Topic: [Discuss] SpaceX Dragon: First flight to the ISS
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-28-2012 08:43 PM
quote:Originally posted by yeknom-ecaps: Where is the Dragon recovery zone?
There will be a NOTAM issued prior to reentry with a stationary reservation.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-30-2012 09:28 AM
SpaceX mission manager John Couluris said this morning the target recovery zone is 490 nautical miles (910 kilometers) southwest of Los Angeles, Calif., "more west than south."
American Marine out of Los Angeles has been contracted to provide vessels for the recovery, including a 185-foot working barge equipped with a crane and pulled by a tug boat, an 80-foot crew boat, and two 25-foot rigid hull inflatable boats (RIB).
On board will be approximately a dozen SpaceX engineers and technicians as well as a four-person dive team.
The Dragon will be returned to Los Angeles port, then delivered to SpaceX's facility in McGregor, Texas. SpaceX hopes to return the first cargo to NASA (JSC) within 48 hours of splashdown.
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-30-2012 03:04 PM
The NOTAM:
05/109 (A2263/12) - AIRSPACE DCC SPACE X DRAGON REENTRY STATIONARY RESERVATION WITHIN AN AREA BNDD BY 2445N/12000W 2518N/12048W 2719N/12250W 2911N/12439W 3025N/12546W 3105N/12619W 3140N/12601W 3155N/12518W 3128N/12428W 3028N/12300W 2843N/12053W 2740N/12000W SFC-UNL. 31 MAY 15:05 2012 UNTIL 31 MAY 16:15 2012. CREATED: 28 MAY 15:09 2012
Ross Member
Posts: 472 From: Australia Registered: Jul 2003
posted 05-31-2012 11:08 AM
The following was reported on Australia's ABC website.
A radio telescope in a paddock near Hobart is playing a crucial role in the journey of the first commercial spacecraft to visit the International Space Station (ISS)...
They are manning a radio telescope that has a perfect view of the Dragon, which has separated from the space station and begun its journey back to Earth.
Professor John Dickey from the University of Tasmania says the radio telescope is moving in an arc as it draws in information from space.
"The telescope is tracking the Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station as they move across the sky," he said.
"And our radio telescope is taking signals, both video signals and telemetry signals and then we are relaying those to California through the web.
garymilgrom Member
Posts: 1966 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007
A crane-equipped barge, tow boat and other support ships were reported to be making their way to the splashdown site to retrieve the unmanned spacecraft.
This seems to be another good example of a private company finding less expensive ways to operate. Surely this is a fraction of mobilizing the U.S. Navy for a splashdown.
Congratulations to Mr. Musk and SpaceX on a job well done. Now let's see a manned demonstration!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-31-2012 11:24 AM
The coordinates reported for Dragon's splashdown were 27 degrees north latitude and 120 degrees west longitude.
Mission elapsed time was 9 days, 7 hours, and 58 minutes.
dabolton Member
Posts: 419 From: Seneca, IL, US Registered: Jan 2009
posted 05-31-2012 01:52 PM
How may unmanned Dragon flights before they attempt a manned flight? Could they just do an Astronaut return from ISS first? or is up/down a package deal.
Gonzo Member
Posts: 596 From: Lansing, MI, USA Registered: Mar 2012
posted 05-31-2012 01:52 PM
Congrats to Robert for attending the news conference (currently live on NASA TV)! Congrats to SpaceX for a VERY successful mission too!
Just heard your questions to Elon Musk during the DragonX splashdown news conference. Good points taken with the direction of commercial space.
Thanks for keeping us on cS posted and up to date as well as you do!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-31-2012 02:00 PM
quote:Originally posted by dabolton: How may unmanned Dragon flights before they attempt a manned flight?
SpaceX does not have yet have a contract to provide crewed flights; they are still competing under NASA's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program.
They still need to perfect/test their launch escape system and develop their life support systems before Dragon will be ready for crewed launch services.
In the meantime, SpaceX is contracted for 12 cargo flights to the space station, with the first targeted for later this year.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-31-2012 02:03 PM
quote:Originally posted by Gonzo: Thanks for keeping us on cS posted and up to date as well as you do!
Just doing my job.
Thanks for the kind words of support. Happy to be able to bring collectSPACE to the front lines of the future of space travel and exploration.
Gonzo Member
Posts: 596 From: Lansing, MI, USA Registered: Mar 2012
posted 05-31-2012 02:35 PM
quote:Originally posted by dabolton: How may unmanned Dragon flights before they attempt a manned flight?
Last I heard, they are targeting for 2017 for manned flights.
issman1 Member
Posts: 1042 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
posted 05-31-2012 04:20 PM
Looks like SpaceX has a well-deserved, head start to capture the flag.
cjh5801 Member
Posts: 185 From: Lacey Registered: Jun 2009
posted 05-31-2012 06:32 PM
Congratulations to SpaceX for the successful completion of their mission, and thanks to Robert for the thorough coverage. cS is always my first stop for breaking space news.
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 06-21-2012 12:26 PM
Seems silly, but this really has crossed my mind. Say an emergency developed on the station while Dragon was docked. They need to evacuate and access to the Soyuz is blocked. Could the crew have suited up, grabbed oxygen bottles, and left via Dragon?
KSCartist Member
Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
posted 06-21-2012 01:28 PM
Theoretically yes, but no seats to strap into so it would be a rough ride home.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 867 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 06-30-2012 12:12 AM
Pic of Dragon chasing the ISS...
Jim Behling Member
Posts: 1463 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
posted 06-30-2012 01:26 PM
quote:Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo: Could the crew have suited up, grabbed oxygen bottles, and left via Dragon?
No, because Dragon can not unberth by itself, the SSRM is needed. O2 is not needed but CO2 removal. There is not enough room for the crew with the stowage accommodations hardware in place. Suited up in what? Suits are in the Soyuz.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-17-2012 10:38 PM
SpaceX released this mission highlights video on Tuesday (July 17):
posted 05-28-2012 08:43 PM
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