Updates SpaceX Falcon 9 F2 updates

[orb]

Spaceflight Now:

• Falcon 9 countdown timeline
• Falcon 9 launch timeline
• Dragon entry timeline

 

[River Crab]

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

And another thing with the video, it looks as if the Dragon uses its rearward-facing RCS to deorbit. That's not right, is it? It would be better to use the forward-facing RCS, which isn't angled outwards, and thus more efficient.

 

[Wonderer]

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

I'm not saying they should hurry up, but rather that this is a stream of bad luck :dry:

 

[Urwumpe]

And another thing with the video, it looks as if the Dragon uses its rearward-facing RCS to deorbit. That's not right, is it? It would be better to use the forward-facing RCS, which isn't angled outwards, and thus more efficient.

Practically yes, but you would then also need to include other factors in the equation, for example how the fuel is fed to the engines or how often the thrusters can fire safely. Or thermal reasons, a deorbit burn with RCS takes quite a while, and could make the front engines overheat. or you would loose visual reference that way.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

SPACE.com:
• High Stakes Loom Over SpaceX's Private Space Capsule Launch Test.
• SpaceX Examines Cracked Engine Nozzle on Private Rocket.
• SpaceX Set for Historic Launch of Private Spacecraft on Wednesday.

Some hi-res photos of the Falcon 9 static firing are now up at the KSC Media Gallery!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASA: "Demonstration Flight Of Falcon 9 Rocket Set For Wednesday".

The first demonstration flight of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program has been scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 8, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch window extends from 9 a.m. to 12:22 p.m. EST.

During a routine inspection this week, SpaceX engineers observed two small cracks in the rocket's second stage engine nozzle. SpaceX completed repairs to the cracked nozzle Tuesday.

Live coverage of the launch will air on NASA Television and the agency's website. For streaming information, visit:
www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about the launch, visit:
www.nasa.gov/cots

 

[anemazoso]

Just had to post this because of the size comparison to other vehicles.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: SpaceX on the verge of unleashing Dragon in the sky.

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: SpaceX going for Wednesday morning launch.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now:

• Setting the odds: SpaceX boss weighs in on risky flight:

  Wednesday's twice-around-the-world test flight of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is fraught with risk, and the company's wealthy founder and chief executive predicts about a 60 percent chance the mission meets all of its objectives.
  
  {...}

• Falcon 9 on the eve of blastoff (PHOTO GALLERY).

collectSPACE: Photo Gallery: SpaceX set for historic launch of Dragon spacecraft (PHOTO GALLERY).

Florida Today: SpaceX expects launch today - Cracked engine nozzle repaired.

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: SpaceX: Wednesday launch "still looks good".

 

[orb]

Liftoff is now being targeted for 9:06 a.m. EST / 14:06 UTC.

If liftoff does not occur at 9:06 a.m. EST, the next opportunity to launch is at about 10:38 a.m. EST / 15:38 UTC. SpaceX has three short launch windows within today's nearly three-and-a-half hour period that ends at 12:22 p.m. EST / 17:22 UTC.

NASASpaceFlight: SpaceX set to launch Falcon 9 with Dragon on COTS demo.

 

[orb]

The countdown was stopped at T-minus 2 minutes, 48 seconds for the first launch attempt today, due to some yet unknown anomaly. It was recycled to T-13 minutes and holding.

There are 2 opportunities left for today:
10:38 a.m. - 10:43 a.m. EST / 15:38 - 15:43 UTC
12:16 p.m. - 12:22 p.m. EST / 17:16 - 17:22 UTC

SpaceX is targeting 10:42 a.m. EST / 15:42 UTC for the next launch opportunity.

 

[orb]

There was a false abort due to an issue with the ordnance interrupter ground feedback position in the terminal countdown. The issue is resolved now.

New launch time - 10:43 a.m. EST / 15:43 UTC.

 

[Jarvitä]

Countdown resumed, T-11:00 and counting.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Pretty launch!

I hope the recovery is webcast as well? If not I'll wait patinetly for the pictures on Spaceflightnow.

Go go SpaceX!

 

[Jarvitä]

Nominal 2nd stage cut-off and orbital insertion.

---------- Post added at 03:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:49 PM ----------

Spacecraft separation successful

 

[Chupacabra]

^Very Awesome!

Looking very forward to vehicle recovery!

 

[Ark]

Looked like a perfect launch to me.

 

[Urwumpe]

Congratulations to SpaceX for the successful launch of their first Dragon capsule.

Looks like when many things really depend on success, SpaceX has the skills and luck to get ahead right on point. Not too late for showing some self-declared spaceflight experts in Senate, what the future can be like.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Okay, now that was awesome x10⁶! :speakcool:

Dragon is on-orbit - Wooooo-Hooooo! :woohoo:

 

[orb]

Falcon 9 put Dragon onto orbit with 288 kilometers high perigee, 301 kilometers high apogee and an inclination of 34.53 degrees. Those parameters are close to the targeted marks, which called for a 300 kilometers altitude near-circular orbit with inclination of 34.5 degrees.

Landing of the Dragon capsule in the Pacific Ocean is targeted at 2:02 p.m. EST / 19:02 UTC.