LIVE: SpaceX Dragon CRS-2 (SpX-2) EOM (Unberth, Entry, Splashdown) UPDATES

[Avron]

American Islander is shown as "at anchor" about 50ft from the quayside at 02:09 UTC (magenta track).

Gonna need to reference the source for that image.. check terms and conditions on source site,,pls

[Helodriver]

When the American Islander takes the Dragon capsule aboard, does anyone know if the recovery crew uses the ship's A frame hoist or the hydraulic crane to do the lifting?

Thanks.

[Nomadd]

When the American Islander takes the Dragon capsule aboard, does anyone know if the recovery crew uses the ship's A frame hoist or the hydraulic crane to do the lifting?

Thanks.

I imagine it's the A frame. That 12 ton crane probably doesn't have more than a 3 ton rating when it's near horizontal with the boom extended. But, they might get it close enough to keep the boom at a better angle.

[Space Pete]

NASA JSC's C9 aircraft "N932NA" landed in Houston just over an hour ago, after flying the critical Dragon science samples from Long Beach back to Ellington/JSC.

[Ben the Space Brit]

When the American Islander takes the Dragon capsule aboard, does anyone know if the recovery crew uses the ship's A frame hoist or the hydraulic crane to do the lifting?

Thanks.

I imagine it's the A frame. That 12 ton crane probably doesn't have more than a 3 ton rating when it's near horizontal with the boom extended. But, they might get it close enough to keep the boom at a better angle.

Probably you extend the A-Frame and Boom and connect it to the payload, then slowly retract the A-Frame whilst backing up so that the Dragon remains supported by the water until it is close enough so that you can use the full lifting power of the A-Frame without massively over-balancing the ship.

[corrodedNut]

The A-frame is for Dragon, the smaller crane is for the work boat.

[corrodedNut]

The Today show had a short piece this morning, with video, but I can't find it on their website.

[Helodriver]

That settles it quite convincingly. 

[robertross]

When the American Islander takes the Dragon capsule aboard, does anyone know if the recovery crew uses the ship's A frame hoist or the hydraulic crane to do the lifting?

Thanks.

I imagine it's the A frame. That 12 ton crane probably doesn't have more than a 3 ton rating when it's near horizontal with the boom extended. But, they might get it close enough to keep the boom at a better angle.

Probably you extend the A-Frame and Boom and connect it to the payload, then slowly retract the A-Frame whilst backing up so that the Dragon remains supported by the water until it is close enough so that you can use the full lifting power of the A-Frame without massively over-balancing the ship.

The A-frame would stay extended until the Dragon is close by (by reversing the boat -by pulling in with the winch cable the Dragon would tend to tip in the water). Once near the ship, the A-frame pivots in, and in that 'arc' of movement it helps clear the transom until it's over the stern dek, and would be lowered down by the winch cable.

[Lars_J]

The Today show had a short piece this morning, with video, but I can't find it on their website.

Here is a direct link to the video from the Today Show site:
http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/51360215
(15 sec clip)

[Targeteer]

March 27, 2013

Trent J. Perrotto
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
[email protected]

Josh Byerly
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
[email protected]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M13-053

NASA, SPACEX DISCUSS DRAGON MISSION TO SPACE STATION

WASHINGTON -- NASA and SpaceX will host a teleconference for news
media at 1 p.m. EDT, Thursday, March 28, to discuss the Tuesday
return of the company's Dragon spacecraft from a cargo mission to the
International Space Station.

A trove of scientific research was among more than 2 tons of cargo
Dragon brought back to Earth. Included are investigations that could
aid in food production during future long-duration space missions and
enhance crop production on Earth. Others could help in the
development of more efficient solar cells, detergents and
semiconductor-based electronics. Dragon also brought back several
research samples that will help scientists continue to examine how
the human body reacts to long-term spaceflight. The results will have
implications for future space exploration as well as benefits here on
Earth.

The teleconference participants are:

-- Charles Bolden, NASA administrator
-- Julie Robinson, International Space Station Program scientist
-- Elon Musk, chief designer and CEO, SpaceX
-- Gwynne Shotwell, president and COO, SpaceX

For dial-in information, journalists must contact Trent Perrotto at
[email protected] or 202-358-1100 by noon EDT, Thursday,
March 28.

Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live on NASA's website
at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

For more information about NASA's International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For more information about SpaceX, visit:

http://www.spacex.com

the teleconference link is active--with some bad elevator music

[krytek]

1 pm EDT is about 17:00 UTC. So it should start right about now?

[Targeteer]

starting shortly

[Lars_J]

1 pm EDT is about 17:00 UTC. So it should start right about now?

They just interrupted the awful elevator music to say that todays conference will begin shortly.

[Lars_J]

Starting now...

[Targeteer]

starting

[mlindner]

Gwynne Shotwell is now the President and COO? Did she always have that second title? This is the first time I've heard it.

[Lars_J]

Bolden:
 - highlights the importance of the commercial cargo program to NASA
 - mentions Orbital's upcoming flight

[WindnWar]

Gynne Shotwell

All cargo remained powered at all times..

[Lars_J]

Shotwell:
 - this mission an enormous success
 - now completed 3 missions to ISS in 10 months (a record?)
 - first mission with trunk cargo
 - longest mission duration to date - berthed 23 days
 - no power loss for cargo
 - up 1268 lbs pressurized cargo /820 lbs unpressurized cargo
 - down 3200 lbs of pressurized cargo