Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 F3 COTS2+ Updates

[Codz]

With my luck, I'd build the capsule and it'd survive re-entry only to sink into the deep ocean before I could get to it.

Well, what does Soyuz or did the Apollo Command Module look like after entry?

It was a joke people.:facepalm:

 

[RGClark]

Congratulations on SpaceX for having a completely successful COTS2+ mission!

Second that.

Bob Clark

 

[N_Molson]

It was a joke people.

There is like an over-sensibility in the air about SpaceX and the Dragon :yes:

 

[FADEC]

There is like an over-sensibility in the air about SpaceX and the Dragon :yes:

Same with NASA

 

[Screamer7]

Are we back to the stone age again?
I can't get any news about Dragon status after the splash down.
There are only a few blurry photos.
Or must I just be patient?
I also note that the splashdown was 11:42 a.m. EDT and not 11:44 a.m. EDT as planned.
I know that 2 minutes is a lot in re-entry time.

 

[RGClark]

Post splash down new conference starting now on NASA TV.

Bob Clark

 

[FADEC]

Epic high-res images of Dragon in orbit:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-31/ndxpage35.html

 

[C3PO]

And here's one out of orbit

http://SpaceXLaunch.zenfolio.com/p208064181/ee3fd0df

 

[N_Molson]

So here are the pic we were waiting for :

oops, sorry, it doesn't work, SpaceX doesn't want those pics to be shared.

 

[Codz]

Wow, great picture.

 

[Screamer7]

It looks like there are a huge crack on he hull.
But then it would take in water and sunk.
http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow...1-us-latestnews-spacexsplashdown_full_600.jpg

 

[Codz]

The COTS 1 Dragon has a similar "crack". It's probably nothing.

 

[Gerdih]

I think it's simply a setoff in the dragon's hull.

 

[n122vu]

From C3PO's link:

...Visible are the diagonal channels that held parachute lines during flight, under a layer of thermal protection material.

 

[Zeehond]

The "crack" is explained under the photo in the link C3PO provided: "Visible are the diagonal channels that held parachute lines during flight, under a layer of thermal protection material."

Edit: Ninja'd by n112vu

 

[Loru]

It looks like there are a huge crack on he hull.
But then it would take in water and sunk.
http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow...1-us-latestnews-spacexsplashdown_full_600.jpg

It's not crack - they've encountered Darth Vader looking for those droids on the way down

 

[FADEC]

It looks like there are a huge crack on he hull.
But then it would take in water and sunk.
http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow...1-us-latestnews-spacexsplashdown_full_600.jpg

Don't worry. I think it's intentional cracks in the heat shield, caused when the parachutes are deployed. Seems quite normal for Dragon.

Here you can see the ropes of the parachutes covered while Dragon is in orbit:

And the deployment:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq7LgVX-Jdk&feature=related"]SpaceX Testing - Dragon Drop Test (HD) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Screamer7]

Phew :sos:..was a bit worried. Thanks.

 

[T.Neo]

It's an intentional seperation in the body of the spacecraft. A similar method of suspending the craft on the parachutes existed on the Gemini capsules.

Dragon's parachutes lie in a compartment close to the bottom (heat shield side) of the spacecraft. To ensure that the spacecraft remains in the correct orientation during splashdown, the parachutes must be connected to the spacecraft via this method to ensure that it does not descend to the ocean upside-down.

The Gemini chutes were located in the nose, but were connected to the spacecraft in a way that would keep the astronauts horizontal during descent. This was a call-back to the original Gemini recovery method, which was to use a parawing and glide to a runway.

 

[FADEC]

On this image one can see the compartment in which the parachutes are stowed, as well as the "cracks" of the ropes:

http://spacexlaunch.zenfolio.com/p208064181/ee3fd0df#he241bb8

I'd say Dragon is in a usual shape for a capsule after entry. This is what the Apollo Command Module looked like:

Information about Dragon's bottom heat shield:

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oce/appel/ask/issues/40/40s_space-x_prt.htm