Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) FD10 - EOM - UNBERTH, ENTRY, SPLASHDOWN (Read 284161 times)

corrodedNut · « **Reply #340 on:** 05/31/2012 06:17 pm »

"Dragon flight 6", what's he talking about?

Silmfeanor · « **Reply #341 on:** 05/31/2012 06:18 pm »

Quote from: corrodedNut on 05/31/2012 06:17 pm

"Dragon flight 6", what's he talking about?

6th flight of the falcon 9 -this is the 3rd.

Elon noted that they had LIDARS on for unberthing to test some adjustments they made, and that it worked. Exciting, was wondering about that.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #342 on:** 05/31/2012 06:20 pm »

Hoping to win the Commercial Crew contract. This Dragon will be able to land on land with the accuracy of a helicopter. Next year we'll be launching Falcon Heavy.

Changes to Dragon?: We'll make a series of minor adjustments and improvements, but there's not much to fix. More automation for less MCC-X. Dragon 2 and Dragon 6 will be the upgrades.

Textbook flight, naming Dragons?: It was like a grand slam (baseball term). We need to repeat on future flights. Want the vehicles to be reusable before we give them names.

Inspiring students question: I hope that today's events were really inspiring and will encourage people to go into the space industry and what to study at school. We're at the dawn of a new era with a lot of opportunity.

Was it a bullseye for the splashdown?: It was very accurate. Position when the parachutes opened will come late. Appears we hit within less than a mile of the target.

No surprises for the ISS crew in the Dragon.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #343 on:** 05/31/2012 06:21 pm »

Quote from: corrodedNut on 05/31/2012 06:17 pm

"Dragon flight 6", what's he talking about?

First Dragon flight using Falcon 9 v1.1. Should be capable of more cargo upmass, etc. He might be hinting at a change in Dragon itself, perhaps closer to the crewed version, or perhaps using an extended trunk. I'm betting any newer version of Dragon (other than just an extended trunk) would have a little more propellant capacity.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #344 on:** 05/31/2012 06:26 pm »

Relieved point was when Elon saw all three parachutes open.

On the Apollo heroes doubting SpaceX: It's been a difficult and emotional journey. Early years were very difficult. 2008, when Falcon 1 flight 3 failed, was very tough as we were low on money. Fortunately things have gone extreemly well since F1 flight 4. This is a fantastic day. SpaceX would have died without NASA. Words are not enough.

(He avoided the Apollo astros, but I thought that was respectful - focusing on SpaceX doing well after problems).

On military contracts: SpaceX has done very well in winning customers in many markets. NASA is the main customer. 40 launches under contract, 12 for NASA. Things are going very well. Looking forward to serving the need for defense contracts as soon as possible. Third F9 success in a row will hopefully give them the confidence to open up the contracts for competition.

SpaceX lost the link.

Chris-A · « **Reply #345 on:** 05/31/2012 06:29 pm »

SpaceX might have had a power outage, or lost the link.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #346 on:** 05/31/2012 06:31 pm »

Dragon picture!!

Robotbeat · « **Reply #347 on:** 05/31/2012 06:33 pm »

Lindonberg talking about how similar partnering with commercial should be looked at post-ISS for beyond-LEO exploration.

(Woot! Of course it should!)

kirghizstan · « **Reply #348 on:** 05/31/2012 06:35 pm »

Dragon looks a lot more burnt then the previous one behind them

majormajor42 · « **Reply #349 on:** 05/31/2012 06:36 pm »

Great ad lib by Alan about SpaceX being useful for things beyond ISS, in helping NASA achieve it's exploration goals.

Congratulations SpaceX, Elon, Alan. Everybody involved. NSF for the great coverage too. And everyone rooting for this.

Hopefully everyone made attempts to share our enthusiasm for what SpaceX is doing with family, friends, and co-workers who perhaps were not in on the loop.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #350 on:** 05/31/2012 06:39 pm »

Link is back.

Looking to build more than the 12 Dragons for CRS?: Alan notes the contract is to 2015 and they will be working on extra requirements very soon. Alan making a case for commercial involvement in exploration.

Alan notes the chances of the first three launches working for a new vehicle is not good historically. So F9 is very reliable. Dragon also performed so solidly. We're looking at a reliable space transportation system here.

No plan for this capsule. Would be cool to send it on a tour of the country for kids and students.

Dragon version two will have prop landing via integrated escape thrusters into the sidewalls. Which is really cool, that's how spaceships land in sci fi movies. It's the way spacecraft should land and it'll add potential missions, such as other places in the solar system. Some prop landing tests later this year. Operational is three years away if things go well. Four to five otherwise.

One of the reporters doesn't know what mute means. It's not the ones asking the question, it's someone else.

Norm Hartnett · « **Reply #351 on:** 05/31/2012 06:40 pm »

Is it supposed to look like that?

corrodedNut · « **Reply #352 on:** 05/31/2012 06:41 pm »

Quote from: Norm Hartnett on 05/31/2012 06:40 pm

Is it supposed to look like that?

Yes, the hatch side (opposite) should be less charred.

Dmitry_V_home · « **Reply #353 on:** 05/31/2012 06:42 pm »

Fine completion of fine mission.

Chris-A · « **Reply #354 on:** 05/31/2012 06:42 pm »

The solar array's produced more power than they thought it would.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #355 on:** 05/31/2012 06:48 pm »

Alan notes that the Cargo involves the last two objectives. Officially we'll have success via the post flight data, but Alan's already happy (can't imagine him ever not being overjoyed).

Question about Commercial Crew: If someone had stowed aboard Dragon, we could have taken them to ISS with this cargo version. Wouldn't be the right move as we want the vehicle proven many times over and add launch escape, seats and controls, but if someone had stowed away, they would have been ok. Supports the promotion of commercial crew and hopes it causes congressional support.

Asking Elon about the photo of Dragon in the sea. "Welcome home baby"

I feel really great. It's like seeing your kid come home.

On Congrats: President called me last week to congratulate everyone associated with the flight, which I very much appreciated. Calls from both sides of Congress/Senate. This is something great for the country, great for the world. This is very much a show of success.

Alan adds it was somewhat of an experiment, sharing costs and sharing risks. Now get to share joy. It is a new way of doing business. It's a model that works and worked very well for us in this case.

On two seconds early splashdown: Always a bit of variation, depending on the winds. If it wasn't for wind drift, we could land it in someone's back yard

.

Over.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #356 on:** 05/31/2012 06:57 pm »

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation Congratulates SpaceX for the Successful Completion of the COTS Demonstration

Washington D.C. – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation congratulates SpaceX for the completion of its Commercial Orbital Transportation System demonstration with the successful splashdown of the Dragon capsule today. Dragon departed the Station this morning and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, carrying over 1,000lbs of cargo from the International Space Station.

SpaceX’s Dragon capsule launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket on May 22 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Once in orbit Dragon spent two days catching up to the ISS, completing multiple milestones along the way. After it was cleared by NASA, Dragon then approached the Space Station, where it was grappled by the Station’s robotic arm and brought in to berth, becoming the first visiting vehicle from a private company. On Saturday, May 26 the Station’s Expedition 31 crew opened the hatch to the capsule and began unloading the cargo.

CSF President, Michael Lopez-Alegria said in a statement, “This is an incredible achievement for SpaceX and NASA. Since the retirement of the Shuttle there has been no ability to return a significant amount of cargo aboard any vehicle. Having the capability to ferry payloads to low Earth orbit is essential; having the ability to bring useful cargo such as scientific samples back to Earth will dramatically increase the research capacity of the ISS. CSF commends SpaceX and NASA for the completion of the COTS demonstration, proving that NASA’s use of commercial providers to develop vehicles for the ISS has been a success. NASA and congress should build on this success by robustly funding a competitive commercial crew program that will reduce our dependence on aging Russian infrastructure, ensure the success of the Space Station and keep high-tech jobs here in America.”

CSF Chairman Eric Anderson stated, “The successful return of the Dragon capsule to Earth ends a historic mission for SpaceX, but opens a new chapter of 21st century access to space. The utilization of commercial services for cargo resupply to the International Space Station has now been validated. This success should be viewed as a stepping stone for the industry, and for NASA’s future plans to fly crew to-and-from the space station on commercial vehicles. It’s a seminal moment for the U.S. as a nation, and indeed for the world.”

brettreds2k · « **Reply #357 on:** 05/31/2012 07:05 pm »

I am eager to see the other side of the capsule, cause damn the side showing got really burnt looking

Robotbeat · « **Reply #358 on:** 05/31/2012 07:07 pm »

Quote from: brettreds2k on 05/31/2012 07:05 pm

I am eager to see the other side of the capsule, cause damn the side showing got really burnt looking

The other one looked a lot like that, too, before they cleaned it off.

The capsule floats, so the cargo will be fine.

SpaceX_MS · « **Reply #359 on:** 05/31/2012 07:08 pm »

Success is so sweet! Thanks to all the love and support here, thanks to Chris and the site and L2 and the forums! The future is now!

ONWARDS!!