Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Dragon 2 Pad Abort Test - May 6 2015 - UPDATE THREAD  (Read 124782 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

LIVE Coverage thread for the Dragon 2 Pad Abort Test. Posts in here should only be updates - such as SpaceX preps and NASA coverage, etc.

Articles:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/02/spacex-dragon-advancing-launch-abort-system-new-heights/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/spacex-press-abort-test-raptor-engine/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/08/dragon-v2-rely-parachutes-landing/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/01/spacex-ready-crewed-dragon-aborts/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/spacex-preparing-busy-season-missions-test-milestones/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/spacex-ready-launch-key-commercial-crew-test/

Pad Abort Test Article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/05/dragon-2-pad-abort-leap-key-spacex-test/


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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/

=--=

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.

--

Pad Abort Master Discussion Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33423.0

Pad Abort Party Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37428.0

=--=

L2 Members:

L2 SpaceX Section - now a dedicated full section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0

Dedicated L2 SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - DSCOVR Coverage:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36551.0

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« Last Edit: 05/05/2015 11:29 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Offline Chris Bergin

Per L2 (as it includes the Static Test):

Dragon 2 Static Test - May 5 - Window: 1200-1600L  - Aiming for T-0 at 1200L

Dragon 2 Pad Abort Test 5/6, Window 0700-1430L - Aiming for T-0 at 0700L
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Offline Chris Bergin

Winds are the primary concern, but 70 percent go.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/?linkId=13941525
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Offline deruch

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The highlights from the 45th Weather Sqdn.'s report (slightly abridged):

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

Test Operations Forecast
Vehicle:  Dragon Pad Abort
Issued:  4 May 2015 /1230 UTC (0830 EDT)
Valid:     6 May 2015 /1100-1830 UTC (0700-1430 EDT)

Synoptic Discussion:  Winds have become gusty out of the east and will remain so for the next couple of days as a low pressure area develops southeast of Central Florida.  The increase in winds also increases the threat of showers along the Space Coast.  Showers will be most prevalent in the morning hours and typically diminish after noon.  On Wednesday the low pressure area will drift north and east, relaxing the pressure gradient which will result in lower wind speeds over the Spaceport.  Maximum winds to 5,000 feet will be easterly at 20 knots and this is the primary abort weather concern. 
On Thursday, winds will continue to weaken as the area of low pressure continues to move northeast.  Maximum winds to 5,000 feet will be north easterly at 17 knots. 

Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints:                                 30% 
Primary concern(s)
:            Winds > 25 Knots

24-hour delay probability of violating launch weather constraints:                             20%
Primary concern(s)
:            Winds > 25 Knots
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

Offline MattMason

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Current weather conditions on the KSC Weather webcam feed showed a NO GO for scheduled time (winds exceed launch rules of 25 knots). This may change.
"Why is the logo on the side of a rocket so important?"
"So you can find the pieces." -Jim, the Steely Eyed

Offline Lars-J

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New images tweeted by SpaceX: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/595362474628526082

...which links to an article on the SpaceX site: https://www.spacex.com/news/2015/05/04/5-things-know-about-spacexs-pad-abort-test

A timeline for the test:
Quote
T-0:        The eight SuperDracos ignite simultaneously and reach maximum thrust, propelling the spacecraft off the pad.

T+.5s:    After half a second of vertical flight, Crew Dragon pitches toward the ocean and continues its controlled burn. The SuperDraco engines throttle to control the trajectory based on real-time measurements from the vehicle’s sensors.

T+5s:     The abort burn is terminated once all propellant is consumed and Dragon coasts for just over 15 seconds to its highest point about 1500 meters (.93 mi) above the launch pad.

T+21s:   The trunk is jettisoned and the spacecraft begins a slow rotation with its heat shield pointed toward the ground again.

T+25s:   Small parachutes, called drogues, are deployed first during a 4-6 second window following trunk separation.

T+35s:   Once the drogue parachutes stabilize the vehicle, three main parachutes deploy and further slow the spacecraft before splashdown.

T+107s: Dragon splashes down in the Atlantic Ocean about 2200 meters (1.4 mi) downrange of the launch pad.
« Last Edit: 05/04/2015 11:08 pm by Lars-J »

Offline Chris Bergin

Per L2 schedule notes, the window for Wednesday has been extended from 07:00 local to 16:00 local.
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Online jacqmans

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Jacques :-)

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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
Stephen Clark ‏@StephenClark1 21m21 minutes ago

Dragon abort vehicle on the pad for escape system test Wednesday. Test window opens at 7am EDT, weather 70% go.

https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/595611453685682176
« Last Edit: 05/05/2015 03:52 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline Chris Bergin

AE Video 2 for the Static Fire:

http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/

An eagle eyed person here is likely to be able to capture the second it happens (and it will be pretty much a second). Still working through some things per L2, so if we don't catch it, we should get confirmation and I'll post here.
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Offline Chris Bergin

And that's complete! Not sure if anyone captured it....was apparently very fast, mainly "smoke."
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Offline Jarnis

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On the AE 2 stream, saw water jets activate around Dragon, then a cloud covered everything. Not much more to see.

Once the cloud was gone, Dragon 2 still happily on pad.
« Last Edit: 05/05/2015 05:11 pm by Jarnis »

Online jacqmans

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At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, photojournalists set up cameras at Space Launch Complex 40 as a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is being prepared for a test to simulate an emergency abort from the launch pad. The ability to escape from a launch or pad emergency and safely carry the crew out of harm's way is a crucial element for NASA's next generation of crew spacecraft. SpaceX will perform the test under its Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) agreement with NASA, and will use the data gathered during the development flight as it continues on the path to certification.

Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossman
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/
Jacques :-)

Offline Lars-J

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New Elon tweet: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/595656079490600960

Quote
Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Hold down firing of Dragon 2 spacecraft at Cape Canaveral

Looks like all 8 engines fired!
« Last Edit: 05/05/2015 06:33 pm by Lars-J »

Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline mdeep

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From KSC-PAO, window now opens at 0900 local:

Quote
SpaceX Adjusts Test Window

SpaceX reported this evening that its Pad Abort Test window will open at 9 a.m., rather than 7 a.m. Media buses will depart the press site promptly at 7:30 for the ITL Causeway.

NASA will provide updates about the test on the Commercial Crew Blog and air the test live on NASA Television 25 minutes prior to T-0.

Offline deruch

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https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/595778114472509442

SpaceX @SpaceX  ·  1h 1 hour ago

Tomorrow is 1st major test of Crew Dragon’s launch abort system, window 9am-4pm ET. TestCast: http://www.spacex.com/webcast


[bold added for clarity]
« Last Edit: 05/06/2015 03:41 am by deruch »
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

Offline Rocket Science

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"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline Chris Bergin

Good morning boys and girls. So we're keeping an eye on the T-0. NASA TV will go live 25 minutes before the T-0 (about 90 mins from now if they look good for the opening of the new window).

Live update thread, so updates only, but this is a two minute event by nature of the flight, so we're going to be going screenshot crazy. Screenshots are updates, so we'll take those!
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