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

[Rondaz]

Like what @B_Rock_Howe is talking about with commercial robotics in the #BishopAirlock? Learn more about the @GITAI64818084 robotic arm here: https://nanoracks.com/gitai-nanoracks-bishop-airlock/ #NASASocial

https://twitter.com/Nanoracks/status/1334928096827498496

[scr00chy]

Visual mission profile

[dsmillman]

The launch readiness review for the 21st Commercial Resupply Services mission to the
@Space_Station  has concluded!

@NASA  and @SpaceX  are proceeding toward launch at 11:39 a.m. ET on Dec. 5. Tune in today at 4 p.m. ET for the prelaunch news conference: https://nasa.gov/nasalive

[Elthiryel]

Mission patch taken from the board shown before the pre-launch conference. Yeah, the quality isn't great, but I think it's the best we have for now.

[yg1968]

#NASA #SpaceX #CRS21 -  Q: On Abort Modes to Orbit A: Abort capability for the crew mission is not available on the cargo missions but it is a capability to protect our astronauts.

https://twitter.com/genejm29/status/1334976061730328578

#NASA #SpaceX #CRS21 -   When this Dragon arrives it will be the 1st time 2 Dragons will be on the ISS at the same time The new version of the Cargo Dragon can stay on station for 75 days and be reflown 5 times. Countdown is fairly similar Thx to .@NASA & .@45thSpaceWing

Interior of cargo Dragon:

https://twitter.com/genejm29/status/1334973148723376128

[SMS]

https://twitter.com/genejm29/status/1334975715826159617

https://twitter.com/genejm29/status/1334977168175194116

[SMS]

https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1335005128483610630

[scr00chy]

Which is it then? SpaceX's Sarah Walker said 11:40:19 EST during the conference while Stephen Clark later tweeted 11:39:41 EST.

[Elthiryel]

As far as I remember, it was Stephen's question about the exact launch time during the conference and the answer was strange considering that both NASA and SpaceX still give 16:39 UTC as a launch time on their websites. So maybe there was some follow-up with a correction.

[Rondaz]

NASA, SpaceX ‘Go’ for Tomorrow’s CRS-21 Launch

Danielle Sempsrott Posted on December 4, 2020

Following a prelaunch news conference at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA and SpaceX remain “go” for tomorrow’s launch of SpaceX’s 21st Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station.

“This morning, we did a mission management team meeting, and we had a unanimous go for this launch and docking,” said Kenny Todd, deputy program manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program Office. “We’re excited to get on with it; we’ll see how things play out over the next couple of days, but hopefully by the middle of the week, we’ll have a Dragon on the way, if not already attached (to station).”

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with the upgraded cargo Dragon spacecraft atop, stands poised for launch at Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A, and weather officials are now predicting a 50% chance of favorable weather conditions for liftoff. While that’s a slight increase over previous launch forecasts, a cold front moving across the state of Florida will have teams keeping a close eye on the weather.

“Previously, it looked like that cold front would be passing right during the launch window, but the trend is now our friend – the models are now bringing that cold front through prior to the launch window,” said Melody Lovin, U.S. Space Force launch and weather officer for the 45th Space Wing.

“Because of that, we’re expecting most of the rain associated with the cold front to be pretty much done before the launch window opens up. We’re not exactly sure when the clouds are going to clear out of the way for us. We’re hoping the earlier the cold front will pass, the more clearing we’ll get.”

The first mission for SpaceX under NASA’s second Commercial Resupply Services contract, CRS-21 will deliver more than 6,400 pounds of supplies, equipment, and critical materials needed to support a variety of science and research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 64 and 65. With SpaceX’s Crew Dragon carrying a crew of four to the orbiting laboratory last month, the mission will also mark the first time two Dragon spacecraft will be attached to the space station simultaneously.

“It really ushers in a season of continuous Dragon presence for the near future,” said Sarah Walker, director of SpaceX Dragon Mission Management. “We’re excited about all of the missions that we’ll be flying for NASA and the International Space Station program, both cargo and crew, and it’s really just an honor to be a part of that.”

Dragon will spend about one month attached to the orbiting laboratory before autonomously undocking and returning to Earth with 5,200 pounds research and return cargo. The spacecraft is slated to splash down in the Atlantic Ocean upon its arrival.

Liftoff is targeted for 11:39 a.m. EST tomorrow, Dec. 5, with live launch countdown coverage beginning at 11:15 a.m. EST. Follow along here on the blog, NASA TV, or the agency’s website. Learn more about the mission at: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/spacex_crs-21_mision_overview_high_res_0.pdf

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacexcrs21/2020/12/04/nasa-spacex-go-for-tomorrows-crs-21-launch/

[yg1968]

The pre-launch conference is at 1h44m of this video:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/128777378

See also this link:

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[SMS]

Projected docked to ISS Crew and Cargo Dragons configuration:

[Rekt1971]

Due to poor weather in the recovery area for today’s attempt, now targeting Sunday, December 6 at 11:17 a.m. EST for launch of CRS-21

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1335198069759995905

[Rondaz]

NASA, SpaceX Now Targeting Dec. 6 for CRS-21 Launch

Danielle Sempsrott Posted on December 5, 2020

Because of poor weather conditions in the recovery area for today’s planned launch of SpaceX’s 21st commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station, SpaceX and NASA are now targeting lift off for Sunday, Dec. 6, at 11:17 a.m. EST. Launch coverage will begin at 10:45 a.m. on NASA TV and the agency’s website.

A launch Sunday would lead to docking Monday, Dec. 7, for the Dragon to deliver about 6,400 pounds of important science and research, cargo supplies, and the first privately funded commercial airlock to the Expedition 64 crew aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Follow launch activities at the launch blog and @NASAKennedy and learn more about space station activities by following @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacexcrs21/2020/12/05/nasa-spacex-now-targeting-dec-6-for-crs-21-launch/

[Jansen]

New L-1 Launch Mission Execution Forecast

60% GO on primary with low risk on recovery weather

70% on secondary (Dec 8th)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/trevormahlmann/status/1335244139831709701

511.9 megapixel panorama of b1058.4 ready to launch the crs-21 mission for nasa🚀 (+ a sneak peek at the level of detail)

full-res⚙️/⬇️/🖼: tmahlmann.com/photos/Rockets…

[Jorge]

Projected docked to ISS Crew and Cargo Dragons configuration:

What software is used to generate these VV configs?

That's a NASA image, so probably DOUG.

https://software.nasa.gov/software/MSC-23586-1

[Jorge]

Projected docked to ISS Crew and Cargo Dragons configuration:

What software is used to generate these VV configs?

That's a NASA image, so probably DOUG.

https://software.nasa.gov/software/MSC-23586-1

I have a copy of DOUG / EDGE and the models for D2 crew / cargo and many other modules are different.

Yes, and it looks like you've got the alpha/beta/gamma joints at different angles, etc. Plus some other rendering settings (LOD, lighting/specular reflection, etc) set differently. Old news to anyone who ran DOUG/EDGE at NASA/JSC... the VRL, SSTF, SMS, SES, DST, etc all used DOUG/EDGE but with different models/settings and so the renderings looked different, sometimes subtly, sometimes not. It's the same rendering software.

[soltasto]

Updated CRS-21 capture "Press kit" with OCR.