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

[Space OurSoul]

"There and back again- the long-expected party thread"

(Actually The Hobbit's (which Bilbo sub-titled "there and back again") party was "an unexpected party"- it was the LotR (Bilbo's birthday) party that was "long-expected")


Edit: obsessive programmer parenthesis-balance

[sghill]

Well, if SpaceX get to 1 hour turnaround, that might not be a lot of time showing for the payment

Illuminated livery would require lights, which might change the aerodynamics a bit... but if there's money in it, SpaceX may take the payload hit

Hmm, now that you bring up "liveries," as the operational economics of boosters more closely matches an airliner's, we're likely to see the first spacelines forming with their own liveries on their boosters (like Virgin Galactic, only orbital), and perhaps SpaceX exiting the launch operations side of the business. 

Why would they want operational expense, when they can make their money off of building boosters and selling it to an operator?  Another long-discussed natural consequence is that other non-reusable builders simply exit the booster manufacturing market all together.

I'll be flying Pan-Am once again!


P.S. Does anyone else instantly have "Blue Danube" fire up in their heads when they see this photo?

[Lars_J]

Another image from Elon: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/461199264345903104

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Falcon 9 onboard camera shot right before splashdown. Full vid posting shortly to http://spacex.com . pic.twitter.com/RXcKJ1d36G

[jg]

Anyone know what the crosswinds were out there? with 12 meter swells, it had to have been huge!

 I'm impressed the maneuvering thrusters could maintain vertical for that booster in such a gale; the horizontal wind loading must have been incredible.

Think balloon.  They weren't trying to land on a particular point (this flight), so they don't have to fight the horizontal wind at all.  So this only becomes an issue for RTLS (and some previous grasshopper flights have been in a decent cross-wind).

And courtesy of GPS, you can even get a handle on the winds as you descend; its only sharp wind-shear that is likely to be a headache and I don't expect they intend to land in microbursts in a thunderstorm ;-).

[cro-magnon gramps]

I enlarged it to 1920 width, for scr bkgd.... not as pixalated as I thought it might... awesome power though...

Fantastic job SpaceX...

[CraigLieb]

Another image from Elon: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/461199264345903104

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Falcon 9 onboard camera shot right before splashdown. Full vid posting shortly to http://spacex.com . pic.twitter.com/RXcKJ1d36G

A detailed analysis of the dark shadow above and to the right of the landing leg reveals these three possibilities...

(just having some fun since this is the party thread)...

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Interestingly "Don't call it a comeback" or "There and back again- the long-expected party thread" would also fit with Orbcomm as well, because this is crucial to their long awaited replacement of their falling apart constellation. It won't be a comeback to them - it would be the start of another climb in their satcom business. 

[Elmar Moelzer]

I find it interesting that the clamps are actually part of the leg and not part of the stage... I did not expect that. In hindsight it does make sense though.

[cro-magnon gramps]

how about, calling the next party thread "I'mmmm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacck, bhuhahahahah!!!" or suitable monster laugh ;-)

[Space OurSoul]

Interestingly "Don't call it a comeback" or "There and back again- the long-expected party thread" would also fit with Orbcomm as well, because this is crucial to their long awaited replacement of their falling apart constellation. It won't be a comeback to them - it would be the start of another climb in their satcom business. 

On reflection, I guess I would reserve "There and back again- the long-expected party thread" for the first flight that intends to land the stage at the launch site. Cuz that's really what we're waiting for, and it should be a party.

[NovaSilisko]

A detailed analysis of the dark shadow above and to the right of the landing leg reveals these three possibilities...

(just having some fun since this is the party thread)...

I vote frog.

Edit: I like how 290 people at the time of this edit have viewed the attachment despite it being 1:1 scale 

[cro-magnon gramps]

this might be suitable for one of the "Competitors" next attempts at launching a rocket ;-) ULA, Boeing LM, ESA, Rosco etc ;-)

[funkyjive]

I find it interesting that the clamps are actually part of the leg and not part of the stage... I did not expect that. In hindsight it does make sense though.

Could those just be covers over the actual clamping mechanism during ascent? It seems like it wouldn't make much sense to run electrical and/or pneumatic lines through the hinge area of the leg (Where they would be exposed) and up the legs. Seems like it would make more sense to keep all of that on the inside of the stage for a simpler and more robust system. My guess is that what we see are just covers for the clamps when the legs are folded up. I'm guessing the shape/design of the covers would prevent the clean unfolding of the legs if they were mounted to the core so the are simply attached to the leg instead but still serve the purpose of covering the actual clamping mechanism pre-launch through ascent.

The other possibility is that the clamps still exist on the core and those shapes are just hardened flange points on the leg that the clamps grab.

 

[Elmar Moelzer]

I find it interesting that the clamps are actually part of the leg and not part of the stage... I did not expect that. In hindsight it does make sense though.

Could those just be covers over the actual clamping mechanism during ascent? It seems like it wouldn't make much sense to run electrical and/or pneumatic lines through the hinge area of the leg (Where they would be exposed) and up the legs. Seems like it would make more sense to keep all of that on the inside of the stage for a simpler and more robust system. My guess is that what we see are just covers for the clamps when the legs are folded up. I'm guessing the shape/design of the covers would prevent the clean unfolding of the legs if they were mounted to the core so the are simply attached to the leg instead but still serve the purpose of covering the actual clamping mechanism pre-launch through ascent.

The other possibility is that the clamps still exist on the core and those shapes are just hardened flange points on the leg that the clamps grab.

Good points!

[GusTurbo]

Wild speculation about the hidden post. One of the several pieces of information in the post was about the upcoming Dragon 2 reveal, which Elon Musk just tweeted about.

Elon Musk @elonmusk  ·  1h
Sounds like this might be a good time to unveil the new Dragon Mk 2 spaceship that @SpaceX has been working on w @NASA. No trampoline needed

Elon Musk @elonmusk  ·  1h
Cover drops on May 29. Actual flight design hardware of crew Dragon, not a mockup.

[StealerofSuns]

Interestingly "Don't call it a comeback" or "There and back again- the long-expected party thread" would also fit with Orbcomm as well, because this is crucial to their long awaited replacement of their falling apart constellation. It won't be a comeback to them - it would be the start of another climb in their satcom business. 

There and Back Again for the next title! I second this! 

[Sean Lynch]

Interestingly "Don't call it a comeback" or "There and back again- the long-expected party thread" would also fit with Orbcomm as well, because this is crucial to their long awaited replacement of their falling apart constellation. It won't be a comeback to them - it would be the start of another climb in their satcom business. 

There and Back Again for the next title! I second this! 

To me, the inspiration of the SpaceX missions is not what goes up, but in what comes down and how it's coming back .
Not to take anything away from the importance primary goal of the coming Orbcomm launch.

Orbcomm will be a planned soft water "touchdown" so perhaps save "There and Back Again" for the first launch of a used stage?

[Sean Lynch]

Another image from Elon: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/461199264345903104

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Falcon 9 onboard camera shot right before splashdown. Full vid posting shortly to http://spacex.com . pic.twitter.com/RXcKJ1d36G

A detailed analysis of the dark shadow above and to the right of the landing leg reveals these three possibilities...

(just having some fun since this is the party thread)...

Don't let CNN see that, it may become the next MH370 wreckage report.

[Jakusb]

I do agree to reserve "there and back again, a Falcon's tail " for at least the first attempt on land or first re flight of used first stage.

For Orbcomm I would go for swarzeneggers "I'll be back!!"
Although also very appropriate for first land landing attempt.

Leaves something referencing a diving related title. Like the show have here in Netherlands: "Stars Jump" where (semi)famous people jump in a swimming pool from 10m doing some tricks.

Other suggestions:
"Back to the future" (stage will come back in order to advance into future abilities)
"Will I see you again?!"
"This is not goodbye"
"Hope to see you again"

I will likely come up with more later.

Edit:
"Return to sender"
"Return to Me"

[MP99]

It will be coming in closer to the shore.

"It's OK, I can backstroke in from here".

It has legs, after all.

Cheers, Martin