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

[jpo234]

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket are positioned at the company’s hangar at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ahead of the Demo-1 flight test targeted for January 17, 2019.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2018/12/18/spacex-demo-1-spacecraft-and-rocket-at-launch-pad/

The photos are now on SpaceX's Flickr stream.

[clongton]

Are there any systems required to be fully functional on the first CREWED flight, DM-2, which are not fully functional on DM-1? Is DM-1 a fully functional spacecraft?

[Steven Pietrobon]

Are there any systems required to be fully functional on the first CREWED flight, DM-2, which are not fully functional on DM-1? Is DM-1 a fully functional spacecraft?

It doesn't have all the windows! :-)

[Brovane]

My apologies if this is the in-correct thread. 

Are there any potential impacts on the DM1 mission schedule if the government shutdown continues into the new year? 

[gongora]

My apologies if this is the in-correct thread. 

Are there any potential impacts on the DM1 mission schedule if the government shutdown continues into the new year?

I don't know the answer to your question (I would guess the duration of the shutdown will matter here).  I just wanted to comment that your question belongs in this thread, and factual answers to it belong in this thread.  Opinions on the government shutdown should go in the Space Policy section.

[Sam Ho]

My apologies if this is the in-correct thread. 

Are there any potential impacts on the DM1 mission schedule if the government shutdown continues into the new year?

I don't know the answer to your question (I would guess the duration of the shutdown will matter here).  I just wanted to comment that your question belongs in this thread, and factual answers to it belong in this thread.  Opinions on the government shutdown should go in the Space Policy section.

The shutdown plan says "During the next six months, NASA will be fully engaged in several crew and cargo resupply launches to the ISS.  Other time-critical activities including those related to future ISS crew rotation and resupply activities will also continue at their full tempo.  All of these activities are necessary to protect life and property."

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/181218_revised_shutdown_plan.pdf

[deruch]

My apologies if this is the in-correct thread. 

Are there any potential impacts on the DM1 mission schedule if the government shutdown continues into the new year?

Yes probably.  NASA is on the list of affected agencies.  So, in the absence of a quick deal I would definitely expect DM-1 to be impacted as there is a good chance that most/all of the NASA people involved with the remaining pre-launch reviews will be furloughed.

[vanoord]

Yes probably.  NASA is on the list of affected agencies.  So, in the absence of a quick deal I would definitely expect DM-1 to be impacted as there is a good chance that most/all of the NASA people involved with the remaining pre-launch reviews will be furloughed.

From the post above you (sorry):

Other time-critical activities including those related to future ISS crew rotation and resupply activities will also continue at their full tempo.

One would assume that DM-1 'will continue at ... full tempo"?

[AC in NC]

One would assume that DM-1 'will continue at ... full tempo"?

I wouldn't.  For a variety of reasons.

[drnscr]

One would assume that DM-1 'will continue at ... full tempo"?

I wouldn't.  For a variety of reasons.

Such as???

[clongton]

Are there any systems required to be fully functional on the first CREWED flight, DM-2, which are not fully functional on DM-1? Is DM-1 a fully functional spacecraft?

It doesn't have all the windows! :-)

So unlike Orion, this is a fully functional spacecraft on its 1st test flight?
Thanks

[AC in NC]

Such as???

1)  I would not consider DM-1 "time critical".  CCP cannot depend on anything until it's certified and so it's unclear why it would be considered "time critical".
2)  Some of the language talks about not impacting "Life and Property" which is more along the lines of what I think Rotation/Resupply is about.  They will have alternatives until after certification so DM-1 isn't a "Life and Property" issue.
3)  There was some talk of institutional slow-walking from the NASA Administrator and there could be some truth to that.
4)  It's the government.

[gongora]

Are there any systems required to be fully functional on the first CREWED flight, DM-2, which are not fully functional on DM-1? Is DM-1 a fully functional spacecraft?

It doesn't have all the windows! :-)

So unlike Orion, this is a fully functional spacecraft on its 1st test flight.
Thanks

I'm pretty sure DM-1 won't have some of the life-support equipment running.

[Robotbeat]

Are there any systems required to be fully functional on the first CREWED flight, DM-2, which are not fully functional on DM-1? Is DM-1 a fully functional spacecraft?

It doesn't have all the windows! :-)

So unlike Orion, this is a fully functional spacecraft on its 1st test flight.
Thanks

I'm pretty sure DM-1 won't have some of the life-support equipment running.

We'll see, but unlike Orion, it will definitely have some since crew will enter it on docking.

[CuddlyRocket]

Are there any potential impacts on the DM1 mission schedule if the government shutdown continues into the new year?

Yes probably.  NASA is on the list of affected agencies.  So, in the absence of a quick deal I would definitely expect DM-1 to be impacted as there is a good chance that most/all of the NASA people involved with the remaining pre-launch reviews will be furloughed.

That probably depends on the precise terms of the contract between NASA and SpaceX. I suspect that it includes clauses as to agreed upon pre-launch reviews and that NASA has the right to nominate people to attend and contribute to those reviews etc. But, I suspect the contract is silent on what happens if NASA fails to nominate anybody or if the nominees fail to turn up. In such circumstances, SpaceX could well have the right under the contract to proceed with the test anyway. (Whether SpaceX would find it politic so to do is another matter!)

NASA personnel are not needed to conduct the test and they'd review the results from telemetry etc, which isn't going anywhere.

[Roy_H]

NASA personnel are not needed to conduct the test and they'd review the results from telemetry etc, which isn't going anywhere.

False. Range personnel and others for safety etc. are required. I don't think anyone here can predict the effect accurately. So much depends on actual wording and interpretation. If personnel are required to support cargo Dragon launches would the wording clearly state cargo only or be generically all craft going to ISS?

[gongora]

Are there any potential impacts on the DM1 mission schedule if the government shutdown continues into the new year?

Yes probably.  NASA is on the list of affected agencies.  So, in the absence of a quick deal I would definitely expect DM-1 to be impacted as there is a good chance that most/all of the NASA people involved with the remaining pre-launch reviews will be furloughed.

That probably depends on the precise terms of the contract between NASA and SpaceX. I suspect that it includes clauses as to agreed upon pre-launch reviews and that NASA has the right to nominate people to attend and contribute to those reviews etc. But, I suspect the contract is silent on what happens if NASA fails to nominate anybody or if the nominees fail to turn up. In such circumstances, SpaceX could well have the right under the contract to proceed with the test anyway. (Whether SpaceX would find it politic so to do is another matter!)

NASA personnel are not needed to conduct the test and they'd review the results from telemetry etc, which isn't going anywhere.

Did you just completely make that up?  Do you have any basis for what you just wrote?

[clongton]

NASA personnel are not needed to conduct the test and they'd review the results from telemetry etc, which isn't going anywhere.

False. Range personnel and others for safety etc. are required.

Aren't Range personnel USAF?

[kessdawg]

NASA personnel are not needed to conduct the test and they'd review the results from telemetry etc, which isn't going anywhere.

False. Range personnel and others for safety etc. are required.

Aren't Range personnel USAF?

Does NASA have to have people on hand for launches from Kennedy/39A?

[smoliarm]

RIA Novosti, today:

МОСКВА, 28 дек - РИА Новости. Первый запуск к МКС нового американского космического корабля Dragon-2 (разработчик - компания SpaceX Илона Маска) в беспилотном режиме, планировавшийся на 17 января 2019 года, перенесен на конец месяца, сообщил РИА Новости в пятницу источник в российской ракетно-космической отрасли.
"Американская сторона довела до нас информацию об отсрочке первого запуска корабля Dragon-2, который полетит к МКС в беспилотном режиме, с 17 января на конец месяца", - сказал собеседник агентства, не уточнив при этом причину переноса.

Google translate:

MOSCOW, Dec 28 - RIA News. The first launch of the new American spacecraft Dragon-2 to the ISS (developed by SpaceX Ilona Mask) unmanned, scheduled for January 17, 2019, was postponed to the end of the month, a source in the Russian space industry told RIA Novosti on Friday.
"The US side brought to us information about the postponement of the first launch of the Dragon-2 spacecraft, which will fly to the ISS in unmanned mode from January 17 to the end of the month," the agency’s source said, without specifying the reason for the transfer.

Does anybody have some info from NASA?
Recently there were examples of information from "a source in the Russian space industry" which turned out to be inaccurate. So I would not trust this info for now.