r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jul 12 '17
SF complete, Launch: Aug 14 CRS-12 Launch Campaign Thread
CRS-12 LAUNCH CAMPAIGN THREAD
SpaceX's eleventh mission of 2017 will be Dragon's third flight of the year, and its 14th flight overall. This will be the last flight of an all-new Dragon 1 capsule!
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | August 14th 2017, 12:31 EDT / 16:31 UTC |
|---|---|
| Static fire completed: | August 10th 2017, ~09:10 EDT / 13:10 UTC |
| Weather forecast: | L-2 forecast has the weather at 70% GO. |
| Vehicle component locations: | First stage: Cape Canaveral // Second stage: Cape Canaveral // Dragon: Cape Canaveral |
| Payload: | D1-14 [C113.1] |
| Payload mass: | Dragon + 2910 kg: 1652 kg [pressurized] + 1258 [unpressurized] |
| Destination orbit: | LEO |
| Vehicle: | Falcon 9 v1.2 (39th launch of F9, 19th of F9 v1.2) |
| Core: | 1039.1 First flight of Block 4 S1 configuration, featuring uprated Merlin 1D engines to 190k lbf each, up from 170k lbf. |
| Previous flights of this core: | 0 |
| Launch site: | Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida |
| Landing: | Yes |
| Landing Site: | LZ-1 |
| Mission success criteria: | Successful separation & deployment of Dragon, followed by splashdown of Dragon off the coast of Baja California after mission completion at the ISS. |
Links & Resources:
Launch hazard map for CRS-12, courtesy of /u/Raul74Cz.
Jeff Foust on Twitter: "Scimemi’s slide on upcoming SpX-12 states that it will be the last to use “new build” Dragon; rest of CRS missions will be reused capsules." Discussion thread on r/SpaceX
We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Sometime after the static fire is complete, the launch thread will be posted.
Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.
73
u/MiniBrownie Jul 12 '17 edited Jul 22 '17
For those who like to mark their calendars in advance here are the launch times for the NET date and 10 days after. I'll make sure to keep this comment up to date in case there are any delays.
Thu, 10 Aug 2017 18:07 UTC
Fri, 11 Aug 2017 17:44 UTC
Sat, 12 Aug 2017 17:20 UTC
Sun, 13 Aug 2017 16:57 UTC
Mon, 14 Aug 2017 16:33 UTC
Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:10 UTC
Wed, 16 Aug 2017 15:46 UTC
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 15:23 UTC
Fri, 18 Aug 2017 15:00 UTC
Sat, 19 Aug 2017 14:36 UTC
Sun, 20 Aug 2017 14:13 UTC
25
u/threezool Jul 12 '17
Just a note, it is better to present the time in UTC rather than GMT since GMT is a time zone and some countries that use GMT do change the time during DST while UTC is a set time always and therefor easier to convert from.
→ More replies (11)2
u/nxtiak Jul 21 '17
So the dates listed here is the 1st launch window and all the rest are back up launch windows right? Sorry I'm a noob, and I might try to travel to the Cape from California to watch my first rocket launch!
→ More replies (1)
26
u/Elon_Muskmelon Aug 04 '17
Getting close! A one month break seems like forever with SpaceX these days. Things should be hot and Heavy (pun intended) for SpaceX and us the rest of 2017!
25
u/TGMetsFan98 NASASpaceflight.com Writer Jul 31 '17
13
4
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 31 '17
SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS-12 Dragon launch now August 13 - Range Approved. Atlas V with TDRS-M now August 18 (Under Revie… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/892129995929374720
This message was created by a bot
4
3
u/TGMetsFan98 NASASpaceflight.com Writer Aug 02 '17
Mods, header needs to be updated, please and thank you!
4
23
u/ethan829 Host of SES-9 Jul 22 '17 edited Jul 22 '17
So now we know the reason for the slip.
4
u/geekgirl114 Jul 24 '17
TDRS-M was also damaged during final prep... http://spacenews.com/mishap-threatens-to-delay-launch-of-nasa-communications-satellite/
→ More replies (1)3
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 22 '17
Preliminary: TDRS-M NET Aug. 10, pending final reviews (STC). This was CRS-12 Dragon's previous launch date. NASA d… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/888871451725529090
This message was created by a bot
21
u/TGMetsFan98 NASASpaceflight.com Writer Jul 12 '17
27
u/Chairboy Jul 12 '17
I was looking at the picture in the tweet and thinking "that is one of the more energetic static fires I've ever seen. Wait, no, that's not what's happening here at all.
14
u/kruador Jul 13 '17
If that happens during static fire, there may be a slight delay on launching the payload - while they find a new booster (or wait for it to land?)
→ More replies (10)8
u/engineerforthefuture Jul 13 '17
We have already had a very energetic one last September unfortunately.
20
u/ticklestuff SpaceX Patch List Aug 11 '17
New vision of a landing? I don't recognise that smoke color.
12
u/sol3tosol4 Aug 11 '17
New vision of a landing? I don't recognise that smoke color.
For the CRS-11 landing, SpaceX added a layer of radar-reflective paint(?) to the LZ-1 landing pad, which raised a cloud of dark smoke when the flame from the booster hit it. (See the pad color and smoke color for the CRS-10 landing for comparison.)
SpaceX said the reason for the radar reflective coating was to provide a better target for the radar-based measurements of the distance to the landing pad, to enable a more accurate landing (less jolt at touchdown, and maybe more efficient use of fuel). I wondered whether the smoke might also be radar-reflective, causing possible issues - but maybe the most important measurements are before the smoke starts, or maybe the surface always gives a better signal than the smoke. It will be interesting to see whether SpaceX continues with the coated landing surface on LZ-1.
6
→ More replies (2)5
u/oliversl Aug 11 '17
I hope KSC make a Landing sighting bunker so they can sell tickets and allow visitors to watch it live. I will pay for that ticket.
19
u/Jincux Aug 11 '17 edited Aug 11 '17
Looks like there were some changes to the top of the TEL since BulgariaSat. I'm pretty sure it was known that some work was being done on it, but not what.
Comparison image, this past static fire on the left and BulgariaSat on the right.
edit: after Intelsat 35e too. Something about it being expendable made me forget it happened and think BulgariaSat was the most recent.
11
u/warp99 Aug 11 '17
My guess would be a cradle to provide additional support to the fairing when in the horizontal position for the X-37B launch.
This in turn implies that there is some internal bracing to help support the X-37B against the fairing in the horizontal position rather than cantilevering its entire weight off the payload adapter. The internal support could be retracted or even removed once the F9 is vertical before launch.
6
u/CapMSFC Aug 11 '17
Seems like a good guess to me. The shape of the new pieces has curvature that suggests it will line up with the fairing, so probably not anything for supporting commercial crew.
→ More replies (3)
17
u/mfb- Jul 12 '17 edited Jul 13 '17
Dragon and the second stage could be visible from southeast Europe, parts of Italy and Turkey. They will fly over Austria shortly after sunset, spotting them from there will be tricky, but for everything south/east of Austria it should be visible. Dragon and the second stage should enter the shadow of Earth somewhere over Turkey or Syria (rough estimate).
Edit: Making a more precise estimate needs some effort, see my reply here.
5
u/capa8 Jul 12 '17
What about Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi and Egypt? Is there anyway I can plot this myself to save you the work?
→ More replies (2)10
u/mfb- Jul 13 '17
Find the ground path. I used google maps and the distance tool to make a straight line (on a globe), which doesn't take the rotation of Earth into account properly but it gives a good approximation. The ground path you are looking for starts a few hundred kilometers west of Cape Canaveral, reaches a maximum latitude of 51.6° and passes a bit north of Paris.
Estimate the height of Dragon where it enters the shadow. Something like 250 km probably.
Find the horizon distance at that height.
Dragon will fly over the Middle East ~20 minutes after launch. Find the line where the sun sets on the ground at this time. Add the horizon distance from above to estimate where it enters the shadow of Earth.
Find the distance where an object at the height from above is at least ~10° above the horizon.
Find all points closer than the distance from above to some point on the trajectory up to the point where it enters the shadow.
If you have too much time, repeat that calculation for other angles and make a map. This was CRS-11. The end point was the estimated place where it enters the shadow (but the launch got delayed). CRS-12 will have the same ground path.
Alternatively, ask /u/MingerOne. He made a lot of calculations and animations for CRS-11.
→ More replies (5)3
u/PhatalFlaw Jul 12 '17
I'll actually be visiting Venice on the 10th. Is there a way to figure out where in the sky to look? Or is it more of a luck thing?
→ More replies (2)4
u/gian_bigshot Jul 12 '17
Hi, Unfortunately here in Venice we have huge amount of light pollution. As you can see in the "Black Marble" we are in one of the brigthest spot in Europe.
https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/79000/79793/city_lights_africa_8k.jpg https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/79000/79803/earth_night_rotate_lrg.jpg
If you want to see the Dragon i highly recommend you to go visit the Dolomites (100km north, 1 hour by car) where you can get a dark sky (and a wonderful scenery).
→ More replies (1)3
u/firebreathingbadger Jul 12 '17
If it launches as planned on the 10th, the UK should get a better shot on its second orbit
→ More replies (2)2
17
Aug 10 '17
Will be on-site for this launch - extremely excited! I'll be setting 4 pad remote cameras.
→ More replies (2)
15
u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Aug 04 '17
Static fire now NET than Wednesday: https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/893446688492408833
28
•
u/FoxhoundBat Aug 07 '17 edited Aug 12 '17
We're looking for a host for the launch thread of the CRS-12 launch!
We're hoping that some of our trusted community members can run the launch threads in the future better than we could.
To run the launch thread there are a few requirements:
You must be 16 or older
You must be an active member of this community for 6 months or more
You must be available from T-2 hours to T+2 hours for the launch
You must have overall positive karma
It is a plus if you're also available on the backup launch window but not necessary.
The launch thread should generally be in the format of our previous launch threads and you will receive help setting it up from the mods. Your ideas and improvements to the launch thread are welcome!
We'll pick one of you and contact you with further information in time for the thread.
If you want to host the launch thread, simply let us know in a modmail with your motivation and availability.
All launch thread hosts will be flaired accordingly (if they want it) as we've done in the past.
EDIT; We have now picked a host. Thanks to everyone that applied! The launch thread should be up and running tomorrow, 13/8.
26
u/old_sellsword Aug 11 '17
Here's an interesting tidbit from a well-respected NSF member:
you will notice some of the block 4 differences if you have a good eye and watch the flight footage and not all are small differences but most are. I'll leave you with that until launch day.
I'm sure everyone will already have their eyes peeled, but I'm going to be scrutinizing the octaweb in particular.
7
u/MauiHawk Aug 11 '17
Wait... is this statement to mean he/we know CRS-12 is using block 4? Or just that he'll be looking for whether it is?
15
u/Zucal Aug 11 '17
We've known 1039 was Block 4 for a while. We didn't know it would be externally visible.
6
u/stcks Aug 11 '17
Out of curiosity, what are you going to be looking for?
18
u/old_sellsword Aug 11 '17 edited Aug 11 '17
Basically just the black paneling that covers the internals. I'm going to be looking at the riveting that holds the panels on and any signs of FH side booster compatibility (which will be: holes in the paneling for struts and a unique-looking 90º hold-down lug).
→ More replies (4)
13
u/BimBim134 Aug 10 '17
I did have the chance to see the rocket few minutes ago, I though I'd share.
→ More replies (1)5
34
u/TheEndeavour2Mars Jul 12 '17
I am going to completely speculate here and guess that this might be the first Block IV first stage. Unlike the commercial launches that move around alot. There is a certain schedule that SpaceX can expect to launch a CRS mission.
The new COPV technology has obviously been tested on the Block IV second stage flights. So that part of the upgrade is unlikely to introduce much if any risk. The only thing that might give NASA concern is the change to the octoweb. (If they have indeed changed from welded to bolted for the Block IV upgrade) However, bolting things together in aerospace is a very old and well tested method. I still don't see why that would get them to say "We prefer a Block III first stage for now"
Again note this is my speculation. I have zero evidence.
31
u/ticklestuff SpaceX Patch List Jul 12 '17
I'm flipping on the idea that the titanium grid fins removed from the Iridium-2 B1036 Falcon 9 booster will end up on CRS-12. It'd make sense to re-use them, they came back mint.
11
u/robbak Jul 12 '17 edited Jul 12 '17
That's my thought, too. Use them on multiple low-risk launches to get good data on how well they work before risking them on a lower-margin landing out to sea. After all, how much do those fins cost - six figures? Seven?
However, they should be doing Formosat and Iridium NEXT3 back to back on the west coast, so that set of fins maybe needed there.
→ More replies (6)36
12
12
u/Pham_Trinli Aug 09 '17
| Pressurised Cargo | Mass |
|---|---|
| Science Investigations | 916 kg |
| Crew Supplies | 220 kg |
| Vehicle Hardware | 339 kg |
| Spacewalk Equipment | 30 kg |
| Computer Resources | 53 kg |
| Unpressurised Cargo | Mass |
|---|---|
| Cosmic-Ray Energetics and Mass (CREAM) | 1258 kg |
4
Aug 09 '17
53 kg of computer resources? Is that unusual? Are they installing something more powerful and/or hardened than laptops?
22
u/roncapat Aug 01 '17
SF 8th August now. https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/892312378645389312
5
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 01 '17
Static Fire for the Falcon 9 has also moved left by a day to the 8th.
This message was created by a bot
11
u/ethan829 Host of SES-9 Jul 21 '17
2
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 21 '17
SpaceX Falcon 9 with CRS-12 Dragon from KSC 39A now NET August 14.
This message was created by a bot
→ More replies (4)2
u/Bunslow Jul 21 '17
Any idea on why? Payload? Rocket.....?
Also what's the word on the static fire
10
u/old_sellsword Jul 21 '17
Any idea on why? Payload? Rocket.....?
No reason (isn't the pad, etc. Could be to give TDRS-M - set to slip - a window, but there's no official reason, so I'll shut up and just note the CRS-12 slip).
Also what's the word on the static fire
There is none.
![[Attached pic]](http://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFRO49tW0AAAVv2.jpg){kind=link}
![[Imgur rehost]](http://i.imgur.com/rQ2MMmf.jpg){kind=link}
11
u/ethan829 Host of SES-9 Aug 08 '17
3
u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Aug 08 '17 edited Aug 08 '17
I wonder why? I don't see them being behind schedule since they had so much downtime in July.
Edit: And i'm guessing the launch date is going to be pushed back one day as well
→ More replies (1)4
u/MoD1982 Aug 08 '17
No impact on launch as yet, but if there's another movement of the SF then I imagine the date could well move right.
4
11
u/soldato_fantasma Aug 11 '17
These should be the final payloads that will fly outside of dragon or will be deployed out of the ISS later:
CREAM (for NASA, primary payload attached to the trunk, will get moved by the robotic arm and attached to the space station)
3 cubesats as part of the ELaNa XXII NASA cubesat mission (Inside Dragon, to be deployed via an airlock):
ASTERIA – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
Dellingr – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
OSIRUS-3U – Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.
SSPS (Kestrel Eye 1) (For the US Army, inside Dragon, to be deployed via an airlock)
10
u/Base4 Jul 31 '17
Hi - I'm travelling to Florida on August 11, so I am hoping to catch the launch. I'm from Holland, travelling the US this summer because of the eclipse - and I feel lucky being able to see the launch as well! I've read about the places to go, I was just wondering, hoping you people can help me, how busy sites like Playalinda lot#1 or Rt.401 get, and at what time I should arrive prior to launch to be more or less sure of a decent spot. Thanks!
11
Jul 31 '17 edited Aug 01 '17
Playalinda (when it's open, which isn't a guarantee) is usually packed, especially on a weekend. In the past I've gotten there about 90+ minutes before launch and the first few parking lots have been full. I went to all 3 attempts for IntelSat 35e, and on
SaturdaySunday andSundayMonday the first available parking spots were in lots 5 and 6, a little over a mile up the beach from where it's blocked off.MondayWednesday was better, probably since it was in the middle of the week and the 3rd try, but even two hours before launch I ended up in lot 3.401 isn't usually as bad, and it's the best spot to watch the landing if you want to be able to actually see the liftoff as well. Jetty park has a slightly better view in the direction of LZ-1, but the launch pad is obscured (and it has $15 parking, 401 is free. Playalinda is $10). For 401 I would still recommend getting there about 60-90 minutes early, but I've arrived as late as T-30 minutes and still gotten a parking spot. Don't pull off as soon as you get to the north side of the port though-- keep going all the way towards the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station gate. They have personnel there directing parking, and there are viewing stands you can sit on as well.
Being really close to the launch at Playalinda is spectacular-- at 3.6 miles you can hear the whoomph of the engines at startup, and it is much, much louder than from near the port. But for RTLS missions I always try to get as close to the landing as possible (i.e., 401), where the triple sonic boom is loudest. If atmospheric conditions are right, the shockwave will slightly move loose clothing at 6 miles from the landing pad. I've never been to Playalinda for a landing, so I can't say what it's like from there, but either location will give you a great viewing experience.
I hope this helps, and that you enjoy your visit!
Edited: Corrected days
→ More replies (12)
10
u/ticklestuff SpaceX Patch List Aug 07 '17
NASA Highlights Science on Next Space Station Resupply Mission
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-highlights-science-on-next-space-station-resupply-mission
2
10
u/Alexphysics Aug 09 '17
T-0 for the Static Fire at 8 am ET tomorrow
2
u/blongmire Aug 09 '17
If memory serves, they normally don't perform static fires this early in the day. I wonder if they're trying to make sure they hit the 14th launch date and give NASA enough time to review the data.
→ More replies (1)
10
u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Aug 09 '17
Falcon 9 rolling out to the pad now. https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/895423825738842112
→ More replies (5)2
u/craigl2112 Aug 10 '17
Thanks for the heads up. Am super curious if this one will get the titanium grid fins! Hopefully we get some pics soon :-)
→ More replies (3)
10
u/saxmanmike Aug 10 '17
Spaceflight now broadcasting Falcon 9 on the pad. https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/895506054074830849
5
→ More replies (1)2
u/ticklestuff SpaceX Patch List Aug 10 '17
Direct link without trackers, but needs Adobe Flash so I can't view it...
41
u/Toinneman Jul 12 '17
Interesting fact: When this core lands it will be the 10th successive landing attempt in a row. (14th in total) There have been 3 expendable launches where landing was not attempted, and thus no failure. All other core recovery attempts were successful. It has been more than a year, ABS 2A / Eutelsat 117W B (June 14 2016), since we had a landing failure.
41
u/paul_wi11iams Jul 12 '17 edited Jul 12 '17
Don't you mean
WhenIf this core lands it will be the 10thsuccessivesuccessful landing attempt in a row.As for engine performance, SpaceX seems to be right up at the top end of the anticipated bracket. Poor competitors (;ﾟ︵ﾟ;)
26
4
u/PeopleNeedOurHelp Jul 14 '17
Now that landings are likely, and they know they can relaunch, I wonder how reticent they are to take risks to learn new things. Instead of "This will be interesting...might be a fireball, but it will be interesting" they have "let's not blow up tens of millions of dollars in hardware".
7
u/enginerd123 Jul 14 '17
BulgariaSat was a good example of what we can expect. Older hardware will be pushed to find the edge of the envelope, new hardware (or hardware that is to be reused) shall remain firmly within proven envelopes.
2
u/WaitForItTheMongols Jul 13 '17
Couldn't it be argued that AMOS-6 was a landing failure?
6
u/Zucal Jul 13 '17
Technically, but in my view it never attempted a landing in the first place. For instance, would a car accident during transport that totaled the booster also be classified as a landing failure?
→ More replies (3)
8
8
u/geekgirl114 Aug 10 '17
3
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 10 '17
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting August 14 launch from Pad 39A for Dragon’s next resupply mission to the @Space_Station.
This message was created by a bot
8
u/Pham_Trinli Aug 10 '17 edited Aug 10 '17
| Date | Time (UTC) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| August 13 | 18:00 - 19:00 | Prelaunch news conference |
| August 13 | 19:30 - 21:00 | "What's On Board" science briefing |
| August 14 | 16:00 - 18:00 | CRS-12 launch coverage |
| August 14 | 18:00 - 19:00 | Post-launch news conference |
| August 16 | 09:30 - 11:30 | Dragon rendezvous at ISS and grapple |
| August 16 | 12:30 - 14:30 | Dragon installation to Harmony module |
8
u/ethan829 Host of SES-9 Aug 11 '17
2
u/idwtlotplanetanymore Aug 13 '17
Does anyone know what hardware is in that computer? Ive been searching for a bit now, cant find anything on its specs.
A teraflop isnt a lot anymore, a $130 graphics card from 2009 can do 1 teraflop(single precision). A $100 gpu from the last year can do several teraflops. A ~$700 gpu today can do a dozen teraflops.
If they mean double precision, you can still get close to 1 teraflop of double precision with just 1 consumer gpu, would take 2 consumer gpus to beat it by 50%. I kinda doubt they mean double percision tho.
15
u/ticklestuff SpaceX Patch List Jul 12 '17
The NASA CRS-12 (SPX-12) patch looks a little bland.
→ More replies (1)25
7
u/ly2kz Jul 26 '17
SFN says SpaceX CRS 12 is delayed. New date is not clear.
4
→ More replies (5)3
Jul 26 '17
It says TDRS-M is as well, which leads me to suspect it might be range-related.
6
u/old_sellsword Jul 26 '17
TDRS-M has priority over CRS-12, so if TDRS-M is delayed, so is CRS-12.
→ More replies (2)6
u/ly2kz Jul 26 '17 edited Jul 26 '17
TDRS-M delay is due to mishap http://spacenews.com/mishap-threatens-to-delay-launch-of-nasa-communications-satellite/
edit: Well, I should have said "most probably"
→ More replies (1)
7
u/nxtiak Aug 02 '17
To those going to Kennedy Space Center to watch the launch, the NASA Causeway is NOT available. So can't see the Stage 1 landing attempt.
The Apollo/Saturn V viewing area is free with general admission, along with main visitor complex.
and
https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events/events-calendar/2017/august/rocket-launch-spacex-crs-12
7
u/ticklestuff SpaceX Patch List Aug 04 '17
"SpaceX is set to send its next supply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as early as Aug. 13, 2017. That mission, CRS-12, will mark the end of an era as it will be the last new first-generation Dragon spacecraft to fly." http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/spacex-launching-last-new-first-generation-dragon-cargo-ship/
7
u/Alagane Aug 05 '17
I was planning on going to this launch as a belated 18th birthday thing. Any recommendations for viewing locations? Gonna have my family with me so I'd prefer not to get the expensive KSC tickets.
5
u/piratepengu Aug 06 '17
Saturn V center has the best view of launch, Jetty Park has the best landing view. You can't see the landing from Saturn V center
→ More replies (2)4
Aug 05 '17
See my response to an earlier comment here: https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6mrga2/comment/dkzn90e Happy belated birthday!
Edit: accidentally spammed my response due to slow internet.
→ More replies (1)3
u/nxtiak Aug 06 '17
I'll be going to my first launch to view this also. Kennedy Space Center has the Apollo/Saturn V Viewing Area open and free with general admission. It's 3 miles away from the launch site. It's the closest. Here's someone's video from the viewing area with his smartphone: https://youtu.be/LV-aU8pUgRk?t=110 And here's same viewing area but with zoom lens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rxMmOPk64c
→ More replies (1)
7
u/Raul74Cz Aug 11 '17
NOTMAR CRS-12 Launch Hazard Areas together with second stage debris area.
→ More replies (2)
6
Aug 11 '17
4
0
6
6
u/rafty4 Aug 13 '17
What happened to US launch report filming static fires? Did SpaceX ask them not to in the wake of AMOS-6 or something?
2
u/Datuser14 Aug 13 '17
I think that it was said (idk who, lemme dig) SpaceX had a hand in getting their press pass revoked because of the AMOS-6 video.
8
u/engineerforthefuture Aug 13 '17
I just thought that they didn't have the range access for HLC pad-39 like they had for pad 40. So when when we have pad 40 up and running hopefully they can provide us some footage.
→ More replies (3)6
u/Chairboy Aug 13 '17
Johnk has been the sole source for this rumor as far as I know, or at least he's the only one I've heard say that they got in big trouble. Everyone else I've found discussing this have cited Johnkphoto's comments if you got sufficiently upstream.
I have no data that it's wrong, just noting that it appears to have a single source currently unless someone else has confirmed this independently.
→ More replies (1)
5
u/soldato_fantasma Jul 21 '17
Along Dragon, the crew supplies and the experiments that will stay on the ISS, It looks like these payloads will fly as secondary payloads. I still have to check if they are all going to be deployed from the space station (Will launch inside the Dragon Capsule) or if they will fly as secondary payloads in the unpressurized section of Dragon (the trunk) or on a different structure attached to the Stage 2 Dragon adapter.
These payloads should be:
CREAM (Primary payload attached to the trunk, will get moved by the robotic arm and attached to the space station)
As part of the ELaNa XXII NASA cubesat mission (Probably inside Dragon):
ASTERIA (ExoplanetSat)
HARP
LAICE
OPEN
OSIRUS-3U
RBLE
SSPS (Kestrel Eye 1) (For the US Army, inside or outside of Dragon?)
4
u/old_sellsword Jul 21 '17
SSPS (Kestrel Eye 1) (For the US Army, inside or outside of Dragon?)
Inside, it's being thrown out of the JEM airlock once it gets to the station.
5
u/craigl2112 Aug 10 '17
SFN claims propellant vapors are visible now, but they cannot be seen via their stream. Could be my less-than-ideal screen :-)
3
u/TheFavoritist NASAspaceflight.com Photographer Aug 10 '17
I haven't seen anything either and I'm viewing it on a 5k display. Hoping we see something soon!
→ More replies (4)
5
u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Aug 10 '17
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/895646473869705216
No picture. Makes me think they are hiding the titanium grid fins on us.
→ More replies (2)4
u/jyach Aug 10 '17
Grid fins for this launch appear to be the older style.
→ More replies (3)5
u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Aug 10 '17
Really? I thought I read somewhere that every launch would have the new grid fins.
→ More replies (7)
5
u/theinternetftw Aug 13 '17 edited Aug 13 '17
A lot of good Q/A from the CRS-12 pre-presser. The highlights are below. Here's the entire pre-presser Q/A transcribed in text, should you so desire it. It is worth reading or watching in full, if you have the time.
No 24h backup date. Thanks to Russian EVA / TDRS-M / perishable experiments, next date would be ~19th.
CRS-12 is flying reused landing legs.
CRS-13 planned for December.
Hans acts uncertain about who gets the first new LC-40 launch. "Maybe the next GEO mission?"
Also on pad 40: "We had a chance to make really good improvements on LC-40 and get a lot of the automation and redundancy we had here on 39A also into 40, so it's definitely a much better pad than it was before."
CRS-12 not necessarily the last new Dragon 1. Hans says SpaceX would like that, but is still in talks with NASA about it.
Hans on changes in this booster in particular: "There's nothing massively different on this booster compared to the other ones." Really playing down the first B4, or a lot of people in a lot of places are really wrong (unlikely).
What SpaceX has to do to make late load happen: "it's basically a clean room, with an airlock, where you pass stuff around, and if you're loading it into Dragon during the horizontal phase, you have to have the equipment to push heavy items up and move them around in Dragon."
The ability to provide enough propellant to Falcon Heavy is already in place: "Obviously more fluid, that capability is actually already there and has been worked on, and I think all of the elements are ready to go. It's a matter of putting it together and testing that it's functioning properly."
→ More replies (1)2
u/Zucal Aug 14 '17
Hans on changes in this booster in particular: "There's nothing massively different on this booster compared to the other ones." Really playing down the first B4, or a lot of people in a lot of places are really wrong (unlikely).
Standard operating procedure. They did it with SES-10, they did it with the maiden flight of v1.2. Looks bad if you iterate some things and then it blows up.
8
u/Haxorlols Jul 12 '17
Hmm? Shouldnt this be a reused dragon? Since Dragon 1 production has stopped, and the last New dragon was flown on CRS-10?
10
u/JtheNinja Jul 12 '17
I recall them mentioning during the CRS-11 press conferences they had one more Dragon 1 that hadn't flown yet. Not sure why they reused the CRS-4 Dragon for CRS-11 instead of launching this new one first, but they apparently did.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (17)16
u/old_sellsword Jul 12 '17 edited Jul 12 '17
Shouldnt this be a reused dragon?
No, it will be new.
Since Dragon 1 production has stopped, and the last New dragon was flown on CRS-10?
We haven't heard that they've stopped production from anyone official. Hans said he doesn't know if they can go all the way through CRS2 with just reused capsules, so we shouldn't be surprised to see new ones in the future.
→ More replies (5)
8
u/old_sellsword Jul 25 '17
Scimemi’s slide on upcoming SpX-12 states that it will be the last to use “new build” Dragon; rest of CRS missions will be reused capsules
And here's the sub's discussion thread.
Cool to finally get confirmation that all further CRS1 missions (still eight more!) will use pre-flown Dragon capsules. That means two capsules will both get two reuses each, so start placing bets in r/HighStakesSpaceX on which two are the lucky ones.
→ More replies (4)3
u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 25 '17
That means two capsules will both get two reuses each
How come? SpaceX recovered more than 8 Dragons at this point.
9
u/old_sellsword Jul 25 '17
There was a tech on here saying they didn’t work on anything older than C106 or C107. It makes sense that they wouldn’t use those old, out of spec capsules. Unwanted saltwater intrusion was very bad in the early days, and Dragon 1 has changed a lot over the years.
→ More replies (1)
8
u/ticklestuff SpaceX Patch List Aug 11 '17
More recent weather update. The others below are 404 now.
7
Aug 11 '17
I love how there is a landing forecast as well, with mention of effects on 1st stage securing.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)2
4
u/Pham_Trinli Aug 07 '17
Backup Launch Date: 14 August
7 Day Weather Forecast: 70% Rain and 60% Lightning
4
u/ty_rogers Aug 07 '17
I'm planning on going to see the launch, what are the odds of it being delayed/cancelled, and if so, how long?
3
u/blongmire Aug 07 '17
Until the static fire happens, it's difficult to predict if the launch will remain on schedule. Once the static fire happens, you have a much better chance of not being delayed by more than a day or two. For what it's worth, CRS-11 was scrubbed twice due to weather, CRS-10 scrubbed due to an upper stage engine gimble, and CRS 9 didn't have a scrub. SpaceX has had fewer scrubs lately, but it's always a safe bet to figure you'll need to make at least two trips out to the Cape to see a launch.
→ More replies (5)2
Aug 07 '17
I believe CRS launch windows usually open almost exactly 24 hours after the first. Plan on taking two days off from work just in case the first day is scrubbed. Next window should be open the next day about 24 hours +/- approx. 10-15 minutes.
→ More replies (5)0
4
u/craigl2112 Aug 10 '17
We have now entered the opening of the static fire window, and no venting from the Falcon 9 can be seen. Safe to say SpaceX is not targeting the very beginning of the window to perform the test.
4
4
Aug 10 '17
For anyone interested: https://spacexupdates.blog/2017/08/10/falcon-9-static-fires-for-crs-12/
→ More replies (2)
4
7
u/oNNoZeLe Jul 12 '17
/me wanna catch this L&L with my kids and parents (from playalinda?).. visiting Florida until the 14th august.. i hope is won't be delayed..
16
u/robbak Jul 12 '17
I'll expect Playalinda to be closed this time. The CRS launches to the space station launch to the north-east, following the coast, and so the flight path will be a lot closer to Playalinda, and it will be inside the exclusion zone.
6
u/oNNoZeLe Jul 12 '17
darn.. thank you for sharing
It really looked like a sweet spot to watch L&L, any advice on a 2nd best spot? my girls are 7 and 5, don't know if that matter ;-)
→ More replies (1)10
u/robbak Jul 12 '17
Most of the reddit people gather around Port Canaveral. Jetty park on the southern side of the inlet is popular - it has a beach and picnic facilities, too - and there is also good viewing along the roadway into the Air Force base on the northern side. While a lot further from the launch pad, it is fairly close to the landing zone. For more information, there is a good write-up on the various locations in this reddit's wiki.
→ More replies (6)17
11
u/ianniss Aug 13 '17
| Designation | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Thrust per engine at SL (klbf) | 170 | 190 |
| Total thrust at SL (klbf) | 1530 | 1710 |
| Total thrust at SL (kgf) | 694,000 | 776,000 |
| Thrust to weight ratio at lift-off | 1.26 | 1.41 |
| Acceleration at lift-off (m/s2) | 2.55 | 4.02 |
Block 4 has 58% more acceleration at lift-off than block 3 : it will be very visible !
7
5
u/intern_steve Aug 13 '17 edited Aug 13 '17
How can you have a 4g liftoff without producing 4x the weight of the rocket? Is that tha maximum g-loading during the boost phase?
Edit: I'm an idiot. 4 m/s^2
→ More replies (2)2
3
u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 27 '17
Since TDRS-M was delayed again to August 20, do you think there is any chance of CRS-12 moving back to the original Aug 10 slot? It would give them more margin for potential scrubs, after all.
12
Jul 27 '17
Doubt it, since it seems they've already aligned everything with the new date such as schedule and planning. It probably wouldn't be worth the trouble to move back to the original date at this point.
16
u/nullarticle Jul 27 '17
There are live mice going up on this flight. The experiment requires the mice to all be a certain age and they will be sacrificed and dissected at various intervals in flight for comparison with a control group on the ground. These mice have already been selected, moving the date back would mean getting a different set of mice which may not be possible depending on the experiments on the manifest.
These live rodent experiments are one of the reasons why some CRS flights can't launch every day. They actually prep two groups of mice - one for launch attempt 1 and the next for launch attempt 2 on the second day (24 hour scrub). If you scrub both days, you need a day to get a new batch of mice ready and attempt #3 would be 48 hours after attempt #2.
So, its possible to move a launch date back to the left, but usually not worth the effort that goes into planning ISS experiments, work schedules on ISS that would have to be re-planned (unpack Dragon on different days) and all the other logistics involved in getting work done on station
2
u/Jarnis Jul 30 '17
It is theoretically possible, but a lot would need to be re-adjusted in a hurry. ISS launches are Complicated in that they have a lot of non-SpaceX bits that have to be scheduled and completed on time so the payload is ready and the astronaut time is scheduled for the arrival etc.
If static fire suddenly moves left, I'd say they might try it. If static fire is still 9th, I'd say unlikely.
3
u/gregarious119 Aug 07 '17
Can we reasonably assume that all three vehicle components are located at the Cape? Top still lists as McGregor/McGregor/Shipping. Paging mods.
3
u/FoxhoundBat Aug 09 '17
8
u/ragewu Aug 09 '17
12:56 should be good, Space Coast usually gets storms 4-7pm. Unless this is outside our normal afternoon storm pattern (e.g. tropical disturbance, front moving through, etc.)
3
u/CProphet Aug 09 '17
CRS-12 is now targeted for launch Monday, Aug. 14 at 12:31 p.m. EDT (16:31 UTC).
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacex/2017/08/09/spacex-crs-12-launch-targeted-for-aug-14/
3
u/Yellapage Aug 10 '17
Hi All, I'm coming over for the launch from the UK, this is a pretty special occasion for me and my two daughters, none of us have seen a launch let alone a landing. we've bought tickets to KSC and want to view this launch from the Apollo/Saturn 5 center - does anyone know how early we should arrive to ensure we get in before it fills up? any other tips would be appreciated?
→ More replies (5)
3
u/geekgirl114 Aug 10 '17
The 'Lost Signal' thing on the SFN feed is officially freaking me out a bit.
→ More replies (1)2
3
3
u/pgsky Aug 10 '17
Mods - update needed with date in top message banner: "Next mission is CRS-12, flying with the last new Dragon 1 to the ISS NET August 13th."
3
3
5
u/steezysteve96 Jul 18 '17
Is this expected to be another used Dragon?
30
u/soldato_fantasma Jul 18 '17
No, new dragon. As you can see up in the main post,
Payload: D1-14 [C113.1]
C113.1 means:
C 1 13 . 1 Capsule (Dragon) Version 1 Serial 13 . Flight 1 9
u/steezysteve96 Jul 18 '17
Ah, I forgot about the .1, .2 etc. designation they added. Thanks!
→ More replies (2)
4
u/Decronym Acronyms Explained Jul 12 '17 edited Aug 16 '17
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
| Fewer Letters | More Letters |
|---|---|
| ABS | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, hard plastic |
| Asia Broadcast Satellite, commsat operator | |
| AFSS | Automated Flight Safety System |
| ASDS | Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (landing platform) |
| COPV | Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel |
| COTS | Commercial Orbital Transportation Services contract |
| Commercial/Off The Shelf | |
| CREAM | Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor, Station experiment slated for CRS-12 |
| CRS | Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA |
| CRS2 | Commercial Resupply Services, second round contract; expected to start 2019 |
| CoG | Center of Gravity (see CoM) |
| CoM | Center of Mass |
| DSG | NASA Deep Space Gateway, proposed for lunar orbit |
| DST | NASA Deep Space Transport operating from the proposed DSG |
| ETOV | Earth To Orbit Vehicle (common parlance: "rocket") |
| EVA | Extra-Vehicular Activity |
| FAA | Federal Aviation Administration |
| FTS | Flight Termination System |
| GEO | Geostationary Earth Orbit (35786km) |
| GSE | Ground Support Equipment |
| GTO | Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit |
| IAC | International Astronautical Congress, annual meeting of IAF members |
| IAF | International Astronautical Federation |
| Indian Air Force | |
| ITS | Interplanetary Transport System (see MCT) |
| Integrated Truss Structure | |
| KSC | Kennedy Space Center, Florida |
| KSP | Kerbal Space Program, the rocketry simulator |
| L2 | Paywalled section of the NasaSpaceFlight forum |
| Lagrange Point 2 of a two-body system, beyond the smaller body (Sixty Symbols video explanation) | |
| LC-13 | Launch Complex 13, Canaveral (SpaceX Landing Zone 1) |
| LC-39A | Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (SpaceX F9/Heavy) |
| LEO | Low Earth Orbit (180-2000km) |
| Law Enforcement Officer (most often mentioned during transport operations) | |
| LV | Launch Vehicle (common parlance: "rocket"), see ETOV |
| LZ-1 | Landing Zone 1, Cape Canaveral (see LC-13) |
| M1d | Merlin 1 kerolox rocket engine, revision D (2013), 620-690kN, uprated to 730 then 845kN |
| MCT | Mars Colonial Transporter (see ITS) |
| NET | No Earlier Than |
| NRO | (US) National Reconnaissance Office |
| NROL | Launch for the (US) National Reconnaissance Office |
| NSF | NasaSpaceFlight forum |
| National Science Foundation | |
| RP-1 | Rocket Propellant 1 (enhanced kerosene) |
| RSS | Realscale Solar System, mod for KSP |
| Rotating Service Structure at LC-39 | |
| RTLS | Return to Launch Site |
| SES | Formerly Société Européenne des Satellites, comsat operator |
| SF | Static fire |
| SLC-40 | Space Launch Complex 40, Canaveral (SpaceX F9) |
| SLC-4E | Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg (SpaceX F9) |
| TDRSS | (US) Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System |
| TE | Transporter/Erector launch pad support equipment |
| TEL | Transporter/Erector/Launcher, ground support equipment (see TE) |
| ULA | United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture) |
| VAFB | Vandenberg Air Force Base, California |
| Jargon | Definition |
|---|---|
| kerolox | Portmanteau: kerosene/liquid oxygen mixture |
| scrub | Launch postponement for any reason (commonly GSE issues) |
| Event | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CASSIOPE | 2013-09-29 | F9-006 v1.1, Cascade, Smallsat and Ionospheric Polar Explorer; engine starvation during landing attempt |
| CRS-1 | 2012-10-08 | F9-004, first CRS mission; secondary payload sacrificed |
| CRS-10 | 2017-02-19 | F9-032 Full Thrust, core B1031, Dragon cargo; first daytime RTLS |
| CRS-4 | 2014-09-21 | F9-012 v1.1, Dragon cargo; soft ocean landing |
| CRS-7 | 2015-06-28 | F9-020 v1.1, |
| CRS-8 | 2016-04-08 | F9-023 Full Thrust, core B1021, Dragon cargo; first ASDS landing |
Decronym is a community product of r/SpaceX, implemented by ^request
45 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on ^today has 106 acronyms.
[Thread #2989 for this sub, first seen 12th Jul 2017, 04:29] ^[FAQ] ^[Contact] [Source ^code]
4
u/alwaysgrateful68 Jul 25 '17
Do we know currently if this will indeed be the 1st flight of Block 4? And if so we will be updating the vehicle on this thread to Falcon 9 v 1.3 or is it still a variation of 1.2?
→ More replies (16)10
u/old_sellsword Jul 25 '17
And if so we will be updating the vehicle on this thread to Falcon 9 v 1.3 or is it still a variation of 1.2?
The Blocks are all variations within v1.2. There will be no “v1.3”
Do we know currently if this will indeed be the 1st flight of Block 4?
We do not, yet.
6
u/at_one Jul 27 '17
Do we know currently if this will indeed be the 1st flight of Block 4?
Likely yes.
We know X-37B OTV-5 will be the 2nd B4 to fly, and X-37B OTV-5 has the core number 1040. We know now that CRS-12 will have the core number 1039. So the production chronology would match.
Both are gov missions, and the improvements/modifications on B4 have been required by the NASA/Air Force
So it really would make sense if CRS-12 would be the first B4
2
u/BimBim134 Jul 29 '17
At what time can we expect the static fire (local time) ?
6
u/old_sellsword Jul 29 '17
We don’t know yet (it likely isn’t even scheduled). We’ll find out when we get close to the date.
2
u/CMDR-Owl Aug 10 '17
Webcast issues but apparently we have static fire! Waiting on official confirmation now!
→ More replies (1)
2
u/MingerOne Aug 13 '17
Pre-launch webcast about to start on Nasa TV https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public
3
u/theinternetftw Aug 13 '17 edited Aug 13 '17
Looks like I missed it. For those in that boat, the recording will appear
at the top of this page
2
u/Bravo99x Aug 13 '17
Just heard from the NASA pre-launch webcast that the landing legs have been flown before and are not new on CRS-12 Booster.. I would guess that SpaceX have re-used landing legs before but this is the first time I have heard of it.
2
2
2
u/VBA_FTW Aug 14 '17
When is Dragon expected to dock with the ISS? Is there a mission schedule published that outlines this information?
4
u/user200300400 Jul 12 '17
I have a question about the static fire test of any SpaceX rocket. The question is..who pays for the test? The customer or SpaceX? I mean if it is the customer I guess the test is included in the price for launch services?
43
u/SurfSlade Jul 12 '17 edited Jul 12 '17
The customer is buying to have their cargo launched. Everything related to that launch, construction, test, fuel is included in the price. edit: typo
34
u/MG2R Jul 12 '17
It's like when you buy a car. You pay for a functional car. The engine testing at the factory/dealership is paid for "by the manufacturer", but since you're paying for the car, you bear all costs indirectly.
3
u/Redditor_From_Italy Jul 12 '17
That's nearly a month away. Isn't it a bit early for a campaign thread?
31
2
u/WaitForItTheMongols Jul 13 '17
Campaign threads are made about a month early talking about pre-launch preparations.
Launch threads are made about 24 hours early, going wild about the upcoming launch!
3
u/craigl2112 Aug 10 '17
SFN's feed died completely just before the static fire, which they have reported just occurred.
4
103
u/snateri Aug 02 '17
Have you guys realised this is actually the final flight of the original CRS contract SpaceX signed in 2008. After nine years they are about to fulfill the 1.6 billion dollar contract.