SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS-3 SpX-3 PROCESSING/Pre-LAUNCH UPDATES

[Jim]

<update mode> That seems to be the very first time the Falcon 9's 2nd stage-to-payload adaptor has been shown to the public...  </update mode>

That is the Dragon adapter and not the same for other payloads

[Thunderbird5]

SpaceX update with photos: http://www.spacex.com/news/2014/03/11/upcoming-mission-falcon-9-and-dragon-launching-space-station

And it has a SpaceX logo on the Dragon spacecraft itself (not just the nose cap and solar array fairings). Hopefully we should get some cool logo'd shots when berthed ☺

[Chris Bergin]

70 percent chance of acceptable weather per NASA at L-4.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

70 percent chance of acceptable weather per NASA at L-4.

....but drops to just 30% on Monday (and the cold front means that the weather would not be good for the rest of the week).

[ChefPat]

70 percent chance of acceptable weather per NASA at L-4.

Whats L-4?

[Elvis in Space]

70 percent chance of acceptable weather per NASA at L-4.

Whats L-4?

(L)aunch day minus 4 to go.

[billh]

What are these? They look like some sort of electrical interfaces for testing each engine.

[jacqmans]

Weather 70 Percent ‘Go’ for Sunday Morning Launch

March 12, 2014 - 11:38 AM EDT

Weather is expected to cooperate for the upcoming launch of SpaceX-3 to the International Space Station. The "launch minus four days" forecast issued today predicts a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions at launch time, scheduled for 4:41 a.m. EDT on Sunday, March 16.

SpaceX-3 is the third commercial resupply mission to space station for SpaceX. During the mission, the Dragon capsule will deliver 4,969 pounds of cargo to the orbiting laboratory and return 3,578 pounds to Earth.

Dragon is launching aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

[manboy]

SpaceX update with photos: http://www.spacex.com/news/2014/03/11/upcoming-mission-falcon-9-and-dragon-launching-space-station

"Dragon’s pressurized capsule and unpressurized trunk will be filled with about 4,600 lbs (2,087 kg)"

I thought it was only carrying 1,580 kg.

[Chalmer]

"Dragon’s pressurized capsule and unpressurized trunk will be filled with about 4,600 lbs (2,087 kg)"

I thought it was only carrying 1,580 kg.

Weather 70 Percent ‘Go’ for Sunday Morning Launch

March 12, 2014 - 11:38 AM EDT

Weather is expected to cooperate for the upcoming launch of SpaceX-3 to the International Space Station. The "launch minus four days" forecast issued today predicts a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions at launch time, scheduled for 4:41 a.m. EDT on Sunday, March 16.

SpaceX-3 is the third commercial resupply mission to space station for SpaceX. During the mission, the Dragon capsule will deliver 4,969 pounds of cargo to the orbiting laboratory and return 3,578 pounds to Earth.

Dragon is launching aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

I thought it was only 1,580 Kg too. Now SpaceX is saying 2,087 Kg and NASA is saying 2,260 Kg .. How much cargo is in there? Is it because of late load? Or maybe different ways to classify what is cargo and what is not?

Edit: Found a pdf of the cargo on nasa.gov (attached).

Lists:
Total weight of cargo: 3347 pounds/1518 kilograms
Crew supplies: 168 pounds/76 kilograms
Hardware and computer resources: 452 pounds/205 kilograms
Science and research: 1576 pounds/715 kilograms
Spacewalk tools: 271 pounds/123 kilograms

[JasonAW3]

Ok, I likely missed it.  Last I heard CRS-3 was supposed to go up on March 16th, but I never got the time when it's supposed to launch.

Could I get an update on the date and time of launch?

[JBF]

Ok, I likely missed it.  Last I heard CRS-3 was supposed to go up on March 16th, but I never got the time when it's supposed to launch.

Could I get an update on the date and time of launch?

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/launch/index.html#.UyCr54XaowI Mach 16, 4:41 AM EDT

[rsnellenberger]

Ok, I likely missed it.  Last I heard CRS-3 was supposed to go up on March 16th, but I never got the time when it's supposed to launch.

Could I get an update on the date and time of launch?

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/launch/index.html#.UyCr54XaowI Mach 16, 4:41 AM EDT

and Mach 25, 4:49 AM EDT   

[edkyle99]

"Dragon’s pressurized capsule and unpressurized trunk will be filled with about 4,600 lbs (2,087 kg)"

I thought it was only carrying 1,580 kg.

Weather 70 Percent ‘Go’ for Sunday Morning Launch

March 12, 2014 - 11:38 AM EDT

Weather is expected to cooperate for the upcoming launch of SpaceX-3 to the International Space Station. The "launch minus four days" forecast issued today predicts a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions at launch time, scheduled for 4:41 a.m. EDT on Sunday, March 16.

SpaceX-3 is the third commercial resupply mission to space station for SpaceX. During the mission, the Dragon capsule will deliver 4,969 pounds of cargo to the orbiting laboratory and return 3,578 pounds to Earth.

Dragon is launching aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

I thought it was only 1,580 Kg too. Now SpaceX is saying 2,087 Kg and NASA is saying 2,260 Kg .. How much cargo is in there? Is it because of late load? Or maybe different ways to classify what is cargo and what is not?

Edit: Found a pdf of the cargo on nasa.gov (attached).

Lists:
Total weight of cargo: 3347 pounds/1518 kilograms
Crew supplies: 168 pounds/76 kilograms
Hardware and computer resources: 452 pounds/205 kilograms
Science and research: 1576 pounds/715 kilograms
Spacewalk tools: 271 pounds/123 kilograms

This says total cargo is only 1,518 kg.  Yet another number.

 - Ed Kyle

[IRobot]

Maybe difference between with/without packing?

[AnalogMan]

Press Kit for SpaceX CRS-3 Mission now available:

http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceXCRS-3_PressKit_FINAL.pdf

(copy also attached)

[corrodedNut]

New photo: http://www.spacex.com/gallery/crs-3-dragon-resupply-mission-station

[Elmar Moelzer]

The press kit also talks about 4600 pounds of cargo (or about 2086 kg).

[PerW]

From @flatoday_jdean
SpaceX: ISS resupply launch now targeting March 30 to ensure "highest possible level of mission assurance," time to resolve open items.

[Chris Bergin]

No NET on our end.  Will see if we can find out what's up.