Is Falcon 9/flt 1 really COTS DEMO-1?

[docm]

Not really an update which is why the separate thread.

Is F9/Flt 1 really COTS DEMO-1 by another name?

This article on NSF by Chris Bergin sure makes me wonder....

If true this really ramps up the flight-1 expectations and the likelihood that more flight hardware is on board than we've been led to believe. Cover and support for the idea of a "sneaky test"?

Link....

>
According to NASA documentation at the end of October, Demo 1 is currently classed as a January, 2010 flight, though it is expected to slip to February.

This flight will be based around Dragon carrying out three orbits of the Earth – which will be solely aimed at testing the capsule’s abilities.

This demonstration won’t involve communications with the ISS, and as a result may be classed only as a Dragon test – as opposed to a specific COTS related demo – which might explain why SpaceX are classing the upcoming F9 launch as unrelated to their COTS commitments.
>

Current Dragon page description of COTS flights....

1 2010 5 hours Launch and separate from Falcon 9, orbit Earth, transmit telemetry, receive commands, demonstrate orbital maneuvering and thermal control, re-enter atmosphere, and recover Dragon spacecraft

2 2010 5 days ISS Fly-by. Dragon will approach to within 10 km of ISS and exercise the radio cross-link, demonstrating the ability of ISS crew to receive telemetry from Dragon and their ability to send a command to the spacecraft. After this primary objective is completed, Dragon will leave the vicinity of ISS and perform a comprehensive set of in-space check-outs before returning to earth.

3 2010 3 days Full cargo mission profile including mate to ISS

 

[mr_mark]

Dragons, first flight aboard Falcon 9 will not separate from the launcher and will have no control thrusters. It is basically a shell with sensors that measure aerodynamic loads. It does not fit the COTS C flight 1 description. We need to stop this type of speculation, it does not do anyone any good. Enjoy the first flight of Falcon 9 for what it is, the first flight of a fully flight ready launcher, Falcon 9.

 

[vattas]

Agree with mr_mark. SpaceX never mentioned that this flight is also any kind of Dragon test.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Agree with mr_mark. SpaceX never mentioned that this flight is also any kind of Dragon test.

If they don't have to, why would they? If they just tell people they are sending up a rock in the shape of a Dragon & when they get it up there they successfully do a high wire act without a net they will have pulled off quite a coup. If they put it up & something doesn't work right they can still say the exceeded their goals.

 

[mr_mark]

Everyone knows better than to make wild speculations. Spacex is not going to take chances with open ended plans. This is a test and Spacex has gone well out of their way to be transparent and tell the public just what they are going to do. This is not a test of Dragon or it's full capabilities, everyone needs to get that out of their heads. This IS a test of Falcon 9 as a launch vehicle and that's what everyone has to look forward to. There will be plenty of time to develop Dragon into a cargo and human rated vehicle. In the mean time we get a great launch vehicle that could end up being fully functional long before NASA is able to put there launcher into production. That is a good thing....

 

[vulture4]

It appears they will achieve ISS docking within a year; that's still far ahead of Constellation.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

It appears they will achieve ISS docking within a year; that's still far ahead of Constellation.

Maybe. They need to successfully reach orbit first.

 

[Swampcat]

Maybe. They need to successfully reach orbit first.

So true, but then so does Ares I.

I think the point here is that even if they don't reach orbit in two years, they'd still be further along than Ares I.

 

[Swampcat]

Everyone knows better than to make wild speculations. Spacex is not going to take chances with open ended plans. This is a test and Spacex has gone well out of their way to be transparent and tell the public just what they are going to do. This is not a test of Dragon or it's full capabilities, everyone needs to get that out of their heads. This IS a test of Falcon 9 as a launch vehicle and that's what everyone has to look forward to. There will be plenty of time to develop Dragon into a cargo and human rated vehicle. In the mean time we get a great launch vehicle that could end up being fully functional long before NASA is able to put there launcher into production. That is a good thing....

I understand your point, mr_mark, and agree. OTOH, what's keeping SpaceX from throwing in whatever tests the spacecraft is capable of, even if they don't announce it officially?

I don't expect to see anything more the official tests, if it gets off the ground, but it's fun to speculate on some of these things given the reports.