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

[spectre9]

I think Dragon has a box to travel in?

Not sure how sealed that box is.

They don't just throw a tarp over it do they?

[beancounter]

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

Interesting.  When do you reckon they'll go public with the probable cause, if ever?

[Jason1701]

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

Interesting.  When do you reckon they'll go public with the probable cause, if ever?

My guess is never.

[kevin-rf]

My guess is never.

I will see you a never, and raise you a Mr. Musk will boast about the fix in some random unrelated interview.

The good news is they can now move toward a fix, the SpX-2.

[edkyle99]

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

This is the part of the ITAR/"commercial" space age that I don't like.  The whole "we know but can't tell you" business.  I'm growing weary trying to write about such stories. 

And yes, "never" is the correct answer to the question of when SpaceX will tell all.  The company still hasn't told what really happened to its first Falcon 1, for example.

 - Ed Kyle

[beancounter]

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

This is the part of the ITAR/"commercial" space age that I don't like.  The whole "we know but can't tell you" business.  I'm growing weary trying to write about such stories. 

And yes, "never" is the correct answer to the question of when SpaceX will tell all.  The company still hasn't told what really happened to its first Falcon 1, for example.

 - Ed Kyle

It crashed and burned   

[mlindner]

The company still hasn't told what really happened to its first Falcon 1, for example.

It crashed and burned   

Crashing and burning:

[woods170]

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

This is the part of the ITAR/"commercial" space age that I don't like.  The whole "we know but can't tell you" business.  I'm growing weary trying to write about such stories. 

And yes, "never" is the correct answer to the question of when SpaceX will tell all.  The company still hasn't told what really happened to its first Falcon 1, for example.

 - Ed Kyle

Get used to it. SpaceX, being a private company, is not obliged to tell the general public (or NSF for that matter) anything. Intellectual Property and Company Confidential are the key words. ITAR-considerations come into play only after IP and CC.
Only missions that are FULLY the responsibility of NASA have a certain level of public transparency to them. However, with the launcher for SpX-1 not being the responsibility of NASA, there will most likely not be any public transparency with regards to the Merlin-1C failure, ever.
Complaining about it won't help. Just get used to it.

NASA going commercial will result in a whole lot less fancy details about those missions becoming (semi-)publically available. Chris is struggling as it is to get CRS coverage on L2 up to the level of coverage that ever was for shuttle. It's just that he can't force commercial companies to share information with him.

What we will see is that the level of information for NASA's commercial missions will reach the standard of say.... Arianespace. If a launch is postponed there will be some generic statement saying:

The launch was postponed due to an issue with the ground support equipment. We will inform you of an updated launch-date as soon as possible

And that's where it ends. Details of what exactly WHAT that failure was will never reach the general public. Oh, on occassion someone will receive some details thru one of his contacts, and post them here. Or the manufacturer might do a press-release some day with some vague details. But that will never be the complete picture. That is what we are headed for.

Example: even Chris, with all his contacts in the US aerospace industry, did not get the finger behind the exact cause of the RL-10 underperformance on a recent Delta-IV mission. Some vague details, about a leak 'somewhere' in the thrust chamber, eventually were given in a ULA press release. So, no L2-scoop on that one.

[Nomadd]

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

This is the part of the ITAR/"commercial" space age that I don't like.  The whole "we know but can't tell you" business.  I'm growing weary trying to write about such stories. 

And yes, "never" is the correct answer to the question of when SpaceX will tell all.  The company still hasn't told what really happened to its first Falcon 1, for example.

 - Ed Kyle

What haven't they told? An aluminum fuel line nut corroded and gave way.

[Ben the Space Brit]

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

This is the part of the ITAR/"commercial" space age that I don't like.  The whole "we know but can't tell you" business.  I'm growing weary trying to write about such stories. 

And yes, "never" is the correct answer to the question of when SpaceX will tell all.  The company still hasn't told what really happened to its first Falcon 1, for example.

 - Ed Kyle

 What haven't they told? An aluminum fuel line nut corroded and gave way.

Source?

[Garrett]

This is the part of the ITAR/"commercial" space age that I don't like.  The whole "we know but can't tell you" business.  I'm growing weary trying to write about such stories. 

What makes you think that you should have the right to know all? Yes, we've been spoiled in the past with having access to minute technical details, but why should that be a good thing for anybody other than spaceflight enthusiasts?

Of course there could be exceptions, such as if the mission was a complete failure and NASA cargo (or worse, crew) was lost. In that case, it might be in the public interest (e.g. through senate committee hearings) to know all the details.

Also, remember that SpaceX publishes few, if any, patents to protect its IP, specifically from China. Keeping the "most probable cause" to themselves is perfectly in line with that policy.

I for one am looking forward to the future commercial space age, where space shall hopefully become more accessible to all. Not knowing which valve/nut/o-ring/etc. failed on a particular flight is a price I'm willing to pay for that future.

[Antares]

Source for Reply 129:
http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php?page=0606-1206#Flight1_update

[ugordan]

The company still hasn't told what really happened to its first Falcon 1, for example.

What haven't they told? An aluminum fuel line nut corroded and gave way.

You don't get it. Ed knows this already, he wants to see ground footage of the vehicle crashing into the lagoon and images of scattered hardware because he thinks he's entitled to that as well.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Source for Reply 129:
http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php?page=0606-1206#Flight1_update

Ah! For Falcon-1 Flight 1!

My apologies, I thought that your previous comment about the corroded nut referred to the engine out on SpX-1! Sorry about that!

[Chris Bergin]

Right, was getting a few mod reports. Not deleted anything, just keep it worthwhile.

[edkyle99]

The company still hasn't told what really happened to its first Falcon 1, for example.

What haven't they told? An aluminum fuel line nut corroded and gave way.

You don't get it. Ed knows this already, he wants to see ground footage of the vehicle crashing into the lagoon and images of scattered hardware because he thinks he's entitled to that as well.

I'm not "entitled".  I'm pointing out that SpaceX is telling only the story it wants you to know, which is not the full, real story.  I happen to believe that the transparent story is better, even for SpaceX, than the propaganda version now known.

Ed Kyle

[ugordan]

I'm pointing out that SpaceX is telling only the story it wants you to know, which is not the full, real story.

Then, by all means, share with us this "full, real story". Tell us what really failed, beyond this "obvious" PR spin from the update Antares linked to.

[edkyle99]

I'm pointing out that SpaceX is telling only the story it wants you to know, which is not the full, real story.

Then, by all means, share with us this "full, real story". Tell us what really failed, beyond this "obvious" PR spin from the update Antares linked to.

I'll tell you when SpaceX tells me.  Suffice to say that the first Falcon 1 never lifted off.  The second Falcon 1 suffered an engine fire, lost thrust, plummeted, and exploded on impact.  I personally don't believe the corroded nut explanation, based in part on Elon's own comments right after the launch.  But that's just my own opinion.

Ed Kyle

[ugordan]

I'll tell you when SpaceX tells me.

Frankly, I don't see why they should bother given that...

I personally don't believe the corroded nut explanation, based in part on Elon's own comments right after the launch.  But that's just my own opinion.

... you have just accused them of being liars. Seems to me the only "truth" you will accept is the one you want to hear.

You don't miss an opportunity to complain about how much information they (will) release - like just today - and if/when they do release something, you say "I don't buy it". And they aren't even obliged to tell you anything.

Wow.

[ChefPat]

Suffice to say that the first Falcon 1 never lifted off.
Ed Kyle

Bull. It was in the air long enough that the impact was at T+41 seconds.

The second Falcon 1 suffered an engine fire, lost thrust, plummeted, and exploded on impact.  I personally don't believe the corroded nut explanation, based in part on Elon's own comments right after the launch.  But that's just my own opinion.
Ed Kyle

Wrong again.
The rocket reached a final altitude of 289 km (180 mi) and a final velocity of 5.1 km/s.
In other words, it damned near made it to orbit.