Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS-2 (SpX-2) LAUNCH and FD-1 UPDATES (Read 278933 times)

Space Pete · « **Reply #260 on:** 03/01/2013 03:54 pm »

Woo-Hoo! This was SpaceX's true "baptism of fire" for me - any they performed like pros. Wish we could've gotten that stream though!

But, this isn't over yet - we know now that at least two pods are functioning, but there's still the other two. And this may yet affect the rendezvous plan for ISS.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #261 on:** 03/01/2013 03:54 pm »

Quote from: woods170 on 03/01/2013 03:52 pm

Yes. Buys them extra time to resolve the thruster issue.

Buys them a very, very long time. I think they can probably do their scheduled burns with just the thrusters they have now. (I /believe/ they need 3 thruster pods for berthing, though...)

Targeteer · « **Reply #262 on:** 03/01/2013 03:57 pm »

With mention of the ground sites, does that mean Dragon doesn't/won't have TDRS support (yet)?

I seem to remember that past mission(s) having that.

meekGee · « **Reply #263 on:** 03/01/2013 03:57 pm »

How are fuel tanks and thrusters connected? is it one tank pair per thruster pod? any cross-connects?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #264 on:** 03/01/2013 03:58 pm »

No post launch presser?

NASA TV saying next coverage is:

corrodedNut · « **Reply #265 on:** 03/01/2013 03:59 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/01/2013 03:58 pm

No post launch presser?

NASA TV saying next coverage is:

SpaceX webcast said there would be one in "a few hours"

Jason1701 · « **Reply #266 on:** 03/01/2013 03:59 pm »

Quote from: meekGee on 03/01/2013 03:57 pm

How are fuel tanks and thrusters connected? is it one tank pair per thruster pod? any cross-connects?

This image makes it look like there is one pair per pod. Can't tell cross-connects.

Targeteer · « **Reply #267 on:** 03/01/2013 04:00 pm »

The programming schedule that ended the ISS update didn't show one either.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #268 on:** 03/01/2013 04:00 pm »

Quote from: Jason1701 on 03/01/2013 03:59 pm

Quote from: meekGee on 03/01/2013 03:57 pm
How are fuel tanks and thrusters connected? is it one tank pair per thruster pod? any cross-connects?

This image makes it look like there is one pair per pod. Can't tell cross-connects.

I'm pretty sure there are cross-connects. But remember that image is very old.

kkattula · « **Reply #269 on:** 03/01/2013 04:03 pm »

Elon Musk‏@elonmusk

Attempting bring up of thruster pods 2 and 4

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #270 on:** 03/01/2013 04:03 pm »

Quote from: corrodedNut on 03/01/2013 03:59 pm

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/01/2013 03:58 pm
No post launch presser?

NASA TV saying next coverage is:

SpaceX webcast said there would be one in "a few hours"

Copy that. If someone can PM me if they get a confirmed time of that presser, I'd really appreciate it (I'll see a PM arrive via e-mail notification faster than a post on here).

RDoc · « **Reply #271 on:** 03/01/2013 04:03 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 03/01/2013 04:00 pm

I'm pretty sure there are cross-connects. But remember that image is very old.

That's my recollection as well, but I don't have a source.

Nydoc · « **Reply #272 on:** 03/01/2013 04:03 pm »

Quote from: meekGee on 03/01/2013 03:53 pm

yeah, but what's up with the thrusters? this is the core issue... (the panels weren't broken in any way, deployment was just inhibited)

Possibly nothing was wrong with the thrusters if the computer gave a false error status.

kkattula · « **Reply #273 on:** 03/01/2013 04:06 pm »

Could the cold weather at launch have led to lower than normal pressure readings on the thruster tanks?

ugordan · « **Reply #274 on:** 03/01/2013 04:06 pm »

Quote from: Targeteer on 03/01/2013 03:57 pm

With mention of the ground sites, does that mean Dragon doesn't/won't have TDRS support (yet)?

With only 1 pod active, effective attitude control was probably disabled so Dragon was drifting, hence no TDRS lock. My theory, anyway.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #275 on:** 03/01/2013 04:07 pm »

SpaceX PAO:

Falcon 9 lifted off as planned and experienced a nominal flight. After Dragon achieved orbit, the spacecraft experienced an issue with a propellant valve. One thruster pod is running. We are trying to bring up the remaining three. We did go ahead and get the solar arrays deployed. Once we get at least 2 pods running, we will begin a series of burns to get to station.

Nickolai · « **Reply #276 on:** 03/01/2013 04:07 pm »

Quote from: Targeteer on 03/01/2013 03:57 pm

With mention of the ground sites, does that mean Dragon doesn't/won't have TDRS support (yet)?

I seem to remember that past mission(s) having that.

I believe you need to point your antennas very precisely for TDRSS, tough/impossible to do without certain thruster quads.

I imagine for comms with ground they use a different antenna that isn't as directional.

Jason1701 · « **Reply #277 on:** 03/01/2013 04:09 pm »

26 minutes to planned coelliptic burn.

IRobot · « **Reply #278 on:** 03/01/2013 04:17 pm »

The 4 pods don't seem to be equal, do they need specific pair of pods to do all maneuvers/burns?

alexterrell · « **Reply #279 on:** 03/01/2013 04:17 pm »

Quote from: Jason1701 on 03/01/2013 03:59 pm

Quote from: meekGee on 03/01/2013 03:57 pm
How are fuel tanks and thrusters connected? is it one tank pair per thruster pod? any cross-connects?

This image makes it look like there is one pair per pod. Can't tell cross-connects.

The image looks af each thruser is independent - it has its own fuel and sub systems.

Which begs the question what knocks out 3 of 4? 3 failing independently is not possible, and surely each one will have its own systems.

Normally when I can't figure this out I put it down to "compliler error".