SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS/SpX-10 Dragon - Feb. 19, 2017 - Discussion

[ChrisGebhardt]

Following up on my question earlier in this thread:

What are the ISS program constraints on this Dragon launch?

There's a small high-beta angle docking/berthing cut-out Feb. 21-24.
<snip>

Currently, a Dragon launch on the 18th puts capture and berthing on the 20th.

In case of further launch delay, would the launch be delayed to the 23rd, placing capture and berthing on the 25th, after a 2-day ISS rendezvous?

Or would the launch occur on the next day that ISS orbital mechanics allow, Dragon would pursue a 2 days rendezvous with the station, and then loiter a few kilometers away from ISS until the high-beta angle cut-out is over?

Or, are there other options, such as a 3 or more day rendezvous?

Can the high-beta angle cut-out be whittled down via analysis?

Dragon is not constrained by the high beta angle.  If it was, it wouldn't be launching on a 30-day docked mission until after the cutout.

[SWGlassPit]

Dragon is not constrained by the high beta angle.  If it was, it wouldn't be launching on a 30-day docked mission until after the cutout.

It's not Dragon, it's the robotics ops associated with attaching Dragon to ISS.

[mainmind]

Following up on my question earlier in this thread:

What are the ISS program constraints on this Dragon launch?

There's a small high-beta angle docking/berthing cut-out Feb. 21-24.
<snip>

Currently, a Dragon launch on the 18th puts capture and berthing on the 20th.

In case of further launch delay, would the launch be delayed to the 23rd, placing capture and berthing on the 25th, after a 2-day ISS rendezvous?

Or would the launch occur on the next day that ISS orbital mechanics allow, Dragon would pursue a 2 days rendezvous with the station, and then loiter a few kilometers away from ISS until the high-beta angle cut-out is over?

Or, are there other options, such as a 3 or more day rendezvous?

Can the high-beta angle cut-out be whittled down via analysis?

There's also the problem of a Progress-66 scheduled for launch on the 22nd of February followed by docking on the 24th. I don't know how closely together they want vehicles arriving, but if SpX-10 slips to 23 Feb and 66P launches as planned, they'll at least have two birds on their way at the same time.

[virnin]

Currently, a Dragon launch on the 18th puts capture and berthing on the 20th.

In case of further launch delay, would the launch be delayed to the 23rd, placing capture and berthing on the 25th, after a 2-day ISS rendezvous?

Or would the launch occur on the next day that ISS orbital mechanics allow, Dragon would pursue a 2 days rendezvous with the station, and then loiter a few kilometers away from ISS until the high-beta angle cut-out is over?

Or, are there other options, such as a 3 or more day rendezvous?

Can the high-beta angle cut-out be whittled down via analysis?

While Dragon may be capable of loitering a few extra days, part of the payload probably is not, aka live mice.

[Flying Beaver]

Currently, a Dragon launch on the 18th puts capture and berthing on the 20th.

In case of further launch delay, would the launch be delayed to the 23rd, placing capture and berthing on the 25th, after a 2-day ISS rendezvous?

Or would the launch occur on the next day that ISS orbital mechanics allow, Dragon would pursue a 2 days rendezvous with the station, and then loiter a few kilometers away from ISS until the high-beta angle cut-out is over?

Or, are there other options, such as a 3 or more day rendezvous?

Can the high-beta angle cut-out be whittled down via analysis?

While Dragon may be capable of loitering a few extra days, part of the payload probably is not, aka live mice.

If i'm not mistaken the mice stay onboard Dragon for the duration of the stay berthed to the ISS, and return for splashdown off Long Beach.

[gongora]

If i'm not mistaken the mice stay onboard Dragon for the duration of the stay berthed to the ISS, and return for splashdown off Long Beach.

I think you may be mistaken.  They have been removed from Dragon in the past.

[gongora]

There's also the problem of a Progress-66 scheduled for launch on the 22nd of February followed by docking on the 24th. I don't know how closely together they want vehicles arriving, but if SpX-10 slips to 23 Feb and 66P launches as planned, they'll at least have two birds on their way at the same time.

Last year they had a Progress and Dragon going to the station at the same time.

[cscott]

If i'm not mistaken the mice stay onboard Dragon for the duration of the stay berthed to the ISS, and return for splashdown off Long Beach.

I think you may be mistaken.  They have been removed from Dragon in the past.

The mice need to be a certain age (plus or minus a day or two iirc) when they arrive, and thus a particular age when their experiment is run and shortly later, some particular age when they are euthanized and frozen.  The frozen parts are returned to earth when dragon returns, in its freezer.

They will typically have several cohorts of mice, born at intervals, so if the flight is delayed you can substitute out a new "late load" of the appropriate age. Again, working from memory and not direct experience, they usually prepare three-ish cohorts for these late load cargos.  If the launch is delayed more than three times, then you need to wait a longer period of time for a new crop to be grown.

There are folks on this forum with direct experience. I hope they'll correct the inevitable flaws in my memories of a NASA PR piece I once saw describing this process.

Edit: and to be slightly clearer: day N is first crop of mice, delay to day N+1 and maybe N+2 is same mice, after that we have to skip a day to switch out the mice, so the next opportunities would be day N+4, N+5, maybe N+6 with next batch of mice (deliberately born four days later than first batch).  Same for N+8,N+9,N+10 (born eight days after the first mice) then we need to take a month off to grow new mice.  Numbers are just hand-wavy, and substitute plants or bacterial colonies or protein crystals other late load cargos for mice, but that gives you the rough idea. Note also that each "crop" is split in four, with half of the batch slated to remain on earth as 1g controls and half of both the 0g and 1g groups as experimental controls, and there are multiple experiments each with subjects to prepare.  So you're potentially talking about a lot of subjects to prepare for every campaign.

[rpapo]

You will notice in those last couple of shots of the Falcon rolled up to the top of 39A (but not yet standing), that the Dragon is not there for once.

[DatUser14]

SFN is apparently streaming the static fire attempt, they don't appear to be live yet. http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/10/pad-39a-mission-status-center/ move

[DOCinCT]

You will notice in those last couple of shots of the Falcon rolled up to the top of 39A (but not yet standing), that the Dragon is not there for once.

Is that a special cap just for the static fire test?

[Chris Bergin]

SFN is apparently streaming the static fire attempt, they don't appear to be live yet. http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/10/pad-39a-mission-status-center/ move

That's handy! SpaceX may not be too happy about it, but not a lot they can do now this is on 39A.

[DatUser14]

You will notice in those last couple of shots of the Falcon rolled up to the top of 39A (but not yet standing), that the Dragon is not there for once.

Is that a special cap just for the static fire test?

Yes, a similar thing was seen on the JASON-3 booster.

[old_sellsword]

You will notice in those last couple of shots of the Falcon rolled up to the top of 39A (but not yet standing), that the Dragon is not there for once.

Is that a special cap just for the static fire test?

Yes.

[Orbiter]

First rocket on LC-39 since Atlantis. Really exciting to see!

[Chris Bergin]

First rocket on LC-39 since Atlantis. Really exciting to see!

Damn straight and while I may get moderated into the party thread (that has happened, by the way - and rightly so ) that needs to be stressed a lot, and hopefully by SpaceX during the launch webcast. This is a synergy for Shuttle and SpaceX fans.

Edit/Lar: how about if we just edit it to say "straighten up and fly right, Mr. Bergin!!!"    Kinda happy about 39A too!

[TOG]

SFN is apparently streaming the static fire attempt, they don't appear to be live yet. http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/10/pad-39a-mission-status-center/ move

That's handy! SpaceX may not be too happy about it, but not a lot they can do now this is on 39A.

Wonderful to see the Falcon in its right place, but my beef is with Spaceflightnow.  The video only works with a Flash player, and (seeing that I am using an i-pad) since no flash players are available here, I don't get to see it.

Does anyone have a link to a non-flash site for the static fire?

[DatUser14]

SFN is apparently streaming the static fire attempt, they don't appear to be live yet. http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/10/pad-39a-mission-status-center/ move

That's handy! SpaceX may not be too happy about it, but not a lot they can do now this is on 39A.

Wonderful to see the Falcon in its right place, but my beef is with Spaceflightnow.  The video only works with a Flash player, and (seeing that I am using an i-pad) since no flash players are available here, I don't get to see it.

Does anyone have a link to a non-flash site for the static fire?

I also have an IPad and it seems that it isn't live yet, once it's live you'll see it.
Edit: checked on a desktop computer, requires flash.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Dragon is not constrained by the high beta angle.  If it was, it wouldn't be launching on a 30-day docked mission until after the cutout.

It's not Dragon, it's the robotics ops associated with attaching Dragon to ISS.

Can they not do any robotics ops at all no matter the short duration of the beta exceedance?  I thought it had to do with heat build-up/concentration from the radiators.  Does that automatically occur once the beta angle is exceeded?  I thought it took time to build up (i.e., I remember NASA stating many times during Shuttle that the start and end of the cut outs weren't firm and could wiggle with analysis.)

[robert_d]

It's 10:30 Eastern. I've got 'Shockwave flash' and don't have a picture. Does anyone else?