SpaceX Falcon 9 / Dragon 2 : SpX-DM2 : May 27, 2020 : DISCUSSION

[drnscr]

Falcon Heavy's first flight went from 39a, didn't it? I seem to recall that the TV remotes were kind of spread out for that one with good camera locations. So they should be able to work something out that would allow people like Chris G., Tim Dodd and all the photographers to do their things, along with media aristocracy like the broadcast networks and things like CNN, all while each location is suitably distant from its neighbors. Just prevent everyone from gathering in an enclosed press building.

All falcon heavy launches are from 39A

[Zed_Noir]

Sounds like NASA will be limiting the number of media for DM-2. It is understandable but definitely a bummer that covering the return of human spaceflight in the US is up in the air for any of us. Hopeful for all my media colleagues vying to cover this historic  flight 🚀

Maybe NASA will instituted a lottery for media coverage spots if there is too many media accreditation requests. 

[haywoodfloyd]

Why don't they set up a conference-like setting in the VAB. That building is enormous and should be able to safely accommodate many journalists. Put up a couple of big screen TVs so they all can watch.
For an outside solution the site has several very large parking lots that would hold more than a few.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/trevormahlmann/status/1251658303568056322

Sounds like NASA will be limiting the number of media for DM-2. It is understandable but definitely a bummer that covering the return of human spaceflight in the US is up in the air for any of us. Hopeful for all my media colleagues vying to cover this historic  flight 🚀

This sounds hopeful

https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/1252367064896909313

I just wanted to say thank you to the NASA folks at Kennedy and Johnson for being helpful + forthcoming on this credentialing process for DM-2, and of course, to SpaceX for their ongoing support for media access at their launches.

[daveglo]

Just gonna drop this here:

If NASA thinks people are going to stay home for this launch, just because they ask people to do so, then I think they're in for a VERY rude surprise.

The spectacle of the US returning to human spaceflight after almost 10 years is something that many folks will want to be a part of.  The locals will be a big part of this, and I'll bet there will be an influx of campers and road travelers.

There's a motivation to be able to say "I was there when . .".

[Star One]

Just gonna drop this here:

If NASA thinks people are going to stay home for this launch, just because they ask people to do so, then I think they're in for a VERY rude surprise.

The spectacle of the US returning to human spaceflight after almost 10 years is something that many folks will want to be a part of.  The locals will be a big part of this, and I'll bet there will be an influx of campers and road travelers.

There's a motivation to be able to say "I was there when . .".

I think the potential to catch a very serious virus would more than likely counteract any of the notions you list above. Plus I very much doubt they would be allowed to endanger themselves and others in this way.

[Alexphysics]

The closest you will get to that rocket if you're not working there or part of the media is about 10 miles. To someone watching that F9 launch it will be like any other with the exception that they can point to the rocket and say "there are two people riding in it". Apart from that it should be like any other F9 launch. Do you wanna see the astronauts dressing up, going to the launchpad, getting strapped into the Crew Dragon and see closeups of the rocket launching from that pad? Stay at home and watch the livestream. There'll be more crew launches and missions with more added events like a land landing for example. Go there then.

[Thorny]

I think the potential to catch a very serious virus would more than likely counteract any of the notions you list above. Plus I very much doubt they would be allowed to endanger themselves and others in this way.

There are already great numbers of people going out despite the "social distancing" measures. The mayor of Jacksonville Beach opened the beaches again the other day and people went out in droves. Tom Brady got himself kicked out of a Tampa park that was supposed to be closed. Those are just the headline-grabbers. It is happening all over.

There is already serious discussion of re-opening more public infrastructure, with early May being frequently cited. The pressure from beach communities on the Governor to reopen Florida beaches is going to be enormous leading up to Memorial Day. If by this time next month COVID-19 seems to be seriously on the decline, I suspect Daveglo is correct. The area is going to be swamped with people.

[daveglo]

I think the potential to catch a very serious virus would more than likely counteract any of the notions you list above. Plus I very much doubt they would be allowed to endanger themselves and others in this way.

With all due respect to our UK friends, I'm not surprised you think people "would not be allowed", as I'm imagining that the UK authorities would do exactly that.  However, this being the good old US of A, with our notions of personal freedom, "being allowed" is not something we take lightly.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure there will be plenty of "social distancing" and wearing of masks to reduce risks, but as Thorny noted, the beach will be open.  I'm sure local hotels are desperate for business, gas is cheap, the roads are clear, spring is in the air, and so are the rockets!  Heck, I might go myself.

[Lars-J]

Just gonna drop this here:

If NASA thinks people are going to stay home for this launch, just because they ask people to do so, then I think they're in for a VERY rude surprise.

The spectacle of the US returning to human spaceflight after almost 10 years is something that many folks will want to be a part of.  The locals will be a big part of this, and I'll bet there will be an influx of campers and road travelers.

There's a motivation to be able to say "I was there when . .".

I think the potential to catch a very serious virus would more than likely counteract any of the notions you list above. Plus I very much doubt they would be allowed to endanger themselves and others in this way.

Don’t quit your day job for a career in predicting people behavior.

These were the crowds for the Most recent Starlink mission: (click on tweet to see all pictures) https://twitter.com/kquickphoto/status/1253715207073005573

Crowds will be much heavier for DM-2, whether allowed to or not. (Open tweet to to see more pictures)

[Jarnis]

Lack of available air travel will cut down the numbers but I'd expect everyone within driving distance to happily ignore that request. Which they obviously had to make.

[vp.]

Did the astronauts give a name to the Dragon C206 capsule, as it is tradition ?

[freddo411]

Just gonna drop this here:

If NASA thinks people are going to stay home for this launch, just because they ask people to do so, then I think they're in for a VERY rude surprise.

The spectacle of the US returning to human spaceflight after almost 10 years is something that many folks will want to be a part of.  The locals will be a big part of this, and I'll bet there will be an influx of campers and road travelers.

There's a motivation to be able to say "I was there when . .".

I think the potential to catch a very serious virus would more than likely counteract any of the notions you list above. Plus I very much doubt they would be allowed to endanger themselves and others in this way.

Let me start by saying I respect peoples different opinions these things.

I think the risks of infection, outside, during the day, wearing a mask, meters away from others is very, very low  -- essentially zero.    I find it interesting that many people, including police and government policy makers don't seem to agree.

As for travel to the cape, that introduces lots of possibilities of infection in airports, hotel rooms, bathrooms, gas stations, grocery stores, etc.    I would not take those lightly.   I would only take that risk, today, if I were working in some capacity.

[sauerkraut]

Like VP above, I would also like to know if DM-2 has been named by her crew ??

[aero]

Like VP above, I would also like to know if DM-2 has been named by her crew ??

If not, might I suggest, "Pathfinder?"

[Comga]

During live coverage of the Progress MS-14 docking to the Space Station, Rob Navias said that Dragon will rendezvous with the ISS in 19 hours after the May 27 launch.

Is this a rendezvous that can be attempted on sequential days?
Don’t the 6hr Soyuz rendezvouses require orbital phase adjustments by the ISS and require a 3 day gap between prospective launch dates?

[woods170]

Did the astronauts give a name to the Dragon C206 capsule, as it is tradition ?

Why would they name a rented spacecraft?

Unlike Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle this spacecraft is NOT owned by NASA. The only one with a right to name the spacecraft is the owner. And that is SpaceX.


IMO At best there will be a callsign, similar to what the Russians do.

[mrhuggy]

Just gonna drop this here:

If NASA thinks people are going to stay home for this launch, just because they ask people to do so, then I think they're in for a VERY rude surprise.

The spectacle of the US returning to human spaceflight after almost 10 years is something that many folks will want to be a part of.  The locals will be a big part of this, and I'll bet there will be an influx of campers and road travelers.

There's a motivation to be able to say "I was there when . .".

I think the potential to catch a very serious virus would more than likely counteract any of the notions you list above. Plus I very much doubt they would be allowed to endanger themselves and others in this way.

Don’t quit your day job for a career in predicting people behavior.

These were the crowds for the Most recent Starlink mission: (click on tweet to see all pictures) https://twitter.com/kquickphoto/status/1253715207073005573

Crowds will be much heavier for DM-2, whether allowed to or not. (Open tweet to to see more pictures)

Looking at those pictures there's about 20 people there. shot from 3 different angles. The picture also shows the problem that anyone has when an event of any kind happens. It's impossible to stop people from watching you can put up road blocks, have the police moving people on etc but people will either find a way around the road blocks or watch it from further away and many of the people watching could be locals standing in their street.

It's a problem that's hard to solve.

[2megs]

Why would they name a rented spacecraft?

Unlike Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle this spacecraft is NOT owned by NASA. The only one with a right to name the spacecraft is the owner. And that is SpaceX.

GO Ms. Tree and GO Ms. Chief might know an answer to that question.

When a company decides it's either good PR or good business to let a primary anchor customer name a craft they're renting, there's no difficulty in allowing that to happen.

[Vettedrmr]

It's a problem that's hard to solve.

Like keeping this on track for DM2 discussions.  Not belittling the virus, but honestly it distracts from the real subject matter I'm here for.

Have a good one,
Mike