize performance.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #167 on:** 05/22/2012 08:05 am »

iamlucky13 · « **Reply #168 on:** 05/22/2012 08:06 am »

Congratulations SpaceX!

I heard a callout that Draco's were functioning. The solar array's look great. It looks they have a functioning spacecraft.

Quote from: Nick L. on 05/22/2012 07:55 am

Falcon and Dragon in orbit. Orbit 346x297km.

Press kit says target is 310 x 340. I assume this is well within their tolerance.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #169 on:** 05/22/2012 08:06 am »

edfishel · « **Reply #170 on:** 05/22/2012 08:06 am »

Great job, Chris! Loved the way you mixed images from the different sources. I kept flipping back and forth following the different feeds. Excellent work!

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #171 on:** 05/22/2012 08:07 am »

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #172 on:** 05/22/2012 08:08 am »

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #173 on:** 05/22/2012 08:08 am »

Silmfeanor · « **Reply #174 on:** 05/22/2012 08:09 am »

Thanks for the excellent coverage, NSF.
I loved watching this, along with the excellent information here over the past few days.
Congratulations to SpaceX - I can't wait to see some pictures of dragon taken from the ISS.
now, to watch the awesome liftoff replays a few times

I also am hoping for another Muse-covered soundtrack - after a week or 3, hopefully

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #175 on:** 05/22/2012 08:09 am »

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #176 on:** 05/22/2012 08:09 am »

Alpha Control · « **Reply #177 on:** 05/22/2012 08:10 am »

What a day! Off to a fantastic start! Dragon in orbit, with wings deployed! Congratulations to the SpaceX team!

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #178 on:** 05/22/2012 08:11 am »

Jason1701 · « **Reply #179 on:** 05/22/2012 08:11 am »

Quote from: iamlucky13 on 05/22/2012 08:06 am

Quote from: Nick L. on 05/22/2012 07:55 am
Falcon and Dragon in orbit. Orbit 346x297km.

Press kit says target is 310 x 340. I assume this is well within their tolerance.

Delta-v from 346x297 to 310x340 is on the order of 20 m/s, so it shouldn't be a problem.