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Robert Pearlman | Editor's note: In an effort to keep the topic SpaceX Dragon CRS-2 flight to the space station focused on status updates, feedback and opinions are directed to this thread. Please use this topic to discuss the second of SpaceX's 12 contracted cargo flights to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) Program. |
Robert Pearlman | For those interested in attending the launch and who are active in social media... NASA is inviting 50 social media users to apply for credentials for the launch. Social media users selected to attend will be given the same access as journalists. All social media accreditation applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Registration for social media accreditation is open online. International social media users without U.S. citizenship must apply for credentials by 5 p.m. EST Friday, Feb. 15, to qualify. For U.S. social media, the deadline to apply is 5 p.m. EST Friday, Feb. 22. For more information about NASA social media accreditation requirements and to register, click here. |
Ronpur | Great news!! This really snuck up on me, I had not seen anything about an upcoming launch. I haven't even heard about what the cause of the engine failure on the last Dragon launch was. |
Robert Pearlman | The cause of the engine failure on CRS-1 has not been pinpointed, as Florida Today reported last month. "As is often the case with a failure like this on a system you don't get back, it was hard to find a specific smoking gun to point to, but a number of things were believed to be contributors that have been looked at," said Mike Suffredini, NASA's ISS program manager. It seems that a "significant amount" of pre-flight testing may have led to the failure, which is not an issue for the Merlin engines installed for CRS-2. The engines flying on the next Falcon 9 are new and have not been tested beyond what is required to certify them for flight, and have all undergone recent inspections. |
Zach121k | Today is the static fire of the Falcon 9. Does anyone know when it is, and if it will be broadcast? |
Robert Pearlman | The static test fire is planned for this afternoon; the time has not been announced. The Falcon was rolled out to the pad this morning and is currently standing vertical at Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A NASA feed with a distant view of the pad can be streamed here. On edit: Spaceflight Now has reported a targeted T-0 of 1:30 pm EST (1830 GMT). |
Zach121k | I can confirm based on the feed, that ignition successfully occurred, followed by shutdown two seconds later. |
Robert Pearlman | A friend in the SpaceX control room tweeted: There was rocket flame and things seemed to go well. Hopefully this means that we're ready to roll for Friday. |
Robert Pearlman | The Falcon 9 lifted off as scheduled at 10:10 a.m. EST (1510 GMT) and placed NASA's second-contracted Dragon into orbit. An anomaly however, has affected the spacecraft's ability to maneuver. Flight status updates from Elon Musk via Twitter: 8:32 a.m. CST Falcon 9 delivered Dragon to its target orbit. All good on the rocket.9:40 a.m. CST Issue with Dragon thruster pods. System inhibiting three of four from initializing. About to command inhibit override. 10:04 a.m. CST Holding on solar array deployment until at least two thruster pods are active. 10:12 a.m. CST About to pass over Australia ground station and command inhibit override. 10:38 a.m. CST Thruster pod 3 tank pressure trending positive. Preparing to deploy solar arrays. 10:49 a.m. CST Solar array deployment successful. SpaceX statement: One thruster pod is running. Two are preferred to take the next step which is to deploy the solar arrays. We are working to bring up the other two in order to plan the next series of burns to get to station. |
Ronpur | Beautiful launch! A bit chilly going outside to see it but worth it! |
Gonzo | Beautiful indeed. Even if I had to watch it live on webcast. A bit of a stretch to see it firsthand from Michigan! |
Robert Pearlman | Elon Musk: 1:57 p.m. EST Pods 1 and 4 now online and thrusters engaged. Dragon transitioned from free drift to active control. Yes!! |
SpaceKSCBlog | SpaceX launches are starting to feel like an Indiana Jones movie. |
Jurvetson | Elon did an interview at the TED conference just before launch. I posted a page of photos. |
Michael Davis | Was there any preliminary feedback on the reason for that initial RCS failure? I have heard nothing about why three of four thrusters were initially inoperable. |