Topic: [Discuss] SpaceX Dragon in-flight abort test
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 43172 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-17-2020 09:34 AM
Please use this topic to discuss SpaceX's In-Flight Abort Test of the Crew Dragon's launch escape capabilities,
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 43172 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-17-2020 09:37 AM
From SpaceX:
SpaceX is targeting Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020 for an in-flight test of Crew Dragon's launch escape capabilities from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The four-hour test window opens at 8:00 a.m. EST, or 13:00 UTC. Backup test opportunities with the same four-hour launch window opening at 8:00 a.m. EST, or 13:00 UTC, are available on Sunday, Jan. 19 and Monday, Jan. 20.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 43172 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-17-2020 06:54 PM
The launch is now targeted for no earlier than noon EST (1700 GMT):
Although the test window opens at 8 a.m. EST, teams are planning to target a launch in the last hour of the four-hour window due to sea state conditions for the splashdown of the Crew Dragon spacecraft in the Atlantic Ocean. The test teams will continue to monitor weather and update the launch time accordingly in the morning.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 43172 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-18-2020 05:16 AM
From SpaceX, via Twitter:
Standing down from today’s in-flight Crew Dragon launch escape test attempt due to sustained winds and rough seas in the recovery area. Now targeting Sunday, January 19, with a six-hour test window opening at 8:00 a.m. EST, 13:00 UTC.
From NASA:
For tomorrow's [Jan. 19] launch attempt, meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing predict a 60% chance of favorable weather toward the opening of the window with a 40% chance toward the end of the window. The primary concerns for launch day being the thick cloud layer and flight through precipitation rule during the launch window.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 43172 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-19-2020 06:09 AM
Lift-off Sunday (Jan. 19) at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) with a successful in-flight abort about 84 seconds later...
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 43172 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-19-2020 09:36 PM
Cocoa Beach 365 video
The Crew Dragon Capsule from SpaceX's In Flight Abort test this morning returns to Port Canaveral aboard Go Searcher.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 43172 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-20-2020 10:35 PM
From NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, via Twitter:
She's back! The Crew Dragon spacecraft that completed the in-flight abort test has arrived back at Cape Canaveral. After splashdown, teams from SpaceX and the U.S. Air Force 45th Operations Group’s Detachment-3 rehearsed crew recovery ops before bringing the spacecraft back to port.
Dragon trunk from in-flight abort test is in surprisingly good shape!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 43172 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-30-2020 07:30 PM
Twitter user @BrockHooper2 posted a video of what appears to be the IFA Crew Dragon's drogue chutes and chute compartment door.
posted 01-17-2020 09:34 AM
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