Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS SpX-2 PROCESSING/Pre-LAUNCH UPDATES (Read 126802 times)

Lars_J · « **Reply #40 on:** 01/22/2013 08:40 pm »

Good find! Here are some more of the fairing unpack/install, in higher resolution:

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #41 on:** 01/22/2013 09:57 pm »

Quote from: Lars_J on 01/22/2013 04:01 pm

Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 01/22/2013 10:29 am
Quote from: oiorionsbelt on 01/22/2013 02:38 am
I asked sometime back about those attachment points and what material they were made from as they aren't PICAX and yet are right in the heat of the plasma flow during reentry. I don't think I received a definitive answer. Anyone?

I think they're probably painted onto the PICA-X.

What?!? Are you seriously suggesting that the capsule is structurally supported by something "painted on the PICA-X". Even when told otherwise by several people?

No, and if you had bothered to read the rest of the post, you would have seen what I actually think is supporting the capsule. If those are indeed the location points of the landing pads, then they will likely be directly below the structural load points that are intended to support the entire spacecraft during landing.

padrat · « **Reply #42 on:** 01/22/2013 10:20 pm »

Some good pics in that group. The NASA photographers were in the hanger a lot the past couple weeks

Lars_J · « **Reply #43 on:** 01/22/2013 10:28 pm »

Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 01/22/2013 09:57 pm

Quote from: Lars_J on 01/22/2013 04:01 pm
Are you seriously suggesting that the capsule is structurally supported by something "painted on the PICA-X". Even when told otherwise by several people?

No, and if you had bothered to read the rest of the post, you would have seen what I actually think is supporting the capsule. If those are indeed the location points of the landing pads, then they will likely be directly below the structural load points that are intended to support the entire spacecraft during landing.

So exactly what was "painted on" then?

Lars_J · « **Reply #44 on:** 01/22/2013 10:29 pm »

Quote from: padrat on 01/22/2013 10:20 pm

Some good pics in that group. The NASA photographers were in the hanger a lot the past couple weeks

Padrat, are the people doing the dragon prep a separate group from the Falcon/pad people? Or was this a "all hands on deck" activity?

padrat · « **Reply #45 on:** 01/23/2013 12:37 am »

We tend to separate into our groups (Dragon, 1st Stage, etc.) But we can go to other groups anytime to help out if needed. In this case it was pretty much all Dragon people, some from Cali...

Robotbeat · « **Reply #46 on:** 01/23/2013 12:48 am »

Quote from: padrat on 01/23/2013 12:37 am

We tend to separate into our groups (Dragon, 1st Stage, etc.) But we can go to other groups anytime to help out if needed. In this case it was pretty much all Dragon people, some from Cali...

I followed some of those SpaceX Cali folks on Twitter. They're pretty weird, heh.

Jason1701 · « **Reply #47 on:** 01/23/2013 06:24 am »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 01/23/2013 12:48 am

Quote from: padrat on 01/23/2013 12:37 am
We tend to separate into our groups (Dragon, 1st Stage, etc.) But we can go to other groups anytime to help out if needed. In this case it was pretty much all Dragon people, some from Cali...
I followed some of those SpaceX Cali folks on Twitter. They're pretty weird, heh.

Can you link to your favorite accounts?

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #48 on:** 01/23/2013 10:30 am »

Quote from: Lars_J on 01/22/2013 10:28 pm

Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 01/22/2013 09:57 pm
Quote from: Lars_J on 01/22/2013 04:01 pm
Are you seriously suggesting that the capsule is structurally supported by something "painted on the PICA-X". Even when told otherwise by several people?

No, and if you had bothered to read the rest of the post, you would have seen what I actually think is supporting the capsule. If those are indeed the location points of the landing pads, then they will likely be directly below the structural load points that are intended to support the entire spacecraft during landing.

So exactly what was "painted on" then?

The red marks - they're just visual aiming guides added on to the surface for the convenience of the integration crew. If I'm right, then the real meat of the load supporting would be the structural framework underlying the PICA-X tiles.

Lars_J · « **Reply #49 on:** 01/23/2013 03:26 pm »

Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 01/23/2013 10:30 am

Quote from: Lars_J on 01/22/2013 10:28 pm
So exactly what was "painted on" then?

The red marks - they're just visual aiming guides added on to the surface for the convenience of the integration crew. If I'm right, then the real meat of the load supporting would be the structural framework underlying the PICA-X tiles.

Take a closer look at the image renclod posted a few posts back: http://www.spacex.com/assets/img/20100506_shieldassembly.jpg

cordor · « **Reply #50 on:** 01/23/2013 07:53 pm »

Anyone remember I said Dragon's GNC bay has some kind of secret, they always cover it when taking pictures at close range or high res, If they couldn't cover it , they don't show that side in photo.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #51 on:** 01/23/2013 07:59 pm »

They don't want to screw up the ~~grapple fixture~~ DragonEye, persumably.

Lars_J · « **Reply #52 on:** 01/23/2013 08:30 pm »

Yep, I would think it is more to protect against damaging the dragon-eye, star trackers, and other instruments.

Here is a great shot from ISS that shows what is in the bay: (very high res)

padrat · « **Reply #53 on:** 01/23/2013 11:17 pm »

Its covered for cleanliness

alexterrell · « **Reply #54 on:** 01/29/2013 06:48 pm »

Quote from: padrat on 01/22/2013 10:20 pm

Some good pics in that group. The NASA photographers were in the hanger a lot the past couple weeks

They need to get the workers behind the capsule. As it is, it looks really small.

JBF · « **Reply #55 on:** 01/29/2013 11:11 pm »

Anyone know when they will begin loading cargo?

padrat · « **Reply #56 on:** 01/29/2013 11:26 pm »

Prob early to mid Feb

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #57 on:** 01/30/2013 05:38 am »

Short article, more to do with preparing for SpaceX's release of some root cause issue and the new sat deal.

(As opposed to just writing up the presser).

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/01/spacex-win-contract-ahead-crs-2-mission/

jacqmans · « **Reply #58 on:** 01/30/2013 08:42 am »

Good article Chris, Thanks,

Do we know when the FRR is ??

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #59 on:** 02/05/2013 01:03 pm »

Thanks Jacques. I'll check the for the FRR, but per L2's CRS-2/SpX-2 update thread (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30259.0). Falcon 9 will undergo a hotfire on Feb 22.

FRR will be shortly after that, per previous flows.