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

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

The Next Falcon 9 is testing on the pad

378305_10152068889075131_461701960_n.jpg
 
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.
 
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).
 
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.
 
Re: SpaceX is a go for April 30th: 1st commercial launch to space stat

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

reader:
They don’t have a spotless record, and very few flights. What else does a customer really need to know.

Probably looking to gain customer share.

I replied with
George Turner October 7, 2012, 10:22 pm

That the Falcon 9 delivers the payload to its appointed orbit through rain, sleet, wind, and dark of night. That neither fire nor explosion will divert it from its task. A Falcon rocket can’t be stopped, can’t be reasoned with. It takes horrendous damage without flinching and just recomputes the optimal strategy to carry out its mission. It isn’t like other rockets that disintegrate when they get hit with styrofoam or blow up when their rubber O-rings get the shivers. It never falters. It never stands down. It doesn’t feel pain. It doesn’t know fear, and it doesn’t feel remorse as it drives its competitors into bankruptcy

Once SpaceX figures out how to disguise 157 foot Falcon 9′s as the Stay Puft Marshmallow man and send them walking through our cities, it’s game over.

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.
 
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)
 
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