Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) FD5+ (DOCKED OPS) UPDATES (Read 153607 times)

Silmfeanor · « **Reply #260 on:** 05/29/2012 08:05 pm »

Quote from: corrodedNut on 05/29/2012 07:59 pm

Look into these eyes:

looks a bit like Wall-E..

Also interesting to see the hinge for the nosecap.
We also get to see the camera looking at the solar panel, aswell as I think the best picture yet of the claw connecting dragon to trunk.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #261 on:** 05/29/2012 09:48 pm »

May 29, 2012

Trent J. Perrotto
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0321
[email protected]

Josh Byerly
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
[email protected]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-098

NASA TV COVERAGE FOR SPACEX DRAGON REENTRY AND SPLASHDOWN

HOUSTON -- NASA Television will provide extensive coverage of the
departure of the SpaceX Dragon capsule from the International Space
Station before its reentry and splashdown on May 31.

On Wednesday, May 30, a news briefing previewing the departure
activities will be held at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston at
9 a.m. CDT (10 a.m. EDT) and will be broadcast live on NASA TV and
the agency's website. Participants include NASA Flight Director Holly
Ridings and SpaceX Mission Manager John Couluris.

On Thursday, May 31, NASA TV will begin live coverage of the departure
of Dragon at 2:30 a.m. CDT (3:30 a.m. EDT). Coverage will continue
through the release of Dragon from the station, currently scheduled
for 5:10 a.m. CDT (6:10 a.m. EDT) and will resume at 9:15 a.m. CDT
(10:15 a.m. EDT) with deorbit and splashdown coverage. The capsule is
currently scheduled to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 10:44 a.m.
CDT (11:44 a.m. EDT) hundreds of miles off the west coast of
California likely out of range of live television.

A news briefing will be held jointly from Johnson and SpaceX in
Hawthorne, Calif., at 1 p.m. CDT (2 p.m. EDT) live on NASA TV.

Media representatives can participate in person at Johnson or via
telephone by calling 281-483-5111 at least 15 minutes before each
briefing. Media badges from Dragon launch activities at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida will be honored at Johnson through
splashdown.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For up-to-date information about the SpaceX mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacex

corrodedNut · « **Reply #262 on:** 05/29/2012 10:24 pm »

Damn it:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120523-NEWS-205230368

"Both captains reported to have successfully completed their radar missions, according to Kathy Barnstorff, spokeswoman for NASA Langley Research Center.

Both vessels, which are former space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery ships, reportedly got "good radar data while monitoring the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket and deployment of the Dragon capsule," Barnstorff said.

"Cloud cover prevented Freedom Star from being able to take visual and thermal images of launch and first orbit this morning, but the crew will continue to try to take those images as Dragon makes its way to the International Space Station," Barnstorff said."

Prober · « **Reply #263 on:** 05/29/2012 10:32 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 05/29/2012 02:52 pm

Shouldn't that be international waters, that far off shore?

wasn't this a storm location? check the weather

rickl · « **Reply #264 on:** 05/29/2012 10:58 pm »

Quote from: Space Pete on 05/29/2012 06:36 pm

Hi-res Dragon photos released!

Why no SpaceX and Dragon logos? All the artists' depictions have them.

I think I remember seeing a SpaceX logo on the nosecap.

Thunderbird5 · « **Reply #265 on:** 05/29/2012 11:04 pm »

Quote from: rickl on 05/29/2012 10:58 pm

Quote from: Space Pete on 05/29/2012 06:36 pm
Hi-res Dragon photos released!

Why no SpaceX and Dragon logos? All the artists' depictions have them.

I think I remember seeing a SpaceX logo on the nosecap.

They were also on the pontoons. But good question, nevertheless; possibly for thermal reasons?

mr. mark · « **Reply #266 on:** 05/29/2012 11:05 pm »

Since no other commercial spacecraft is actually flying, it's pretty easy to figure out which spacecraft it is.

jtrame · « **Reply #267 on:** 05/29/2012 11:19 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 05/29/2012 11:05 pm

Since no other commercial spacecraft is actually flying, it's pretty easy to figure out which spacecraft it is.

Needed on a Powerpoint, not needed in real life...

Jorge · « **Reply #268 on:** 05/29/2012 11:28 pm »

Quote from: rickl on 05/29/2012 10:58 pm

Quote from: Space Pete on 05/29/2012 06:36 pm
Hi-res Dragon photos released!

Why no SpaceX and Dragon logos? All the artists' depictions have them.

I think I remember seeing a SpaceX logo on the nosecap.

The Dragon used for COTS demo 1 had a logo on the body of the spacecraft. Not sure what happened with the demo 2/3 spacecraft.

mr. mark · « **Reply #269 on:** 05/29/2012 11:29 pm »

What is clear now is that powerpoints wont cut it anymore for any potential provider. Real spacecraft are starting to fly. A powerpoint is no match for real hardware in orbit. That goes for SpaceX as well.

jtrame · « **Reply #270 on:** 05/29/2012 11:41 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 05/29/2012 11:29 pm

What is clear now is that powerpoints wont cut it anymore for any potential provider. Real spacecraft are starting to fly. A powerpoint is no match for real hardware in orbit. That goes for SpaceX as well.

Well said. I fear we're drifting off topic, probably should move this to the general discussion.

Space Pete · « **Reply #271 on:** 05/30/2012 01:51 am »

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 29/05/12

Joe Acaba closed the protective shutters of the Lab, Cupola & JAXA JPM windows in preparation for tonight’s SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) operations around the SpX Dragon capsule. [Using the robot arm remotely, ground controllers will conduct an external 2-hr survey of the Dragon starting ~3:30 PM EDT/7:30 PM GMT, followed by maneuvering the SSRMS/SPDM (Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator) to MBS PDGF-2 (Mobile Base System / Power & Data Grapple Fixture-2) and the SSRMS then to the Dragon grapple position. Four channels live TV downlink from external cameras in SD (Standard Definition) are required for all motion within 5ft of structure.]

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #272 on:** 05/30/2012 02:42 am »

Plan is to have the unberthing/EOM (End Of Mission) article on site tomorrow evening, then into the new Unberthing/EOM/Splashdown live thread for what will be a long and continous period of updates (3:30 a.m. EDT to 2 p.m. EDT).

corrodedNut · « **Reply #273 on:** 05/30/2012 12:39 pm »

ISS Update: SpaceX Dragon Operations

"NASA Public Affairs Officer Kelly Humphries talks with Lead Integration and Systems Engineer Paul Brower about SpaceX Dragon operations as the spacecraft's unberthing approaches."

Brower gives a report on some Dragon anomalies at about 1:50m into the clip.

Mapperuo · « **Reply #274 on:** 05/30/2012 01:01 pm »

ISS feed shows the hatch closed.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #275 on:** 05/30/2012 01:59 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #276 on:** 05/30/2012 02:06 pm »

Cargo ops was a single day after they worked out a plan themselves.

Hatch closure already. Disconnecting some cables on the CBM.

Crew going to bed early, as they will wake up two hours early tomorrow, 4am GMT. Deoutffiting the vestibule. Close Node 2 hatch. Couple of hours to depress. CBM ops.

SSRMS is now grappled to Dragon after Dextre Survey.

09:45 GMT for unberth.

Dragon has three burns to depart, then NASA are removed from the integrated activity. Much quicker than RNDZ.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #277 on:** 05/30/2012 02:07 pm »

Dragon will then close the GNC Door. Checkouts. Perform 10 min reentry burn. 5.5 hours from release from ISS we'll be in the water.

Crews currently 16 hours out from recovery zone.

A lot ahead of us for the SpaceX. We're not taking this lightly at all.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #278 on:** 05/30/2012 02:15 pm »

Questions.

Small burn down the R-Bar. Big Burn to leave the approach ellipsoid which is when NASA are no longer involved, although NASA will still help with TDRS scheduling.

Three boats for recovery, with fast boats. Dragon gets on dock at port of Los Angeles and then immediately goes to Texas for unloading.

Several GPS systems for tracking and recovery. Have a NASA P3 aircraft to capture Dragon during entry, like they have for shuttle.

Mainly IR views for Dragon. HD video on the recovery boats.

Demo early access return, which wasn't meant for this mission - to get high value experiments back to NASA within 48 hours of splashdown. The next turnover target is 14 days.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #279 on:** 05/30/2012 02:25 pm »

Notes about how the teams all learned a lot about the LIDAR and Thermal Sensors.

Also noted they didn't get much movement of Dragon during the grapple. Were expecting to to move a bit.

Also happy with the teamwork.

John had no issues sleeping during the day.

Overall very positive of the Dextre test. Was important to check the clearances for Dextre to go into the trunk. Had a look at the solar arrays too - all was very positive. Nothing indentified that could cause a problem, still looking through the data.

MCC-X can run from 4 to 25 people for main people on console. CRS would go down to 2 people for low demand, up to 8 or 12 people.

They've let that BBC local radio guy on again!

(His station won't be covering anything outside of Devon)

Recovery boats have sligher higher sea state constraints. Dragon has more tolerance than Apollo.

Entry is in ISS daylight, so unlikely to see re-entry.