Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS SpX-1 PROCESSING/Pre-LAUNCH UPDATES (Read 138027 times)

mr. mark · « **Reply #60 on:** 09/02/2012 03:49 pm »

Just a note that SpaceX launch manifest times is when hardware arrives at the cape not launch times. I think a lot of people are still confused as to this point. So in respect to SpaceX when they say three rockets at the cape in 2012, they are not talking about launches. So they should be able to meet 2 completed launches with three Falcon 9's arriving at the cape in 2012.

corrodedNut · « **Reply #61 on:** 09/03/2012 12:40 am »

WDR pictures:

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=61484
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=61485
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=61486

Comga · « **Reply #62 on:** 09/03/2012 05:47 am »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 09/02/2012 05:39 am

Quote from: Comga on 09/02/2012 05:04 am
Quote from: Prober on 09/01/2012 05:40 pm
this is interesting so we can follow along......
What is the source of this document?
It appears to be from several months back.
It has NET 10/5 but anik has NET 10/8
FWIW "Light Intensification Detection and Ranging" is a bactronym for LIDAR. That is, the word "intensification" was found to fit the letter "I" from "light" added to LDaR to make it pronouncable. The DragonEye doesn't really "intensify" the image. It's just reasonably sensitive.

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/672214main_1-Hartman_July12_NAC_Final_508.pdf

Note that the document is from July. Since then Delta IV / GPS IIF-3 has taken 10/4 and Dragon has taken 10/8.

Also note that Dragon SpX-2 has already slipped to January 2013 in this document.

Thanks
However, slide 2 shows SpX-2 launching 12/15, and I don't see that contradicted anywhere else. Landing is 1/16/13. Is that what you mean by "slipped into January 2013"?
This presentation is only off by one day (10/7 vs 10/8) on SpX-1, despite the intervening eight weeks.

Garrett · « **Reply #63 on:** 09/03/2012 01:02 pm »

Quote from: Comga on 09/03/2012 05:47 am

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 09/02/2012 05:39 am
Also note that Dragon SpX-2 has already slipped to January 2013 in this document.

Thanks
However, slide 2 shows SpX-2 launching 12/15, and I don't see that contradicted anywhere else. Landing is 1/16/13. Is that what you mean by "slipped into January 2013"?

Just looked at the presentation. Slide 45 notes a NET 1/18/2013 for SpX-2. I presume this is what Galactic Penguin is referring to.

oiorionsbelt · « **Reply #64 on:** 09/03/2012 08:11 pm »

Looking at picture 61486 from corrodedNut's post above made me wonder, what modifications were made to the strong back gripper arms after they were, damaged? Does anyone have a before and after view showing what failed and the fix?

Dappa · « **Reply #65 on:** 09/03/2012 09:48 pm »

Quote from: oiorionsbelt on 09/03/2012 08:11 pm

Looking at picture 61486 from corrodedNut's post above made me wonder, what modifications were made to the strong back gripper arms after they were, damaged? Does anyone have a before and after view showing what failed and the fix?

These two images show the old and the new strong back top, you can see that the entire top was redesigned. The hinges on the gripper arms appear to be located a little closer to the F9, and a little outward so they'd still fit around the rocket. This shortened the arms and reduced the moment at the base of the arms. Also very noticeable is the increased thickness of the arms, further reducing stress on the hinges.

I don't remember seeing any pictures of the failed gripper arm, aside from a far away shot of the thing dangling in the live feed. But looking at the changes they made, it appears that the hinges failed to put up with the force of the exhaust plume.

(Attached images are details from this image and this image)

Prober · « **Reply #66 on:** 09/03/2012 11:38 pm »

Quote from: oiorionsbelt on 09/03/2012 08:11 pm

Looking at picture 61486 from corrodedNut's post above made me wonder, what modifications were made to the strong back gripper arms after they were, damaged? Does anyone have a before and after view showing what failed and the fix?

where did you get this idea of a failure? Saw the changes and thought they were just upgrades getting ready for V 1.1.

Jim · « **Reply #67 on:** 09/04/2012 12:39 am »

Quote from: Prober on 09/03/2012 11:38 pm

Quote from: oiorionsbelt on 09/03/2012 08:11 pm
Looking at picture 61486 from corrodedNut's post above made me wonder, what modifications were made to the strong back gripper arms after they were, damaged? Does anyone have a before and after view showing what failed and the fix?

where did you get this idea of a failure? Saw the changes and thought they were just upgrades getting ready for V 1.1.

One was blown off during the first launch

dunderwood · « **Reply #68 on:** 09/04/2012 01:20 am »

Quote from: Jim on 09/04/2012 12:39 am

Quote from: Prober on 09/03/2012 11:38 pm

where did you get this idea of a failure? Saw the changes and thought they were just upgrades getting ready for V 1.1.

One was blown off during the first launch

I believe that was on the 2nd launch, not the first.

beancounter · « **Reply #69 on:** 09/04/2012 02:33 am »

Looks like they've gone for a bit of brute strength in the upgrade. The initial design seems a lot more asthetic.

joek · « **Reply #70 on:** 09/04/2012 04:27 am »

Quote from: Dappa on 09/03/2012 09:48 pm

I don't remember seeing any pictures of the failed gripper arm, aside from a far away shot of the thing dangling in the live feed.

Image from KSC-2010-5799, 12/08/2010.

AndyX · « **Reply #71 on:** 09/04/2012 07:56 pm »

SpaceX guys in L2 appear to be positive over the launch date.

manboy · « **Reply #72 on:** 09/04/2012 10:18 pm »

More images of the WDR have been posted on the KSC archive page.

Salo · « **Reply #73 on:** 09/06/2012 04:24 am »

Speaking at a press conference after today's successful International Space Station (ISS) spacewalk, NASA officials said that the first operational SpaceX cargo launch to ISS is scheduled for October 9 or 10, but could be as early as October 5.

The reason for the launch date uncertainty is when the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will be available for the launch. SpaceX launches from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) on that range, which is adjacent to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Right now the range is not free until October 9 or 10, but SpaceX will be ready to go as early as October 5.

NASA said it would prefer the 5th because it is trying to squeeze in the mission before the arrival of a Soyuz spacecraft with three new ISS crewmembers. That Soyuz is scheduled for launch on October 15 and would dock on October 17 if it follows the usual profile.

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/first-operational-spacex-launch-set-for-october-9-or-10-but-could-be-earlier#.UEe-yq2pe0d.twitter

sdsds · « **Reply #74 on:** 09/06/2012 05:33 am »

For clarity, is Delta currently on the range October 5th for the GPS IIF-3 launch?

grythumn · « **Reply #75 on:** 09/06/2012 02:03 pm »

KSC says 8AM on the 4th:

http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/event.aspx?id=196340c3-8078-4611-8d72-bf584b04c406&calendar=2012/10/0/

-R C

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #76 on:** 09/17/2012 03:01 pm »

Quote from: Salo on 09/06/2012 04:24 am

Speaking at a press conference after today's successful International Space Station (ISS) spacewalk, NASA officials said that the first operational SpaceX cargo launch to ISS is scheduled for October 9 or 10, but could be as early as October 5.

The reason for the launch date uncertainty is when the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will be available for the launch. SpaceX launches from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) on that range, which is adjacent to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Right now the range is not free until October 9 or 10, but SpaceX will be ready to go as early as October 5.

NASA said it would prefer the 5th because it is trying to squeeze in the mission before the arrival of a Soyuz spacecraft with three new ISS crewmembers. That Soyuz is scheduled for launch on October 15 and would dock on October 17 if it follows the usual profile.

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/first-operational-spacex-launch-set-for-october-9-or-10-but-could-be-earlier#.UEe-yq2pe0d.twitter

Looks like the squeeze might not be necessary, now that the launch of the Soyuz has slipped to October 23.

Salo · « **Reply #77 on:** 09/20/2012 08:19 pm »

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

Quote

Date: October 7
Time: 8:34 p.m.
Mission: SpaceX-1 Commercial Resupply Services flight

0034UTC October 8

Fuji · « **Reply #78 on:** 09/20/2012 10:52 pm »

NASA TV Schedule
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Breaking.html
October 7, Sunday
7 p.m. - Launch Coverage for the SpaceX/Dragon CRS-1 Mission to the International Space Station (Launch scheduled at 8:34 p.m. ET) - KSC (All Channels)

October 10, Wednesday
4 a.m. - Coverage of the Grapple of the SpaceX/Dragon CRS-1 at the International Space Station (Grapple scheduled at 7:30 a.m. ET) - JSC (All Channels)
9:15 a.m. - Coverage of the Berthing of the SpaceX/Dragon CRS-1 to the International Space Station (Berthing begins at 9:35 a.m. ET - JSC (All Channels)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #79 on:** 09/21/2012 03:25 am »

Article for the launch date announcement, with L2 info and L2 photos to spice it up.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/09/spacex-october-7-dragons-opening-crs-mission-iss/

Reminder to all, this is the CRS-1 Update thread, not CRS-2 etc. I'll look to set that thread up at the weekend.

Also the L2 CRS-1 area is in the L2 Commercial Cargo and Crew section, under L2 Tag Dragon, as these missions will come thick and fast now, so no need for specials.