Updates SpaceX Falcon 9 F2 updates

[Orbinaut Pete]

Spaceflight Now: "Falcon 9 rocket lights main engines for readiness test".

 

[Kyle]

Couple of questions regarding this flight.
- What's the launch window / Target time of ignition.
- What's the orbital inclination that its targeting?
- How long with the Dragon stay in orbit?
- Where will it land?
- Who/What will recover it?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Does anyone know if F9 is the only rocket that does a static test fire of its motors before launch? This method of test firings seams like it would be very beificial toward more reliable operation of rocket motors in general. :thumbup:

They also did that to test fire Energia rocket on the pad, but the firing was done only once and just 17 seconds long. I am not 100% sure that was it, though.

 

[Urwumpe]

Does anyone know if F9 is the only rocket that does a static test fire of its motors before launch? This method of test firings seams like it would be very beificial toward more reliable operation of rocket motors in general. :thumbup:

Yes, the benefits come with some strong penalties that make it unattractive for the usual launch vehicles. Usually, the maximum test is that only the engines are tested once on a test stand once assembled, with the rocket being tested as whole only during development.

Since SpaceX would need to do full-scale stage testing anyway because of the high number of engines, doing such FRFs is simpler for SpaceX as individually testing all 9 engines on a not-existing test stand.

 

[orb]

Couple of questions regarding this flight.
- What's the launch window / Target time of ignition.
- What's the orbital inclination that its targeting?

Launch window and launch hazard area maps were posted here, as also the launch window and launch timer is in this calendar event.
There's no exact inclination in that post, but you can see on the map the launch azimuth.

- How long with the Dragon stay in orbit?
- Where will it land?

SpaceX updates, Oct. 4, 2010:

COTS Demonstration Flight 1

{...}

The upcoming demonstration mission will launch from Cape Canaveral and should follow a flight plan nearly identical to the first Falcon 9 launch, but this time the Dragon spacecraft will separate from the second stage and will demonstrate operational communications, navigation, maneuvering and reentry. Although it does not have wings like Shuttle, the Dragon spacecraft is controlled throughout reentry by the onboard Draco thrusters which enable the spacecraft to touchdown at a very precise location – ultimately within a few hundred yards of its target.

While Dragon will initially make water landings, over the long term, Dragon will be landing on land. For this first demo flight, Dragon will make multiple orbits of the Earth as we test all of its systems, and will then fire its thrusters to begin reentry, returning to Earth for a Pacific Ocean splashdown off the coast of Southern California. The entire mission should last around four hours.

{...}

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

SPACE.com: "SpaceX's Private Dragon Space Capsule Ready for Tuesday Launch".

 

[Wonderer]

Tuesday? Coincidence?I think not!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

SpaceX lowered its Falcon 9 rocket this morning for reasons still unknown. Today's media photo opp with the rocket is reportedly canceled.

Aww.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Launch now NET Thursday 09/12 due to a second stage engine issue.

SPACE.com: "SpaceX Delays Launch of First Private Space Capsule".

 

[orb]

Per SFN MSC:

SpaceX reports engineers discovered porosity and potential cracking in a weld joint in the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage Merlin engine.

The upper stage engine includes an expansion nozzle specially designed for firing in the vacuum of space. The nozzle is made of a lightweight but sturdy niobium material.

If a new niobium vacuum nozzle is required on the second stage Merlin engine, launch could be pushed back to Friday or Saturday, Shotwell said.​

 

[Wonderer]

Oh come on.The shuttle gets delayed, then the Proton rocket failure and now The Falcon 9 delay.Is the Probe in hibernation or something?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

There is a chance that SpaceX may launch as early as Weds. We hope to learn more this afternoon.

Yay! :thumbup:

 

[astrosammy]

Just launch a hour into the window. I don't want to miss it!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Here's the SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1 Press Kit from Spaceflight Now (PDF, 1.24 MB).

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Oh come on.The shuttle gets delayed, then the Proton rocket failure and now The Falcon 9 delay.Is the Probe in hibernation or something?

Well, I often tell my boss at work "You can have it right, or now; pick one."

 

[orb]

Just to expand some more my reply to Kyle's questions, some facts from the press kit -

Mission Facts:

[table="width=600"]

Inclination:​

|34.5 degrees

Orbit:​

|300 kilometers circular orbit

# Orbits:​

|Almost 2 nominal, 3 contingency

Top Speeds:​

|Greater than 17,000 mph, allowing Dragon to orbit Earth in 90 min.

Time:​

|Roughly 3½ hours from launch to splashdown

Landing site:​

|Roughly 500 miles west of the coast of Mexico[/table]

On this mission, Dragon will be recovered by ship.
Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage will be recovered by NASA’s MV Freedom Star.​

And additionally -

Countdown and Launch Timeline:

[table="head;width=700"]

T [HH:MM:SS]​

|

Event​

-02:35:00|Chief Engineer polls stations. Countdown master autosequence proceeds with Liquid Oxygen (LOx) load, RP-1 fuel load, and vehicle release.

-01:40:00|Allow countdown master autosequence to proceed into lowering the strongback

-01:00:00|Allow the master autosequence to proceed with stage 2 fuel bleed, stage 2 thrust vector control bleed. Verify all sub-autosequences in the countdown master autosequence have been performed, except for terminal count.

-00:13:00|SpaceX Launch Director polls readiness for launch.

-00:11:00|Logical hold point if launch point.

-00:10:00|TERMINAL COUNTDOWN START

-00:09:43|Open prevalves to the nine first stage engines and begin chilling Merlin engine pumps

-00:06:17|Command flight computer to enter alignment state

-00:05:00|Stop loading of GN2 into ACS bottle on stage 2

-00:04:46|Transfer to internal power on stage 1 and stage 2

-00:03:11|Begin arming flight termination system

-00:03:02|Terminate LOx propellant topping, cycle fuel trim valves

-00:03:00|Verify movement on stage 2 thrust vector control actuators

-00:02:30|SpaceX Launch Director verifies “GO”

-00:02:00|Range Control Officer (Air Force) verifies range is “GO”

-00:01:35|Terminate helium loading

-00:01:00|Command flight computer state to startup

-00:01:00|Turn on pad deck and Niagara water

-00:00:50|Flight computer commands thrust vector control actuator checks on stage 1

-00:00:40|Pressurize S1 and S2 propellant tanks

-00:00:03|Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start

-00:00:00|Liftoff

+00:02:58|1st Stage Shut Down (Main Engine Cut Off)

+00:03:02|1st Stage Separates

+00:03:09|2nd Stage Engine Start

+00:09:00|2nd Stage Engine Cutoff

+00:09:35|Dragon Separates from Falcon 9 and initializes propulsion

+00:13:xx|On-Orbit Operations

+02:32:xx|Deorbit Burn Begins

+02:38:xx|Deorbit Burn End

+02:58:xx|Reentry Phase Begins (Entry Interface)

+03:09:xx|Drogue Chute Deploys

+03:10:xx|Main Chute Deploys

+03:19:xx|Water Landing[/table]​

 

[Kyle]

Oh come on.The shuttle gets delayed, then the Proton rocket failure and now The Falcon 9 delay.Is the Probe in hibernation or something?

Probe wants to push every launch to be in a single, glorious week!

 

[mbartley]

Well.. looks like Tuesdays on now gang! First flight of the Dragon! And maybe even manned one day..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmkP6GySJe0&NR=1

Even more interesting, at about 1:29 and 1:40 in the video, as it shows a Dragon docking to the space station, there's another Dragon already there. Is there any possibility they'll have more than one Dragon in orbit at the same time?

Also, will Dragon dock directly to the station as shown in this video? I thought it was going to approach close enough for the station's RMS to grapple it and then maneuver it into place.

 

[anemazoso]

Per SFN MSC:

SpaceX reports engineers discovered porosity and potential cracking in a weld joint in the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage Merlin engine.

The upper stage engine includes an expansion nozzle specially designed for firing in the vacuum of space. The nozzle is made of a lightweight but sturdy niobium material.

If a new niobium vacuum nozzle is required on the second stage Merlin engine, launch could be pushed back to Friday or Saturday, Shotwell said.​

Wow, a problem related to my expertise. Not to common in rockets and spacecraft.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Falcon 9 rocket awaits blastoff (PHOTO GALLERY).

Hanging between stages

MORE PICTURES​