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

[hopalong]

If I have my time zones correct, it will a launch in daylight, also the returning 1st stage will also be in daylight, which will help SpaceX monitor and record the hopefully soft spashdown of the stage.

[Chris Bergin]

SpaceX and NASA make it official.

They are going one minute earlier than we had, stating 58 minutes past the hour (adding "approximately"). We went with 59 minutes past the hour, but I've corrected to align with the official note.

[jacqmans]

April 4, 2014
NASA Coverage Set for SpaceX Mission to Space Station

The next SpaceX cargo mission to the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract is scheduled to launch Monday, April 14, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The company's Falcon 9 rocket, carrying its Dragon cargo spacecraft, will lift off at approximately 4:58 p.m. EDT. NASA Television coverage of the launch begins at 3:45 p.m. If for any reason the launch is postponed, the next launch opportunity is Friday, April 18 at approximately 3:25 p.m.

The mission, designated SpaceX-3, is the third of 12 SpaceX flights contracted by NASA to resupply the space station. It will be the fourth trip by a Dragon spacecraft to the orbiting laboratory.

The spacecraft will be filled with almost 5,000 pounds of scientific experiments and supplies. The Dragon will remain attached to the space station's Harmony module until mid-May and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California with more than 3,000 pounds of experiment samples and equipment returning from the station.

NASA will host a prelaunch news conference at 1 p.m., Sunday, April 13, at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, followed by a SpaceX science and technology cargo news conference at 2 p.m. Both briefings, which are subject to a change in time, will be carried live on NASA TV and the agency's website. A post-launch briefing will be held approximately 90 minutes after launch.

If launch occurs April 14, NASA TV will provide live coverage Wednesday, April 16, of the arrival of the Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station. Grapple and berthing coverage will begin at 5:45 a.m. with grapple at approximately 7 a.m. Berthing coverage begins at 9:30 a.m.

Media may request accreditation to attend the prelaunch news conferences, events and launch online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

The deadline for U.S. media to apply for accreditation is April 9. The deadline has passed for international media to apply.

Media credentials will be valid for mission activities from launch through splashdown at Kennedy and at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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

For an updated schedule of prelaunch briefings, events and NASA TV coverage items, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/1dsh9dp

For NASA TV schedule and video streaming information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

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

http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews

For launch countdown coverage, NASA's launch blog and more information about the mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacex

For more 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/exploration

[Lars_J]

A SpaceX tweet: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/453961182848618496

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX
#Dragon got a few upgrades since last trip to station. More at http://www.spacex.com/webcast . pic.twitter.com/qnOrZhQUFm

Dragon got a few upgrades since its last trip to station.

To support more critical science payloads for the ISS, the spacecraft flying on Monday has nearly four times its previous powered cargo capability. Dragon will carry additional freezers in its pressurized section and for the first time ever, powered cargo inside its unpressurized trunk – NASA’s OPALS and HDEV experiments. The spacecraft is also sporting redesigned cargo racks to accommodate the additional payloads. Read more about OPALS at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/861.html, read more about HDEV at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/917.html, and watch the launch LIVE right here on Monday 4/14!

[Silmfeanor]

And the full-res picture from twitter, using the :orig tag at the end of the URL.

[oiorionsbelt]

Anyone want to describe what we are looking at in this view?
What's the string  for?
Are those three dark circular objects basically door stops?

Edit: what he meant to say was "want to describe IN THE DISCUSSION THREAD" ...   ++Lar

[input~2]

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
ROCKETS.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 142058Z TO 142130Z APR,
ALTERNATE 181925Z TO 181957Z APR
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-36N 080-38W, 30-14N 078-33W,
30-09N 078-26W, 28-33N 080-19W,
28-26N 080-33W.
B. 31-42N 077-26W, 32-19N 076-52W,
32-45N 076-09W, 32-20N 075-17W,
31-09N 076-01W, 31-33N 077-27W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 182057Z APR 14.//

Authority: EASTERN RANGE OP X5953 LAUNCH 031920Z APR 14.

[Lar]

Post removed and transferred to the Discussions thread.

Thank you!  There are a bunch of others I'm loth to just up and delete from this UPDATES ONLY thread, because today is not my mean day. But why tempt me? move them!

Edit: apparently another mod is faster on the trigger than me and/or grumpier.

[Antares]

Looks like we know where the landing will take place.

[input~2]

F1132/14 -  AMERICAN LAUNCH VEHICLE RE-ENTRY WILL TAKE PLACE EASTERN RANGE WILL BE CONDUCTING HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS SURFACE TO UNLIMITED FOR ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY AND SPLASHDOWN OF LAUNCH VEHICLE UPPER STAGE WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREAS. A:  FROM 2816S   08713E TO 3604S   09809E TO 4237S   11001E TO 4829S   12649E TO 5130S   14432E TO 5221S   14433E TO 5152S   13631E TO 4855S   11934E TO 4414S   10751E TO 3916S   09905E TO 2914S   08620E TO BEGINNING. SFC - UNL, 1404142157 TO 1404142217 1404182024 TO 1404182044 14 APRIL PRIMARY RE-ENTRY 18 APRIL BACKUP RE-ENTRY, 14 APR 21:57 2014 UNTIL 18 APR 20:44 2014. CREATED: 03 APR 22:12 2014

[jacqmans]

SpaceX Managers 'Go' for Monday Launch

April 11, 2014 - 4:40 PM EDT

SpaceX managers held a Launch Readiness Review Friday and gave a “go” to proceed toward launch of the third SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services mission. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule is scheduled for 4:58 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 14. Launch coverage will begin at 3:45 p.m. on NASA Television and http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

[Avron]

My new favorite pic of Dragon and F9 , (not sure if its been posed in some other thread..)

Logo's R US

[Chris Bergin]

Very relevant to CRS-3 and a good amount of references. ISS MDM Article by Pete Harding:

And here's Pete's epic - and about as hardcore as you'll see on this issue - article on the MDM issue:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/imminent-spacewalks-external-mdm-failure-iss/

---

L2 Members: We now have a MDM Special area with internal notes, graphics and such:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34465.0

[TrevorMonty]

Great article.

Having a new EVA suit on CRs-3 may be deciding factor.

[psloss]

Pre-launch media briefing moved up (at least for now) to Noon Eastern:
http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/april/nasa-tv-to-air-spacex-3-status-update-at-noon-edt-april-13/

[Mapperuo]

Dunno if this is live but it's on NTV now.

[Chris Bergin]

Briefing being covered here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34461.60

Because of the MDM relevance.

New thread tomorrow for the launch.

[Chris Bergin]

Go for launch tomorrow, as expected.

[chewi]

[Chris Bergin]

Thanks for copying that across!

Pete's article, updated:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/imminent-spacewalks-external-mdm-failure-iss/

Launch article will be next. Live thread will be tonight or early morning.