SpaceX CRS-8, IDAs, & Dragon Capsules

[_Augustus_]

So it launches on September 2. Payload is Dragon and BEAM.

Have they pushed it back due to the CRS-7 failure or no? And are they gonna build another IDA to make up for the loss of IDA-1?

Did Bigelow buy insurance in case BEAM is blown up in a launch failure?

Also what do they do with Dragon capsules after recovering and emptying them? Shouldn't they go to museums? All I see are photos of them in the SpaceX constuction facilities like they're going to be re-used or something.

Finally, what about that rumor that they might bring the astronauts home if they can't get supplies in September? Is that true?

[xenomorph555]

So it launches on September 2. Payload is Dragon and BEAM.

Have they pushed it back due to the CRS-7 failure or no? And are they gonna build another IDA to make up for the loss of IDA-1?

Did Bigelow buy insurance in case BEAM is blown up in a launch failure?

Also what do they do with Dragon capsules after recovering and emptying them? Shouldn't they go to museums? All I see are photos of them in the SpaceX constuction facilities like they're going to be re-used or something.

Finally, what about that rumor that they might bring the astronauts home if they can't get supplies in September? Is that true?

1. CRS-7 caused 8 to be pushed back yes. Not sure till when though.

2. There already is another one waiting for launch, not sure when it's launching though.

3. Probably, pretty sure that's standard for commercial space businesses.

4. They do a bunch of stuff with their capsules like tests and such, some are also being used as unmanned 'DragonLab' satellites.

5. No.

Also this probably should have been sent to the questions thread.

[_Augustus_]

1. CRS-7 caused 8 to be pushed back yes. Not sure till when though.

2. There already is another one waiting for launch, not sure when it's launching though.

3. Probably, pretty sure that's standard for commercial space businesses.

4. They do a bunch of stuff with their capsules like tests and such, some are also being used as unmanned 'DragonLab' satellites.

5. No.

Also this probably should have been sent to the questions thread.

I meant are they gonna build an IDA-3, there are gonna be 2 IDA's on the station.

And they really pushed it back? They said that they were fixing the strut problem, and no websites say that 8 was pushed back.

[Nibb31]

There were 2 IDAs planned and spares for a third, so they are building a replacement for the IDA-1. IDA-2 is going up on CRS-9, which was planned for December 2015, but will probably be rescheduled.

2 IDAs are required so that two Commercial Crew vehicles can dock for crew rotations.

For BEAM, I don't think Bigelow needs to contract launch insurance because the BEAM module belongs to NASA. NASA, like most government endeavors is "self-insured".

The Falcon 9 RTF mission will be NET november 2015. At this point, the exact date hasn't been set yet, so we don't know if it will be CRS-8, Jason-3, or SES-9. But CRS-8 certainly isn't launching next week...

The ISS has 6 months of supplies in advance. The decrew procedure brings home the astronauts when there are less than 3 months worth, so that a recrew/repair mission has some supplies in advance.

Edited August 27, 2015 by Nibb31

[MinimumSky5]

There was always going to be an IDA-3 as a spare, so NASA will probably make an IDA-4 now.

[winged]

So it launches on September 2. Payload is Dragon and BEAM.

That's not true.

http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

TBD Falcon 9 • SpaceX CRS 8

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 10th Dragon spacecraft on the eighth operational cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Delayed from Aug. 13 and Sept. 2. [June 29]

[Nibb31]

There was always going to be an IDA-3 as a spare, so NASA will probably make an IDA-4 now.

I don't think so. For most space hardware like this, they usually budget one or two spares for each component. Endeavour was built with spares from the other Shuttles. Phoenix was built with spares from Mars Polar Lander. Mars 2020 is being built with spares from Curiosity, etc... But once the spares are gone, it's usually cheaper to make a new design.

On the other hand, Orion is going to need an IDA docking port, and so will all of the Commercial Crew vehicles, so there might be some synergy in part production.

Edited August 27, 2015 by Nibb31

[_Augustus_]

That's not true.

http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

Well, at least a Soyuz launches on that day.

[MinimumSky5]

Well, at least a Soyuz launches on that day.

If anyone ever claims that space travel isn't regular, I will show them this quote!

[Kryten]

Finally, what about that rumor that they might bring the astronauts home if they can't get supplies in September? Is that true?

There've been two successful resupply flights since the last failure, the risk of decrewing is long past.

[Streetwind]

Also what do they do with Dragon capsules after recovering and emptying them? Shouldn't they go to museums? All I see are photos of them in the SpaceX constuction facilities like they're going to be re-used or something.

Returned cargo Dragons get put into a warehouse and raided for parts.

No, really! You can see photos of it. The CRS contract with NASA stipulates a new Dragon for every CRS flight, so the returned capsules cannot be reflown for that purpose. And there currently are no other customers for cargo Dragons. So in order to reduce cost, SpaceX is salvaging the easily reusable parts (like avionics and stuff) and uses them to build new Dragons. This, of course, renders the old Dragons inoperable, and as such they remain sitting in a warehouse.

SpaceX does occasionally exhibit a returned Dragon capsule here and there at trade fairs and other events. And, of course, the first Dragon ever to return from orbit is still mounted on display, suspended from the ceiling, in the SpaceX HQ/factory in Hawthorne.

As for the docking adapter, while there strictly speaking wasn't an IDA-3 before, Boeing has always kept the necessary spare parts on hand to build a third in case of a launch failure. They can (and do) now assemble a third one with no problems. Maybe they'll even get spare parts for a fourth in the meantime, to restore redundancy.

Edited August 28, 2015 by Streetwind