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  SpaceX Dragon COTS Demo-1 recovery cover?

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Author Topic:   SpaceX Dragon COTS Demo-1 recovery cover?
Ross
Member

Posts: 472
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-01-2010 07:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ross   Click Here to Email Ross     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In early December there is planned the first Falcon 9/Dragon demo flight in NASA's COTS program. It is intended as a demonstration mission and will splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Does anyone know if the capsule will be recovered? If so what type of ships will be involved? Will it be the shuttle SRB Recovery ships?

And most important, is anyone producing covers for the recovery?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 12-01-2010 09:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
SpaceX is planning for the recovery of its Dragon capsule after its parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

During earlier drop tests, Dragon was returned by using three small private recovery boats and then hoisted on shore by a crane. Ultimately, SpaceX wants to recover Dragon by helicopter.

Details about this upcoming flight test will be discussed at a press conference on Monday.

SpaceX will also be attempting to recover the Falcon 9 first stage, which will land in the Atlantic, using one of NASA's two space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery ships.

Ross
Member

Posts: 472
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-02-2010 06:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ross   Click Here to Email Ross     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Robert,

Those private recovery boats look rather small for the job. They may be fine in absolutely flat seas relatively close to shore but I'm not sure I would trust them to recover a capsule in the middle of the Pacific (or Altantic) and return it safely to port. Hopefully they will use something more substantial for recovering the crewed version.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 12-02-2010 08:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ross:
Hopefully they will use something more substantial for recovering the crewed version.
Per SpaceX's website:
For initial crewed flights, Dragon will be recovered by helicopter and airlifted to shore. Our long term goal, however, is to land Dragon on land. Once we have proven our ability to control reentry accurately, we intend to add deployable landing gear and leverage the thrusters in order to land on land in the future.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 12-16-2010 09:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This photo, released by SpaceX yesterday, shows the small recovery boat near the dock where Dragon is being hoisted on shore.

All times are CT (US)

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