SpaceX Falcon 9 : CRS-11 : June 3, 2017 : DISCUSSION

[punder]

It sure looks like calipers to me, and it's the right size. I use them every day. (Well, not that particular pair...)

[sewebster]

It sure looks like calipers to me, and it's the right size. I use them every day. (Well, not that particular pair...)

Is it actually the right size? Trunk is pretty big and object doesn't look too small? Maybe we can analyze the video somehow.

[punder]

We use 6, 12, and 24(!) inch calipers. Digital and dial. The object looks like dial calipers.

[vapour_nudge]

You don't want any "left behind tools" coming loose anywhere in the vehicle and striking the COPV or something else during launch eh

[Jdeshetler]

Wow, ice built up ice in this kind of shape, I hope so.

This item seems to show the same pattern of sun reflection just what "brushed metal" surface would. As it rotated, there is no shiny reflection but a matte finish-like, then it does showed shiny reflection at next rotation, so forth.

This video was sharpened a bit but not very helpful since this clip was taken from 480 lines feed.

[Dante80]

That definitely looks like a caliper. Also, there was some information in the reddit thread about two technicians getting fired over this.

[edkyle99]

That definitely looks like a caliper. Also, there was some information in the reddit thread about two technicians getting fired over this.

I've seen a lot of ice floating in orbit on video over the years.  That's not ice.

IMO.

 - Ed Kyle

[x15_fan]

I was thinking: Why not RFID tag the tools and scan the tool crib pre/post work for verification? Well someone else does exactly that already...

http://www.cribmaster.com/applications/tool-control-and-tracking/fod-control

[punder]

I'm completely torn. About the shape... have you ever defrosted a stand-up freezer?   

On the other hand, it sure looks like calipers, it came from deep in the trunk where ice should not be building up, and it's spinning like it has serious mass. (Yes that is all subjective.)

It wouldn't be the first time someone left a tool in spacecraft.

[mn]

If you fire enough people it'll definitely melt all the ice

On a more serious note who is responsible for this? SpaceX? NASA? Subcontractor?

[Jim]

If you fire enough people it'll definitely melt all the ice

On a more serious note who is responsible for this? SpaceX? NASA? Subcontractor?

[GeneBelcher]

If I'm interpreting reddit correctly, the "calipers" are now being called a chunk of ice. The original post has been removed. Of course I could be mistaken.

That is spin.  It is too deep in the trunk for that.  But if so, then there is something just as troubling, they have a humidity and temperature problem for payloads in the trunk.

Agreed. Love this quote from the Reddit mod that censored locked the thread:

It's ice buildup from rain prior to launch

Yeah, and I'm Elton John.

[mn]

If I'm interpreting reddit correctly, the "calipers" are now being called a chunk of ice. The original post has been removed. Of course I could be mistaken.

That is spin.  It is too deep in the trunk for that.  But if so, then there is something just as troubling, they have a humidity and temperature problem for payloads in the trunk.

Do we know the specs of the trunk with regards to temperature and humidity control? Is it advertised as being temperature and humidity controlled?

[su27k]

Are there changes in trunk cargo extraction schedule? If there is FOD concern, I'd imagine NASA would delay extraction until SpaceX gets to the bottom of this.

[gongora]

Are there changes in trunk cargo extraction schedule? If there is FOD concern, I'd imagine NASA would delay extraction until SpaceX gets to the bottom of this.

They've already extracted MUSES: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43072.msg1688057#msg1688057

[georgegassaway]

FWIW, Cropped screenshot in original form (at 8 seconds), and then an enlarged high-contrast closer cropped image.

Heck of a crazy shape for it if that really was a piece of ice......sure does not look like ice.

"These are not the calipers you are looking for.  Move along..."

[deruch]

From CRS-11 RDVZ thread:

Payloads location (to be verified...):
- ROSA on ELC-1 (temporarily stows, then attached to the SSRMS/SPDM during 7 days)
- NICER on ELC-3 (Previously on ELC-2)
- MUSES on ELC-4.

Does anyone know why the planned on station location for NICER was changed (ELC-2 to ELC-3)?

[su27k]

We use 6, 12, and 24(!) inch calipers. Digital and dial. The object looks like dial calipers.

Calipers above 6 inch should be trackable by the Space Surveillance Network, no? Maybe we should look for a new TLE entry near Dragon injection orbit...

[kevin-rf]

The problem I am having with the caliper theory is they made it all the way to orbit in the trunk then got dislodged by separation. I would have expected them to have been dislodged during powered flight and have been sitting on top of the second stage already...

 Just odd, and yes they look like calipers to me.

[EspenU]

The problem I am having with the caliper theory is they made it all the way to orbit in the trunk then got dislodged by separation. I would have expected them to have been dislodged during powered flight and have been sitting on top of the second stage already...

Well, it may very well have dislodged during launch and just been sitting on top of the 2. stage all the way to orbit. Then, after SECO if could have drifted back into the trunk, and then drifted out again during dragon separation.