SpaceX F9 / Dragon 2 : CRS2 SpX-21 - Mission Updates : Dec - Jan (2020/21)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tylerg1998/status/1334494138604122112

#SpaceX has just conducted a static fire test with #Falcon9 booster B1058.4 at KSC LC-39A in preparation for the launch of the #CRS21 mission. Now waiting for confirmation of a good test.

Via @EmreKelly/@Florida_Today stream: youtu.be/huc-sdf38YY

https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1334493791785521153

F9/CRS-21: And here's a picture of today's test

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1334502616374550529

Static fire test complete — targeting December 5 for Falcon 9 launch of Dragon’s 21st resupply mission to the @space_station; team is keeping an eye on weather conditions as the forecast is currently 40% favorable for liftoff

twitter.com/spacex/status/1334502617465069575

First launch of the upgraded cargo version of Dragon, which can carry 50% more science payloads than the previous version

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1334502622649192448

The Falcon 9 booster supporting this mission previously launched @NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the @space_station, the ANASIS-II mission, and a Starlink mission

[Jansen]

No major changes to L-2 Launch Mission Execution Forecast

40% GO on primary, 80% on secondary

[yg1968]

NASA TV Coverage Set for Next Space Station Resupply Mission with SpaceX:

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-tv-coverage-set-for-next-space-station-resupply-mission-with-spacex

[Jansen]

NASA TV coverage of the Falcon 9 launch begins at 11:15 a.m. EST (1615 GMT) Saturday.

[Rondaz]

NASA, SpaceX on Track for Dec. 5 Cargo Resupply Launch

Danielle Sempsrott Posted on December 3, 2020

NASA and SpaceX are targeting Saturday, Dec. 5, for SpaceX’s 21st Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-21) mission to the International Space Station. Weather officials with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing are predicting a 40% chance of favorable weather conditions for liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Cargo Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida.

Primary weather concerns are the cumulus cloud rule, thick cloud layer rule, and flight through precipitation.

CRS-21 is the first mission under the company’s second Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA and the first flight of the upgraded cargo version of Dragon 2. The mission will deliver supplies, equipment, and critical materials to support dozens of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur aboard the orbiting laboratory during Expeditions 64 and 65.

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 is scheduled for 11:39 a.m. EST, and Dragon is slated to autonomously dock at the space station at approximately 11:30 a.m. EST on Sunday, Dec. 6. NASA astronauts and Expedition 64 Flight Engineers Kate Rubins and Victor Glover will monitor docking operations.

Follow live coverage of the CRS-21 mission and prelaunch events here on the blog, NASA TV, and the agency’s website:

1 p.m. EST Friday, Dec. 4 – Virtual #NASASocial Science and Station Q&A
TBD Friday, Dec. 4 – Prelaunch news conference from Kennedy with representatives from the International Space Station Program Office, SpaceX, and the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing
11:15 a.m. EST Saturday, Dec. 5 – Live launch countdown coverage begins

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacexcrs21/2020/12/03/nasa-spacex-on-track-for-dec-5-cargo-resupply-launch/

[SMS]

https://twitter.com/Nanoracks/status/1334520268430200837

[Arb]

Is this the first static fire with a cargo Dragon attached?

SpX-20 appears to have been booster only. See https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=50280.msg2052977#msg2052977

[Rondaz]

Join our virtual CRS-21 @NASASocial tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET to chat with representatives from @ISS_Research, @Nanoracks & Brain Organoids in real time!

Have a question, Submit yours by using #AskNASA & it may be answered live during the show.

https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy/status/1334525862067150849

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/1334546747067150336

Pad 39A's crew access arm just moved into position with Cargo Dragon. #CRS21 marks the first time SpaceX uses the walkway for cargo loading.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[SMS]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/albums/72157716406499828 (8 photos so far)

[joncz]

Is this the first static fire with a cargo Dragon attached?

SpX-20 appears to have been booster only. See https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=50280.msg2052977#msg2052977

SPX-21 is the first Dragon 2 capsule - first time with superdraco pad escape capability.  I've not seen other static fires closeup, but I distinctly saw the TEL tilt away from the second stage and Dragon prior to the static fire, clearing the way for a pad abort.

[salpun]

Is this the first static fire with a cargo Dragon attached?

SpX-20 appears to have been booster only. See https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=50280.msg2052977#msg2052977

SPX-21 is the first Dragon 2 capsule - first time with superdraco pad escape capability.  I've not seen other static fires closeup, but I distinctly saw the TEL tilt away from the second stage and Dragon prior to the static fire, clearing the way for a pad abort.

Superdraco's were not installed. TEL tilt away is standard on that pad.

[vaporcobra]

SPX-21 is the first Dragon 2 capsule - first time with superdraco pad escape capability.  I've not seen other static fires closeup, but I distinctly saw the TEL tilt away from the second stage and Dragon prior to the static fire, clearing the way for a pad abort.

Superdracos were not installed. TEL tilt away is standard on that pad.

Correct. It's still intriguing that Dragon was attached for the static fire, that seems like an uncharacteristically unnecessary risk for NASA unless it's providing something of value. Given that SpaceX decided to retain two trunk fins for some reason, my guess is that Cargo Dragon 2 retains some kind of autonomous in-flight abort capability - albeit passive without SuperDracos. To safely fly with that enabled, Dragon would need to be kept in the loop during static fires to verify that the software responsible for detecting and commanding an abort isn't exhibiting false-positives, much like Crew Dragon.

LOV would still be guaranteed in the event of a catastrophic pad or in-flight explosion, but a passive abort capability would likely ensure spacecraft survival in the event of a seemingly more likely CRS-7 or Starlink-5 style launch vehicle failure.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[lonestriker]

Correct. It's still intriguing that Dragon was attached for the static fire, that seems like an uncharacteristically unnecessary risk for NASA unless it's providing something of value. Given that SpaceX decided to retain two trunk fins for some reason, my guess is that Cargo Dragon 2 retains some kind of autonomous in-flight abort capability - albeit passive without SuperDracos. To safely fly with that enabled, Dragon would need to be kept in the loop during static fires to verify that the software responsible for detecting and commanding an abort isn't exhibiting false-positives, much like Crew Dragon.

LOV would still be guaranteed in the event of a catastrophic pad or in-flight explosion, but a passive abort capability would likely ensure spacecraft survival in the event of a seemingly more likely CRS-7 or Starlink-5 style launch vehicle failure.

They static fire Crew Dragon attached as well, and that's arguably a much more expensive and important bit of hardware than CRS2.  At a guess, it could be something as simple as keeping consistency in their processes for both crew and cargo.  Static firing with all flight hardware attached could also provide useful data on launch conditions for a brand new spacecraft since this is the first CRS2 hardware.  Test as you fly and fly as you test and all that.

[Jansen]

SPX-21 is the first Dragon 2 capsule - first time with superdraco pad escape capability.

Crew-1 was the first for both. Cargo Dragons don’t have SuperDracos in order to save mass. It’s also why seats, consoles, and toilets aren’t installed like on Crew Dragon.

[abaddon]

Don’t the trunk fins serve as radiators?

[cohberg]

Given that SpaceX decided to retain two trunk fins for some reason

Don’t the trunk fins serve as radiators?

The 2 fins are retained as there are solar cells on them.

There are no radiator panels on the fins and you can actually see the blank area (where the fin was) on the radiator side of the trunk.