SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space station

Discussion in 'Science and Technology' started by RAMA, Apr 17, 2012.

  1. Wanderlust

    Wanderlust Captain Captain

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  2. publiusr

    publiusr Admiral Admiral

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    Getting to space that quickly will really get folks attention.

    The Russians keep promising another Energiya try

    www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?pg=3&id=355341
    www.nasawatch.com/archives/2012/08/energia-20---ru.html

    New sat plant http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russia_to_Build_New_Space_Plant_999.html

    More on the NewSoyuz LV
    http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/08/russia-evolve-veteran-launcher-soyuz-2-1v/

    The Russians are getting a lot of flak from their recent space failures though
    http://cosmoquest.org/forum/showthr...t-fails-to-orbit-two-communication-satellites

    And another Briz has failed.
     
  3. Wanderlust

    Wanderlust Captain Captain

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    The Next Falcon 9 is testing on the pad

    [​IMG]
     
  4. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    Cute that they did the WDR without the dragon capsule onboard.
     
  5. Crazy Eddie

    Crazy Eddie Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    ^ IIRC, the capsule is still being assembled in Texas and hasn't even been shipped to the pad yet. The COTS-2 configuration is ever so slightly different from the operational Cargo carrier configuration, with the biggest difference being the two or three tons of cargo squeezed into the trunk and the capsule each (cargo which, I do not know that spacex has actually received yet).
     
  6. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    I thought I had read that it had made it on site recently, but no matter. I just thought it was cute.
     
  7. publiusr

    publiusr Admiral Admiral

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  8. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    Yay! Boeing is refurbishing a building! big news!:rolleyes:
     
  9. YellowSubmarine

    YellowSubmarine Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    First cargo flight is tomorrow. Let's get ready for the real business. And let's hope it goes as smooth as the last one, and smoother. ;)

    NASA/SpaceX conference for CRS-1

    In here, Gwynne Shotwell denies my earlier speculations that SpaceX might be doing science or exploration flights on its own. I hope advances in their efficiency and hardware proves her wrong. ;)

    CRS-1 press kit (PDF)

    With real cargo on board the cargo manifest seems long. Although it's pretty light – 400 kg only. The heavy stuff will be the next time. And Europe has two small payloads up and two small payloads in this one.
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2012
  10. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    From what I understand the cargo was limited by volume, not weight this time. Lots of large fluffy items.
     
  11. YellowSubmarine

    YellowSubmarine Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    Yeah, what do you exactly do with plush dinosaurs on a space station?
     
  12. gturner

    gturner Admiral

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    Good question.

    NASA TV starts coverage at 7:00 PM (ET) tonight, I think.
     
  13. M'Sharak

    M'Sharak Definitely Herbert. Maybe. Moderator

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    I missed the launch, but Dragon arrived in orbit just about five minutes ago. Looks like everything went the way it was supposed to go.

    Also looks like SpaceX had their own Mohawk Guy watching at the Hawthorne HQ.
     
  14. gturner

    gturner Admiral

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    A flawless launch. Dragon is in orbit and the solar arrays are deployed. It should catch up to the ISS in 60 some hours.
     
  15. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    It was another beautiful launch. Can't wait for a day launch so we can see a bit more, lol.
     
  16. gturner

    gturner Admiral

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    BTW, this mission will also set a record for lowest cost per pound of cargo to LEO. The COTS contract with SpaceX is, if I recall, $1.6 billion for 12 missions, or $133 million per launch. They're delivering 1,000 pounds of cargo and then returning 2,000 pounds of cargo, for a net delivered to LEO of -1000 pounds.

    Whereas NASA was struggling to break the +$5,000 per pound barrier, SpaceX just broke the negative $133,000 a pound barrier. Yes, that's less than nothing!
     
  17. gturner

    gturner Admiral

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    Okay, the launch wasn't exactly flawless. An engine underwent a RUD (rapid unscheduled disassembly) 1:20 seconds into the flight. It's at the :30 mark in the slow motion video.

    [yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6zsZiVa998[/yt]

    The engine was shut down automatically and the flight continued on.
     
  18. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    I knew something didn't look right when I saw that flare up. Good thing engine out worked as it was designed. Bet ya someone at SpaceX is going to get an ass chewing from Elon.
     
  19. gturner

    gturner Admiral

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    I don't think that's how he works, or at least that's my impression.

    The vultures are circling and over at Rand Simberg's blog "reader" posted

    Probably looking to gain customer share.

    I replied with
    Whatever aerospace firm he works for, I hope he reads it and something in the back of his brain gives him a flashback to the days his dad worked for Wang, Unisys, Daa General, or DEC and asked why anyone would buy an unproven toy computer from a garage startup called Apple.
     
  20. Wanderlust

    Wanderlust Captain Captain

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    Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

    Engine Blows Up, rocket sucessfully completes mission.

    Though it looks like the secondary payload is in trouble. (The Orbcomm satellite)