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The Space Exploration Discussion Thread/The Rocket Launch Megathread

mustwinfull

By mustwinfull
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mustwinfull

mustwinfull

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Also here is the live tracking for the Dragon capsule, so you can see how close it is to the ISS as it slowly catches up to it.

Rendezvous on Wednesday with the next rocket launch just two days after that, on Friday.

In regards to the Orbcomm sattelite, it has been deployed successfully.

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mustwinfull

mustwinfull

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Update from SFN:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2012

1735 GMT (1:35 p.m. EDT)

Dragon's GNC bay door, which houses the craft's rendezvous sensors and grapple fixture, successfully opened as planned last night, according to a SpaceX spokesperson.

The spacecraft uses thermal and optical sensors to navigate in close proximity to the International Space Station, and the grapple fixture is required for the robot arm to grasp the capsule and move it into position on the lab's Harmony module.

So we know that Dragon can actually berth to the ISS now, as they was being a bit quiet about this earlier.

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mustwinfull

mustwinfull

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A statement from SpaceX regarding the engine anomaly.

Approximately one minute and 19 seconds into last night’s launch, the Falcon 9 rocket detected an anomaly on one first stage engine. Initial data suggests that one of the rocket’s nine Merlin engines, Engine 1, lost pressure suddenly and an engine shutdown command was issued immediately. We know the engine did not explode, because we continued to receive data from it. Our review indicates that the fairing that protects the engine from aerodynamic loads ruptured due to the engine pressure release, and that none of Falcon 9’s other eight engines were impacted by this event.

As designed, the flight computer then recomputed a new ascent profile in real time to ensure Dragon’s entry into orbit for subsequent rendezvous and berthing with the ISS. This was achieved, and there was no effect on Dragon or the cargo resupply mission.

Falcon 9 did exactly what it was designed to do. Like the Saturn V, which experienced engine loss on two flights, Falcon 9 is designed to handle an engine out situation and still complete its mission.

Source: http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/10/that-smooth-spacex-launch-turns-out-one-of-the-engines-exploded/

The ISS is currently over Libya and Dragon is passing over the South Atlantic Ocean.

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mustwinfull

mustwinfull

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Another news release from SpaceX regarding the Merlin 1 engine failure from the Falcon 9 launch earlier today.

The Dragon spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station this morning and is performing nominally following the launch of the SpaceX CRS-1 official cargo resupply mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 8:35PM ET Sunday, October 7, 2012.

Approximately one minute and 19 seconds into last night's launch, the Falcon 9 rocket detected an anomaly on one first stage engine. Initial data suggests that one of the rocket's nine Merlin engines, Engine 1, lost pressure suddenly and an engine shutdown command was issued. We know the engine did not explode, because we continued to receive data from it. Panels designed to relieve pressure within the engine bay were ejected to protect the stage and other engines. Our review of flight data indicates that neither the rocket stage nor any of the other eight engines were negatively affected by this event.

As designed, the flight computer then recomputed a new ascent profile in real time to ensure Dragon's entry into orbit for subsequent rendezvous and berthing with the ISS. This was achieved, and there was no effect on Dragon or the cargo resupply mission.

Falcon 9 did exactly what it was designed to do. Like the Saturn V (which experienced engine loss on two flights) and modern airliners, Falcon 9 is designed to handle an engine out situation and still complete its mission. No other rocket currently flying has this ability.

It is worth noting that Falcon 9 shuts down two of its engines to limit acceleration to 5 g's even on a fully nominal flight. The rocket could therefore have lost another engine and still completed its mission.

We will continue to review all flight data in order to understand the cause of the anomaly, and will devote the resources necessary to identify the problem and apply those lessons to future flights. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

Dragon is expected to begin its approach to the station on October 10, where it will be grappled and berthed by Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Expedition 33 Commander Sunita Williams of NASA. Over the following weeks, the crew will unload Dragon's payload and reload it with cargo to be returned to Earth. Splashdown is targeted for October 28.

Souce: Here.

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mustwinfull

mustwinfull

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If you haven't noticed by now...there's a large percentage of people who are just plain dumb.

Sadly, I know this from experience, one of the people I talk to thinks you can just make science up without testing your theory or anything.

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MaverickSawyer

MaverickSawyer

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In happier news, Dragon CRS-1 is slated to broach the no approach bubble around the ISS in about 4 hours. Sensor checkout begins in less than three, and if all goes well, the Canadarm 2 will grapple CRS-1 in a little less than 5 hours from this posting.

Good luck, Dragon.

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mustwinfull

mustwinfull

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Earlier today, Dragon officially was grappled by the robotic arm and berthed to the ISS with the all important ice-cream on board it.

Current commander, Suni Williams said this when she captured it: "We tamed the dragon.".

The Dragon capsule is expected to stay on the station for two weeks.

There is also a Soyuz launch to the ISS and on October 31st there is a Progress Re-supply mission.

Tommorow is the next rocket launch of China, since it is quite hard to get information, I will try and keep you updated.

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mustwinfull

mustwinfull

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Let the Ice cream social begin!

"May I have an ice cream?"

"Sorry, the astronauts ate every last bit of it in one gulp because they were desperate".

Anyway, remember China is launching for some reason tommorow, which I will have a look at.

Edited by mustwinfull
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nhnifong

nhnifong

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Don't ever become someone like this...

h4f2C.png

Everyone seems to take it for granted that national debt is qualitatively the same as personal debt, while that's probably not true. I'm not going to stand firmly on the other side of that debate, but I do know that governments can create money to alleviate their interest rates. This is not totally sustainable though, because the other countries to which we are indebted will consider our currency less valuable.

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mustwinfull

mustwinfull

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Lets just say that State Economics is a separate masters degree for a reason and leave it at that,

Yep, we don't want a flame war.

In other news, today's China launch has been delayed until the 15th October so the next mission coming up is the Galileo sattelites, made by the ESA, which is tommorow.

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mustwinfull

mustwinfull

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Remember, at 18:15 GMT (14:15 EDT), the Galileo sattelites will be launching on the Fregat launch vehicle for the European Space Agency.

You can find live coverage here that starts at 17:48 GMT (13:48 EDT) from the ESA.

Also on Sunday, Felix will be jumping from his capsule hopefully, not space exploration in any way but I it is sort of relevant.

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