Perpetual SpaceX Thread (next launch 2018-03-29 - Iridium NEXT (Flight 5))

[Thebobo]

Next Launch 12/19 9:07 EST

GPS satellite launch so will me maxx burn no booster landing.

 

[Thebobo]

While not a spaceX launch, think we missed one over the holidays ~

Anyway here is the launch and landing of the New Shepard.

 

[Ken g6]

Today's SpaceX news blows...

https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/23/18194398/spacex-starship-prototype-wind-damage-boca-chica-texas

Maybe they should have stayed in California.

 

[Thebobo]

That does suck and I can't imagine they didn't plan for that. Ist right along the gulf and Texas is known for being windy.

 

[Thebobo]

So upcoming uncrewed demo flight and the next one will be crewed if all goes well. Will SpaceX beat Boeing?

NASA Commercial Crew Demo 1 Flight - Uncrewed - NET March
Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 2:45 AM
Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39-A
Cape Canaveral, Florida

 

[Thebobo]

Launch in under an hour! Thursday, Feb. 21 at 8:45 p.m

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/spa...ocket-from-cape-canaveral-this-week/922935119

 

[Thebobo]

Here we go if this fight goes ok later this year a Astronauts will fly on an American rocket since the cancled shuttle.

NASA Demo-1 Launch Scheduled for March 2 at 2:48 a.m. From Launch Complex 39A at KSC
http://spacecoastdaily.com/2019/02/...-2-at-248-a-m-from-launch-complex-39a-at-ksc/
-------------
FIRST UNCREWED FLIGHT TO ISS FOR THE CREW DRAGON

"NASA and SpaceX are proceeding with plans to conduct the first uncrewed test flight of the Crew Dragon on a mission to the International Space Station scheduled for 2:48 a.m. EST Saturday, March 2 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA image)
(NASA) – NASA and SpaceX are proceeding with plans to conduct the first uncrewed test flight of the Crew Dragon on a mission to the International Space Station scheduled for 2:48 a.m. EST Saturday, March 2 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

It will be the first time a commercially built and operated American rocket and spacecraft designed for humans will launch to the space station.

NASA will broadcast a post-flight readiness review briefing from Kennedy, with the following representatives:

• William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator, NASA Human Exploration and Operations
• Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
• Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
• Kirk Shireman, manager, International Space Station Program
• Norm Knight, deputy director, NASA Johnson Space Center Flight Operations

While the review was ongoing, crew members on station utilized a computer-based trainer and reviewed procedures to refresh themselves with the Crew Dragon spacecraft systems, rendezvous and docking, ingress operations, changes to emergency responses, and vehicle departure. Demo-1 is the first uncrewed flight to the space station for the Crew Dragon.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with two American companies to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective crew transportation to and from the International Space Station, which could allow for additional research time and increase the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity’s testbed for exploration."

 

[Thebobo]

Oh and this

• Though no one will be riding in the capsule on Saturday, it will include a dummy named "Ripley" (in homage to "Alien") containing sensors that will allow SpaceX and NASA officials to get a better idea of what a person would be exposed to in terms of G-forces and radiation.

 

[Thebobo]

Evening shot

 

[Ken g6]

So far, so good!

https://arstechnica.com/science/201...cexs-first-crew-test-flight-goes-well-so-far/
https://arstechnica.com/science/201...flown-to-the-space-station-and-safely-docked/

I understand reentry is concerning because the capsule isn't symmetrical. I guess we'll find out how that goes in a week or so.

 

[Thebobo]

They will be bring the dragon capsule down over the states and will splashdown in the atlantic just BE of the cape. You should be able to see it streaking across the sky in the SE. Not sure of the exact time and day but its this weekend coming up.

Thought this was pretty cool. click ~

 

[Thebobo]

Dragon splashdown friday AM!


NASA kicks off its live coverage on Thursday at 9:15 a.m. PT when the ISS crew is set to close the hatch leading to the capsule. The space agency will later pick up with coverage of the undocking process, which is scheduled to start at 11 p.m. PT on Thursday.
Crew Dragon will spend a little time in space before re-entering the atmosphere. NASA TV will track the deorbit and landing starting around 4:30 a.m. PT on Friday.

https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-mission-watch-crew-dragon-return-to-earth-from-the-iss/

 

[Thebobo]

Splashdown!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2369857079938599

 

[TXHokie]

Congrats to SpaceX for bringing back manned space launch to the USA.

That being said, I was hoping we'd have cool winged or rocket engine return to land vehicle (a la space shuttle on smaller scale) by now. This whole parachute/recovery thing just seems so outdated Apollo era.

Ok back to reality.

 

[Thebobo]

Apparently there is a material that is added to the skin that will be replaced and it will be all white and shiny for the next flight.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I WAS going to go to bed but... another launch! CRS-17 .

Falcon 9 with dragon capsule to ISS.

 

[Red Squirrel]

...and scrubbed. Was instantaneous launch window, and they're having issues with drone ship.

Will reattempt on May 4th 2:48am ET.

 

[Thebobo]

Launch tonight!

STARLINK MISSION
SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, May 15 for the launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. SpaceX’s Starlink is a next-generation satellite network capable of connecting the globe, especially reaching those who are not yet connected, with reliable and affordable broadband internet services.

The launch window opens at 10:30 p.m. EDT on May 15, or 2:30 UTC on May 16, and closes at 12:00 a.m. on May 16, or 4:00 UTC. A backup launch window opens on Thursday, May 16 at 10:30 p.m. EDT, or 2:30 UTC on May 17, and closes at 12:00 a.m. on May 17, or 4:00 UTC. Falcon 9’s first stage for this mission previously supported the Telstar 18 VANTAGE mission in September 2018 and the Iridium-8 mission in January 2019. Following stage separation, SpaceX will attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately one hour and two minutes after liftoff, the Starlink satellites will begin deployment at an altitude of 440km. They will then use onboard propulsion to reach an operational altitude of 550km.

You can watch the launch live below, starting about 15 minutes before liftoff, and find out more about the mission in our press kit.

60 internet Satellites.

 

[Red Squirrel]

At first glance it almost looks like a fully loaded server rack being sent into space lol.

This should be an interesting one though, I hope they have footage of the deployments. Also it's awesome to see Star Link becoming this close to reality. As someone that dreams of eventually living off grid the idea of having an internet option practically anywhere sounds amazing. There's Xplornet/Telesat but think this will be better as the satellites will be closer. Less latency.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Scrubbed due to high upper atmospheric winds, moved to tomorrow at 7:30pm.

 

[Thebobo]

Attempt tonight at 10:30 p.m. EDT

Watch here https://www.spacex.com/webcast

https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-internet-satellite-launch-today.html

 

[Red Squirrel]

Well that was an interesting sat deployment, I was expecting each one to slide out at a different interval or something but they just kinda throw them all out at once lol. I guess it makes sense, and once they are far enough from each other they'll just do burns to change inclination. When they do next launch they'll probably release from around the same spot where all the orbits "meet" and time it so that they just keep adding to the constellations. At least that's my guess.

It's probably not even that important that they have an accurate orbit as long as they are set to not collide with anything. They also have anti collision detection and will maneuver as needed that's kind of neat.

 

[Thebobo]

"The train of Starlink satellites passing over Leiden, the Netherlands, about 22.5 hours after launch."

 

[Red Squirrel]

Woah that's really cool.

 

[Thebobo]

Pretty cool video of the booster from the last launch coming into port on the barge. Some bonus nuclear sub video as well.