LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) LAUNCH and FD1 UPDATES

[Maciej Olesinski]

Someone ask for Merlin 1D!!!

[input~2]

USSTRATCOM has catalogued Object 2012-027A/38348 in
294.6 x 372.4 km x 51.67°

[rickl]

USSTRATCOM has catalogued Object 2012-027A/38348 in
294.6 x 372.4 km x 51.67°

I hope that's the second stage.  The press kit says "altitude not to exceed 368 km" (page 7).

[Ronsmytheiii]

Why should everyone on the earth care about what SpaceX is doing?

A: Because Elon Musk said so 

[Ben the Space Brit]

Why should everyone on the earth care about what SpaceX is doing?

A: Because Elon Musk said so 

Wave bye-bye to your NASA press credentials dear!

[corrodedNut]

Speaking of 2nd stage, do we have any updates on it? Additional burns, etc?

[Ronsmytheiii]

Asking about STS-135 supplies and how ISS would be without it, Gerst responds that it added a year of margin (dont think that would be for a 6 person crew though)

[JimO]

Time to brave the mosquitos and go outside to look for the texas flyover. I'll be offline for about 20 minutes.

ISS flyover was reasonably bright, waiting for Dragon now.

Didn't see Dragon or the Falcon 9 second stage. Probably too much light pollution from where I am. Any better luck, JimO?

No joy at 'Soaring Hawk Observatory' -- we had 360 horizon fog below 20deg elevation, and I saw ISS OK and narrowed the search zone tto the lower right of Polaris, but never saw anything. Dragon's in a lower orbit than ISS so comes out of shadow later, even with the planar shift as Earth rotates us into plane -- and predictions were for sunrise below 20 deg elevation, which just wasn't visible.

[Chris Bergin]

Question for Elon on Second Stage payloads (human remains again?)

Elon isn't aware.

Question for Elon on SLS/Orion.

Elon: Our focus is on serving ISS with cargo and crew and advancing our tech. Fully reusable rocket will reduce the cost. In the future who knows. Avoids SLS/Orion very carefully.

More on the second stage payload.

Ms Shotwell - Yes, we had a canister on the second stage.

For Elon: Next big hurdle.

Elon: GNC door is next.

For Gerst on requirements for another test flight?

"We'll take a look at how the mission goes. Could go right into CRS. We're ready for CRS at the right time".

"Very impressed with this team. Just as good as the teams that have done it before. Something special about a rocket launch.

"Frees us up to concentrate on the harder destinations of BEO with SLS and Orion".

Ms Shortwell confirms two abort ability.

No longer purchasing cargo from the Russians.

Some interest in clearing the GEO belt of satellite debris (shoving them out of the way or refueling them).

LAS critical path for crewed Dragon. (It's all getting off topic-ish).

Q) Where would the ISS be without STS-135?

Gerst: Atlantis added about one year of margin. (Yay shuttle! )

Over.

[manboy]

What is celeste? (not sure about spelling).

http://www.celestis.com/

[Maciej Olesinski]

Why should everyone on the earth care about what SpaceX is doing?

A: Because Elon Musk said so 

Wave bye-bye to your NASA press credentials dear!

I thought that annoyed only me but glad to see other seen that unnecessary :s

[Space Pete]

Obviously the most significant event to occur today was the possible launch of a canister containing human remains.

Can't believe how many questions they got on that.

[psloss]

Can't believe how many questions they got on that.

I can.  We're still significantly outnumbered.

[rickl]

Can't believe how many questions they got on that.

I can.  We're still significantly outnumbered.

Yep.  I wonder how many news reports I'll hear today that highlight the fact that they're carrying human remains to orbit.

[Chris Bergin]

Obviously the most significant event to occur today was the possible launch of a canister containing human remains.

Can't believe how many questions they got on that.

I think they were fishing for the Scotty remains? That's a standout headline in the non space media. I know it's not great, but that's how the game is played in the outside of subject specific media.

[MP99]

USSTRATCOM has catalogued Object 2012-027A/38348 in
294.6 x 372.4 km x 51.67°

From the press kit, Dragon Apogee after launch is supposed to be no more than 368km. Do we know if the USSTRATCOM figure would be before or after the co-elliptic burn, and if so whether it's likely that the injected Apogee would have been within limits?

COTS 2 OFFICIAL MISSION OBJECTIVES

Rocket Launch and Spacecraft Inserted into Orbit:

• Rocket’s second stage places the Dragon spacecraft into
planned orbit -- currently 310 km x 340 km above the Earth (+50
km, altitude not to exceed 368 km).

• Dragon is also placed in planned inclination -- currently 51.6
degrees (+0.25 degree).

cheers, Martin

[corrodedNut]

Can't believe how many questions they got on that.

I can.  We're still significantly outnumbered.

I'm just glad this didn't turn into a case of "the curse of Scotty's ashes" again.

[Skyrocket]

Obviously the most significant event to occur today was the possible launch of a canister containing human remains.

Can't believe how many questions they got on that.

I think they were fishing for the Scotty remains? That's a standout headline in the non space media. I know it's not great, but that's how the game is played in the outside of subject specific media.

Do we have confirmation, that there was a Celestis burial payload on board? If yes, where is it: 2nd stage or Dragon capsule or Dragon trunk?

[manboy]

Obviously the most significant event to occur today was the possible launch of a canister containing human remains.

Can't believe how many questions they got on that.

I think they were fishing for the Scotty remains? That's a standout headline in the non space media. I know it's not great, but that's how the game is played in the outside of subject specific media.

Headline: "Scotty gets beamed up!"

[Ben the Space Brit]

With reference to the 'GNC Door', is that the panel on the exterior of the Dragon that covers the sensor bay? How is that opened? (electrically? pneumatically?) Is there margin for multiple tries?