Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 F3 COTS2+ Updates

[John_L]

Press conference at Noon CST, should be interesting... I bet Elon will look like he's breathing again.

 

[Kyle]

Remember guys,

No stop until Wheel Stop! Or in this case, splashdown. There's still a number of things that could go wrong with Dragon, but right now everything is a 100% SUCCESS.

 

[FADEC]

The last time I was inspired that much was when they started to assemble the ISS.

If this thing is going to be a manned system, there is actually no real need anymore for Orion, especially in case SpaceX gets the go for Falcon 9 heavy.

There's still a number of things that could go wrong with Dragon, but right now everything is a 100% SUCCESS.

They only have to demonstrate undocking now, I think. That Dragon can return safely already was demonstrated during the last mission

 

[Urwumpe]

They only have to demonstrate undocking now, I think. That Dragon can return safely already was demonstrated during the last mission

The active part of berthing and unberthing is the ISS, the Dragon will only need to do that in emergency.

 

[FADEC]

The active part of berthing and unberthing is the ISS, the Dragon will only need to do that in emergency.

So the mission already can be considered as a complete success Okay, entry and splashdown. But that worked already once.

 

[Ghostrider]

CongAssortedRodents to Team Dragon!

Yeah, I know it should be SpaceX Dragon's Team, but "Team Dragon" sounds so much better.

 

[orb]

Berthing timelapse

ESA:
Dragon on board

25 May 2012

The first Dragon commercial space ferry was berthed at the International Space Station today. ESA astronaut André Kuipers and his crewmates welcomed the new cargo ship and will start unloading the supplies and scientific experiments tomorrow.

Dragon gave a thorough demonstration of its manoeuvring capabilities before being allowed to approach the Space Station. At a distance of 250 m, ground control gave the go-ahead to approach the Station’s safety zone.

Dragon cautiously approached for 2.5 hours and then stopped 10 m out. From there, André and NASA astronaut Don Pettit took over and captured the vessel using the Station’s robotic arm.

Unlike ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle or Russian Soyuz and Progress ferries, Dragon is not designed to dock automatically with the Station. It relies on astronauts using the long arm to grab the spacecraft and move it safely into position for temporary berthing to one of the Station ports.

André watched Dragon approach from Europe’s Cupola observatory module and acted as an extra pair of eyes as Don operated the robotic arm. Once safely captured, André took over the controls to move the vessel to the Harmony module next to ESA’s Columbus laboratory.

Dragon will be detached from the orbital outpost and return to Earth next Wednesday, landing close to the Californian coast.

As part of its cargo, Dragon will return samples from ESA experiments that are examining metal alloys and the human immune system.

{...}



NASA:
RELEASE : 12-173
Statement By John P. Holdren, Assistant To The President For Science And Technology, On The Docking Of The Dragon Spacecraft With The International Space Station

May 25, 2012

WASHINGTON – Following the Friday, May 25, docking of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft with the International Space Station, John P. Holdren, assistant to the President for science and technology policy, issued the following statement:

"For the first time, a private American company has successfully launched a spacecraft into orbit and berthed it with the International Space Station--an achievement of historic scientific and technological significance and a key milestone in President Obama's vision for America's continued leadership in space.

That is exactly what the President had in mind when he laid out a fresh course for NASA to explore new scientific frontiers and take Americans even deeper into our solar system while relying on private-sector innovators--working in the competitive free market--to ferry astronauts and cargo to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station. It's essential we maintain such competition and fully support this burgeoning and capable industry to get U.S. astronauts back on American launch vehicles as soon as possible.

I could not be prouder of our scientists and engineers--both government and private sector employees--who have contributed to this historic mission. A passion for discovery and a sense for adventure have always driven this nation forward, and I join all Americans in watching what future possibilities are enabled by today's great achievement."

{...}



NASA:
RELEASE : 12-172
Spacex Dragon Attached To Space Station In Spaceflight First

May 25, 2012

HOUSTON -- The International Space Station's Expedition 31 crew grappled and attached SpaceX's Dragon capsule to the space station Friday. This is the first time a commercial company has accomplished this type of space operation.

"Today marks another critical step in the future of American spaceflight," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "Now that a U.S. company has proven its ability to resupply the space station, it opens a new frontier for commercial opportunities in space -- and new job creation opportunities right here in the U.S. By handing off space station transportation to the private sector, NASA is freed up to carry out the really hard work of sending astronauts farther into the solar system than ever before. The Obama Administration has set us on an ambitious path forward and the NASA and SpaceX teams are proving they are up to the task."

Following a series of system tests and a successful fly-under of the space station Thursday, the Dragon capsule was cleared by NASA to approach the station Friday. Dragon then performed a series of intricate test maneuvers as it approached the orbiting laboratory. These maneuvers were required to demonstrate the maneuvering and abort capability of Dragon prior to approaching and moving into a 65-foot (20-meter) "berthing box" where it was grappled by NASA astronaut Don Pettit using the station's robotic arm at 9:56 a.m. EDT.

European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers installed the capsule on the bottom of the station's Harmony node at 11:52 a.m. NASA astronaut Joe Acaba completed berthing operations by bolting the Dragon to Harmony at 12:02 p.m.

"Congratulations to the SpaceX and NASA teams," said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington. "There is no limit to what can be accomplished with hard work and preparation. This activity will help the space station reach its full research potential and open up space-based research to a larger group of researchers. There is still critical work left in this test flight. Dragon-attached operations and cargo return are challenging and yet to be accomplished."

The Dragon capsule lifted off Tuesday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The demonstration mission is the second under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, which provides investments intended to lead to regular resupply missions to the space station and stimulate the commercial space industry in America.

"The investments made by the United States to stimulate the commercial space industry are paying off," said Philip McAlister, director for Commercial Spaceflight Development at NASA Headquarters. "SpaceX achieved what until now was only possible by a few governments, and the company did it with relatively modest funding from the government.

The Dragon capsule is delivering 1,014 pounds of supplies to the station, which includes non-critical experiments, food, clothing and technology. Crew members will open the hatch to the capsule Saturday and unload the cargo during a four-day period. Dragon then will be loaded with 1,367 pounds of hardware and cargo no longer needed aboard the station in preparation for the spacecraft's return to Earth. Dragon and station hatches will be closed on May 30.

On May 31, the Expedition 31 crew members will detach Dragon from Harmony, maneuver it to a 33-foot release point and un-grapple the capsule. Dragon will deorbit approximately four hours after leaving the station, taking about 30 minutes to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and landing in the Pacific Ocean about 250 miles west of southern California.

{...}

 

[Gerdih]

Damn I couldn't see the docking. I hope all has gone as expected

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Happy Berth-day to Dragon! :bananadance:

https://twitter.com/absolutspacegrl/status/206038401873485825

 

[N_Molson]

If this thing is going to be a manned system, there is actually no real need anymore for Orion, especially in case SpaceX gets the go for Falcon 9 heavy.

Yeah, cool. Let's pull all the eggs in the same basket, and if it breaks, you return to the "gap" situation.

Then cancel the Dream Chaser, CST-100, and all the other useless stuff. :facepalm:

A very innovative way of thinking, sure. :dry:

 

[RGClark]

Congrats to SpaceX on the successful launch and berthing to the ISS.

Bob Clark

 

[FADEC]

Yeah, cool. Let's pull all the eggs in the same basket, and if it breaks, you return to the "gap" situation.

Then cancel the Dream Chaser, CST-100, and all the other useless stuff. :facepalm:

A very innovative way of thinking, sure. :dry:

Well, I think a valid question is: why spending billions on a new NASA system while another launch vehicle and spacraft with deep space capability already exists and works well obviously.

I think a better course for NASA would be to focus on building habitation modules and landing modules for future missions into space and let the transportation part be done by SpaceX for less costs and saving of time.

We might have an Orion and SLS, probably expensive as hell in operation as usual for NASA, and a Dragon and Falcon. But no hardware at all for going into deep space and land somewhere...

Edit: NASA has demonstrated that they are able to lose a crew and vehicle twice, and put the program on hold for years. So the "all eggs in one basked" argument is not really vaild.

 

[Codz]

NASA needs to be able to launch and completely be in control, of their own launch vehicle and capsule for high risk missions such as Moon or asteroid rendezvous. Not to mention Dragon was never designed to be a long duration deep space vehicle.

 

[orb]

Well, I think a valid question is: why spending billions on a new NASA system while another launch vehicle and spacraft with deep space capability already exists and works well obviously.

Well, the question isn't valid for this thread. The topic of this thread is SpaceX Falcon 9 F3 COTS2+ Updates. Nothing here about SLS, Orion, Falcon Heavy, CST-100, Dream Chaser, Dragon being used for deep space long duration flights, or NASA's future. Just updates for this demo flight.

O-F Staff Note: Please discuss off-topic on other threads, where that discussion is no longer off-topic.

 

[N_Molson]

...while another launch vehicle and spacraft with deep space capability already exists

I don't know where you got that "deep space capability" concerning the Dragon. It is certainly not a proven fact. The Orion is a deep-space spacecraft by design.

And I know no "already existing" launchers able to send it to Lunar Orbit or beyond, anyway...

Edit : thank you for moving those posts where they should be. I didn't ignited the napalm bomb.

 

[ADSWNJ]

For the SSRMS you actually need one input channel more, since it has seven degrees of freedom. It can change the "plane of its arm".

Except for when you need to reach around obstacles.

So summarizing this for my understanding ... 6 degrees are necessary and sufficient for all alignments. Adding degrees increases optionality to achieve the right attitude and 3D-space position, so you can flex to avoid obstructions, etc.

In extreme, I assume that you could add an unlimited number of joints (e.g. more like a snake), to increase that optionality ... except that each joint brings increased weight and risk of breakdown. So I assume the balance would typically be closer to the 6 than to the infinity end of the spectrum!

 

[FADEC]

NASA needs to be able to launch and completely be in control, of their own launch vehicle and capsule for high risk missions such as Moon or asteroid rendezous.

Such as with the Shuttle, which got lost two times including crew, which is why such a safety argument does not seem to be really vaild if you ask me.

Not to mention Dragon was never designed to be a long duration deep space vehicle.

They say it can be used to fly to the Moon and Mars, and reenter from a deep space mission into the atmosphere without problems.

 

[N_Molson]

For the SSRMS you actually need one input channel more, since it has seven degrees of freedom. It can change the "plane of its arm".

Easy, the joystick throttle

Most joysticks have in fact 4 axis (hey, even 6 if you count the "hat"). :yes:

 

[Codz]

Anyway, congratulations to NASA and SpaceX for a successful launch, rendezvous, and berthing to the ISS!

 

[John_L]

Well, they still have to open the hatch, unload/load Dragon, and close out, depart, and deorbit/splashdown, but I'd say the lion's share of the tough hurdles, the launch itself, the COTS 2 maneuvers, and the final approach/capture/berthing means we can pretty much call this a huge success. I'm confident that the remaining hurdles will be easily handled, and at splashdown/recovery, this one's going into the books as a textbook success.