Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS SpX-1 PROCESSING/Pre-LAUNCH UPDATES (Read 138026 times)

corrodedNut · « **Reply #140 on:** 10/02/2012 11:55 pm »

Quote from: kevin-rf on 10/02/2012 11:19 pm

Quote from: Comga on 10/02/2012 09:38 pm
Dragon logos on the solar panel pontoons. No logos visible on the capsule or trunk, and most of the surface is shown. Not for NASA, not for SpaceX.

I wonder why...
Easier thermal management? Logo's add an additional variable.

The coolant loops run through the trunk walls, but I have yet to find a photo that shows this, or how.

dcporter · « **Reply #141 on:** 10/03/2012 01:59 am »

I recall extensive speculation previously that it was thermal-near-ISS.

Comga · « **Reply #142 on:** 10/03/2012 03:40 am »

Quote from: dcporter on 10/03/2012 01:59 am

I recall extensive speculation previously that it was thermal-near-ISS.

Working with radiometry, solar absorptivity, and emissivity on a regular basis, I find it a stretch that small areas of paint, particularly so pale, would have any measurable thermal effect. A tad more solar absorption, perhaps, and nothing can be said about emissivity which is only significant well beyond the visible spectrum, but controlable for both white and colored paint.

It makes more sense that its a contractual or customer relation issue. I know of at least one case where a NASA center forbade a standard corporate logo on a supplied subsystem where it might be visible to an onboard camera, making sure that their center logo and the NASA logos were the only ones imaged. One wouldn't think this would happen on a "commercial" contract, but we have seen a lot of ways this is less than some would consider "truly" commercial.

douglas100 · « **Reply #143 on:** 10/03/2012 03:16 pm »

Quote from: Prober on 10/02/2012 09:37 pm

anyone found any new features yet?

There's an operational change: this time the Dragon was mated to the F9 after the static fire. This meant that the F9 was on the erector when this was done. On the previous flight, the Dragon was mated to the launch vehicle while it was on the assembly fixtures on the hangar floor.

mr. mark · « **Reply #144 on:** 10/03/2012 05:08 pm »

Orbcomm statement on upcoming launch.(Original 2011)

"The planned Falcon 9 launch will place ORBCOMM’s first two OG2 satellites
into a 52° inclined 350 by 750 km insertion orbit. The satellites’ onboard propulsion systems will then be used to circulize the orbit at 750 km".

http://www.orbcomm.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/spacexlaunch.pdf

tigerade · « **Reply #145 on:** 10/03/2012 05:20 pm »

Just to clarify the above statement, the plan for this launch is to launch only one ORBCOMM satellite.

thydusk666 · « **Reply #146 on:** 10/03/2012 06:33 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 10/03/2012 05:08 pm

Orbcomm statement on upcoming launch.(Original 2011)

"The planned Falcon 9 launch will place ORBCOMM’s first two OG2 satellites
into a 52° inclined 350 by 750 km insertion orbit. The satellites’ onboard propulsion systems will then be used to circulize the orbit at 750 km".

http://www.orbcomm.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/spacexlaunch.pdf

How do they plan to get to a 350x750km orbit?
Probably that 350km perigee is outdated, since ISS' current altitude is ~410km, and it wouldn't make sense to do a retro-burn just to follow the pdf., unless I'm missing something.
After unberthing from ISS, Dragon will probably make a burn to increase its orbit to 410x750km then will dispense the satellite. It would save some delta-v for Orbcomm. Following that, a retrograde burn at perigee to circularise at 410km or lower, then proceed with nominal re-entry steps.

Would that make sense?

manboy · « **Reply #147 on:** 10/03/2012 06:34 pm »

Any news on whether an emblem or press kit will be released?

jacqmans · « **Reply #148 on:** 10/03/2012 06:36 pm »

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-198

GOOGLE+ HANGOUT OCT. 5 WITH NASA ADMINISTRATOR AND SPACEX CEO

WASHINGTON -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and SpaceX CEO Elon
Musk will discuss the first contracted cargo resupply flight to the
International Space Station during a Google+ Hangout from 1-1:30 p.m.
EDT Friday, Oct. 5. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and its Dragon cargo
spacecraft are scheduled to lift off at 8:35 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7
from at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Bolden and Musk will talk about the flight, which will be the first of
12 contracted for NASA by SpaceX to resupply the space station. The
SpaceX flights under the Commercial Resupply Services contract will
restore an American capability to deliver and return significant
amounts of cargo, including science experiments, to the orbiting
laboratory -- a feat not achievable since the retirement of the space
shuttle.

Followers on Twitter may ask a question in advance of or during the
event using the hashtag #askNASA. On NASA Facebook and Google+, a
comment thread will open for questions on the morning of the event.
To join the hangout, visit the NASA's Google+ page:

http://plus.google.com/+NASA

The Dragon will be filled with about 1,000 pounds of supplies. This
includes critical materials to support the 166 investigations planned
for the station's Expedition 33 crew, including 63 new
investigations. The Dragon will return about 734 pounds of scientific
materials, including results from human research, biotechnology,
materials and educational experiments, as well as about 504 pounds of
space station hardware.

For information about the space station, research in low Earth orbit,
NASA's commercial space programs and the future of American
spaceflight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

For more information about SpaceX, visit:

http://www.spacex.com

dcporter · « **Reply #149 on:** 10/03/2012 06:46 pm »

Quote from: thydusk666 on 10/03/2012 06:33 pm

After unberthing from ISS, Dragon will probably make a burn to increase its orbit to 410x750km then will dispense the satellite.

The satellites are on the second stage, not on Dragon. After dropping Dragon off, the second stage will re-light and increase its apogee. (Further discussion should go to a discussion thread.)

ugordan · « **Reply #150 on:** 10/03/2012 08:27 pm »

@NASAKennedy: "SpaceX performed demonstration rollout of Falcon 9 and Dragon Tuesday as prep for Sunday launch at 8:35 p.m. Final rollout is on launch day."

Anyone know what this was all about? Why a demonstration rollout?

Jim · « **Reply #151 on:** 10/03/2012 08:30 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 10/03/2012 08:27 pm

@NASAKennedy: "SpaceX performed demonstration rollout of Falcon 9 and Dragon Tuesday as prep for Sunday launch at 8:35 p.m. Final rollout is on launch day."

Anyone know what this was all about? Why a demonstration rollout?

Late load demo?

ugordan · « **Reply #152 on:** 10/03/2012 08:30 pm »

Haven't they already demoed that on the last flight?

Jim · « **Reply #153 on:** 10/03/2012 08:31 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 10/03/2012 08:30 pm

Haven't they already demoed that on the last flight?

For this mission

butters · « **Reply #154 on:** 10/03/2012 08:32 pm »

They did mate the Dragon after the static fire this time, so maybe they wanted to make sure that the spacecraft umbilicals were set up properly for erection and tower retraction?

Oberon_Command · « **Reply #155 on:** 10/03/2012 08:33 pm »

Did they rollout on launch day for the last mission, too? If not, could this have been a demonstration of the ability to go from rollout -> launch in a shorter period of time than previously?

SpacexULA · « **Reply #156 on:** 10/03/2012 08:41 pm »

Quote from: butters on 10/03/2012 08:32 pm

They did mate the Dragon after the static fire this time, so maybe they wanted to make sure that the spacecraft umbilicals were set up properly for erection and tower retraction?

I think CRS SpX-2 the first CRS mission with payload in the Trunk, it might be a demo related to that.

Joffan · « **Reply #157 on:** 10/03/2012 09:02 pm »

Quote from: SpacexULA on 10/03/2012 08:41 pm

Quote from: butters on 10/03/2012 08:32 pm
They did mate the Dragon after the static fire this time, so maybe they wanted to make sure that the spacecraft umbilicals were set up properly for erection and tower retraction?

I think CRS SpX-2 the first CRS mission with payload in the Trunk, it might be a demo related to that.

.... except that this is SpX-1, so no payload in the trunk.

The late load rehearsal seems more likely. I haven't heard from anyone whether the late load is via the side hatch (just above the FRGF (Flight-Releasable Grapple Fixture) flap), but it seems likely, and that wasn't in the same configuration for COTS2+.

Comga · « **Reply #158 on:** 10/03/2012 09:14 pm »

Quote from: Joffan on 10/03/2012 09:02 pm

The late load rehearsal seems more likely. I haven't heard from anyone whether the late load is via the side hatch (just above the FRGF (Flight-Releasable Grapple Fixture) flap), but it seems likely, and that wasn't in the same configuration for COTS2+.

Do you have a description of this configuration difference and a reliable source for that information?

In the NASA media archive images there appears to be a temporary window with vents instead of the side hatch door.

Joffan · « **Reply #159 on:** 10/03/2012 09:29 pm »

Quote from: Comga on 10/03/2012 09:14 pm

Quote from: Joffan on 10/03/2012 09:02 pm
The late load rehearsal seems more likely. I haven't heard from anyone whether the late load is via the side hatch (just above the FRGF (Flight-Releasable Grapple Fixture) flap), but it seems likely, and that wasn't in the same configuration for COTS2+.

Do you have a description of this configuration difference and a reliable source for that information?

In the NASA media archive images there appears to be a temporary window with vents instead of the side hatch door.

That's a changed configuration, then. It was the difference between a pre-fitted hatch and the late-fitted hatch that I was referring to, as visibly different in the vehicle integration images of the two missions. I was not claiming it will fly in a different configuration.