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

[jacqmans]

SpaceX has issued the following update regarding the SpaceX-3 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station:

 To ensure the highest possible level of mission assurance and allow additional time to resolve remaining open items, SpaceX is now targeting March 30th for the CRS-3 launch, with April 2nd as a back-up. These represent the earliest available launch opportunities given existing schedules, and are currently pending approval with the Range.

 Both Falcon 9 and Dragon are in good health; given the critical payloads on board and significant upgrades to Dragon, the additional time will ensure SpaceX does everything possible on the ground to prepare for a successful launch.

 Additional details on exact liftoff time, press activities, etc. will be available as we get closer to launch, please direct questions to [email protected]

[JasonAW3]

SpaceX has issued the following update regarding the SpaceX-3 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station:

 To ensure the highest possible level of mission assurance and allow additional time to resolve remaining open items, SpaceX is now targeting March 30th for the CRS-3 launch, with April 2nd as a back-up. These represent the earliest available launch opportunities given existing schedules, and are currently pending approval with the Range.

 Both Falcon 9 and Dragon are in good health; given the critical payloads on board and significant upgrades to Dragon, the additional time will ensure SpaceX does everything possible on the ground to prepare for a successful launch.

 Additional details on exact liftoff time, press activities, etc. will be available as we get closer to launch, please direct questions to [email protected]

OK, any idea as to launch time?

[kniklas]

I found this information as potential reason of delay:

Peter King ‏@PeterKingCBS
Sunday's planned launch by @SpaceX postponed until at least March 30 due to contamination issue.

and this:

Peter King ‏@PeterKingCBS 
CBS's Bill Harwood reports possible contamination which could cause problems 4 hardware headed to the international space station. #spacex


[edit: added second tweet]

[Avron]

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

LOOK  a logo.. at last..

[Chris Bergin]

So an article - not much to work with, so covered the way the schedule has moved and such:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/03/spacex-delay-crs-3-mission-two-weeks/

[starsilk]

Jeff Foust ‏@jeff_foust  52m
Scimemi on SpaceX CRS-3 delay: have some issues with "payload contamination" that require replacing some parts; March 30 next launch date.

[InfraNut2]

More specific location of the contamination than in the report linked below.

SpaceX-3 Launch Delayed:  Due to contamination found on the beta cloth shields in the SpaceX-3 unpressurized external trunk, the decision was made to move the launch of SpX-3 to later in the month.  The exact day of launch will be assessed by ground teams.  Specialists are reviewing options for addressing the contamination issue on the beta cloth shields.

Link to the Bill Harwood story for convenience. re:

Peter King ‏@PeterKingCBS 
CBS's Bill Harwood reports possible contamination which could cause problems 4 hardware headed to the international space station. #spacex

[AnjaZoe]

Are those shields part of the Dragon trunk or of one of the payloads?

Zoe

[Galactic Penguin SST]

DLR - English ‏@DLR_en
New launch date for #SpaceX #CRS3: 0251 UTC on 31 March — 04:51 CEST -- 22:51 EDT/local (30 March).  (PC) pic.twitter.com/GlHGtfmK9P

[Prober]

DLR - English ‏@DLR_en
New launch date for #SpaceX #CRS3: 0251 UTC on 31 March — 04:51 CEST -- 22:51 EDT/local (30 March).  (PC) pic.twitter.com/GlHGtfmK9P

is that a Net launch date?

[Jarnis]

DLR - English ‏@DLR_en
New launch date for #SpaceX #CRS3: 0251 UTC on 31 March — 04:51 CEST -- 22:51 EDT/local (30 March).  (PC) pic.twitter.com/GlHGtfmK9P

is that a Net launch date?

No, NET dates are just for a day ("no-earlier-than-day-X"). This one has the exact planned launch time, so this is a firm launch time (unless anything comes up...)

Expect the rocket to go up at that time if everything goes as planned.

[b ramsey]

Where in the trunk, could oil have come from, that would have contaminated the beta cloth shields?

[mfck]

Where in the trunk, could oil have come from, that would have contaminated the beta cloth shields?

The 'oil' would come from the under-spec cloth shield due to vacuum outgassing, contaminating the optics in the trunk. Or at least that is what I have figured.

[b ramsey]

So your saying the beta cloth shields, were probably contaminated before they were installed in the trunk.

[Kabloona]

This is an update thread, not a discussion thread. Please take discussions here:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31513.msg1173001#msg1173001

[Chris Bergin]

Via L2:

Sewing Machine potentially caused CRS-3 Dragon contamination
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/03/sewing-machine-contamination-spacexs-crs-3-dragon/

Second revision, post-Ms. Shotwell comments on The Space Show, now complete on the same link.

[jacqmans]

March 21, 2014 - 2:14 PM EDT

SpaceX has confirmed it will target its next cargo mission launch to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, for 10:50 p.m. EDT, Sunday, March 30.

NASA Television launch coverage begins at 9:45 p.m. for the company's third contracted resupply mission to the orbital laboratory. A post-launch news conference will follow at approximately 90 minutes after liftoff. If for any reason the launch is postponed, the next launch opportunity is 9:39 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, with NASA TV coverage beginning at 8:30 p.m.

NASA TV also will air a prelaunch news conference at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A 2 p.m. briefing on the science and technology cargo being delivered to the space station by SpaceX will follow.

A March 30 launch would result in SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft arriving at the station on Wednesday, April 2 at approximately 7 a.m. NASA TV coverage of rendezvous and berthing will begin at 5:45 a.m. for a 7 a.m. capture. Coverage of Dragon's installation will begin at 9:30 a.m.

MEDIA CREDENTIALING

Media may request accreditation online to attend the prelaunch events, including the launch pad photo opportunity, prelaunch news conference and launch, at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

The deadline for U.S. media to apply for accreditation is March 25. The deadline has passed for international media to apply.

Media credentials will be valid for mission activities from launch through splashdown at both the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the Johnson Space Center in Texas.

For further information about media accreditation, contact Jennifer Horner at 321-867-6598.

PASS AND IDENTIFICATION BUILDING HOURS OF OPERATION

The Pass and Identification Building on State Road 3, Merritt Island, will be open to pick up media credentials at the following times:

Friday, March 28: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
 Saturday, March 29: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
 Sunday, March 30: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Media badges will be valid for access to Kennedy’s Press Site through Gate 2 on State Road 3 and through Gate 3 on State Road 405, east of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

NASA NEWS CENTER HOURS OF OPERATION

The NASA News Center hours of operation for SpaceX-3 are:

Friday, March 28: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
 Saturday, March 29: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
 Sunday, March 30: 9:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. March 31
 Monday, March 31: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

PRELAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE

Saturday, March 29 (L-1 day): The prelaunch news conference for the NASA/SpaceX-3 mission will be held at Kennedy’s Press Site at 1 p.m. NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming Internet coverage.

Participants in the prelaunch news conference will be:

TBD, International Space Station Program
 Johnson Space Center, Houston

Gwynne Shotwell, president, SpaceX
 Hawthorne, Calif.

Mike McAleenan, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron
 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

SPACEX-3 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PAYLOAD NEWS CONFERENCE

Saturday, March 29 (L-1 day):  A NASA/SpaceX-3 science and technology briefing will be held at Kennedy’s Press Site at 2 p.m. NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming Internet coverage.

Participants in the science briefing will be:

TBD, International Space Station Program Science
 Johnson Space Center, Houston

TBD, Space Technology Mission Directorate
 NASA Headquarters

TBD, Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS)
 Melbourne, Fla.

POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE

A post-launch news conference will be held approximately 90 minutes after launch. NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming Internet coverage.

Participants in the post-launch news conference will be:

TBD, International Space Station Program
 Johnson Space Center, Houston

Gwen Shotwell, president
 SpaceX

Media may participate in the news conferences in person at Kennedy Space Center or via a phone bridge by calling the newsroom at Kennedy 15 minutes before the briefings begin at 321-867-2468.  Audio of the prelaunch briefings will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed directly by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135.

REMOTE CAMERA SETUPS

Sunday March 30 (Launch day): Media will be able to establish sound-activated remote cameras at the launch pad.  The location is within Space Launch Complex 40 on the east side of the complex outside the pad perimeter fence. Media who want to participate in remote camera setup will depart from Kennedy’s Press Site by government bus at 11:15 a.m. and return at approximately 12:50 p.m. after remote cameras have been established. International media who did not apply by the deadline will be able to establish remote cameras at Universal Camera Site 3 (UCS-3) north of the launch complex.

FALCON 9 LAUNCH PAD PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Sunday, March 30 (Launch day): There will be photo opportunity of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule on the launch pad. Media will depart from Kennedy’s Press Site by government bus at 1:30 p.m. for Space Launch Complex 40 and be returned to the Press Site by approximately 3 p.m. SpaceX security regulations require that news media representatives attending this event be U.S. citizens. International media who did not apply by the deadline will be able to photograph the Falcon 9 from Universal Camera Site 3 (UCS-3) north of the launch complex.

SPECIAL SPACEX-3 PRELAUNCH MEDIA AVAILABILITIES

Sunday, March 30 (Launch day):  There will be local media interview availabilities prior to launch in the NASA News Center Press Site bullpen as follows:

4 - 4:30 p.m. CubeSats
                       Andy Petro - PhoneSat
                       TBD - Elana V

4:30 - 5 p.m.  NASA Robotics
                       Robert Ambrose, principal investigator, Software, Robotics and Simulation

5 - 5:30 p.m.  SpaceX-3 Science and Experiments
                        Participants TBD

NEWS MEDIA LAUNCH VIEWING

Sunday, March 30 (Launch day):  News media may view the launch from the NASA Causeway or Kennedy’s Press Site. Busses will depart from the Press Site parking lot for the NASA Causeway at 9:30 p.m.  A sign-up sheet will be available in the newsroom for media desiring to photograph the launch from the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).  The space available is limited, and media must sign up in person. Departure from the NASA News Center for the VAB will be at 9:55 p.m.

NASA TV LAUNCH COVERAGE

Sunday, March 30 (Launch day): NASA TV live coverage will begin at 9:45 p.m. EDT and conclude at approximately 11 p.m. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA "V" circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135.  On launch day, "mission audio," the launch conductor’s countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135 starting at 9 p.m.  Launch also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast.

IN-FLIGHT NASA TV COVERAGE

If launch occurs March 30, NASA TV will provide live coverage on Wednesday, April 2, of the arrival of the Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station. Grapple and berthing coverage begins at 5:45 a.m. for a grapple at 7 a.m. Berthing coverage begins at 9:30 a.m.

NASA WEB PRELAUNCH AND LAUNCH COVERAGE

Prelaunch and launch day coverage of the SpaceX-3 flight will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and text updates beginning at 9:45 p.m. as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video, podcast and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff.  For questions about countdown coverage, contact Nancy Bray at 321-867-9112. You can follow countdown coverage on our launch blog and learn more about the SpaceX-3 mission by going to the mission home page at:

http://www.nasa.gov/SpaceX

TWITTER

The NASA News Twitter feed will be updated throughout the launch countdown. To access the NASA News Twitter feed, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/NASAKennedy

FACEBOOK

The NASA News Facebook feed will be updated throughout the launch countdown.  To access the NASA Facebook feed, visit:

http://www.facebook.com/NASAKennedy

RECORDED STATUS

Recorded status reports on the launch of SpaceX-3 and associated prelaunch activities will be provided on the Kennedy media phone line starting Friday, March 28. The telephone number is 321-867-2525.

WIRELESS CAPABILITY

Wireless capability for the news media is available at the Kennedy Press Site.

WEB ACTIVITIES UPDATES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For updates to these SpaceX-3 prelaunch activities, go to:

http://www.nasa.gov/SpaceX

For video b-roll and other International Space Station media resources, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews

For further information about the International Space Station, research in low-Earth orbit, NASA’s commercial space programs and the future of American spaceflight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For more information about SpaceX, visit:

http://www.spacex.com

[Chris Bergin]

Per L2, CRS-3 has been delayed again. No new NET.

Not official (until it's officially released). Asking SpaceX for any comment.

[WHAP]

Assuming that this is the same issue that pushed the Atlas launch out.  Since this was a "mandatory Range asset", I'm guessing that it impacts any launch from CCAFS.

[Chris Bergin]

We understand (L2) SpaceX is looking at *every* possible Range alternative before deciding on their official launch situation. Still likely they will announce a delay, but that's why nothing is official yet.