SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS-2 SpX-2 MISSION GENERAL DISCUSSION

[mlindner]

Jurvetson (SpaceX investor) posted a flickr image of the current state of the CRS2 Dragon - currently under construction in a clean room at Hawthorne:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/8234369578/in/photostream (picture takes two days ago)

Nice. Also, Falcon 9v1.1 1st stage, Merlin 1D, and a real 5m fairing.

I'm curious as to the complete contents of that FOD poster.

[Mader Levap]

Jurvetson (SpaceX investor) posted a flickr image of the current state of the CRS2 Dragon - currently under construction in a clean room at Hawthorne

Huh? I thought Dragon for this mission was already build. I remember a few months ago some photo with four Dragons in various stages of construction.

I start to suspect CRS-2 launch would not happen in Jaunary even without engine out on CRS-1.

[tigerade]

I start to suspect CRS-2 launch would not happen in Jaunary even without engine out on CRS-1.

No need to suspect:

March 1 - Dragon CRS2, CUSat 1&2 - Falcon 9 v1.0 - Canaveral SLC-40

[manboy]

Jurvetson (SpaceX investor) posted a flickr image of the current state of the CRS2 Dragon - currently under construction in a clean room at Hawthorne

Huh? I thought Dragon for this mission was already build. I remember a few months ago some photo with four Dragons in various stages of construction.

That image was first posted in October 2011 on SpaceX's facebook page. Anyway it didn't show the CRS-2 Dragon completed.

[Ben the Space Brit]

No need to suspect:

March 1 - Dragon CRS2, CUSat 1&2 - Falcon 9 v1.0 - Canaveral SLC-40

IIRC, the reschedule was at least partly driven by customer requirements, specifically something happening on ISS that required a re-arrangement of supply missions.  I maintain my annoyanc at the delay e because it's going to make it harder to achieve the launch number goals for 2013 but I'm sure that SpaceX have some idea what they are doing.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

No need to suspect:

March 1 - Dragon CRS2, CUSat 1&2 - Falcon 9 v1.0 - Canaveral SLC-40

IIRC, the reschedule was at least partly driven by customer requirements, specifically something happening on ISS that required a re-arrangement of supply missions.  I maintain my annoyanc at the delay e because it's going to make it harder to achieve the launch number goals for 2013 but I'm sure that SpaceX have some idea what they are doing.

IIRC there was also an ISS software upgrade in the mix as well....

[guckyfan]

No need to suspect:

March 1 - Dragon CRS2, CUSat 1&2 - Falcon 9 v1.0 - Canaveral SLC-40

IIRC, the reschedule was at least partly driven by customer requirements, specifically something happening on ISS that required a re-arrangement of supply missions.  I maintain my annoyanc at the delay e because it's going to make it harder to achieve the launch number goals for 2013 but I'm sure that SpaceX have some idea what they are doing.

IIRC there was also an ISS software upgrade in the mix as well....

I would breathe a sigh of relief if some positive result came out of that joint comission. But we hear nothing and I don't know what that means.

[baldusi]

Remember that they had water issues on the electric system that meant the freezer was shut down for a while. That might mean some other extra mods.

[LegendCJS]

The article also mentioned that they decided not to resynch the computer, because they didn't felt it was necessary, but the fact that it got out of the loop doesn't means it had permanent damage.
I suspect, if I'm forced to make a guess, that the radiation event might have generated some non recoverable latch up. But instead of trying to get it back, they kept it down so they could analyze it later when it returned.

SpaceX wanted to resynch the computer, but Nasa was not in favor of doing that while it was attached to station, so they didn't.  If it had been free flying SpaceX would have issued the resynch command. Moving forward SpaceX plans on making resynching automatic.  Also to note is that SpaceX's expectations for radiation induced electronics trouble were higher than what they actually observed for the mission.

source: talk given by SpaceX employee (senior GNC engineer)

Absolutely, positively 100% false.  NASA thought it was a good idea to resync but mainly wanted to make sure they and SpaceX understood the process.  SpaceX's plan changed a lot which did not give a clear indication that the resync was well understood.  NASA just asked for caution and many felt if it was not well understood and not truly critical, then don't push it.  Also not sure if by your last sentence you mean SpaceX expected less problems from the rad environment or more than then saw.  From the beginning they dismissed radiation hits and NASA had to repeatedly pushed for more evidence.  In the end a waiver was granted but we were expecting problems. 

Your statements and my statements are mutually compatible. Let me summarize both of them below:

On the question of "to resynch or not to resynch," for whatever reason, NASA was urging caution and saying "don't push it," and SpaceX listened and decided not to resynch.  We AGREE completely!  Our  posts say the exact same thing!  What is with this "Absolutely, positively 100% false" opening line of yours?

To clarify what the GNC engineer said, SpaceX expected to see more radiation problems in the mission than what was actually observed.

[LegendCJS]

Remember that they had water issues on the electric system that meant the freezer was shut down for a while. That might mean some other extra mods.

Every Dragon so far has had sea water ingress on landing. For the flight where the parachutes did not detach as commanded the Dragon spent a considerable time wind surfing, and taking on lots of water. Not sure what steps have been prompted and taken so far in response to these water ingress problems, but the GNC engineer said that Dragon #5 would have a focus on adaptation for the marine landing environment to try to put that problem to bed.  Despite the sea water ingress on all Dragons so far, the engineer told his audience that the flown Dragons are considered re-usable by SpaceX, and SpaceX would be happy to sell you one with a flight for ~$80 million.

[krytek]

I wonder what does "sea water ingress" even means. Where did the water get to?

[Ben the Space Brit]

I wonder what does "sea water ingress" even means. Where did the water get to?

It probably gets into the RCS fuel system through the thruster nozzles and seeps into the lower service ring through the open parachute bay.

[Prober]

I wonder what does "sea water ingress" even means. Where did the water get to?

It probably gets into the RCS fuel system through the thruster nozzles and seeps into the lower service ring through the open parachute bay.

hope your wrong about the location of the leaks.    Many still have issues of the Dragon being trucked from CA to Texas on US highways with toxic fuels not removed.

[cambrianera]

I wonder what does "sea water ingress" even means. Where did the water get to?

It probably gets into the RCS fuel system through the thruster nozzles and seeps into the lower service ring through the open parachute bay.

I find very difficult water getting into the RCS fuel system.
Much more easy seeping into the service ring.
Also the damage done to the electrical system is consistent with the latter, not with the former.

[mduncan36]

I wonder what does "sea water ingress" even means. Where did the water get to?

It probably gets into the RCS fuel system through the thruster nozzles and seeps into the lower service ring through the open parachute bay.

hope your wrong about the location of the leaks.    Many still have issues of the Dragon being trucked from CA to Texas on US highways with toxic fuels not removed.

I work in a chemical plant and given the paperwork and rules that go into moving relatively mundane substances I find it hard to believe they can do that. If so, I'd love to know how.

[douglas100]

Jim claimed that the Dragon propellants were off loaded at Sealaunch's facilities in San Diego. I haven't seen confirmation of that anywhere else.

[Jim]

Jim claimed that the Dragon propellants were off loaded at Sealaunch's facilities in San Diego. I haven't seen confirmation of that anywhere else.

Long Beach and that was suppose to be for the first one.

[woods170]

Jim claimed that the Dragon propellants were off loaded at Sealaunch's facilities in San Diego. I haven't seen confirmation of that anywhere else.

Long Beach and that was suppose to be for the first one.

It didn't happen.

[douglas100]

Long Beach and that was suppose to be for the first one.

Yeah, I was lazy, I should have checked that.

What precautions would they have to take if they're taking it all the way to Texas with some prop still on board?

[mr. mark]

The engine problem most probable cause has been found, not revealed, and launch is planned for late February,early March.

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/278587759881494528
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/278587435791818752