Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 F3 COTS2+ Updates

[RisingFury]

But this isn't the first flight, it's the third (and the second of Dragon). Depends on whether we're talking about problems with the spacecraft or the launch vehicle/infrastructure.

My concern is if the delays carry on to the fourth, fifth flights, etc. If they don't, good for SpaceX. If they're still in that phase of needing to perfect and tinker with things by then, they have a problem.

It's the first flight to the ISS. I'd expect majority or even all of the problems to be related to that. Yes, it's the third flight of F9 and second of Dragon, but the previous missions did not have any objectives beyond proving the launcher and capsule.

 

[Kyle]

Software testing remains an obstacle for SpaceX flight - SFN

 

[anemazoso]

It's the first flight to the ISS. I'd expect majority or even all of the problems to be related to that. Yes, it's the third flight of F9 and second of Dragon, but the previous missions did not have any objectives beyond proving the launcher and capsule.

The first flight of Dragon was just to test attitude manuvering and re-entry. Very simple in the scope of the whole program.

This new article from sfn basicaly says they are being as cautious as they should be. Changes have been made to the software and those changes need to be fully tested. Hopefully the early April time frame will be sufficiant to all testing to be completed so the can launch or else they will have to wait for another progress to come and go from station. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[T.Neo]

It's the first flight to the ISS. I'd expect majority or even all of the problems to be related to that. Yes, it's the third flight of F9 and second of Dragon, but the previous missions did not have any objectives beyond proving the launcher and capsule.

It's the same capsule, they've already tested many of the same systems... now they're demanding more from them.

If the holdup is the capsule itself, then it's good news as it isn't an indication of something wrong with the flow of the launch operations.

 

[orb]

O-F Staff Note: Thread reopened after cleanup.

18 off-topic posts were moved to "[Discussion] Private Sector vs. Governmental Agencies spaceflight (Megathread)", and 3 deleted.

Please try to stay on-topic.

 

[ElGuapoGuano]

I too am concerned about the delay. Consider for a moment that SpaceX launched exactly zero Falcon 9's in 2011. This mission was slated for mid to late 2011 and they still aren't ready to fly?

 

[Mattyv]

I too am concerned about the delay. Consider for a moment that SpaceX launched exactly zero Falcon 9's in 2011. This mission was slated for mid to late 2011 and they still aren't ready to fly?

2011 was a bad year, though.

 

[tl8]

I too am concerned about the delay. Consider for a moment that SpaceX launched exactly zero Falcon 9's in 2011. This mission was slated for mid to late 2011 and they still aren't ready to fly?

It is not that they aren't ready to fly, but ensuring that the software has no bugs or critical errors. It also has meet the required standard (ISO9000 normally).

These things take a lot of time and as you can't just "Wait and See" you need to go through the software line by line.

Luckily NASA has access to some of the best coders around.

 

[ElGuapoGuano]

I am pulling for SpaceX big time, and I know, they only get one shot at this before the political pressure could kill their Gov funding. I just hope after a (fingers crossed) successful mission to ISS that SpaceX can start cranking out their launch manifest.

 

[orb]

CBS News Space: SpaceX cargo delivery test flight slips another month to late April:

{...}

"SpaceX is continuing to work with NASA to set a new target date for launch, expected to be late April," the company said in a brief statement. "The primary driver for the schedule continues to be the need to conduct extensive software testing. This is a challenging mission, and we intend to take every necessary precaution in order to improve the likelihood of success."

{...}

 

[NovaSilisko]

I am steadily losing faith in SpaceX. So far, all they've been launching is words and promises for over a year now.

 

[Ripley]

C'mon, they've done a bit more than that...

 

[NovaSilisko]

C'mon, they've done a bit more than that...

They've tested lots of things, yes, but they've not launched a single Falcon since 2010... Even without the Dragon, it seems like they could have taken some contracts to fill up 2011. I don't know.

They've delivered more promises than actions, is my main point.

 

[T.Neo]

Dragon has been mated with the trunk (see here). She looks so pretty!

 

[orb]

Aviation Week: SpaceX completes COTS demo vehicle:

SpaceX has completed integration of the Falcon 9 launcher and Dragon spacecraft at Cape Canaveral, bringing the company a step closer to its much-anticipated, combined COTS demonstration mission for NASA. This image, posted on the company’s Twitter site earlier today, shows the vehicles horizontally mated in the SpaceX hangar at the Cape.

{...}

Universe Today: Just In From SpaceX: Dragon and Falcon 9 Assembly Now Complete

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: SpaceX team conduct successful Falcon 9 WDR ahead of Dragon’s ISS debut


NASA:

[table=head]

Click on images to enlarge​

[/table]​

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now:

• Falcon 9 rocket fueling test completed at Cape Canaveral
  
  
• PHOTOS: Falcon 9 on the pad (PHOTO GALLERY #1)
• PHOTOS: Falcon 9 on the pad (PHOTO GALLERY #2)
• SpaceX Falcon 9 stands on the launch pad (PHOTO GALLERY #3)

Universe Today: SpaceX Completes Important “Wet Dress” Rehearsal Test for Upcoming Flight to Space Station

Parabolic Arc: SpaceX Conducts Falcon 9 Countdown Test

SPACE.com: Rocket Passes Big Test for 1st Private Launch to Space Station

 

[jb860]

To those doubting and or losing faith in Space X, Elon Musk is a natural perfectionist and waits till there's 100% conviction by him and every engineer/employee by there products. Plus as others have pointed out, they need this to work go gov funding reasons.

 

[NovaSilisko]

To those doubting and or losing faith in Space X, Elon Musk is a natural perfectionist and waits till there's 100% conviction by him and every engineer/employee by there products. Plus as others have pointed out, they need this to work go gov funding reasons.

Yeah, I suppose you're right. Although I'd rather have no launch date set until they're absolutely sure...

 

[Kyle]

SpaceX is now targeting an April 30th launch date, with launch attempts every 3 days. Also, from what Heavens-Above is showing, an April 30th launch date would be very early in the morning ~7:40 a.m. EDT.