Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 F3 COTS2+ Updates

[Urwumpe]

I hope for April 30 - I have a day off then, because first May is a holiday here.

 

[Kyle]

COTS-2+ Patch!

Thread updated to reflect.

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: Cargo up and down: Dragon to demonstrate the importance of downmass

 

[orb]

Florida Today: SpaceX plans readiness review for Monday's Falcon 9-Dragon launch:

SpaceX today plans to confirm whether it is proceeding with a launch next Monday from Cape Canaveral of a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule bound for the International Space Station.

After a Flight Readiness Review in Houston last week, NASA said there was a “good chance” SpaceX would be ready, but results from additional software tests needed to be evaluated before confirming the date.

SpaceX today is conducting an internal readiness review and is expected to issue a statement on the launch’s status today.

{...}

 

[Kyle]

BREAKING - Dragon COTS-2+ has been DELAYED for 1 week.

No exact date or time, but probably May 5th-9th. Will update this post with new launch date when available.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Damn.

 

[Mattyv]

BREAKING - Dragon COTS-2+ has been DELAYED for 1 week.

No exact date or time, but probably May 5th-9th. Will update this post with new launch date when available.

Did they give a reason why?

 

[Kyle]

Did they give a reason why?

SpaceX Official Statement
After reviewing our recent progress, it was clear that we needed more time to finish hardware-in-the-loop testing and properly review and follow up on all data. While it is still possible that we could launch on May 3rd, it would be wise to add a few more days of margin in case things take longer than expected. As a result, our launch is likely to be pushed back by one week, pending coordination with NASA.

 

[anemazoso]

This is to be expected in launching rockets. But part of me is thinking that this is somewhat late in the game to be testing things. You would think they would have everything ready to go before they set a date and time....

 

[tl8]

This is to be expected in launching rockets. But part of me is thinking that this is somewhat late in the game to be testing things. You would think they would have everything ready to go before they set a date and time....

Testing is an on-going thing. They will be testing all the way up to re-entry (If not longer) ensuring they try and find problems before they happen.

Most likely they found a permutation that was not quite right, so they are conducting more tests to ensure it isn't a problem.

Also if you don't have a deadline, then it is very easy to end up in an endless development cycle. Have a date lets you set goals and is very important in any engineering project.

 

[Ark]

Eh, it's good to take a little extra time to check things out. You never know, somebody might need time to saw off an engine bell or something...

 

[NovaSilisko]

Next week, it will probably be delayed another week.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Well, here's me hoping that they launch between May 15 and 17 - that would make for a probable feat of 6 or more launches in 72 hours! (currently there's Soyuz TMA-04M and an Ariane 5 launch on May 15 and a Proton-M, a H-IIA and a military Soyuz launch on May 17, not to mention I've not invited the Chinese yet)

 

[Jarod]

At this rate, Orbital Sciences will launch before them.

 

[orb]

Florida Today: SpaceX launch delayed at least until May 7:

{...}

A launch attempt a week later, May 7, would be possible if United Launch Alliance moves from May 5 to May 3 its planned launch of a military communications satellite from a nearby Cape Canaveral pad.

If that does not happen, or if SpaceX still is not ready by May 7, the demonstration mission could be delayed until late May, after three new crew members have flown to the space station. The crew members are scheduled to launch late May 14 from Kazakhstan and dock at the station two days later.

Kirstin Grantham, a SpaceX spokeswoman, said the company might have been ready to launch by May 3, but elected to “add a few more days of margin in case things take longer than expected.”

{...}

NASASpaceflight: SpaceX, NASA looking for new Falcon 9 launch date following slip

Spaceflight Now: Additional software reviews will delay SpaceX demo flight

 

[N_Molson]

I'm not extremely surprised by this new developpement...

 

[Jarvitä]

This is getting boring, Elon should schedule another press conference to stutter through his fantasies of settling Mars.

 

[FADEC]

This is getting boring, Elon should schedule another press conference to stutter through his fantasies of settling Mars.

Or maybe the 20 to 50 Falcon launches a year first, of which he dreams about.

Such a launch rate is not going to happen. Less than ever Mars in 10 to 15 years from now. Musk might be a genius, and he and his company inspires me, but sometimes he seems to be off reality. Or it's just advertising.

 

[Kyle]

New launch date -

May 7th, 2012 at 9:38 a.m EDT.

 

[orb]

NASA:
RELEASE : 12-133
NASA Issues Statement on SpaceX Launch Date

April 24, 2012

WASHINGTON -- In response to SpaceX's announcement that it has delayed launch of its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft from April 30 to May 7, NASA issued the following statement from Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier:

"We appreciate that SpaceX is taking the necessary time to help ensure the success of this historic flight. We will continue to work with SpaceX in preparing for the May 7 launch to the International Space Station."

{...}



SPACE.com: 1st Private Spaceship to Visit Space Station Aims for May 7 Launch

Spaceflight Now: SpaceX flight preps continue with fueling, engine hotfire