Dragons for everyone! It's another SpaceX Party Thread (CRS-1)

[amon]

Does anyone know where the video is available from the livestream? I missed the flight, started viewing it afterwards, got called away for something else and now it is not showing on SpaceX.

[zt]

Does anyone know where the video is available from the livestream? I missed the flight, started viewing it afterwards, got called away for something else and now it is not showing on SpaceX.

[Dappa]

Wow, SpaceX did a great job with that engine-out event! I planned on watching this live, but I slept trough my alarm.... So thanks to all for the coverage on the other tread.

[beancounter]

Great job SpaceX.  Here's hoping the second Dragon visit to the ISS goes smoothly.

Looking forward to the finding out the details of the possible RUD.  Sure looked pretty serious to me but the vehicle simply continued on it's merry way. 

[rklaehn]

Some people like rocketry for the big explosions. Some like it for getting stuff into space. With SpaceX you can have both! :-)

Congratulations to SpaceX, and especially to the guys and gals that designed the shielding of the engines.

[Robotbeat]

Some people like rocketry for the big explosions. Some like it for getting stuff into space. With SpaceX you can have both! :-)

Congratulations to SpaceX, and especially to the guys and gals that designed the shielding of the engines.

Maybe they were just staging off extra engine mass, ala classic Atlas?

Seriously, though, congratulations!

[gospacex]

4 successful launches! Does anyone know what the most successful rocket is currently?

Atlas. Not a single failure all the way back to first Atlas-II.

[Robotbeat]

4 successful launches! Does anyone know what the most successful rocket is currently?

Atlas. Not a single failure all the way back to first Atlas-II.

Atlas, indeed.

[mustwinfull]

I missed this launch but I'm glad it went smoothly, bar the engine incident during the launch but they way the designed the Falcon 9, just wow. They made a launch vehicle that continues even if one of the engines fail.

I'm hoping that the berth to the ISS goes well.

Go SpaceX & Dragon!

[Mader Levap]

Whoa, Merlin blew up quite literally? Theeere go any chance of launch in January...

[Lars_J]

Whoa, Merlin blew up quite literally? Theeere go any chance of launch in January...

This is not substantiated. It *appears* that engine 1 disintegrated in some fashion in the tracking video for us internet armchair engineers, but it has not been verified.

[SpacexULA]

Whoa, Merlin blew up quite literally? Theeere go any chance of launch in January...

It depends on why it shut down.  Simple solutions can be solved quickly, complicated ones take longer.  Better to just wait and see.  I am sure they will inform pretty quickly.

[mustwinfull]

There has been an update here: http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/10/that-smooth-spacex-launch-turns-out-one-of-the-engines-exploded/

Approximately one minute and 19 seconds into last night’s launch, the Falcon 9 rocket detected an anomaly on one first stage engine. Initial data suggests that one of the rocket’s nine Merlin engines, Engine 1, lost pressure suddenly and an engine shutdown command was issued immediately. We know the engine did not explode, because we continued to receive data from it. Our review indicates that the fairing that protects the engine from aerodynamic loads ruptured due to the engine pressure release, and that none of Falcon 9’s other eight engines were impacted by this event.

As designed, the flight computer then recomputed a new ascent profile in real time to ensure Dragon’s entry into orbit for subsequent rendezvous and berthing with the ISS. This was achieved, and there was no effect on Dragon or the cargo resupply mission.

Falcon 9 did exactly what it was designed to do. Like the Saturn V, which experienced engine loss on two flights, Falcon 9 is designed to handle an engine out situation and still complete its mission.

I'm hoping the berthing still goes ahead though, go SpaceX!

[Mader Levap]

Well, inmy uneducated laymen opinion it sure looked like explosion. Or RUD, if word "explosion" is taboo around here.

engine pressure release

I feel new euphemism in works...

As designed, the flight computer then recomputed a new ascent profile in real time to ensure Dragon’s entry into orbit for subsequent rendezvous and berthing with the ISS. This was achieved, and there was no effect on Dragon or the cargo resupply mission.

I think Orbcomm folks have some choice words about whole EPR business (added: I know that NASA is more important to SpaceX, so their choices were logical).

Anyway I revised predicted amount of launches in 2013. I will wait and see. If CRS-2 indeed slips from January, it should be known already in December.

[Rhyshaelkan]

The only sure way to fail, is to never try.


1. Bring cargo to ISS. So far so good.


2. Deploy satellite at correct orbit. Failed(as far as I know). Satellite possibly used for other purposes?


I think SpaceX is doing just fine for what they have to work with. Not like they have $1B in 1963 dollars to develop engines.


 

[Robotbeat]

...
2. Deploy satellite at correct orbit. Failed(as far as I know). Satellite possibly used for other purposes?
...

Satellite should be able to be used for its original purposes, as far as we know. Its purpose is as a demo and prototype for the full Orbcomm constellation. They're building lots of them, they want to make sure they get them right.

[cleonard]

...
2. Deploy satellite at correct orbit. Failed(as far as I know). Satellite possibly used for other purposes?
...

Satellite should be able to be used for its original purposes, as far as we know. Its purpose is as a demo and prototype for the full Orbcomm constellation. They're building lots of them, they want to make sure they get them right.

Hopefully the Orbcomm satellite has some considerable station keeping fuel or they will have to work fast.  The 203 km x 323 km orbit lifetime is only a month or two depending on ballistic coefficient and solar activity.   

[JohnFornaro]

Go SpaceX!   Wooohoooo and hurry up with my shirt too.

I resupplied the ISS and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.

[Rhyshaelkan]

Go SpaceX!   Wooohoooo and hurry up with my shirt too.

I resupplied the ISS and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.

Where is my like button. That was great 

[JohnFornaro]

Go SpaceX!   Wooohoooo and hurry up with my shirt too.

I resupplied the ISS and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.

Where is my like button. That was great 

If they send me a t-shirt, I'll wear it with pride.