SpaceX Falcon 9 : CRS-13 : Dec 15, 2017 : UPDATES

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Latest launch forecast, now 90% GO (although high level winds still forecast to be 120 knots):

Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 10%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds
   
Delay day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 20%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds

[stcks]

Sooty, and Dragon, are vertical at pad 40

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Press kit attached

Edit: added patch

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Latest launch forecast, still 90% GO (although high level winds now forecast to be 130 knots):

Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 10%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds
   
Delay day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 20%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds

[ChrisGebhardt]

Briefing participants are all here.  So we should be on time for the pre-launch conference at 11a EST.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Kirk: Launch CRS-13 tomorrow, after 51S Soyuz Thursday - hence why Dragon waits 'til Friday to berth.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Kirk: Sunday, 53S Soyuz launch of new crew to ISS.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Soyuz is a two-day rendezvous.

High Solar Beta period in December that extends to the 25.  No sunset.  One long day.  Critical ops and vehicle berthings/dockings suspended.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Cygnus reenters on Friday.  Previously, Orbital ATK had said that was 18th.  So they've moved that up apparently.  Or Kirk got the day wrong.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Jessica - Thanks various partners. 

Mentions REFLOWN BOOSTER!  YAY.  NASA still didn't mention it.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Jessica: 13th of 20 on the current CRS-1 contract.  Dragon's contracted (CRS-2) through 2024.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Jessica: First flight from SLC-40 since last year.

Pad modernized.  Talks about those efforts, including automation increase.  More computer control of systems on launch pad.

Pad can do launch to launch in faster turnaround time.  Safer systems.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Jessica: LZ-1 landing of booster.

If successful, this will be 20th recovery of a booster, 14th this year.

Booster is CRS-11's booster.  Dragon is CRS-6 Dragon.

4th time reflying a booster.

2nd Dragon reflight.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Jessica: Talks briefly about getting the boosters turned around.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Kurt: CRS-13 science joins 329 on-going experiments on ISS.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Lt. Myers: Weather is 90% go.  Winds high, but expected to be OK.  Clear skies expected Tuesday.  Trough coming through Tuesday that could increase winds late Tuesday and Wednesday for back up op.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Jet Stream will be just north of us.  Upper level winds will be concern, but will not be an activate monitoring of 45th on launch day.

SpaceX will make that call.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Marcia: Presents?  And feelings on reused booster?

Kirk: Cannot confirm or deny Christmas presents.  Anxiety will be the same as any other rocket.  Still a dangerous business.  Shuttle was reusable.  Notion of reusability is not new.  Extensive review to define what NASA wanted, what they got, and what that showed.

Very comfortable with risk posture.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Bill: Give some sense of what is done to get a reused booster ready for flight?

Jessica: Ensuring hardware is qualified for multiple flight with test hardware.  Firing engines in Texas over and over and over again.  Between flight, goal is to not swap out hardware.  If still inside lifetime, verify all was good. Between flights, ensure everything was fine.  Inspect welds.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Irene: Reflying boosters and Dragon more than twice.  Block 5 when?

Jessica: Can fly more than twice.  We do have those plans

Block 5 next year.