Updates SpaceX Falcon 9 F2 updates

[Orbinaut Pete]

Amazing work, SpaceX! :woohoo: :hotcool:

The next Dragon flight will rendezvous with the ISS, but not berth to it. Why go 90% of the way, when the final 10% is so easily accomplished? I think NASA should give SpaceX permission to have Dragon come within 30 feet of ISS, then grab it with the SSRMS and berth it. SpaceX could even put cargo inside Dragon – if you're going to berth Dragon to the ISS, it's pointless having it empty.

 

[N_Molson]

There are 2 other demo flights scheduled for 2011. "Demo flight" doesn't sound right to me, "test flight" would be better. The most unmanned missions there will be, the safer the vehicle will be.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I think Elon wants to combine demo (test) flight 2 and 3.
has there been any words from the "spies" at KSC at to whether or not they managed to recover the F9 first stage?

 

[Ark]

You forget Shenzou

That was all done on a sound stage, it doesn't count. :lol:

No pictures of the Dragon recovery?

 

[Axertan]

Apparently an U.S. Army nanosattelite was launched on F9 as a secondary payload.
Army nanosatellite on first flight

"REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - The first U.S. Army nanosatellite lifted off of Launch Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., today at 10:43 a.m. Eastern. This is the launch of the first U.S. Army built satellite in more than 50 years. U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command is the Army lead for the SMDC-ONE nanosatellite program.

The Space and Missile Defense Command - Operational Nanosatellite Effect, or SMDC-ONE, launched on a Falcon 9 two-stage booster, a Space Exploration Technologies, Inc, or SpaceX, launch vehicle as a secondary payload. The primary payload for this flight is the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft." (...)

 

[Sky Captain]

Congratulations to SpaceX for successful mission:thumbup:

 

[Fixerger]

Congratulations! Good job! Waiting for a press conference on NTV (13 min left)

 

[Ripley]

Apparently an U.S. Army nanosattelite was launched on F9 as a secondary payload.....

From http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/status.html

1718 GMT (12:18 p.m. EST)
Recovery teams in the Atlantic Ocean have telemetry and radar on the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage, according to SpaceX.
Meanwhile, the company confirms a cache of secondary U.S. government CubeSat payloads have separated from the rocket.

 

[SiberianTiger]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASA: "NASA Administrator Bolden's Statement On Falcon 9 Launch".

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden issued the following statement about SpaceX's launch of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule:

"While rocket launches from the Cape are considered a common occurrence, the historic significance of today's achievement by SpaceX should not be lost.

"This is the first in a new generation of commercial launch systems that will help provide vital support to the International Space Station and may one day carry astronauts into orbit. This successful demonstration flight is an important milestone in meeting the objectives outlined by President Obama and Congress, and shows how government and industry can leverage expertise and resources to foster a new and vibrant space economy.

"These new explorers are to spaceflight what Lindbergh was to commercial aviation."

The Falcon 9 launch is part of NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program. For more information, visit:
www.nasa.gov/cots

The launch video is available at:
http://go.nasa.gov/hISqBZ

NASA Television's Video File also will air b-roll of the launch. For scheduling information, visit:
www.nasa.gov/ntv

 

[Chupacabra]

Press conference is interesting...but I want to see more videos/pictures

 

[SiberianTiger]

The biggest surprise of the day: the second stage has autonomously boosted itself into orbit with about 11,000 km apogee!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The next-generation crewed Dragon will make a propulsive landing on a "helipad" using landing gear. Will only use chutes as a back-up. :OMG:

 

[SiberianTiger]

The next-generation crewed Dragon will make a propulsive landing on a "helipad" using landing gear. Will only use chutes as a back-up. :OMG:

Nice, especially when TSNIIMash prohibited Energia from using this approach at PTK-NP.

 

[SiberianTiger]

The 1st stage, however, was destroyed on impact, no retrieval is possible, AFAIK.

 

[Urwumpe]

The 1st stage, however, was destroyed on impact, no retrieval is possible, AFAIK.

Still only a minor failure, since the stage did its primary mission well.

 

[N_Molson]

The next-generation crewed Dragon will make a propulsive landing on a "helipad" using landing gear. Will only use chutes as a back-up.

I don't get it... A huge quantity of propellant would be required to brake the capsule in a controlled fashion (allowing to aim an helipad). :idk:

 

[jinglesassy]

I don't get it... A huge quantity of propellant would be required to brake the capsule in a controlled fashion (allowing to aim an helipad). :idk:

Maybe the helipad is 2000 square feet?

 

[C3PO]

The next-generation crewed Dragon will make a propulsive landing on a "helipad" using landing gear. Will only use chutes as a back-up.

Isn't it a bit late to deploy chute after the landing engines have failed?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASA TV Video: NASA's Bolden Congratulates SpaceX on Successful Launch.​