Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch (NET Dec 7)

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mr_mark

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Heard that the first fully functioning Dragon cargo capsule is 99% finished according to Elon Musk and Spacex. Expecting a launch in August. I can't wait to see the first pictures of the completed Dragon cargo capsule.
 
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job1207

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Over on another board, they are now saying that even the cargo contract should be re bid. I wonder what they would be saying if the first Falcon 9 went astray, or worse. While the FIRST mission is important, the second goes a long way to calming everyone's nerves and proving the technology.

Of course, this flight will include an ISS flyby, the first of three ISS demo re supply flights. So before the STS stops flying, the US will be sending a rocket to the ISS.

Here is the current SpaceX flight manifest, noting they are aiming to fly COTS 1 sometime this year. Also, there are MANY more flights showing up on their manifest these days.

http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php
 
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stevekk

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Boris_Badenov":ssk20kn0 said:
COTS SpaceX Demo-1
Launch Date: 8/18/2010

That's just a placeholder in a NASA database, correct ?

Still no test firings of the First or Second stage in Texas yet, correct ?

Any pictures of a COMPLETED Dragon capsule ? When does the Dragon capsule leave California and head for the cape ?

How long to get all of this assembled when it finally does arrive ?
 
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mr_mark

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

There are advantages to an early launch. As far as politics go, an august launch would come before the senate meets to figure out funding goals. A success by Spacex would go along way to validating COTS cargo.
 
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Boris_Badenov

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

mr_mark":2dog1kkf said:
There are advantages to an early launch. As far as politics go, an august launch would come before the senate meets to figure out funding goals. A success by Spacex would go along way to validating COTS cargo.
That's actually an excellant point. Does anybody know when the vote takes place?
 
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MeteorWayne

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Posts not directly related to the subject of this thread, which in case anyone needs reminding is about the specific
Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch will be moved to one of the SpaceX threads in Space Business and Technology.

PLEASE stick to the forum subject

Moderator Meteor Wayne
 
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job1207

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MeteorWayne

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Good stuff in that last link, more than I've heard elsewhere. I'm going to copy it over the the F9 Flight 1 thread as well.

thanx

Wayne
 
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elguapoguano

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

I wish SpaceX luck, although Falcon 9's first flight made Orbit, there are still some issues to resolve. Most noticeably the roll issue. If I remember correctly it seems that Falcon 1 also had a roll problem, but that one led to the loss of the vehicle. Second would be the attempted recovery of the first stage. All they found was debris. I've got my fingers crossed for this next launch, the COTS demo 1 flight. Fingers crossed...
 
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Zipi

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

F9/Dragon Launch Animation:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y39OEZtcfXo[/youtube]

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

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the first active Dragon spacecraft, called Dragon C1. The mission will demonstrate the capabilities of the Dragon in a four-and-a-half hour test flight named COTS 1. The company is building the Dragon to fly on resupply missions to the International Space Station.

SpaceX Dragon Page: http://www.spacex.com/dragon.php
Dragon Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Dragon

dragon_pica.jpg


20100506_overview.jpg


Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle

SpaceX Falcon 9 Page: http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php
Falcon 9 User's Guide: http://www.spacex.com/Falcon9UsersGuide_2009.pdf

20100210_F9_integration_DSC_0273_640.jpg


08.jpg


First Stage

Falcon 9 first stage is powered by nine Merlin 1C engines burning LOX/RP-1

SpaceX F9 First Stage Info: http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php#first_stage
SpaceX Merlin Engine Specs: http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php#merlin_engine
Merlin Engine Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_(rocket_engine)

Merlin_1C_Firing.jpg


20090108_elonf9.jpg


Second Stage

Falcon 9 second stage is powered by one Merlin Vacuum engine burning LOX/RP-1. Vacuum version of Merlin is basically the same except larger expansion nozzle.

SpaceX F9 Second Stage Info: http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php#second_stage

20100104_3structuresupper.jpg


20100104_6mvacnozzle.jpg


Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Canav ... ce_Station
Patrick Air Force Base Official Site: http://www.patrick.af.mil/
SLC-40 Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Canav ... Complex_40
Astronautix LC40 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/sites/capllc40.htm
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&q=28.56 ... 11151&z=14

itl-iss.jpg


02-640.jpg
 
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Gravity_Ray

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

2 quick questions if anybody knows?

1. On Falcon 9 COTS1 will the Dragon "talk" at all with the ISS? Any commands going back and forth? Or is conversation is purely between Dragon and ground controllers?
2. What if they have the second stage roll again? Musk has sad that it will not be considered a COTS2 failure if the second stage rolls again as long as Dragon is inserted into proper orbit. However, this is an anomaly. Anomalies are not good for orbital space craft.

One comment as well. I don’t understand why SPACEX is trying to combine COTS2 and COTS3. If NASA is going to pay for these flights, why not go slow? At the very least SPACEX should wait until COTS1 is done before pulling out the old' "lets combine COTS2 and 3" card.
 
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mr_mark

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

COTS -1 Will be inserted into a low earth orbit and will go nowhere near the ISS. It will check out all Dragon systems including parachute recovery of the Dragon spacecraft. Recovery of the first stage is not part of the primary mission profile but would be an added bonus. Spacex said it would take up to 5 or 6 launches before 1st stage recovery could be demonstrated. Remember, Dragon should be able to taper off any second stage roll issues because after it separates from the second stage it will auto adjust itself with it's thrusters. Of course, Spacex most likely has already found the reason for the roll problems and I expect those issues to be non existent on this and future launches.
 
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scottb50

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

mr_mark":3lx2mfth said:
COTS -1 Will be inserted into a low earth orbit and will go nowhere near the ISS.

The European and Japanese Modules did a lot of tests but docked eventually. It doesn't seem that could be too hard to accomplish, landing it might be asking too much, but even if it's used to dump trash it's a good start. Might as well show it can do the mission.
 
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stevekk

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Gravity_Ray":22cntfba said:
One comment as well. I don’t understand why SPACEX is trying to combine COTS2 and COTS3. If NASA is going to pay for these flights, why not go slow? At the very least SPACEX should wait until COTS1 is done before pulling out the old' "lets combine COTS2 and 3" card.

This is simple to answer. It costs money to build and launch rockets. If they can convince NASA to combine the testing milestones into a single launch without reducing the payments for meeting the separate milestones, then they end of saving 40-50 million in launch costs. That's money directly to the SpaceX bottom line.

Of course, if I was NASA, I would like to see as many repeated sucessfull launches as possible before I start depending on this company to start launching cargo.
 
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MeteorWayne

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Again folks, this is off topic for the Missions and Launches thread concerning:
Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Please post in the SpaceX thread in Space Business and Technology. I'll start moving off topic posts there shortly.
 
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mr_mark

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Anyone know just yet the current status for key components for this launch. I heard some are in Texas for testing. I would assume the first stage must be completed by now, if they are planning on cape arrival by july/august.
 
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job1207

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

The last detailed Spacex update on the whereabouts of the parts was in early May. ( that I saw ) The first stage was qualified at that time. There are a bunch of pics and details on their web site. After that, they noted in three places ( pop mech, aviation week, and Spaceflight now ) that they would fly in the late summer. That came after the June 4 launch.
 
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MeteorWayne

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Apparently the message hasn't gotten through.

This thread is ONLY to discuss the Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch. It's in Missions and Launches.

I have moved all posts not directly related to that specific launch to the SpaceX topic in Space Business and Technology.

Moderator Meteor Wayne
 
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Boris_Badenov

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

SpaceX announces test-firing of rocket
Thursday June 24, 2010
SpaceX said the first of two test-firings of its nine-engine Falcon 9 rocket cluster is expected to happen as early as between noon and 8:30 p.m. today.

The test will run for 10 seconds and is closed to the media and public.

An additional 30-second test will occur within days.
 
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mr_mark

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Any ideas about time from test firing to delivery of cape for this launch? They say launch is expected in late August.
 
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Boris_Badenov

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

mr_mark":2tnwtr5r said:
Any ideas about time from test firing to delivery of cape for this launch? They say launch is expected in late August.
I've seen nothing announced as yet. Chris Bergin posted some [amusing] inside info over on NASA Space Flight.
That being the launch will be no earlier than 8/28/2010 & no firm date as to when the launch will be.
 
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docm

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Yesterday's engine test was called off. No word as to why, but news should come today or over the weekend.
 
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scottb50

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

Boris_Badenov":2u02p67o said:
SpaceX announces test-firing of rocket
Thursday June 24, 2010
SpaceX said the first of two test-firings of its nine-engine Falcon 9 rocket cluster is expected to happen as early as between noon and 8:30 p.m. today.

The test will run for 10 seconds and is closed to the media and public.

An additional 30-second test will occur within days.

Times awasting, wagon-Ho!
 
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steve82

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Re: Spacex Falcon 9 Flight 2 COTS -1 Launch

docm":3h826bt1 said:
Yesterday's engine test was called off. No word as to why, but news should come today or over the weekend.
I heard they got a full 120 second run.
 
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