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

[mr. mark]

Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut:

“This week’s successful launch and delivery of logistics supplies to the International Space Station by a US commercial space company, reminds us that where the entrepreneurial interests of the private sector are aligned with NASA’s mission to explore, America wins.  Falcon 9’s maiden flight to ISS – and the other commercial space launches that lie ahead - represent the dawn of a new era in space exploration.  Nearly 43 years after we first walked on the moon, we have taken another step in demonstrating continued American leadership in space.”

Rusty Schweickart, Apollo 9 astronaut:

“The arrival and docking of the Dragon space capsule at the ISS is more than historic.  It is, in fact, the beginning of a new era in space exploration, one in which private industry and individual initiative will begin leading the way in the use of near-space activity.  This is not only exciting and momentous, but is fully in keeping with the American character of risk taking and consequent reward.  The long term results of this “first” are beyond our ability to see at the beginning of this era, but there is no doubt that it will serve as a huge incentive for young people who now have firm evidence of the value, and opportunity for individual initiative.  Near-Earth space is now firmly a regular part of the human environment along with the air, water, and land.  The future is now, once again, opened to imagination, creativity, and dreams!”

It's nice to hear something positive from Apollo astronauts about commercial spaceflight. Hopefully in time a few others will see the light.

[MP99]

Super-pleased about getting this done today. Looks like SpaceX really have a team together.

Big Congrats from me.



One humorous point (and I've switched the order of the quotes here):-

Doesn't like saying berthing, as people think he means birthing.

On SpaceX seeming to have young people working at their place.

Elon: Our average age is 30, so we have as many above 30, and a good mix. I like to mix the experience with the vibrancy. Got a great team at SpaceX, super motivated, feeling super jazzed, super excited

The wider public may not understand the difference between berthing and docking, but many people understand the difference between an average and a median.

Totally understandable in the circumstances, and I'm sure he knows the difference himself (but he did say average).



One other item of note - was surprised the mission got a substantial mention on a prime time / drive time comedy progamme on BBC Radio 4 - the News Quiz at 18:30 BST. Perhaps summed up as "when did getting things into space become the easy bit?"

cheers, Martin

[douglas100]

Been away for a couple of days. Good to come back to this. Congratulations to all involved.

[Chris Bergin]

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX
#Dragon power and comm systems are now hooked up to the space station—all working well and berthing activities are officially complete!

[JimO]

Just back from taping comments for NBC Nightly News tonight -- I called today one of the 'top ten days in all of space history', and said that Dragon may have been the flagship but there is an entire fleet of varied vehicles being prepared in a dozen workshops to advance commercial/private access to space.

[FinalFrontier]

Just back from taping comments for NBC Nightly News tonight -- I called today one of the 'top ten days in all of space history', and said that Dragon may have been the flagship but there is an entire fleet of varied vehicles being prepared in a dozen workshops to advance commercial/private access to space.

Way to go Jim looking forward to your remarks on the news in one hour.

Really is amazing to see this today, especially all those comments from the space community as a whole. Shows how historic this is.

[Chris Bergin]

Just back from taping comments for NBC Nightly News tonight -- I called today one of the 'top ten days in all of space history', and said that Dragon may have been the flagship but there is an entire fleet of varied vehicles being prepared in a dozen workshops to advance commercial/private access to space.

Cool! If they put the segment up on the internet, someone link it!

[Space Pete]

As much as I can't believe NASA used "docking" in an official press release...congrats to all involved!

I never doubted SpaceX, but today they awed me. That's about all I can say.

[spacetraveler]

It's nice to hear something positive from Apollo astronauts about commercial spaceflight. Hopefully in time a few others will see the light.

Well Buzz has always been positive about it. Will be interesting to hear from the others who weren't previously.

[peter-b]

NASA TV is currently showing HD video of Dragon's approach taken by the ISS astronauts today using hand-held cameras.

[Space Man Spiff]

NASA TV is currently showing HD video of Dragon's approach taken by the ISS astronauts today using hand-held cameras.

Are those videos available anywhere else?

[peter-b]

NASA TV is currently showing HD video of Dragon's approach taken by the ISS astronauts today using hand-held cameras.

Are those videos available anywhere else?

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=144604891

[Space Pete]

Dragon from the Cupola.

[Silmfeanor]

NASA TV is currently showing HD video of Dragon's approach taken by the ISS astronauts today using hand-held cameras.

Are those videos available anywhere else?

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=144604891

That is an awesome video! Everyone should go watch it - awesome resolution and of course, new camera angles.

[robertross]

Dragon from the Cupola.

I can't wait to see the full hi-res image of that on L2 (or NASA)! 

[Silmfeanor]

And here is the box that was used today, as seen on the previously linked handheld video -note the dragon logo 

[Pheogh]

NASA TV is currently showing HD video of Dragon's approach taken by the ISS astronauts today using hand-held cameras.

Are those videos available anywhere else?

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=144604891

These are not HD does anyone know where the HD versions are if available. 720P is the lower end of HD

[Space Pete]

And here is the box that was used today, as seen on the previously linked handheld video -note the dragon logo 

It's the CCP (Crew Command Panel)!

Not to be confused with HCP (HTV Command Panel) for HTV/Cygnus.

[peter-b]

These are not HD does anyone know where the HD versions are if available. 720P is the lower end of HD

Well, it's not SD, so that makes it HD. I'm not aware of a 1080p version, no.

[Silmfeanor]

And here is the box that was used today, as seen on the previously linked handheld video -note the dragon logo 

It's the CCP (Crew Command Panel)!

Not to be confused with HCP (HTV Command Panel) for HTV/Cygnus.

Excuse my use of the word "box" - I'm just happy I've learned how to take screenshots of a stream. Hopefully it'll be of some use in upcoming events, as I try to see a lot of them.
Also, HCP is being explained as HTV Command Panel - abbreviations in abbreviations gets kinda loopy sometimes.