Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 F3 COTS2+ Updates

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NASA: SpaceX Launch Team Readies Mission

 

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It's now officially delayed unitl May 19...

Parabolic Arc: SpaceX Dragon Flight Pushed Back to May 19:

SpaceX and NASA are nearing completion of the software assurance process, and SpaceX is submitting a request to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for a May 19th launch target with a backup on May 22nd.

Thus far, no issues have been uncovered during this process, but with a mission of this complexity we want to be extremely diligent.

NASA Press Release: RELEASE : 12-149 - NASA Issues Statement on New SpaceX Launch Date:

WASHINGTON -- In response to today's SpaceX announcement finalizing a new target date for the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, NASA issued the following statement from William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations at the agency's Headquarters in Washington:

"After additional reviews and discussions between the SpaceX and NASA teams, we are in a position to proceed toward this important launch. The teamwork provided by these teams is phenomenal. There are a few remaining open items but we are ready to support SpaceX for its new launch date of May 19."

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Florida Today:

• SpaceX targeting May 19 launch to ISS
  
  
• SpaceX looking to launch May 19

CBS News Space: SpaceX launch to station slips to May 19

SPACE.com: Private Company Delays 1st Launch to Space Station to May 19

Aviation Week: SpaceX Aims For May 19 Lift Off of 1st U. S. Commercial Space Station Resupply Mission

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Orbitnaut Pete's newest article outlines the possible launch windows for the next few months: NASASpaceflight.com: ISS schedule slips Dragon launch to May 19 – future manifest outlook

Basically, if Dragon can't get off the ground by the end of May, only a small window exists for launch in mid and late June before delaying to September (!) because of very tight turn-around on both the ISS and at the Cape. Here are the constraints:

ISS

May 15 - Soyuz TMA-04M launch
May 17 - Soyuz TMA-04M docking
June 3 - 13 - Solar beta angle cutout (thermal constraints)
July 1 - Soyuz TMA-03M landing (which would only leave one USOS member on-board, not enough for berthing)
July 17 - Soyuz TMA-05M launch
July 21 - HTV-3 launch
July 27 - HTV-3 berthing (will use the port for Dragon: Node 2 nadir. HTV can be moved to Node 2 zenith if necessary, but that requires time and effort)
July 30 - Progress M-15M undocking
August 1 - Progress M-16M launch and docking (new rendezvous approach used that allows for docking on 5th orbit)
August 3 - 10 - Solar beta angle cutout (thermal constraints)
August 21 - Russian EVA-31 from station
August 27 - HTV-3 unberthing
September 3 - ATV-3 undocking
........

Cape Canaveral launch schedule:
June 18 - Atlas V 401 - NROL-38
June 28 - Delta IV Heavy - NROL-15
August 23 - Atlas V 401 - RBSP A/B
September 10 - Delta IV M+(4,2) - GPS IIF-3

I wonder how can the ISS handle so much traffic in the later years (roughly 4x Soyuz + 5x Progress + 1x ATV + 1x HTV + 3x Dragon + 3x Cygnus per year!)? :shifty:

 

[Kyle]

FWIW, SpaceX now is looking at it's first night launch! 4:55 a.m. EDT.

 

[NovaSilisko]

FWIW, SpaceX now is looking at it's first night launch! 4:55 a.m. EDT.

IF things go ahead. Which they haven't for almost a year now.

 

[T.Neo]

I wonder how can the ISS handle so much traffic in the later years (roughly 4x Soyuz + 5x Progress + 1x ATV + 1x HTV + 3x Dragon + 3x Cygnus per year!)?

Well, there used to be what, 2-3 shuttle flights per year, at least? Without that traffic, other flights are needed to take up the logistical 'slack', so to speak.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Well, there used to be what, 2-3 shuttle flights per year, at least? Without that traffic, other flights are needed to take up the logistical 'slack', so to speak.

True, however Shuttle didn't suffer from some of the issues that the CRS vehicles do - for instance, Shuttle didn't have power generation issues in high beta periods, since it didn't have solar arrays.

Plus, CRS vehicles will be much more frequent, since they will carry less cargo than Shuttle (two Shuttle flights with MPLMs could deliver more than an entire year's worth of supplies by CRS vehicles).

 

[T.Neo]

My point being that the overall flight-rate is lower than one might think, since the average number of shuttle flights per year is removed.

I think managing a high flight rate to a space station is a pretty important feat; if the ISS can manage it, it would be a step forward in the space arena.

Didn't STS missions also have issues with high beta (or was it alpha?) angles, due to limitations of the ISS during docking/undocking?

 

[RGClark]

I really, really wish SpaceX had considered doing a "rendezvous" with, for example, a Progress cargo vehicle before going directly to the ISS. This would have allowed them to work out the kinks out of any software and hardware beforehand, before risking, in some peoples minds, a $100 billion asset in the ISS.
I'm aware that the docking mechanisms of the Dragon and Progress are not compatible, but it wouldn't actually have to dock with Progress to prove its capability. This is because the Dragon will not dock on its own to the ISS but only come to within close proximity to the station where it will be grappled by the robot arm to link with the station.
So it would suffice to just prove it could come within the specified distance to the Progress, or other orbiting vehicle, and stay within that specified distance without colliding with it. In fact it could do this multiple times with different orbiting craft to give further confidence in its capabilities.


Bob Clark

COTS Demo Flight 2.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

COTS Demo Flight 2 is the planned second test-flight for SpaceX's uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft, Dragon C2+, and the third overall flight for the company's two-stage Falcon 9 launch vehicle. It is expected to be the first American vehicle to visit the International Space Station (ISS) since the end of the Space Shuttle program, and the first commercial spacecraft to ever rendezvous and be berthed with another spacecraft.[2]
The flight is under contract to NASA as the second Dragon mission in the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) phase one program. The purpose of the COTS program is to develop and demonstrate commercial sources for cargo re-supply of the ISS.
Initially, the mission was to carry out a fly-by of the ISS, practice rendezvous maneuvers and berthing communications, and return to Earth. In July 2011, NASA gave tentative approval for combining the objectives of COTS 2 and COTS Demo Flight 3 into one flight. The proposed mission will first test rendezvous techniques and communications between Dragon and the ISS. If all goes well, then the mission's next phase would include berthing the Dragon to the ISS using the Canadarm2, staying for almost three weeks, and having astronauts unload cargo, and then load it with Earth-bound cargo. It would then be unberthed and return to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near the California coast.
In December 2011, NASA formally approved the merger of the COTS 2 and 3 missions into the Dragon C2+ flight. There have been several launch date delays since the mission was announced, most recently on 2 May 2012. The new targeted launch date is 19 May. If all the COTS objectives are successfully completed, then the Falcon 9-Dragon system will be certified to start regular cargo delivery missions to the ISS.

So originally, the Dragon would not have docked with the ISS during this flight.


Bob Clark

 

[NovaSilisko]

Yeah I'm pretty sure we all knew that already...

 

[RGClark]

On this blog post I discuss a proposal of Robert Zubrin to solve the problem of private spacecraft docking with the ISS:

On Commercial Flights to the ISS and "space tugs".
http://exoscientist.blogspot.com/2012/05/on-commercial-flights-to-iss-and-space.html


Bob Clark

---------- Post added at 01:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 PM ----------

Yeah I'm pretty sure we all knew that already...

Then it would seem it wouldn't be too difficult to go back to the original plan except additionally do proximity rendezvous's with orbital satellites.


Bob Clark

 

[orbitingpluto]

On this blog post I discuss a proposal of Robert Zubrin to solve the problem of private spacecraft docking with the ISS:

On Commercial Flights to the ISS and "space tugs".
http://exoscientist.blogspot.com/2012/05/on-commercial-flights-to-iss-and-space.html


Bob Clark

I think the planned holds that the the Dragon will preform during its rendezvous solve your problem. If it can sit quietly at 2km and not move from where it was told to stay, then it can be expected to sit quietly and wait for Canadaarm2 at 2m.

If it won't sit still? That is why the rendezvous laser exists.wned:

 

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NASA:
MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-084
Updated Coverage for NASA/SpaceX Launch and Mission to Station

May 11, 2012

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The second SpaceX demonstration launch for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) has been rescheduled for a liftoff on Saturday, May 19. The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon capsule will occur from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. There is a single instantaneous launch opportunity at 4:55 a.m. EDT.

NASA Television launch commentary from Cape Canaveral begins at 3:30 a.m.

During the flight, SpaceX's Dragon capsule will conduct a series of check-out procedures to test and prove its systems, including the capability to rendezvous and berth with the International Space Station (ISS). The primary objectives for the flight include a flyby of the space station at a distance of approximately 1.5 miles to validate the operation of sensors and flight systems necessary for a safe rendezvous and approach.

The spacecraft also will demonstrate the ability to abort the rendezvous. Once these capabilities are successfully proven, the Dragon will be cleared to berth with the space station.

FALCON 9 LAUNCH PAD PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Friday, May 18 (L-1 day): A photo opportunity of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule on the launch pad will be available for the news media. Spokespeople from SpaceX will be available to answer questions.

Media will depart from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Press Site by government bus at 9 a.m. for Space Launch Complex 40. Media will be returned at approximately 11 a.m. SpaceX security regulations require that media attending this event be U.S. citizens.​

REMOTE CAMERA SETUPS

Friday, May 18 (L-1 day): Media will be able to establish sound-activated remote cameras at the launch pad. The location is within Space Launch Complex 40 on the east side of the pad inside the perimeter fence. Media who want to participate in remote camera setup will depart from Kennedy's Press Site by government bus at 9 a.m. in association with the launch pad photo opportunity and will be returned to the press site separately after remote camera set-up is complete. SpaceX security regulations require that media participating in this activity be U.S. citizens.​

PRELAUNCH AND POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCES

Friday, May 18 (L-1 day): The prelaunch news conference for the NASA/SpaceX launch will be held at the Kennedy Press Site at 1 p.m. NASA Television will provide live and streaming Internet coverage.

Participants in the prelaunch news conference will be:

• Phil McAlister, Acting Director, NASA Commercial Spaceflight Development
• Alan Lindenmoyer, Manager, NASA Commercial Crew and Cargo Program
• Gwynne Shotwell, President, SpaceX
• Joel Tumbiolo, Launch Weather Officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Media representatives can participate in the news conference in-person at Kennedy or via a phone bridge by calling NASA's Johnson Space Center newsroom at 12:45 p.m. at 281-483-5111.

Saturday, May 19 (Launch day): A postlaunch news conference will be held at Kennedy's Press Site at approximately 8:30 a.m.

Audio of the launch and the prelaunch and postlaunch news conferences also will be carried on the NASA "V" circuits, directly accessible by dialing 321-867-1220, 1240, 1260 or 7135. The briefings will be streamed live on the agency's website.

Saturday, May 19 (Launch day): A delegation from the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) will be at the Kennedy Press Site and available for interviews and experiment demonstrations between 3 and 4:30 a.m. The students represent three of the experiments that will launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon as part of the International Space Station NanoRacks 9 platform. A sign-up sheet will be available in the newsroom for those media representatives wanting to talk to the students.

For information on the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program:

http://go.nasa.gov/INLqjT​

NASA TV LAUNCH COVERAGE

Saturday, May 19 (Launch day): NASA TV live coverage begins at 3:30 a.m. and concludes at approximately 5:30 a.m.

On launch day, "mission audio," the launch conductor's countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135 starting at 8 a.m. Launch information also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz, heard within Brevard County.​

NASA TV MISSION COVERAGE

Monday, May 21 (Flight Day 3): Live coverage from NASA's Johnson Space Center mission control in Houston as the Dragon spacecraft performs its flyby of ISS to test its systems begins at 2:30 a.m. and will continue until the Dragon passes out of the vicinity of the station. A news briefing will be held following the activities.

Tuesday, May 22 (Flight Day 4): Live coverage of the rendezvous and berthing of the Dragon spacecraft to the station begins at 2 a.m. and will continue through the capture and berthing of the Dragon to the station's Harmony node. A news briefing will be held once Dragon is secured to the ISS.

Wednesday, May 23: Live coverage of the hatch opening and entry of the Dragon spacecraft begins at 6 a.m. and will include a ceremony during which the ISS crew will mark the occasion.

Johnson also will provide live coverage of the departure and reentry of the Dragon spacecraft once a date is determined.​

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NASASpaceflight: SpaceX’s Dragon debut to the ISS passes software validation process:

One of the key pre-launch requirements for SpaceX’s upcoming Dragon mission to the ISS – the completion of software validation tasks for the spacecraft’s approach and berthing with the orbital outpost – has been passed, pending the expected completion of “action items”. The milestone means the latest launch date target of May 19 now holds a large amount of confidence.

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[Cosmic Penguin]

The press kit for this mission is now available! :thumbup: http://spacexlaunch.zenfolio.com/p368447768

 

[tl8]

Excellent News. I bet everyone is much happier that everything will run smoothly

 

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Discover Magazine - Bad Astronomy: Space X set to launch on Saturday May 19

SPACE.com: SpaceX to Launch 1st Private Capsule to Space Station This Week

 

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Florida Today: ISS, SpaceX officials meet today to discuss Saturday's Falcon 9 launch

 

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Florida Today: Stars align for SpaceX journey:

SpaceX’s Dragon capsule on Tuesday won approval from International Space Station managers to approach and possibly berth with the outpost next week, putting it a step closer to a planned early Saturday launch from Cape Canaveral.

The flight readiness review, which followed up one held in mid-April, confirmed improvements to the Dragon’s software systems and that the station and its crew would be ready to support the unmanned capsule’s arrival.

“Everyone is GO for launch,” NASA said in a Twitter message after the station team completed its review.

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Florida Today: Weather looks good for Saturday's SpaceX launch from Cape:

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In a forecast issued today, meteorologists with the Air Force 45th Space Wing said there is a 70 percent chance conditions will be acceptable for launch. The prime concern is the possibility of thick electrically charged clouds. Launching in those conditions could cause the rocket to trigger destructive bolts of lightning in flight.

SpaceX would have a second opportunity to launch next Tuesday. The early forecast for an attempt then calls for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

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The Planetary Society Blog: SpaceX set to launch COTS 2 flight this Saturday:

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FLIGHT DAY 1
Prelaunch events:

[table="head;width=500"]Time to liftoff,

H:M:S​

|Event

7:30:30|Vehicles are powered on

3:50:00|Commence loading liquid oxygen (LOX)

3:40:00|Commence loading RP-1 (rocket-grade kerosene)

3:15:00|LOX and RP-1 loading complete

0:10:30|Falcon 9 terminal count autosequence starts

0:05:30|Dragon terminal count auto starts

0:02:30|SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch

0:02:00|Range Control Officer (USAF) verifies range is go for launch

0:01:00|Command flight computer state to startup, turn on pad deck and Niagara Water

0:00:40|Pressurize propellant tanks

0:00:03|Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start

0:00:00|Falcon 9 Launch[/table]​

Ascent events:

[table="head;width=500"]Time after liftoff,

H:M:S​

|Event

0:01:24|Max Q

0:03:00|1st stage engine shutdown/Main Engine Cut Off (MECO)

0:03:05|1st and 2nd stages separate

0:03:12|Stage 2 engine starts

0:03:52|Dragon nose cone jettisoned

0:09:14|2nd stage engine cut off (SECO)

0:09:49|Dragon separates from 2nd stage[/table]​

On orbit operations/initial demonstrations in the far field:

[table="head;width=500"]Time after liftoff,

H:M:S​

|Event

0:11:53|Start sequence to deploy solar arrays

0:54:49|Demonstrate absolute GPS

2:26:48|Start GNC Bay door deployment (holds sensors necessary for rendezvous)

2:40:49|Relative navigation sensors checkout, checks LIDAR and Thermal Imager

8:46:52|Demonstrate full abort, demonstrates Dragon’s ability to abort with a continuous burn

9:57:58|Pulsed abort demonstration, checks Dragon’s ability to perform abort using pulsating burns

10:37:58|Demonstrate Dragon’s ability to free drift[/table]​

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