LIVE: SpaceX Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) FD5+ (DOCKED OPS) UPDATES

[DaveJ576]

I had to grin when I watched Oleg doing the air sampling. He is using a device manufactured by a company called Drager. It consists of a hand pump that is used to draw air through a glass tube. The tube contains solid chemicals that will react with airborne agents and turn colors. The color, or the amount of the chemical that turns a color will indicate the presence of airborne agents and their amounts. Different tubes will detect different agents. To use, you insert each end of the tube into a snipper on the hand pump, breaking off a tiny portion of the tube. You then insert the tube into the end of the pump and squeeze it X number of times (as indicated by the instructions for each tube). This draws the required amount of air through the tube and you read the result on the side of the tube, kind of like reading a thermometer!

I grinned because in my job in the U.S. Navy as a Damage Controlman I use the exact same device to sample the air in a shipboard compartment after a fire to check for toxic gases.   

[Space Pete]

Can someone provide a link to the ISS feed? Already saw the press conf yesterday...

Live footage from onboard, right?

Nick

That's right - live from ISS.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/iss_ustream.html

[Chris Bergin]

Oh! Josh notes the SSRMS is going to keep a hold of Dragon, so I wonder if the Dextre inspection is now off. I'll try and find out.

Hmm, that seems odd. Don't know why they'd do that.

Dextre inspection was scheduled for tomorrow, last I heard.

Maybe that's why Josh said for the "majority" of the time, not "all the time". Checking - as it'd be nice to get that pre-CRS operation tested.

[DaveJ576]

Here is the device Oleg was using...
(Attached as the embed was a bit too wide for the thread - Chris)

[Chris Bergin]

I had to grin when I watched Oleg doing the air sampling. He is using a device manufactured by a company called Drager. It consists of a hand pump that is used to draw air through a glass tube. The tube contains solid chemicals that will react with airborne agents and turn colors. The color, or the amount of the chemical that turns a color will indicate the presence of airborne agents and their amounts. Different tubes will detect different agents. To use, you insert each end of the tube into a snipper on the hand pump, breaking off a tiny portion of the tube. You then insert the tube into the end of the pump and squeeze it X number of times (as indicated by the instructions for each tube). This draws the required amount of air through the tube and you read the result on the side of the tube, kind of like reading a thermometer!

I grinned because in my job in the U.S. Navy as a Damage Controlman I use the exact same device to sample the air in a shipboard compartment after a fire to check for toxic gases.   

Great info! I'll find a way to insert a paraphrased reference and link to your post in the next article!

[Space Pete]

Maybe that's why Josh said for the "majority" of the time, not "all the time". Checking - as it'd be nice to get that pre-CRS operation tested.

The only reason I can think of as for why the SSRMS would remain grappled to Dragon is to provide some shadowing (and thus cooling) and/or MMOD protection to the thermal imagers/LIDARs in the GNC bay.

It can't be power related, since Dragon's grapple fixture (FRGF) cannot transfer power, nor can it be related to stability, since if the CBM connection was loose in any way, they wouldn't have been allowed to open the hatch.

[manboy]

Maybe that's why Josh said for the "majority" of the time, not "all the time". Checking - as it'd be nice to get that pre-CRS operation tested.

The only reason I can think of as for why the SSRMS would remain grappled to Dragon is to provide some shadowing (and thus cooling) and/or MMOD protection to the thermal imagers/LIDARs in the GNC bay.

It can't be power related, since Dragon's grapple fixture (FRGF) cannot transfer power, nor can it be related to stability, since if the CBM connection was loose in any way, they wouldn't have been allowed to open the hatch.

But why not just close the bay door?

[Space Pete]

Here is the device Oleg was using...
(Attached as the embed was a bit too wide for the thread - Chris)

Cool, thanks!

Attached are two images of the specific ISS ones (called Grab Sample Containers/GSCs).

[Space Pete]

But why not just close the bay door?

Possibly due to concerns with not being able to open it again, thus making Dragon stuck at ISS - so big consequences if it fails.

[360-180]

Here is the device Oleg was using...
(Attached as the embed was a bit too wide for the thread - Chris)

It is possible that the space station is used for air sampling glass tube open at its ends. sealing the holes plugged
It is possible that in zero gravity is used for air sampling glass tube open at its ends. ends of the tube closed stoppers

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28991.msg905813#msg905813

[manboy]

But why not just close the bay door?

Possibly due to concerns with not being able to open it again, thus making Dragon stuck at ISS - so big consequences if it fails.

But if the motor isn't reliable and the bay door can't close after being unberthed then the pressurized cargo (and possibly crew in the future) will be lost.

[Rex Chan]

Maybe that's why Josh said for the "majority" of the time, not "all the time". Checking - as it'd be nice to get that pre-CRS operation tested.

The only reason I can think of as for why the SSRMS would remain grappled to Dragon is to provide some shadowing (and thus cooling) and/or MMOD protection to the thermal imagers/LIDARs in the GNC bay.

It can't be power related, since Dragon's grapple fixture (FRGF) cannot transfer power, nor can it be related to stability, since if the CBM connection was loose in any way, they wouldn't have been allowed to open the hatch.

Maybe so if they need to unberth Dragon quickly, they can?

[John44]

SpaceX/Dragon Hatch Opening
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7609

SpaceX/Dragon Hatch Opening full Coverage (Only download)
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7610

SpaceX/Dragon from Inside ISS
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7608

[Space Pete]

But if the motor isn't reliable and the bay door can't close after being unberthed then the pressurized cargo (and possibly crew in the future) will be lost.

The risk wouldn't be in the door not closing, it would be in it not opening again after it was closed.

That's not to say that the motor isn't reliable, it's just that you are adding risk for low gain - or at least gain which is less than the consequences of the door not opening.

[Herb Schaltegger]

I had to grin when I watched Oleg doing the air sampling. He is using a device manufactured by a company called Drager. It consists of a hand pump that is used to draw air through a glass tube. The tube contains solid chemicals that will react with airborne agents and turn colors. The color, or the amount of the chemical that turns a color will indicate the presence of airborne agents and their amounts. Different tubes will detect different agents. To use, you insert each end of the tube into a snipper on the hand pump, breaking off a tiny portion of the tube. You then insert the tube into the end of the pump and squeeze it X number of times (as indicated by the instructions for each tube). This draws the required amount of air through the tube and you read the result on the side of the tube, kind of like reading a thermometer!

I grinned because in my job in the U.S. Navy as a Damage Controlman I use the exact same device to sample the air in a shipboard compartment after a fire to check for toxic gases.   

I was on the ARS design team at Boeing back in the 90's when our group came up with the idea of using Drager tubes for pre-entry module air sampling. I recall our NASA counterparts being less than thrilled with the idea, but it's worked out well in practice.

[Nomadd]

I was on the ARS design team at Boeing back in the 90's when our group came up with the idea of using Drager tubes for pre-entry module air sampling. I recall our NASA counterparts being less than thrilled with the idea, but it's worked out well in practice.

 Probably for the same reason we still use them in disaster response. There are dozens of electronic samplers for all sorts of agents, but the Drager tubes are still the simplest and most reliable. There's almost no way they can malfunction when used right.

[Chris Bergin]

10 mins to the presser (not a MSB).

Then a Chinese launch again, as they are clearly feeling left out!

[Chris Bergin]

[Alpha Control]

Great intro music again. Very inspiring.

Only bettered by the Nasa TV promo by the Robot from Lost in Space that immediately preceded the presser into! 

[Chris Bergin]

The big red fluffy Dragon is back on console!

"IT'S SO FLUFFY!!"