LIVE: SpaceX Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) FD4 UPDATES

[Ronsmytheiii]

view from Dragon!

[Ronsmytheiii]

ku returns

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ronsmytheiii]

ku dropped out for a bit

[Ronsmytheiii]

polling for demonstration maneuvers

[brodo]

resuming the approach momentarily

[Ronsmytheiii]

Dragon will resume approach momentarily

[AJA]

Very clear near-continuous thruster activity.

It takes active thrusting to maintain a position on the R-bar.  I believe I read that's one reason they use an R-bar approach - if there's a problem with the arriving spacecraft, it will simply drift away from the station

Wait..why is this special of a station keeping only along R-bar? Small disturbances and deviations if uncorrected for, would cascade and cause loss of relative position - regardless of where this station was? Also, if the delta was on the +v side, the craft would approach the station (assuming it was below station to start with)

Sorry to clutter this thread up. We should probably move this to general.

[Ronsmytheiii]

VVO confirms approach going to 235 meters

[Rex Chan]

Capcom reminding ISS that retreat at 235m "is very important for us this morning".

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ronsmytheiii]

retreat command armed

[Ronsmytheiii]

At 235 meters, issuing retreat command

Mode:retreat

[Ronsmytheiii]

primary range and rate increasing

[sweet-d]

dragon is now backing away

[dcporter]

Side notes: Dragon mission time: 3:02:14. Also note the purple Puff doll at Megan's desk.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Andre calling out that the outline has not changed

[Ronsmytheiii]

250 meters

[ChrisC]

FYI the ISS stream is showing the overlay continuously.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream

[psloss]

Ground calling up the change that PAO noted -- after resume, crew is going to issue the hold command at 235m vs. 220m preflight.

Expecting to remain holding at 250m for next five minutes or so.