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

[Lars_J]

Elon Musk:
 - the rocket performed flawlessly
 - mentions issue with Dragon thrusters
 - no further issues after that
 - we understand what caused it and have addressed it for future missions

[mlindner]

A number of upgrades that will be on the next CRS SpaceX Dragon flight to maximize up and down mass. :O

Not counting the upgrades to Falcon 9 v1.1.

[Lars_J]

Q: Next CRS launch?
Bolden: - ask Elon/Gwynne, unless you refer to Orbital's test mission
Gwynne: - CRS3 late fall, several Dragon improvements
Musk: - With new version of F9, able to maximize Dragon payload (by several tons?), also confirms v1.1 flight will attempt to recover first stage.

[ArbitraryConstant]

Musk: raise the useful payload of Dragon by several tons.

Musk: attempt to recover the first stage with this flight (!)

[Lars_J]

Q: v1.1 faring tests status?
Musk: - Thanks NASA Glenn for facility use for fairing test, the test is being put together, will happen soon.

[Lars_J]

Q: Cause of the thruster issue? hardware? software?
Musk: A tiny change to a check valve for oxidizer tank - 3 check valves a bit different than the 4th one. That tiny change caused them to get stuck. We wrote some new software and uploaded it to increase and release pressure (like heimlich manuever) - this caused them to get unstuck. Also had difficulties communicating with Dragon due to free drift, but thanks USAF for help with comm facilities to resolve the issue.

[meekGee]

Musk: attempt to recover the first stage with this flight (!)

I missed it - did he give any more indications on what "attempt to recover" includes?

[ArbitraryConstant]

Musk: attempt to recover the first stage with this flight (!)

I missed it - did he give any more indications on what "attempt to recover" includes?

No, but someone just asked him exactly that question - will edit in a moment.

Musk: water landing - first stage continues ballistic arc after sep - velocity reduction burn before hitting atmosphere - another relight just before splashdown - will probably take several tries

Musk: thinks they may attempt a first stage recovery with legs next year.

[mlindner]

Will continue in a ballistic trajectory and then initiation a velocity reduction burn to lessen impact on the atmosphere. Then do another burn on the surface.

Elon says they do not expect success on the first several attempts. Plan to do NEXT YEAR a propulsive landing with LEGS at launch site!!!

Edit: Will attempt flight back to launch site sometime middle of next year!

[Lars_J]

Q: Fix for next mission for Dragon issue?
Musk: Uploaded software was just a quick fix - the fix is hardware, reverting it to the previous valves. Should not be an issue again. New procedures put in place to verify.

Q: How will v1.1 booster recovery be attempted?
Musk: Initial attempt with water landing after ballistic arc, burn before atmosphere to reduce speed, then 2nd burn before splashdown. We don't expect success in the first several attempts. Later we will try to return booster to launch site with landing legs.

Q: First attempt to bring 1st stage back to launch site?
Musk: Not a specific flight, perhaps middle of 2014

[meekGee]

Wow!  stage will reduce velocity before atmosphere, and then right before splashdown, another relight.

Holy S#$tsnacks...

They do not expect it to work right off the bat, maybe next year.

By next year, attempt RTLS and landing gear.

[ArbitraryConstant]

No specific flight - middle of next year for RTLS attempt.

[meekGee]

subtle point: He mentioned "several" reentry attempts this year

[meekGee]

...  precious minutes being spent on mutual self-congratulatory comments and other empty banter about teamwork and young ones ...  sigh ... 

[mlindner]

Elon: Pressure valve change was from a supplier. They made a bad change and we didn't catch it, so there is dual responsibility there.

[Lars_J]

Q: check valve - manufacturing or configuration problem?
Musk: Tiny design revision change from supplier, we did not catch it. (we share blame with them) They tested fine at lower pressure, but we have now improved tests with higher pressures.

[meekGee]

Valve functioned ok on low-pressure test, and they didn't anticipate that it could then fail at high pressure.  Changed testing procedure for future, and will undo the valve design change.

[mlindner]

Several changes on Falcon 9 v1.1

Full triple redundant (computer?) system on Falcon 9 v1.1. Here's to people who were claiming they only used single string computers on the rocket vehicle.

They also improved engine-to-engine protection and engine-to-stage protection in the case of an engine failure.

[Lars_J]

Q: v1.1 improvements.
Musk: Next version a meaningful upgrade, 60-70% more capability. Better structural and engine efficiency. Improved redundancy. Full triple redundant systems. Improved shielding between engines/engines and engines/stage, using lessons learned from engine out from the flight before this one. Designed [with enough margin] to be able to bring back first stage. This will take many attempts before we succeed.

[meekGee]

Elon: 1.1 will have have engine-out "right from take off"

My note: he's sliding back and forth between 1.1 descriptions and landing gear descriptions.  I interpret that to mean that 1.1 is close, design wise, to the RTLS landing version