The CRS-3/SpX-3 - Dragon, Suit Up! - Party Thread

[Robert Thompson]

You can see Mars' northern ice cap an 8 inch Celestron. Apparently, you can see Hellas basin with an 11 inch (!).

"Earth and Mars are converging for a close encounter in April 2014, an event astronomers call "opposition." At closest approach on April 14th, burnt-orange Mars will rise in the east at sunset and soar overhead at midnight shining 8 times brighter than a 1st magnitude star. Even now the view is impressive..."
http://spaceweather.com/
(Direct: http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=95532)

Theoretically you could point out at a star party where the boots go.

[kevin-rf]

You can see Mars' northern ice cap an 8 inch Celestron.

Will have to try that tonight... Will post if I get any usable images

[Robotbeat]

[Sean Lynch]

SpaceX launch party NASA Media Schedule as of 03/21:

Pre-Launch Briefing: Saturday March 29th 1 pm (EDT)
Cargo Science Briefing: Saturday March 29th 2:00 pm (EDT)
Launch Coverage Begins: Sunday March 30th 9:45 pm.
Post-Launch News Conference: 90 minutes after launch.
Dragon Arrival Coverage: Wednesday April 2nd 5:45 am.
Dragon Installation: Wednesday April 2nd 9:30 am.

Above per NASA MEDIA ADVISORY M14-052 http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/march/spacex-launch-to-the-international-space-station-reset-for-march-30/#.Uy0QFFdv7H8

Some Party Streaming Sources:
NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#.Uy0wNFdv7H8
SpaceX CRS3 streaming: http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

Launch Coverage Party Countdown:
http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/to?msg=%20CRS-3/SpX-3%20-%20Dragon,%20Suit%20Up!&p0=2273&year=2014&month=3&day=30&hour=21&min=45&sec=0

[Robert Thompson]

[mr. mark]

So many things wrong with this video from a technical aspect, I don't know where to start. But, as science fiction it's cool.

[Robotbeat]

So many things wrong with this video from a technical aspect, I don't know where to start. But, as science fiction it's cool.

This is a PARTY THREAD!

Wooo!

[Elmar Moelzer]

LOL, the capsule changed from the new design to the old design, half way through the video...
Still a fun video though.

[Prober]

So many things wrong with this video from a technical aspect, I don't know where to start. But, as science fiction it's cool.

This is a PARTY THREAD!

Wooo!

What does Mars have to do with CRS3?   Someone crashed this party.

[oiorionsbelt]

What does Mars have to do with CRS3?   Someone crashed this party.

Looking at it from a "let's colonize Mars", perspective, as Elon seems to, then CRS3 puts SpaceX one step closer, no?

[AJW]

“Puff, the Magic Dragon, lived by the sea, and frolicked in the Autumn Mist in a land called Honah Lee, little Jacky Paper loved that rascal Puff, and gave him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff.”

I'm looking forward to a little magic.... and fire.

[Robert Thompson]

So many things wrong with this video from a technical aspect, I don't know where to start. But, as science fiction it's cool.

You could start with the Phoenix landing site being at 68 degrees north, which as we all know, is too cold for human habitation. (Maybe it was Mars-One's LM Phoenix clone...)

[Avron]

I'm thinking we should get a spacex raft, good place to tan in the daytime and  a great place to watch launches around, say a barbi and a few drinks , in the evening or early morning ( like 4am etc).. may even get a change to see a stage land in the sea, if not we will know about success.. tidle wave.. spilled beer, not good

[Comga]

I'm thinking we should get a spacex raft, good place to tan in the daytime and  a great place to watch launches around, say a barbi and a few drinks , in the evening or early morning ( like 4am etc).. may even get a change to see a stage land in the sea, if not we will know about success.. tidle wave.. spilled beer, not good

Please tell me they don't use the word "barbi" in your northern end of the Commonwealth!
Then you might tell us what you are going on about....
And doesn't your browser alert you to the word "tidle"?

[QuantumG]

Charcoal or gas?

[ChrisWilson68]

Kerosene.  Maybe switch to methane somewhere down the line.

[kch]

Kerosene.  Maybe switch to methane somewhere down the line.

After dinner, no doubt ... "How 'bout some more beans, Mr. Taggart?" 

[Doesitfloat]

In another thread there was a question about retrieval vessel for the booster stage.

The prototype is ready and will be on the water.

[WTF]

In another thread there was a question about retrieval vessel for the booster stage.

The prototype is ready and will be on the water.

“ … e Freedom Star, a former space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery ship, is now a floating high tech camera and radar platform that will be stationed in the North Atlantic to track and capture images of the first commercial spacecraft carrying cargo to the International Space Station. … “
Read more at http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112524169/freedom-star-shuttle-booster-recovery-ship-to-follow-spacex-launch/#8gffVF2G0yOFzod5.99

Wonder where Freedom Star will be late night on the 30th ?

[mme]

Wonder where Freedom Star will be late night on the 30th ?

From Wikipedia's MV Freedom Star page:

On September 28, 2012, Freedom Star was transferred to the U.S. Department of Transportation's James River Reserve Fleet for potential use as a training vessel.

But since SpaceX has indicated they will try to recover the stage they'll have access to some ship, but it probably isn't the Freedom Star.