SCRUB: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - SpX-6/CRS-6 DRAGON - April 13 - ATTEMPT 1

[Chris Bergin]

MAIN UPDATE ONLY THREAD for the CRS-6/SpX-6 Dragon Mission. This thread will be converted to the Launch and Flight Day 1 Updates pending a successful launch.

Any posts that are not updates will be removed. Other threads are available, see below.

Aiming for April 13 NET.

Static Fire:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/spacex-tanking-tests-in-flight-abort-falcon-9/

William Graham's extensive launch day article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/spacex-falcon-9-crs-6-dragon-stage-return/
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Resources:

SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21862.0

SpaceX News Articles (Recent):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/spacex/

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SpaceX GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions NOT specific to this mission.

SpaceX MISSIONS Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0 - this section is for everything specific to SpaceX missions.

SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - CRS-6/SpX-6 DISCUSSION THREAD:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36892.0

Party Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37098.0

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L2 Members:

L2 SpaceX Section - now a dedicated full section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0

Dedicated L2 CRS-6/SpX-6:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37106.0

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Our latest upgrades to the severs have seen us cope with the demand of guests on the forum, but we reserve the right to remove guests if we become too overloaded.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31697.0 - it's advisable to gain yourself a membership. It's free, and your e-mail address/details are never misused (in any way).

[Targeteer]

CAPCOM passed word of the launch slip to the 13th to the crew during the evening DPC.

[jacqmans]

SpaceX is targeting Monday, April 13 to launch the next commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Launch of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft is targeted for approximately 4:33 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA Television coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m.

A Monday launch will result in the Dragon spacecraft arriving at the space station Wednesday, April 15. Expedition 43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) will use the station's 57.7-foot robotic arm to reach out and capture Dragon at approximately 7:14 a.m. Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA will support Cristoforetti as they operate from the station's cupola. NASA TV coverage of grapple will begin at 5 a.m. Coverage of Dragon's installation to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module will begin at 9:15 a.m.

If the launch does not occur on Monday, the next launch opportunity would be at approximately 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, April 14.

This is the sixth SpaceX commercial resupply services mission and the seventh trip by a Dragon spacecraft to the station. Dragon is filled with more than 4,300 pounds of supplies and payloads, including critical materials to support science and research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 43 and 44. After about five weeks at the space station, Dragon will return to Earth filled with cargo including crew supplies, hardware and computer resources, science experiments, and space station hardware.

For launch countdown coverage, NASA's launch blog, and more information about the mission, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/spacex

[Lars-J]

SpaceX tweeted a new image: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/584130175224295424

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX
Falcon 9 and Dragon undergoing prep in FL in advance of 4/13 launch to the @Space_Station http://go.nasa.gov/19HfTE5 

[jacqmans]

NASA TV Coverage Set for Sixth SpaceX Resupply Mission to Space Station

The sixth SpaceX cargo mission to the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract is scheduled to launch on Monday, April 13, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA Television coverage of the launch begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

The company's Falcon 9 rocket will lift off at 4:33 p.m., carrying its Dragon cargo spacecraft. Dragon is filled with more than 4,300 pounds of supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support about 40 of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 43 and 44.

In addition to launch coverage, NASA also will host a series of prelaunch news conferences on Sunday, April 12, at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. All briefings, which are subject to a change in time, will air live on NASA TV and the agency's website.

During panel discussions Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., scientists and researchers will discuss the onboard science and research studies. The series of briefings will conclude with a prelaunch news conference at 5 p.m. A post-launch briefing will be held approximately 90 minutes after liftoff Monday.

Science payloads will study new ways to possibly counteract the microgravity-induced cell damage seen during spaceflight, the effects of microgravity on the most common cells in bones, gather new insight that could lead to treatments for osteoporosis and muscle wasting conditions, continue studies into astronaut vision changes and test a new material that could one day be used as a synthetic muscle for robotics explorers of the future.

A Monday launch will result in the Dragon spacecraft arriving at the space station Wednesday, April 15. Expedition 43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) will use the station's 57.7-foot robotic arm to reach out and capture Dragon at approximately 7 a.m. Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA will support Cristoforetti as they operate from the station's cupola. NASA TV coverage of grapple will begin at 5 a.m. Coverage of Dragon's installation to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module will begin at 9:15 a.m.



If the launch does not occur on Monday, the next launch opportunity would be at approximately 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, April 14.



After about five weeks at the space station, Dragon will return to Earth filled with more than 3,000 pounds of cargo including crew supplies, hardware and computer resources, science experiments, and space station hardware.

Media may request accreditation to attend the prelaunch news conferences, events and launch online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
 
The deadline for U.S. media to apply for accreditation is noon on April 9. The application deadline has passed for international media. Media credentials will be valid for mission activities from launch through splashdown at Kennedy and at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
 
PRESS ACCREDITATION OFFICE HOURS OF OPERATION

Badges will be issued at The Press Accreditation Office located on State Road 3, Merritt Island. Badging hours of operation are as follows:

Sunday, April 12:  12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
 Monday, April 13: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

 For more information about media accreditation, contact Jennifer Horner at 321-867-6598 or [email protected].
 
PRESS SITE HOURS OF OPERATION

The NASA Press Site at Kennedy will be open as follows:

Thursday, April 9: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
 Friday, April 10: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
 Saturday, April 11: Closed
 Sunday, April 12: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
 Monday, April 13: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
 Tuesday, April 14: In the event of a 24-hour scrub, 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
 
NASA SOCIAL

Sunday, April 12 – Monday, April 13. Morning check in time is 8:30 a.m. Up to 50 social media representatives have been invited to cover launch. The Kennedy Press Site Annex will serve as their home base, and they will view launch from the ITL Causeway. Social media will attend the same activities as the traditional news media. Social media Representatives will attend Space Launch Complex 40 pad viewing and may have additional stops.
 
ISS SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PANEL ON NASA TV

Sunday, April 12 (L-1 day): An ISS Science, Research and Technology briefing will be held at Kennedy’s Press Site at 1:30 p.m. NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming internet coverage.

Participants in the briefing will be:
•Marshall Porterfield, director, Space Life and Physical Sciences, NASA Headquarters
•Kirt Costello, International Space Station deputy chief scientist, NASA’s Johnson Space Center
•Mike Roberts, senior research pathway manager, CASIS
•Noel Clark, principal investigator, Observation and Analysis of Smectic Islands In Space (OASIS), University of Colorado
•Paola D. Pajevic, principal investigator, Osteocytes and Mechanomechano-transduction (Osteo-4), Harvard University
 
ISS NATIONAL LAB PANEL ON NASA TV

Sunday, April 12 (L-1 day): An ISS National lab panel will be held at Kennedy’s Press Site at 3:30 p.m. NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming internet coverage.

Participants in the panel will be:
•Kirt Costello, International Space Station deputy chief scientist, NASA’s Johnson Space Center
•Mike Roberts, senior research pathway manager, CASIS
•Paul Reichert, principal investigator, Protein Crystal Growth-3, Merck Research Laboratories
•Lenore Rasmussen, RasLabs, Synthetic Muscle for Prosthetics and Robotics
 
PRELAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE ON NASA TV

Sunday, April 12 (L-1 day): The Prelaunch News Conference will be held at Kennedy’s Press Site at 5 p.m. NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming internet coverage.

Participants in the briefing will be:
•Hans Koenigsmann, vice president of Mission Assurance, SpaceX
•Dan Hartman, deputy International Space Station Program manager, NASA’s Johnson Space Center
•Mike McAleenan, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron

POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE ON NASA TV

Monday, April 13: A post-launch news conference will be held at approximately 90 minutes after launch. NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming Internet coverage.

Participants in the post-launch news conference will be:

•Dan Hartman, deputy International Space Station Program Manager, NASA's Johnson Space Ceneter
•Hans Koenigsmann, vice president of Mission Assurance, SpaceX
 
REMOTE CAMERA SETUPS AND FALCON 9 LAUNCH PAD PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Monday, April 13 (Launch Day): There will be photo opportunity of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule on the launch pad, and media will be able to establish sound-activated remote cameras at the launch pad. The location is within Space Launch Complex 40 on the east side of the complex outside the pad perimeter fence. Media who want to participate will depart from Kennedy’s Press Site by government bus at 9:30 a.m. and return at approximately 11:25 a.m. after remote cameras have been established. SpaceX security regulations require that news media representatives attending this event be U.S. citizens. International media who did not apply by the deadline to meet access requirements to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will depart from the Press Site in a separate government vehicle at 9:30 a.m. and be able to establish remote cameras at Universal Camera Site 3 (UCS-3) north of the launch complex. NASA Social attendees will depart the Press Site for Space Launch Complex 40 by government bus at 8 a.m. for a tour, which also includes a launch pad photo opportunity.
 
NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA LAUNCH VIEWING

Monday, April 13 (Launch Day): News media and social media may view the launch from the ITL Causeway or Vehicle Assembly Building. Busses for news media and social media will depart from the Press Site parking lot for the ITL Causeway at 3 p.m. A sign-up sheet will be available in the newsroom for news media desiring to photograph the launch from the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The space available is limited, and media must sign up in person. Departure from the NASA News Center for the VAB will be at 3:25 p.m.
 
NASA TV LAUNCH COVERAGE

Monday, April 13 (Launch day): NASA TV live coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT and conclude at approximately 5:30 p.m. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, "mission audio," the launch conductor’s countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135 starting at 3 p.m. Launch also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast.
 
IN-FLIGHT NASA TV COVERAGE

If launch occurs April 13, NASA TV will provide live coverage Wednesday, April 15, of the arrival of the Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station. Grapple and berthing coverage will begin at 5 a.m. with grapple at approximately 7:14 a.m. Berthing coverage begins at 9:15 a.m.
 
NASA WEB PRELAUNCH AND LAUNCH COVERAGE

Prelaunch and launch day coverage of the SpaceX CRS-6 flight will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and text updates beginning at 3:30 p.m. as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video, podcast and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact Nancy Bray at 321-867-9112. You can follow countdown coverage on our launch blog and learn more about the SpaceX CRS-6 mission by going to the mission home page at:

http://www.nasa.gov/SpaceX

TWITTER

The NASA News Twitter feed will be updated throughout the launch countdown. To access the NASA News Twitter feed, visit:
http://www.twitter.com/NASAKennedy

FACEBOOK

The NASA News Facebook feed will be updated throughout the launch countdown. To access the NASA Facebook feed, visit:

http://www.facebook.com/NASAKennedy

RECORDED STATUS

Recorded status reports on the launch of SpaceX CRS-6 and associated prelaunch activities will be provided on the Kennedy media phone line starting Friday, April 10. The telephone number is 321-867-2525.
 
WIRELESS CAPABILITY

Wireless capability for the news media is available at the Kennedy Press Site.
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For video b-roll and other International Space Station media resources, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

The Dragon spacecraft will be filled with more than 4,300 pounds of supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support about 40 of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 43 and 44. Science payloads will study new ways to possibly counteract the microgravity-induced cell damage seen during spaceflight, the effects of microgravity on the most common cells in bones, gather new insight that could lead to treatments for osteoporosis and muscle wasting conditions, continue studies into astronaut vision changes and test a new material that could one day be used as a synthetic muscle for robotics explorers of the future. Also making the trip will be a new espresso machine for space station crews. After five weeks at the space station, the spacecraft will return with more than 3,000 pounds of cargo, including crew supplies, hardware and computer resources, science experiments, space station hardware, and trash.

http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceX_CRS-6_Mission_Overview(1).pdf

[moralec]

Shared by SpaceX in social media in relation to this mission.

Wondering how Falcon 9's first stage will fly back to Earth after our next launch? https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacexphotos/16892430560/ ‪#‎rocketlanding‬

[Darga]

Launch hazard map for this one https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zp15b_P5ERVk.kdpSo6aGbVFs you can toggle CRS-5 for comparison purposes. Also attached is it in image format.

[meekGee]

Launch hazard map for this one https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zp15b_P5ERVk.kdpSo6aGbVFs you can toggle CRS-5 for comparison purposes. Also attached is it in image format.

We can call this 50% boost back.

The landing spot is half way between the end if the hazard zone (0% boost back) and the launch site (100% boost back)

[jacqmans]

Launch of the Dragon Cargo Ship to the International Space Station

April 9, 2015 – Longueuil, Quebec – On April 13, 2015, SpaceX is scheduled to launch its commercial resupply ship, Dragon, to the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:33 p.m. EDT. Canadarm2 is set to capture the cargo ship upon arrival on April 15 at approximately 7:12 a.m. EDT.

Here are the Canadian highlights of this mission: 

·         Tomatosphere: 

o    The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is sending 600 000 tomato seeds to the International Space Station on behalf of the Tomatosphere educational project, led by the University of Guelph and Let’s Talk Science. These seeds will spend about 5 weeks in space. Following their return to Earth on Dragon, they will be distributed to approximately 18 000 Canadian and American classrooms, where students will plant them and observe their germination rates. Since 2001, an estimated 3 million students in Canada and the United States have participated in the award-winning Tomatosphere educational project. Tomatosphere fosters student learning about science, space exploration, agriculture and nutrition.

·        Osteo‑4: 

o   Thanks to the CSA’s previous investments in eOsteo, a space science experiment on bone cells, CALM Technologies, the Canadian company responsible for building the mini space laboratory, is partnering with NASA to upgrade the CSA instruments for a new experiment called Osteo‑4. This research may lead to a better understanding of osteoporosis and other diseases on Earth, and advance the search for countermeasures. The improved device will eventually be returned to the CSA, allowing Canadian scientists to pursue their research on bone loss in space. 

o   In order to upgrade eOsteo, CALM Technologies subcontracted Xiphos Systems Corporation for a data processor card known as Q6 card. According to the company’s figures, contributions from the CSA have enabled Xiphos to commercialize and sell its technology to the international space community, generating millions in additional revenues and representing more than 15 times the return on the Agency’s initial investment. 

·         JCAP:

o   Built by MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., this Canadian device is an adapter plate that will allow the Station’s crew to transfer spare parts from the inside of the ISS to the exterior through a sliding table in the Japanese airlock. Once outside, replacement parts can be retrieved robotically by either Canadarm2 or Dextre, thereby reducing the need for astronauts to conduct spacewalks for routine maintenance tasks.

Also of interest, CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques will work as lead Capcom for this flight. A Capcom acts as a bridge between the Flight Control team in Mission Control and the astronauts in space.

[Chris Bergin]

And to note the Static Fire has slipped to the 11th. Launch date still ok.

[jacqmans]

Press Kit:

http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceX_NASA_CRS-6_PressKit.pdf

[Chris Bergin]

Ahead of the Static Fire:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/spacex-tanking-tests-in-flight-abort-falcon-9/

[jacqmans]

Launch Operations Forecast

Vehicle: Falcon 9 Dragon CRS-6

Issued: 10 Apr 2015 / 1200 UTC (0800 EDT)

Valid: 13 Apr 2015 / 2033 UTC (1633 EDT)

Synoptic Discussion: A cold frontal system makes its way south through the weekend, gradually increasing moisture and instability in Central Florida. As the front stalls over Florida, clouds, showers and thunderstorms become more likely each day through Sunday. The best chance for thunderstorms will be inland each day, but there is a risk for lightning over the Spaceport as well, mainly Saturday and Sunday evenings. The frontal boundary begins to dissipate over Central Florida on Monday, but there is a threat of rain showers, thick cloud coverage and anvils drifting towards the coast from inland storms. Maximum upper-level winds are from the northwest at 55 knots near 45,000 feet.
On Tuesday the front continues to slowly disintegrate, decreasing the cloudiness and inland thunderstorm coverage. Maximum upper-level winds will be from the west at 40 knots at 45,000 feet.

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

[Lars-J]

SpaceX tweeted two images of Dragon being prepped: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/586635597940293632

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX
Final processing for #Dragon ahead of 4/13 launch attempt to @Space_Station (points if you notice what’s new)

I attached the high resolution images:

[jacqmans]

Static fire is this afternoon...The rocket is vertical at the pad now (I saw it from across the river a few moments ago).

[Chris Bergin]

We're hearing they fired up the F9, so that'll be the Static Fire. Note, it needs to be good, then for the data review to be acceptable and pass the LRR.

[Chris Bergin]

And SpaceX has confirmed it now.

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX  17m17 minutes ago
Static fire engine test completed today in advance of Monday's launch attempt to the Space_Station.

[jacqmans]

Launch Operations Forecast

Vehicle: Falcon 9 Dragon CRS-6

Issued: 11 Apr 2015 / 1200 UTC (0800 EDT)

Valid: 13 Apr 2015 / 2033 UTC (1633 EDT)

Synoptic Discussion: A cold frontal system has made its way into northern Florida, increasing cloud cover in Central Florida. The front will not move much further south, but will create clouds, showers and thunderstorms in Central Florida over the weekend. Most thunderstorms will be inland each day, but there is a risk for lightning over the Spaceport as well, mainly Saturday and Sunday evenings. The frontal boundary begins to dissipate on Monday, but the threat of rain showers, thick cloud coverage and anvils drifting towards the Spaceport from inland thunderstorms remains.

Maximum upper-level winds will be from the northwest at 50 knots near 45,000 feet.
On Tuesday the front continues to slowly disintegrate and move back north, decreasing the cloudiness over the Space Coast and inland thunderstorm coverage.
Maximum upper-level winds will be from the west at 40 knots at 45,000 feet.

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

[deltaV]

Launch Operations Forecast

Vehicle: Falcon 9 Dragon CRS-6

Issued: 11 Apr 2015 / 1200 UTC (0800 EDT)

Valid: 13 Apr 2015 / 2033 UTC (1633 EDT)

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

From that forecast: 40% no-go probability on Monday and 30% no-go on Tuesday.