Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 - CRS-8 Dragon - April 8, 2016 - UPDATES (Read 297357 times)

jacqmans · « **Reply #500 on:** 04/09/2016 09:40 am »

45th SW supports SpaceX’s CRS mission launch

by 45th Space Wing Public Affairs

4/8/2016 - CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- The 45th Space Wing supported SpaceX's successful launch of a Falcon 9 Dragon spacecraft headed to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40 here April 8 at 4:43 p.m. ET.

This is the seventh major launch operation for the Eastern Range this year, and this launch is the eighth contracted mission by SpaceX under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract. The flight will deliver science research, crew supplies and hardware to the orbiting laboratory in support of the Expedition 47 and 48 crews. According to NASA, the flight also includes the Bigelow Aerospace expandable habitat module that will be attached to the space station for testing. In its scheduled return to Earth in May, the Dragon capsule will bring back biological samples from astronauts, including those collected during NASA's one-year mission.

A combined team of military, government civilians and contractors from across the 45th Space Wing provided support to the mission, including weather forecasts, launch and range operations, security and safety.

"I am proud of the integrated team who worked together flawlessly to make this launch a success," said Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, 45th Space Wing commander, who served as the mission's Launch Decision Authority. "This mission once again clearly demonstrates the successful collaboration we have with our mission partners at NASA and SpaceX as we continue to shape the future of America's space operations and serve as the 'World's Premier Gateway to Space.'"

mvpel · « **Reply #501 on:** 04/09/2016 01:19 pm »

After yesterday on the verandah of OSB-II with the white-hot exhaust plume searing into my retinas, I will never look at launch photos the same way again. They'll now be reminders of something amazingly cool, rather than amazingly cool in their own right. And I'm okay with that.

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edkyle99 · « **Reply #502 on:** 04/09/2016 02:51 pm »

Kind of pointless to congratulate after POTUS, but stone cold awesome, SpaceX!

The thing that surprised me was that, as I watched yesterday, I was not surprised to see that stage land on that ship, in a stiff wind, on a moving platform tossed around by 10-15 ft waves (or whatever they were). Falcon 9 and its team, like many of the early NASA astronauts, are now naval aviators!

- Ed Kyle

Archibald · « **Reply #503 on:** 04/09/2016 06:03 pm »

Congrats to SpaceX and also to this amazing forum - I traced back the exact moment of the landing to page 10 of this thread. Bookmarked the page, dowloaded the pictures and the video on you tube. Folks, we are living very interesting times.

yg1968 · « **Reply #504 on:** 04/09/2016 07:01 pm »

Zoom of the 4k landing video:

https://twitter.com/aallan/status/718851627218808832

Herb Schaltegger · « **Reply #505 on:** 04/09/2016 07:18 pm »

Quote from: yg1968 on 04/09/2016 07:01 pm

Zoom of the 4k landing video:

https://twitter.com/aallan/status/718851627218808832

I would love to see that with the video digitally-stabilized on the barge so we can see how much the horizon and waves are moving it in more absolute terms.

NovaSilisko · « **Reply #506 on:** 04/09/2016 07:27 pm »

From the SpaceX flickr:

averagespacejoe · « **Reply #507 on:** 04/09/2016 07:28 pm »

Congratulations SpaceX maybe now that you proved you can do CRS missions again you will finally release the CRS-7 patch to the general public.

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Targeteer · « **Reply #508 on:** 04/09/2016 07:44 pm »

Orbit finally posted. Also two pieces of "Dragon Debris". Covers of some kind?

41452 DRAGON CRS-8 2016-024A 51.66 357 211 km

NovaSilisko · « **Reply #509 on:** 04/09/2016 07:46 pm »

Solar array covers. They pop off just before the arrays deploy.

Joffan · « **Reply #510 on:** 04/09/2016 07:47 pm »

Quote from: Targeteer on 04/09/2016 07:44 pm

Orbit finally posted. Also two pieces of "Dragon Debris". Covers of some kind?

41452 DRAGON CRS-8 2016-024A 51.66 357 211 km

The nose fairing comes off too early to orbit, so it must be the solar panel covers.

I'm guessing that also means that Stage 2 de-orbited successfully, which just about qualifies as an update :-)

TOG · « **Reply #511 on:** 04/10/2016 01:35 am »

Well done. SpaceX. NSF. Very well done.

jcm · « **Reply #512 on:** 04/10/2016 03:32 am »

Quote from: Joffan on 04/09/2016 07:47 pm

Quote from: Targeteer on 04/09/2016 07:44 pm
Orbit finally posted. Also two pieces of "Dragon Debris". Covers of some kind?

41452 DRAGON CRS-8 2016-024A 51.66 357 211 km
The nose fairing comes off too early to orbit, so it must be the solar panel covers.

I'm guessing that also means that Stage 2 de-orbited successfully, which just about qualifies as an update :-)

The two solar array covers are always cataloged, and yes these are they. And yes, this time no Stage 2 cataloged, confirming deorbit.

mvpel · « **Reply #513 on:** 04/10/2016 04:00 am »

That last photo above is a CG render by Nathan Koga, isn't it?

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ChrisC · « **Reply #514 on:** 04/10/2016 04:12 am »

Is this the thread that we should monitor for ISS approach and berthing developments? Or is that going somewhere else here? We are ~6 hours away from grapple and I would expect to see progress notes by now.

sewebster · « **Reply #515 on:** 04/10/2016 04:17 am »

Quote from: ChrisC on 04/10/2016 04:12 am

Is this the thread that we should monitor for ISS approach and berthing developments? Or is that going somewhere else here? We are ~6 hours away from grapple and I would expect to see progress notes by now.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40001.0

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #516 on:** 04/10/2016 01:58 pm »

Well, it seems that I'm the only one that didn't blast into cheers when all landing legs made a firm touch down on the barge. Then again, it was 4:50 am here when it happened and I was very sleepy.

I missed out on the USA chanting because I was watching the technical version, so my thought was like that when it happened: Oh they have a drone! Now let's hope that didn't end in a kaboom > Uh oh it was missing the barge completely! > Huh? It straightened up? > It touched down!? > Now please with such big sea swells don't let the stage slipped overboard.....

But the one moment I was happy with was when the Dragon flies free. It's a long time since the last one did and everyone misses the time when the Dragon has its wings spread out.

Welcome back.

ugordan · « **Reply #517 on:** 04/10/2016 04:04 pm »

Mongo62 · « **Reply #518 on:** 04/10/2016 04:44 pm »

The above video clearly shows that the mysterious light visible from the deck does not move with the horizon, and therefore must originate from some object on the OCISLY itself (possibly a specular reflection).

cartman · « **Reply #519 on:** 04/10/2016 11:45 pm »

remote camera :