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SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS-3 SpX-3 PAYLOADS by jcm on 08 Mar, 2014 15:43
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Let's pull out the discussion on payloads so it doesn't clog up the updates thread and separate it out from discussion on the rocket stuff and the landing legs.
For CRS-3 we have
HDEV (High Definition Earth Viewing), on a CEPA FRAM in the trunk, going to Columbus EPF, attach point SDN
OPALS (Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science), EXPA FRAM going to attach site 8 on ELC1.
Cubesats, for deploy from second stage? (or trunk?? but previous cases have been second stage...)
- All-Star/THEIA, Hermes-2, Ho'onopono (2 or 3?), LMRSat, SporeSat, TechCube-1, TSAT
(fromhttp://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/10/new-launch-dates-for-spacex-and-soyuz-2-1b-fregat-m/
)QuoteSpaceX CRS-3 (Dragon C5) Falcon 9 v1.1 is now planned for March 16, 2014 at 0841 UT. It should be carrying these satellites:
• All-Star/THEIA, Colorado Space Grant Consortium, 2401.700 MHz
• Hermes-2, Colorado Space Grant Consortium, 437.425 MHz
• Ho’oponopono-2, University of Hawaii, 427.220 MHz 9600 bps FSK / GMSK
• LMRSat, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• SporeSat, Santa Clara University, 437.100 MHz and 2401.2-2431.2 MHz
• TechCube-1, NASA Goddard
• TSAT (TestSat-Lite), Taylor University
And Kicksat, a 3U cubesats with N Sprites, where estimates of N are as high as 200 (trying to get the actual number).
EMU 3003 is a significant internal cargo. -
#1 by parham55 on 08 Mar, 2014 15:54
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Let's pull out the discussion on payloads so it doesn't clog up the updates thread and separate it out from discussion on the rocket stuff and the landing legs.
For CRS-3 we have
HDEV (High Definition Earth Viewing), on a CEPA FRAM in the trunk, going to Columbus EPF, attach point SDN
OPALS (Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science), EXPA FRAM going to attach site 8 on ELC1.
Cubesats, for deploy from second stage? (or trunk?? but previous cases have been second stage...)
- All-Star/THEIA, Hermes-2, Ho'onopono (2 or 3?), LMRSat, SporeSat, TechCube-1, TSAT
(fromhttp://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/10/new-launch-dates-for-spacex-and-soyuz-2-1b-fregat-m/
)QuoteSpaceX CRS-3 (Dragon C5) Falcon 9 v1.1 is now planned for March 16, 2014 at 0841 UT. It should be carrying these satellites:
• All-Star/THEIA, Colorado Space Grant Consortium, 2401.700 MHz
• Hermes-2, Colorado Space Grant Consortium, 437.425 MHz
• Ho’oponopono-2, University of Hawaii, 427.220 MHz 9600 bps FSK / GMSK
• LMRSat, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• SporeSat, Santa Clara University, 437.100 MHz and 2401.2-2431.2 MHz
• TechCube-1, NASA Goddard
• TSAT (TestSat-Lite), Taylor University
And Kicksat, a 3U cubesats with N Sprites, where estimates of N are as high as 200 (trying to get the actual number).
EMU 3003 is a significant internal cargo.
I saw N listed as 128, still trying to dig up the source. -
#2 by jcm on 08 Mar, 2014 17:03
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Here are some links on ALL-STAR:
http://spacegrant.colorado.edu/boulderstudents/boulderprojects/allstar
http://spacegrant.colorado.edu/allstar-projects/theia
https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/a/all-star
http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/all-star-theia.htm
Size deployed 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.6m? with two panels, mass around 4 to 5 kg
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#3 by docmordrid on 08 Mar, 2014 17:15
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Let's pull out the discussion on payloads so it doesn't clog up the updates thread and separate it out from discussion on the rocket stuff and the landing legs.
For CRS-3 we have
HDEV (High Definition Earth Viewing), on a CEPA FRAM in the trunk, going to Columbus EPF, attach point SDN
OPALS (Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science), EXPA FRAM going to attach site 8 on ELC1.
Cubesats, for deploy from second stage? (or trunk?? but previous cases have been second stage...)
- All-Star/THEIA, Hermes-2, Ho'onopono (2 or 3?), LMRSat, SporeSat, TechCube-1, TSAT
(fromhttp://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/10/new-launch-dates-for-spacex-and-soyuz-2-1b-fregat-m/
)QuoteSpaceX CRS-3 (Dragon C5) Falcon 9 v1.1 is now planned for March 16, 2014 at 0841 UT. It should be carrying these satellites:
• All-Star/THEIA, Colorado Space Grant Consortium, 2401.700 MHz
• Hermes-2, Colorado Space Grant Consortium, 437.425 MHz
• Ho’oponopono-2, University of Hawaii, 427.220 MHz 9600 bps FSK / GMSK
• LMRSat, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• SporeSat, Santa Clara University, 437.100 MHz and 2401.2-2431.2 MHz
• TechCube-1, NASA Goddard
• TSAT (TestSat-Lite), Taylor University
And Kicksat, a 3U cubesats with N Sprites, where estimates of N are as high as 200 (trying to get the actual number).
EMU 3003 is a significant internal cargo.
I saw N listed as 128, still trying to dig up the source.
Their Kickstarter page comments from 2 days ago says 104, limited to prevent jamming.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts/759795/comments -
#4 by Roy_H on 08 Mar, 2014 18:25
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Space junk is a serious problem. I would think that the worst is junk that is too small to track with earth radar and large enough to cause damage on impact. A nut or bolt at orbital speeds can do a lot of damage. I cannot believe that they would deliberately launch satellites so small that they cannot be tracked. Should be illegal IMHO.
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#5 by Owlon on 08 Mar, 2014 19:21
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Space junk is a serious problem. I would think that the worst is junk that is too small to track with earth radar and large enough to cause damage on impact. A nut or bolt at orbital speeds can do a lot of damage. I cannot believe that they would deliberately launch satellites so small that they cannot be tracked. Should be illegal IMHO.
I suspect they'll be deployed in low enough orbits that they will decay in a matter of weeks or months, which would also imply they don't intersect the orbit of any live satellite. -
#6 by guckyfan on 08 Mar, 2014 19:37
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http://amsat-uk.org/2014/03/03/mass-launch-of-437-mhz-satellites/Quote
The largest ever launch of 437 MHz satellites is planned for March 16 at 0841 UT when 104 Sprite satellites will fly on the SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS 3 mission to be deployed into a 325×315 km 51.5 degree inclination orbit.
It is hoped that their orbit will decay in 6 weeks, but depending on atmospheric condition maybe much faster.
This was already on the forum I believe but I don't remember where.
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#7 by Roy_H on 08 Mar, 2014 19:49
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http://amsat-uk.org/2014/03/03/mass-launch-of-437-mhz-satellites/
QuoteThe largest ever launch of 437 MHz satellites is planned for March 16 at 0841 UT when 104 Sprite satellites will fly on the SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS 3 mission to be deployed into a 325×315 km 51.5 degree inclination orbit.
It is hoped that their orbit will decay in 6 weeks, but depending on atmospheric condition maybe much faster.
Glad to hear it. I always thought an orbit that high would take many years to decay. -
#8 by hop on 08 Mar, 2014 20:06
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Glad to hear it. I always thought an orbit that high would take many years to decay.
Depends on drag, and small stuff is inherently draggier because of cube / square. 3.5 cm PCB squares will decay fast compared to most other stuff in the same orbit. -
#9 by jcm on 08 Mar, 2014 23:00
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Until recently, satellites in orbits that low were always pretty much the lowest operating satellite. With the proliferation of ISS-ejected cubesats that's no longer true. But I think the short decay times still mean it's not a big debris problem.
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#10 by baldusi on 09 Mar, 2014 03:03
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@AstroRobonautQuote
Less than 2 weeks until my legs are scheduled to launch on #SpaceX3! Can you tell I'm excited?pic.twitter.com/bUFL0Tw8X7
Which means that this flight is sporting legs both on the rocket and within the Dragon. -
#11 by Roy_H on 09 Mar, 2014 04:50
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I know this has been hashed through before, but please help me refresh my mind.
As per the article: "The SpX-3 flight will carry a full launch and return complement of 1,580kg/3,476lb of payload, an increase from the previous limit of 800kg, afforded by the increased upmass capabilities of the Falcon 9 v1.1."
The SpaceX web site quotes cargo capacity of 6000kg which is a considerable discrepancy from 1580kg. So what are the reasons?
1. I believe SpaceX quotes the capacity to an orbit of 28° around 200km vs the ISS at 51.6° and 425km height.
2. I understand that the Merlin 1D engines are running at 85% of maximum thrust. Is this for long life?
3. SpaceX has reserved fuel to fly back the first stage.
Have I got everything? Does this account for the entire discrepancy?
On this flight there are Glacier and Merlin freezers. Do they stay with the Dragon? Are they considered part of the payload or just the contents if they are returning?
Is the 1580kg quoted only for the pressurized cargo?
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#12 by Steven Pietrobon on 09 Mar, 2014 05:28
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And Kicksat, a 3U cubesats with N Sprites, where estimates of N are as high as 200 (trying to get the actual number).
According to the YouTube video it says "32 rows of Sprites deploy in ~7.5s". Each row has four satellites, giving a total of 128. This capture from the video also shows 32 rows.
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#13 by manboy on 09 Mar, 2014 09:41
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I know this has been hashed through before, but please help me refresh my mind.
This has been discussed a few times but I never felt we got a satisfactory answer.
As per the article: "The SpX-3 flight will carry a full launch and return complement of 1,580kg/3,476lb of payload, an increase from the previous limit of 800kg, afforded by the increased upmass capabilities of the Falcon 9 v1.1."
The SpaceX web site quotes cargo capacity of 6000kg which is a considerable discrepancy from 1580kg. So what are the reasons?
1. I believe SpaceX quotes the capacity to an orbit of 28° around 200km vs the ISS at 51.6° and 425km height.
2. I understand that the Merlin 1D engines are running at 85% of maximum thrust. Is this for long life?
3. SpaceX has reserved fuel to fly back the first stage.
Have I got everything? Does this account for the entire discrepancy?
On this flight there are Glacier and Merlin freezers. Do they stay with the Dragon? Are they considered part of the payload or just the contents if they are returning?
Is the 1580kg quoted only for the pressurized cargo?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31732.msg1084522#msg1084522
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31513.msg1082519#msg1082519
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31513.msg1157492#msg1157492 -
#14 by CuddlyRocket on 09 Mar, 2014 11:39
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I know this has been hashed through before, but please help me refresh my mind.
As per the article: "The SpX-3 flight will carry a full launch and return complement of 1,580kg/3,476lb of payload, an increase from the previous limit of 800kg, afforded by the increased upmass capabilities of the Falcon 9 v1.1."
The SpaceX web site quotes cargo capacity of 6000kg which is a considerable discrepancy from 1580kg. So what are the reasons?
It's important to distinguish between the mass of cargo that the Dragon capsule itself can structurally cope with and then the total payload of Dragon capsule plus its cargo that any particular launcher can actually boost into LEO. Presumably, if the Dragon was launched by an FH instead of an F9 its limit would be the 6000 kg, but even if you stuck it atop the mooted BFR it wouldn't be able to take more than that. -
#15 by Skyrocket on 09 Mar, 2014 11:52
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And Kicksat, a 3U cubesats with N Sprites, where estimates of N are as high as 200 (trying to get the actual number).
According to the YouTube video it says "32 rows of Sprites deploy in ~7.5s". Each row has four satellites, giving a total of 128. This capture from the video also shows 32 rows.
I've got the information, that KickSat will not be filled with full complement of 128 Sprites. According to that source, "only" 104 Sprites will be on board. I've requested confirmation, but got no feedback from the KickSat team yet. -
#16 by jacqmans on 09 Mar, 2014 21:49
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T-cell Experiment Patch
On the road to Mars and beyond, research on the International Space Station (ISS) will play a key role in understanding the impacts of spaceflight on human health.
In the central image of our patch, a SpaceX rocket blasts off atop two sweeping launch paths that extend up to the ISS, symbolizing the journey our T-cells will be taking to the ISS.
The two shades of blue represent the two spaceflights our experiment will fly on. The curves sweep slightly beyond the iconic station, highlighting its role in paving the path for future exploration.
In the lower right a cell is poised against the vast black backdrop of space, representing the T-cells at the heart of our experiment. Its DNA unfurls upward towards the ISS, symbolic of the changes in gene regulation, mRNA, and miRNA induced in the microgravity environment onboard the station, which we will be studying when the cells return to earth.
The names of the science team frame the top of the image, while the title of the project, "T-Cell Activation in Aging" completes the framing along the bottom.
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/001136.html
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#17 by beancounter on 10 Mar, 2014 06:43
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T-cell Experiment Patch
On the road to Mars and beyond, research on the International Space Station (ISS) will play a key role in understanding the impacts of spaceflight on human health.
In the central image of our patch, a SpaceX rocket blasts off atop two sweeping launch paths that extend up to the ISS, symbolizing the journey our T-cells will be taking to the ISS.
The two shades of blue represent the two spaceflights our experiment will fly on. The curves sweep slightly beyond the iconic station, highlighting its role in paving the path for future exploration.
In the lower right a cell is poised against the vast black backdrop of space, representing the T-cells at the heart of our experiment. Its DNA unfurls upward towards the ISS, symbolic of the changes in gene regulation, mRNA, and miRNA induced in the microgravity environment onboard the station, which we will be studying when the cells return to earth.
The names of the science team frame the top of the image, while the title of the project, "T-Cell Activation in Aging" completes the framing along the bottom.
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/001136.html
Thanks for the explanation. It really adds to what is already an exciting mission from any standpoint. -
#18 by docmordrid on 10 Mar, 2014 07:37
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Odd there's a fairing instead of a Dragon.
That aside, sounds like interesting work. -
#19 by Skyrocket on 10 Mar, 2014 18:12
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Just got confirmation from the University of Hawai'i, that Ho’oponopono is NOT on board of this launch.
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#20 by Comga on 11 Mar, 2014 05:18
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Here are some links on ALL-STAR:
http://spacegrant.colorado.edu/boulderstudents/boulderprojects/allstar
http://spacegrant.colorado.edu/allstar-projects/theia
https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/a/all-star
http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/all-star-theia.htm
Size deployed 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.6m? with two panels, mass around 4 to 5 kg
Great data sets on the spacegrant.colorado.edu site.
From that data the folded dimensions of ALLSTAR seems to be 100 by 112 by 320 mm.
Deployed size seems to be about 140 by 380 by 580 mm with the four solar panes unfolded and the payload bench extended.
"All-Star required to be under 4kg Current mass estimate 3.93 kg"
although "Estimated 3 wires, staking and conformal coating grams, wing bumpers ~170 grams" may be in addition.
Can anyone verify these values?
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#21 by The Roadie on 11 Mar, 2014 19:20
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I can't explain why I think this is interesting, and I did search first, but for the late load items like fresh fruit, how are they sourced and processed? Does somebody go to the local Safeway and buy them? Are they processed to remove fruit flies or other contaminants? Or do they have a part number and somebody seals them in triple layer mylar and removes the skin as useless mass and separates the sections if it's a citrus? Or is it just a few apples in a Zip-loc bag?
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#22 by Zed_Noir on 11 Mar, 2014 22:17
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I can't explain why I think this is interesting, and I did search first, but for the late load items like fresh fruit, how are they sourced and processed? Does somebody go to the local Safeway and buy them? Are they processed to remove fruit flies or other contaminants? Or do they have a part number and somebody seals them in triple layer mylar and removes the skin as useless mass and separates the sections if it's a citrus? Or is it just a few apples in a Zip-loc bag?
IIRC when SpaceX brought up apples as the very late cargo. It was sourced from an orchard own by a SpaceX employee relative.
edited: misspelling
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#23 by jcm on 11 Mar, 2014 22:23
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I can't explain why I think this is interesting, and I did search first, but for the late load items like fresh fruit, how are they sourced and processed? Does somebody go to the local Safeway and buy them? Are they processed to remove fruit flies or other contaminants? Or do they have a part number and somebody seals them in triple layer mylar and removes the skin as useless mass and separates the sections if it's a citrus? Or is it just a few apples in a Zip-loc bag?
IIRC when SpaceX brought up apples as the very late cargo. It was sourced from an orchid own by a SpaceX employee relative.
I think you mean 'orchard'. Or a very weird orchid... -
#24 by collectSPACE on 11 Mar, 2014 22:38
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Cheerleaders' space station experiment to grow space history one microbe at a time
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-031114a-friendship7-project-merccuri-iss.html
A very, very (very) small sample from John Glenn's 1962 Mercury capsule "Friendship 7" is set to launch to the International Space Station as part of an experiment organized by professional cheerleaders.
The microbial spacecraft sample — literally, the bacteria Pantoea eucrina — is among 48 microbes swabbed from a variety of historical places (like the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum) and sports stadiums that will be compared for the rate at which they grow in space.
The swabbing was led by Science Cheerleader, a group of current and former NFL and NBA cheerleaders pursuing careers in science and technology. The organization plays off public stereotypes to encourage participation in citizen science activities.
The Project MERCCURI (or Microbial Ecology Research Combining Citizen and University Researchers) payload is launching on SpaceX's third Dragon spacecraft to resupply the space station for NASA...
More info: http://spacemicrobes.org/ -
#25 by Lar on 11 Mar, 2014 23:06
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IIRC when SpaceX brought up apples as the very late cargo. It was sourced from an orchid own by a SpaceX employee relative.
I think you mean 'orchard'. Or a very weird orchid...
Genetic Engineering works wonders these days.Odd there's a fairing instead of a Dragon.
That aside, sounds like interesting work.
Is that going on CRS-3 ? Maybe it's a typo. Neat that they got the legs.And Kicksat, a 3U cubesats with N Sprites, where estimates of N are as high as 200 (trying to get the actual number).
According to the YouTube video it says "32 rows of Sprites deploy in ~7.5s". Each row has four satellites, giving a total of 128. This capture from the video also shows 32 rows.
It says the smaller number on the Kickstarter site. They raised 75K more or less, did they get funding or a free ride elsewhere? Else that much stuff for 75K is fairly amazing. -
#26 by llanitedave on 12 Mar, 2014 02:09
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I can't explain why I think this is interesting, and I did search first, but for the late load items like fresh fruit, how are they sourced and processed? Does somebody go to the local Safeway and buy them? Are they processed to remove fruit flies or other contaminants? Or do they have a part number and somebody seals them in triple layer mylar and removes the skin as useless mass and separates the sections if it's a citrus? Or is it just a few apples in a Zip-loc bag?
IIRC when SpaceX brought up apples as the very late cargo. It was sourced from an orchid own by a SpaceX employee relative.
That would be a very seasonal opportunity. They can't do that on all launches. -
#27 by Zardar on 12 Mar, 2014 07:58
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Did they try to return the cores on that mission?I can't explain why I think this is interesting, and I did search first, but for the late load items like fresh fruit, how are they sourced and processed? Does somebody go to the local Safeway and buy them? Are they processed to remove fruit flies or other contaminants? Or do they have a part number and somebody seals them in triple layer mylar and removes the skin as useless mass and separates the sections if it's a citrus? Or is it just a few apples in a Zip-loc bag?
IIRC when SpaceX brought up apples as the very late cargo. It was sourced from an orchid own by a SpaceX employee relative.
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#28 by Prober on 12 Mar, 2014 14:28
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wow, blue bunny suits
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#29 by Ben the Space Brit on 12 Mar, 2014 14:46
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"Hand of Blue, Two by two..."
Sorry, had a Firefly flashback.
Anyway, I always find it interesting to look in through the CBM when there are people in a Dragon to try and visualise what the crewed version will look like in microgravity. -
#30 by Chalmer on 12 Mar, 2014 20:52
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For me one of the most interesting payloads is the Vegetable Production System (VEGGIE).
Description from the NASA mission page:
Vegetable Production System (VEGGIE)
VEGGIE is a deployable plant growth unit capable of producing salad-type crops to
provide the crew with appetizing, nutritious, and safe, fresh food and support crew
relaxation and recreation. The VEGGIE unit provides lighting and nutrient delivery, but
uses the cabin environment for temperature control and as a source of carbon dioxide
to promote growth. This study will emphasize the focus on human habitability in space,
since growing food in space may greatly improve long-duration spaceflight. VEGGIE
can support a variety of experiments used to determine how plants sense and respond
to gravity. The plants will be harvested for further investigation and, if found to be safe
after study, consumed by the crewmembers. VEGGIE’s growth volume will be the
largest volume available to date for plant growth on the space station, which will enable
growth of larger plants than was previously available due to size restrictions. This
improved understanding of plant growth and development in microgravity has important
implications for improving plant production on Earth.
More info in the PDF from Orbitec.
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#31 by Comga on 12 Mar, 2014 21:04
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Question: Are both OPALS and HDEV being carried to the ISS on FRAMs?
My real interest is whether two FRAMs can be carried in the trunk at the same time. -
#32 by Robotbeat on 12 Mar, 2014 21:14
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I like the mini-garden. Good idea, the astronauts will like it. Even a little bit of superficial fresh greens will be a welcome sight after being in space for months. I can speak from experience (since I live in Minnesota... LOL).
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#33 by manboy on 12 Mar, 2014 22:18
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For me one of the most interesting payloads is the Vegetable Production System (VEGGIE).
Here's some better PDFs, one also mentions the Advanced Plant Habitat which is expected to be launched at a later date.
Description from the NASA mission page:
Vegetable Production System (VEGGIE)
VEGGIE is a deployable plant growth unit capable of producing salad-type crops to
provide the crew with appetizing, nutritious, and safe, fresh food and support crew
relaxation and recreation. The VEGGIE unit provides lighting and nutrient delivery, but
uses the cabin environment for temperature control and as a source of carbon dioxide
to promote growth. This study will emphasize the focus on human habitability in space,
since growing food in space may greatly improve long-duration spaceflight. VEGGIE
can support a variety of experiments used to determine how plants sense and respond
to gravity. The plants will be harvested for further investigation and, if found to be safe
after study, consumed by the crewmembers. VEGGIE’s growth volume will be the
largest volume available to date for plant growth on the space station, which will enable
growth of larger plants than was previously available due to size restrictions. This
improved understanding of plant growth and development in microgravity has important
implications for improving plant production on Earth.
More info in the PDF from Orbitec.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20130000813.pdf
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20130013520.pdf
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#34 by jcm on 13 Mar, 2014 04:03
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Question: Are both OPALS and HDEV being carried to the ISS on FRAMs?
My real interest is whether two FRAMs can be carried in the trunk at the same time.
My understanding is that HDEV is on a CEPA (Columbus) FRAM and OPALS is on an EXPA (Express pallet) FRAM.
Not sure what the differences are between those.
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#35 by Skyrocket on 13 Mar, 2014 05:35
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Concerning the cubesats:
The NASA Presskit (http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceXCRS-3_PressKit_FINAL.pdf) contains following info:
Falcon 9 will deliver five CubeSats to orbit as part of the CRS-3 mission, contained in four Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployers (P-PODs).
Therefore it must be three 3U-Cubesats and each one 2U-Cubesat and one 1U-Cubesat.
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#36 by Lars_J on 13 Mar, 2014 05:48
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Someone mentioned in the update thread (?) that the cubsats are not attached on top of the upper stage, but instead they hang under it, next to the MVac. If so, Are there diagrams somewhere that illustrate their location?
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#37 by Skyrocket on 13 Mar, 2014 09:24
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Concerning the cubesats:
The NASA Presskit (http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceXCRS-3_PressKit_FINAL.pdf) contains following info:
Falcon 9 will deliver five CubeSats to orbit as part of the CRS-3 mission, contained in four Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployers (P-PODs).
Therefore it must be three 3U-Cubesats and each one 2U-Cubesat and one 1U-Cubesat.
The 1U-Cubesat is PhoneSat 2.5 (see http://www.phonesat.org/ )
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#38 by Skyrocket on 13 Mar, 2014 12:37
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Concerning the cubesats:
The NASA Presskit (http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceXCRS-3_PressKit_FINAL.pdf) contains following info:
Falcon 9 will deliver five CubeSats to orbit as part of the CRS-3 mission, contained in four Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployers (P-PODs).
Therefore it must be three 3U-Cubesats and each one 2U-Cubesat and one 1U-Cubesat.
The 1U-Cubesat is PhoneSat 2.5 (see http://www.phonesat.org/ )
Also confirmed are ALL-STAR/THEIA (3U) and KickSat (3U)
This leaves one 3U and one 2U cubesat without confirmation. -
#39 by Comga on 13 Mar, 2014 19:49
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Question: Are both OPALS and HDEV being carried to the ISS on FRAMs?
My real interest is whether two FRAMs can be carried in the trunk at the same time.
My understanding is that HDEV is on a CEPA (Columbus) FRAM and OPALS is on an EXPA (Express pallet) FRAM.
Not sure what the differences are between those.
My apologies. That was in your orignal post.
There is some size difference between the FRAMS. The EXPA FRAM is 1.17m by 1.19 m, and the CEPA FRAM has the same 1 cubic meter capacity. It might even use the NASA FRAM and they are clearly using the same acronym. It is not clear how the JEF payloads, which can be 0.80 m by 1,0 m by 1.85 m (plus PIU), will be carried in Dragon. However, I don't think the differences are enough to change the capacity.
I did see the attached image in a presentation on RapidScat. That says that each Dragon Trunk can hold three FRAMS.
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#40 by Space Pete on 13 Mar, 2014 22:34
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Question: Are both OPALS and HDEV being carried to the ISS on FRAMs?
My real interest is whether two FRAMs can be carried in the trunk at the same time.
My understanding is that HDEV is on a CEPA (Columbus) FRAM and OPALS is on an EXPA (Express pallet) FRAM.
Not sure what the differences are between those.
Yes, that's correct - HDEV is a CEPA (Columbus External Payload Adapter) FRAM and OPALS is an ExPA (ExPrESS Pallet Adapter) FRAM. As for differences, I believe there are some variations in terms of data rates, etc., but the mechanical interfaces are the same I think.
As for JEF payloads, they can be attached to the Trunk via either a FRAM, or their own dedicated trunnion attachment mechanism. I also believe the Trunk can hold three FRAMs. -
#41 by guckyfan on 14 Mar, 2014 03:40
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http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/009/140313delay/#.UyKDsYX983g
Anybody noticed that in the article about the delay they also mentioned that two payloads in the trunk are powered? A new capability introduced in this modified Dragon. Or is this already known and I missed it?
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#42 by Skyrocket on 14 Mar, 2014 09:52
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The five cubesats on the Dragon CRS-3 mission are now confirmed:
* ALL-STAR/THEIA
* KickSat (with 104 Sprites)
* SporeSat
* TSAT (TestSat-Lite)
* PhoneSat 2.5
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/ELaNa-V-Factsheet-508.pdf -
#43 by AnalogMan on 14 Mar, 2014 11:42
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Smartphone 2.5 info (launch date given now superceeded).
NASA's Latest Smartphone Satellite Ready for Launch
March 13, 2014
http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasas-latest-smartphone-satellite-ready-for-launch
NASA's preparing to send its fifth in a series of smartphone-controlled small spacecraft into orbit. PhoneSat 2.5 will ride into space as part of the SpaceX-3 commercial cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. SpaceX-3 is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 4:41 a.m. EDT Sunday, March 16.
Once in Earth orbit, the tiny spacecraft will demonstrate the power of smartphone components to support space-based communications systems and survive the radiation environment of low Earth orbit -- as high as 220 miles above Earth. The technology demonstration mission also will pave the way for a constellation of cooperative small satellites scheduled to launch later this year.
"If I showed PhoneSat to you, you'd ask, 'where's the phone?'," said Bruce Yost, program manager for NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. "That's because although we buy a smartphone off the shelf, much like the one in your pocket or purse, we take it apart and repackage it to fit in the cubesat form and work in space. This differs from the first PhoneSat, that packed in the entire smartphone."
Selected for launch as part of NASA's Cubesat Launch Initiative, PhoneSat 2.5 is a one-unit (1U) cubesat spacecraft measuring 10 centimeters square (approximately four inches on each side), using commercially available smartphones.
The mission has three objectives: determine if a low-cost commercially available attitude determination and control system can work in space; verify if a smartphone can support space-based communications systems; and provide further confidence in the PhoneSat concept and components by investigating its ability to survive long-term in the radiation environment of space.
"NASA is using these pioneering small spacecraft missions to gauge the use of consumer-grade smartphone technology as the main control electronics of a capable, yet very low-cost, satellite," said Andrew Petro, program executive for the Small Spacecraft Technology Program in the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, which funds the PhoneSat series.
PhoneSat 2.5 is equipped with a higher-gain S-Band antenna, which serves as a pathfinder for future NASA missions, including the Edison Demonstration of Smallsat Networks (EDSN) mission scheduled to launch later this year.
The EDSN mission plans to launch eight identical 1.5U cubesats (10-by-10-by-15 centimeters and 2.5 kilograms), based on the PhoneSat architecture, to demonstrate the concept of using many small spacecraft working together in a cooperative manner. EDSN will fly the cubesats in a loose formation. Each satellite will be able to cross-link communicate with the others so that engineers can study space-to-space communications and how small, low-cost, powerful satellites can perform space weather monitoring duties.
In addition to the large memory, fast processors, GPS receivers, gyroscope and magnetometer sensors and high-resolution cameras commonly found in smartphones, the PhoneSat 2.5 also houses a low-cost commercial attitude determination and control system that contains reaction wheels that by slowing down or speeding up, can rotate the satellite. Engineers hope to determine if this control system can orient PhoneSat in space, a critical capability for satellites that may need to point towards a specific object of scientific interest like an asteroid, star or features on Earth. The missions also gather further information about the orbital lifespan of the smartphone components.
"By advancing the price performance of nanosatellites using consumer electronics, we can make some of the more radical ideas become economically viable," said Jasper Wolfe, PhoneSat Control System lead at NASA Ames.
PhoneSat 2.5 builds upon the successful flights of previous NASA smartphone satellites launched last year. PhoneSat 2.4 launched last November and achieved its primary mission objectives, demonstrating a smartphone can serve as an avionics controller. It also demonstrated the use of its magnetometer and an Ames-designed magnetorquer to actively align the satellite's orientation with Earth's magnetic fields. This was a first for Ames small satellites, which to date have used passive, permanent magnetic torque rods.
PhoneSat 2.4 continues to transmit data, which means its solar arrays, battery charging circuit, Arduino watchdog and data router are still operating correctly. In early January, however, the Phonesat 2.4 smartphone began to experience recurring resets coinciding with a period of numerous solar flares. As a result, the satellite no longer executes flight application software.
"We expect PhoneSat 2.5's orbital lifetime to be as long as six weeks" said Cedric Priscal, PhoneSat software lead at Ames. "This operation time will help us demonstrate that the system can survive being exposed to the doses of space radiation all satellites must endure in low Earth orbit, and help us gather data on the effects radiation has on the satellite."
What kind of smartphone has a battery life of six weeks? NASA equipped the six sides of the PhoneSats with solar panels to help replenish the batteries and keep the spacecraft alive.
PhoneSat 2.5 also includes a higher-gain two-way S-band radio communications capability. Engineers will test the radio's capability to send commands to the spacecraft and telemetry back to ground station on Earth, in preparation for NASA's Edison Demonstration of Smallsat Networks (EDSN) mission, scheduled for launch late this year.
While orbiting Earth, ground station controllers at Santa Clara University in California, also will attempt to command PhoneSat 2.5 to transmit photographs of what it sees using the smartphone's camera to gather information for future low cost onboard camera systems and star trackers.
"We're answering the question, how useful are consumer grade electronics for atmospheric or Earth science, communications, or other space-born applications," said Ken Oyadomari, PhoneSat communications lead at Ames.
"The next step is to add a propulsion system to pave the way for cubesats to explore further into the solar system," said Oriol Tintore, PhoneSat mechanical lead at Ames.
Though it's unlikely you'll find one of those on your smartphone anytime soon.
The PhoneSat series of technology demonstration missions is funded by the Small Spacecraft Technology Program, in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters and the Engineering Directorate at Ames. For more information about NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program and the PhoneSat series of cubesats, visit:
http://go.usa.gov/KWRP
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#44 by IanO on 20 Apr, 2014 17:13
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The five cubesats on the Dragon CRS-3 mission are now confirmed:
* ALL-STAR/THEIA
* KickSat (with 104 Sprites)
* SporeSat
* TSAT (TestSat-Lite)
* PhoneSat 2.5
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/ELaNa-V-Factsheet-508.pdf
Bump requesting a status report. Now that CRS-3 has flown, how many of these have been successfully deployed and contacted? -
#45 by Ben the Space Brit on 20 Apr, 2014 17:18
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All were successfully released but I haven't heard anything else.
[edit]
Fix'd typo -
#46 by AncientU on 20 Apr, 2014 17:31
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http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/009/140313delay/#.UyKDsYX983g
This was mentioned up-thread or in another... cannot find reference.
Anybody noticed that in the article about the delay they also mentioned that two payloads in the trunk are powered? A new capability introduced in this modified Dragon. Or is this already known and I missed it? -
#47 by neoforce on 20 Apr, 2014 20:38
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From https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts here is a status on the sprites with some edits from the source:Quote
Apr 19 2014
Mission Update
Hi Everyone,
KickSat is now orbiting 335 kilometers above our heads. <...>
We've received over a dozen packets from KickSat's radio beacon thanks to several amateur radio operators around the world. These packets are telling us that KickSat is charging its batteries and that so far there have been no system resets due to loss of power or radiation. <...>
The Sprites will be deployed from KickSat by a timer 16 days after launch. That puts the big event at about 4:00 PM EDT (20:00 GMT) on May 4th. <...> -
#48 by Comga on 21 Apr, 2014 03:49
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Someone mentioned in the update thread (?) that the cubsats are not attached on top of the upper stage, but instead they hang under it, next to the MVac. If so, Are there diagrams somewhere that illustrate their location?
I would also like to know the answer to Lars_J's question.
Edit: and to know if any nanosats (other than KickSat) have been heard from.
CUSGC is being particularly quiet. One would think they could post the word "Launched!"
I do have a call in to see what's up. -
#49 by gwiz on 21 Apr, 2014 08:12
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There are radio ham reports that Phonesat 2.5 is transmitting.
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#50 by InfraNut2 on 21 Apr, 2014 11:04
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SpX-3 science work already started. Quick work!
Rick just started with the T-cell experiment a few minutes ago.
More info and patch in an upstream post. -
#51 by gwiz on 03 May, 2014 17:00
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Bad news about Kicksat. The timer for the Sprite deployment reset on 30th April, apparently due to a cosmic ray hit. This means that that deployment is postponed from tomorrow to May 16th. The current atmospheric decay estimate for the satellite is May 14th.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts -
#52 by Comga on 03 May, 2014 17:28
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According to the ALL-STAR web page they have not made contact.
I have yet to make contact with my friend on the team, either.
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#53 by mlindner on 04 May, 2014 01:54
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The five cubesats on the Dragon CRS-3 mission are now confirmed:
* ALL-STAR/THEIA
* KickSat (with 104 Sprites)
* SporeSat
* TSAT (TestSat-Lite)
* PhoneSat 2.5
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/ELaNa-V-Factsheet-508.pdf
Bump requesting a status report. Now that CRS-3 has flown, how many of these have been successfully deployed and contacted?
Kicksat had a watchdog timer reset which apparently also resets the 16 day timer for releasing all the kicksats. Unfortunately this pushes the release time past when the kicksat would re-enter. They made a poor design decision linking the release time to the watchdog timer with no way of syncing the time otherwise.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts/831509 -
#54 by Targeteer on 07 May, 2014 19:17
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Houston confirmed during the DPC that OPALS was successfully installed and is on keep alive power.
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#55 by Astrosurf on 07 May, 2014 19:50
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Bad news about Kicksat. The timer for the Sprite deployment reset on 30th April, apparently due to a cosmic ray hit. This means that that deployment is postponed from tomorrow to May 16th. The current atmospheric decay estimate for the satellite is May 14th.
so the satellite is expected to burn up on the 14th?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts -
#56 by Skyrocket on 07 May, 2014 20:18
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YesBad news about Kicksat. The timer for the Sprite deployment reset on 30th April, apparently due to a cosmic ray hit. This means that that deployment is postponed from tomorrow to May 16th. The current atmospheric decay estimate for the satellite is May 14th.
so the satellite is expected to burn up on the 14th?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts -
#57 by funkyjive on 07 May, 2014 20:48
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Kicksat had a watchdog timer reset which apparently also resets the 16 day timer for releasing all the kicksats. Unfortunately this pushes the release time past when the kicksat would re-enter. They made a poor design decision linking the release time to the watchdog timer with no way of syncing the time otherwise.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts/831509
I must not understand something about their system design but how did they not account for this scenario? The whole point of a watchdog is the realization that no matter how good and robust your system, it can still get into a state where it is unrecoverable or locked and a restart is needed. By having a watchdog they acknowledge that the system could potentially restart, so why was the single step connection not made that a restart would also be resetting the release timer? Unless the plan was to use the uplink to appropriately set the timer in the unlikely event of a restart.
I'm sure this is a gross oversimplification of the problem and I don't want to criticize the work of a cool project but I am just trying to look at it from a systems engineering perspective. -
#58 by Skyrocket on 07 May, 2014 21:06
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The problem is not just the watchdog / timer, there appears also an undervoltage in the power system, which prevents the uplink receiver from working. Had the voltage been high enough to use the receiver, a release of the sprites could have been commanded.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts/831509 -
#59 by leetdan on 07 May, 2014 21:10
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Looking at the KS page, the 16-day timer was the best compromise they could make that would keep the ISS folks happy across all contingencies. There is still a potential for uplink, but it depends on the onboard batteries charging above 8V prior to reentry.
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#60 by Llian Rhydderch on 09 May, 2014 00:28
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Kicksat had a watchdog timer reset which apparently also resets the 16 day timer for releasing all the kicksats. Unfortunately this pushes the release time past when the kicksat would re-enter. They made a poor design decision linking the release time to the watchdog timer with no way of syncing the time otherwise.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/posts/831509
I must not understand something about their system design but how did they not account for this scenario? The whole point of a watchdog is the realization that no matter how good and robust your system, it can still get into a state where it is unrecoverable or locked and a restart is needed. By having a watchdog they acknowledge that the system could potentially restart, so why was the single step connection not made that a restart would also be resetting the release timer? Unless the plan was to use the uplink to appropriately set the timer in the unlikely event of a restart.
I'm sure this is a gross oversimplification of the problem and I don't want to criticize the work of a cool project but I am just trying to look at it from a systems engineering perspective.
There is a Kicksat Sprites thread for this discussion.
This is the CRS-3 Dragon mission thread.
Edit/Lar: Don't moderate, just use the report button. But if you must comment, give a pointer to the thread with a link, don't just claim one exists. And this is the payloads thread not the mission thread. -
#61 by catdlr on 13 May, 2014 04:00
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Live from the Space Station: Unpacking OPALS
Streamed live on May 1, 2014
Watch live from the International Space Station as JPL's OPALS lasercomm instrument is unpacked from the Dragon spacecraft by a robotic arm.
OPALS, the Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science, is a technology demonstration that will beam HD video from space to Earth via laser light.
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#62 by catdlr on 18 Jun, 2014 03:50
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new material 2:40 into video.
ScienceCasts: A Laser Message from Space: "Hello World"
In early June, a laser beam lanced out of the night sky over California, heralding a breakthrough in space communications. The message it carried was "Hello, World."
