SpaceX Falcon 9 / Dragon 2 : SpX-DM1 : March 2, 2019 : DISCUSSION

[woods170]

I'm sure SpaceX know how to measure the height of the arm, and no they will not remove anything from the TEL.

Looking at this picture from the Es'hail launch - doe it look like the crew arm doesn't clear the top of the TEL?

It it just an illusion, or will they remove that top part of the TEL for crew Dragon launches?
<snipped the image>

The top part of the TEL, holding the deployable support for the fairing, is removable. And yes, it will be removed from the TEL for Crew Dragon missions.
It is a fairly simple reconfiguration of the TEL for different missions.

[kevinof]

Opps. My bad.

I'm sure SpaceX know how to measure the height of the arm, and no they will not remove anything from the TEL.

Looking at this picture from the Es'hail launch - doe it look like the crew arm doesn't clear the top of the TEL?

It it just an illusion, or will they remove that top part of the TEL for crew Dragon launches?

The top part of the TEL, holding the deployable support for the fairing, is removable. And yes, it will be removed from the TEL for Crew Dragon missions.
It is a fairly simple reconfiguration of the TEL for different missions.

[Alexphysics]

Looking at this picture from the Es'hail launch - doe it look like the crew arm doesn't clear the top of the TEL?

It it just an illusion, or will they remove that top part of the TEL for crew Dragon launches?

It clears the strongback nicely, it's just the perspective from that point of view. L2 has better pictures so you know what you have to do

[litton4]

Looking at this picture from the Es'hail launch - doe it look like the crew arm doesn't clear the top of the TEL?

It it just an illusion, or will they remove that top part of the TEL for crew Dragon launches?

<Image removed>

It clears the strongback nicely, it's just the perspective from that point of view. L2 has better pictures so you know what you have to do

Already a lifetime member of L2 

There are other pictures that appear to have been taken from further away showing the same disparity in height.

However, others have answered stating that the top section is removable.

[jacqmans]

The team at SpaceX's rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas completed a static fire test of the Falcon 9 booster that will launch SpaceX's first demonstration mission for NASA's Commerical Crew Program.

Photo Credit: SpaceX

[Comga]

CRS SpX-16 is currently scheduled for 2018-12-04  13:38. 
We have the NET launch date for DM-1 as Jan 8.
If one applies the 5.02 deg/day precession of the ISS orbit, the ascending orbit passes over the Cape at 1:55 AM, after midnight local time, on Jan 8.
This would be an anticipated liftoff time IF the rendezvous has the same three day chase that has been used for Cargo Dragon.
Do we have any information on whether or not this will be the case?

[Tomness]

CRS SpX-16 is currently scheduled for 2018-12-04  13:38. 
We have the NET launch date for DM-1 as Jan 8.
If one applies the 5.02 deg/day precession of the ISS orbit, the ascending orbit passes over the Cape at 1:55 AM, after midnight local time, on Jan 8.
This would be an anticipated liftoff time IF the rendezvous has the same three day chase that has been used for Cargo Dragon.
Do we have any information on whether or not this will be the case?

You would think they would do the 6 hour rendezvous but that might be enough for Shakedown mission. So two day will have to do. They haven't said what kinda rendezvous commerical crew will be able to do.

[Mammutti]

Now it's January 7, according to new dates released by NASA.

Test Flight Planning Dates:
Boeing Orbital Flight Test (uncrewed): March 2019
Boeing Pad Abort Test: Between OFT and CFT
Boeing Crew Flight Test (crewed): August 2019
SpaceX Demo-1 (uncrewed): January 7, 2019
SpaceX In-Flight Abort Test: Between Demo-1 and Demo-2
SpaceX Demo-2 (crewed): June 2019

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2018/11/21/nasas-commercial-crew-program-target-test-flight-dates-5/

[Chris Bergin]

One day EARLIER!

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1065264257145729026


DM-1 now NET Jan 7.

[whitelancer64]

And people were worried about the program being delayed.

[jacqmans]

November 21, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M18-175

NASA Invites Media to the SpaceX Demo-1 Launch

Media accreditation is open for SpaceX’s Demo-1 uncrewed flight test to the International Space Stationas part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft is targeted for Jan. 7, 2019, from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This will be the first uncrewed test flight of the Commercial Crew Program and will provide data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft, and ground systems, as well as on-orbit, docking and landing operations. The flight test also will provide valuable data toward NASA certifying SpaceX’s crew transportation system for carrying astronauts to and from the space station.

Media prelaunch and launch activities will take place at Kennedy.

Media accreditation deadlines are as follows:

International media without U.S. citizenship must apply by 4 p.m. EST Friday, Dec. 7, for access to Kennedy media activities.
U.S. media must apply by 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21.
All accreditation requests should be submitted online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

For questions about accreditation, please email [email protected]. For other questions, contact Kennedy’s newsroom at 321-867-2468.

Reporters with special logistics requests for Kennedy, such as space for satellite trucks, trailers, tents, electrical connections or work spaces, must contact Tiffany Fairley ([email protected]) by Friday, Dec 7.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry through a public-private partnership to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil for the first time since 2011. The goal of the program is safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station, which could allow for additional research time and increase the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity’s testbed for exploration.

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

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

[Chris Bergin]

SpaceX render in the presser:

[ChrisGebhardt]

Launch time roughly worked out to be 23:55 EST on 7 January, 0455 UTC on 8 January based on known Falcon 9 orbital insertion/Dragon phasing abilities and ISS ground track.

(Image: GoISSWatch)

[Joffan]

SpaceX render in the presser:

I would have expected the access arm to swing further away than that illustration suggests.

I like the way that the condensation clouds down the side of the vehicle gently leave ambiguous whether the booster is new.

[ugordan]

And people were worried about the program being delayed.

Uncrewed launch =/= crewed launch.

[Zed_Noir]

SpaceX render in the presser:

I would have expected the access arm to swing further away than that illustration suggests.
<snip>

Maybe the access arm is position so that in event of contingencies the arm can swing back to the Dragon for emergency crew egress..

[OneSpeed]

SpaceX render in the presser:

The same image at 4K. Mr Turner would have been proud.

[deruch]

SpaceX render in the presser:

 
For a second there I was pretty shocked, it really looked to me like SpaceX was changing the Dragon 2's livery to a metallic blue and black color scheme.  But it was just a trick of the sky coloring and the blue solar panels on the trunk.  But now I really want to see a rendering of Dragon in either Tesla's Multicoat Red or Signature Red.

[Thorny]

Maybe the access arm is position so that in event of contingencies the arm can swing back to the Dragon for emergency crew egress..

It could also still be in motion in this rendering. By the time the F9 clears the tower, it may be fully retracted to the other side of the tower.

[ncb1397]

Maybe the access arm is position so that in event of contingencies the arm can swing back to the Dragon for emergency crew egress..

It could also still be in motion in this rendering. By the time the F9 clears the tower, it may be fully retracted to the other side of the tower.

It probably has to be retracted prior to fueling for aborts. That would be a really slow retraction.

edit: Maybe it holds slightly off for abort access and quicker reconnection if that is ever needed.