The CRS-2/SpX-2 "Junk in the Trunk" Party Thread

[Joffan]

Time for a fourth stanza then:

Falcon flew with grace and power
Launched the mission on the hour
Flew to orbit, dropped away
Sent the Dragon on its way

Sleepy Dragon yawned and coughed
Valve control was looking soft
Stretched its wings a little late
Thruster problems, missed the gate

Now we watch and wait to see
How SpaceX will fire up three.
This could be a tricky day -
Drama seems the SpaceX way.

First one thruster, then a duo,
Then a tweet says "All are go"
Breath resumed and jaws released
Soon ISS will snare the beast.

[Jim]

Before launch, some posters asked: why are SpaceX launches any more exiting than others?

That puckering sensation felt earlier is your answer.

Why is there puckering in the first place?  Lack of faith?

[SpacexULA]

Why is there puckering in the first place?  Lack of faith?

100% yes. 

ULA/USA made a hard thing look easy.  SpaceX makes a hard thing look hard.

[Nickolai]

I hope no one minds if I incite a little rebellion here...

Kinda bummed that I didn't get the chance to watch it live (although I did try to convince my algebra teacher... didn't go over too swell, as you might imagine ).

At least I get a Dragon for my birthday (even if it's tomorrow).

Next time, skip class

[simonbp]

Fear of consequences for all of commercial space if a Dragon or Falcon fails? It will be nice when Cygnus, CST-100, etc are operational, but at the moment Dragon is the only one carrying the banner.

[WindnWar]

Before launch, some posters asked: why are SpaceX launches any more exiting than others?

That puckering sensation felt earlier is your answer.

Why is there puckering in the first place?  Lack of faith?

Not a lack of faith, just the reality that this is a complex system and no one can guarantee 100% success, and there is generally little room for error.

Besides this is a relatively young system, so I expect teething pains.

[AJA]

I'm suddenly reminded of how much I miss Execute Package jokes. If this kind of thing had happened to the orbiters, I'd have CAPCOM inhaling Helium before going on the loop.

[tigerade]

I am convinced that the four-leaf clover on the SpaceX patches is justified.  They need that luck.   

[Ben the Space Brit]

Musk: Orbit raising burn successful. Dragon back on track.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/307615430154022912

Assuming there isn't a systematic problem with the entire fuel system, the mission should run a bit smoother from here.

[yg1968]

Musk: Orbit raising burn successful. Dragon back on track.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/307615430154022912

Assuming there isn't a systematic problem with the entire fuel system, the mission should run a bit smoother from here.

When would you know if you have a systematic problem?

[Ben the Space Brit]

Musk: Orbit raising burn successful. Dragon back on track.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/307615430154022912

Assuming there isn't a systematic problem with the entire fuel system, the mission should run a bit smoother from here.

When would you know if you have a systematic problem?

If something similar happened after a long period of unpowered flight - valves sticking or pressure anomalies.

[yg1968]

Musk: Orbit raising burn successful. Dragon back on track.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/307615430154022912

Assuming there isn't a systematic problem with the entire fuel system, the mission should run a bit smoother from here.

When would you know if you have a systematic problem?

If something similar happened after a long period of unpowered flight - valves sticking or pressure anomalies.

Could you apply the same fix each time that it happens?

[Ben the Space Brit]

Musk: Orbit raising burn successful. Dragon back on track.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/307615430154022912

Assuming there isn't a systematic problem with the entire fuel system, the mission should run a bit smoother from here.

When would you know if you have a systematic problem?

If something similar happened after a long period of unpowered flight - valves sticking or pressure anomalies.

Could you apply the same fix each time that it happens?

It required quite rough handling of the spacecraft's systems.  Every time you do it, you are risking causing knock-on damage to other parts of the system due to severely out-of-nominal operations.  More importantly, if the RCS kept on failing, I think NASA would abort and refuse clearance for berthing.

[yg1968]

That makes sense. Thanks.

[douglas100]

If something similar happened after a long period of unpowered flight - valves sticking or pressure anomalies.

Which is why Soyuz thrusters are tested before they undock.

More importantly, if the RCS kept on failing, I think NASA would abort and refuse clearance for berthing.

Of course.

You might be right about systematic failure, but we're not in a position to make meaningful speculations about this anomaly right now. Let's just be patient and be glad that things appear to be back on track.

EDIT: by "we" I mean "we amateurs."

[simonbp]

And, there is at least a chance that we'll know for sure once the Dragon is recovered. It's all hand waving until then.

[R7]

but we're not in a position to make meaningful speculations about this anomaly right now.

The helium was manufactured poorly and ended up having too high viscosity.

OK, bedtime for me...

[douglas100]

 

[Tass]

but we're not in a position to make meaningful speculations about this anomaly right now.

The helium was manufactured poorly and ended up having too high viscosity.

OK, bedtime for me...

They cooked it too much. It was full of clumps.

Goodnight.

[WindnWar]

Well this has been an interesting launch day, watching and reading about it beat spending the day doing actual work though!

Off to dinner, will have a drink to celebrate the success so far and hope there is more to come.