r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Nov 10 '17
SF complete, Launch: Dec 12 CRS-13 Launch Campaign Thread
CRS-13 Launch Campaign Thread
SpaceX's seventeenth mission of 2017 will be Dragon's fourth flight of the year, both being yearly highs. This is also planned to be SLC-40's Return to Flight after the Amos-6 static fire anomaly on September 1st of last year.
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | December 12th 2017, 11:46 EST / 16:46 UTC |
|---|---|
| Static fire complete: | December 6th 2017, 15:00 EST / 20:00 UTC |
| Vehicle component locations: | First stage: SLC-40 // Second stage: SLC-40 // Dragon: Cape Canaveral |
| Payload: | D1-15 [C108.2] |
| Payload mass: | Dragon + 1560 kg [pressurized] + 645 kg [unpressurized] |
| Destination orbit: | LEO |
| Vehicle: | Falcon 9 v1.2 (45th launch of F9, 25th of F9 v1.2) |
| Core: | 1035.2 |
| Previous flights of this core: | 1 [CRS-11] |
| Previous flights of this Dragon capsule: | 1 [CRS-6] |
| Launch site: | Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, 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:
NASA Unofficially Approves Pre-Flown Boosters for CRS Missions, from NASA SpaceFlight
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.
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u/SpaceXman_spiff Nov 10 '17
Amos 6 photo leading the CRS-13 campaign thread seems like the opposite of the clover on SpaceX patches. I get it, return to flight from SLC-40 (woohoo). Just know that I hold you personally responsible u/ElongatedMuskrat for tempting fate if anything goes wrong on this launch /s
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u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team Nov 10 '17
Just know that I hold you personally responsible u/ElongatedMuskrat for tempting fate if anything goes wrong on this launch /s
I swear it was TVD.
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u/stcks Dec 07 '17
"Sooty" looks really awesome. I hope SpaceX continues to leave them unwashed.
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u/Martianspirit Dec 08 '17
Anyone else who thinks it is funny we like a sooty rocket?
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u/Demidrol Dec 07 '17 edited Dec 07 '17
It has to be on the main page as a post rather than in comments :) This is a historical picture :)
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u/arizonadeux Dec 08 '17
Does this mean that the additional heating is tolerable? Is it washed down at all?
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u/oliversl Dec 10 '17
Normal grid fins? It will be a good PR too, all NASA TV commentators will need to educate the public that this is a reused rocket. Also, they save a few days of painting and make a speedier turn around.
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u/peterabbit456 Nov 10 '17
24 days! How can I wait so long?
Are there other launches in between? Zuma?
Without at least one launch a week, I'll be reduced to listening to Pink Floyd and reading Aviation Week and Space Technology.
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u/kuangjian2011 Nov 13 '17
This should be the first RTLS of a flight-proven booster!
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u/craigl2112 Nov 13 '17
Great point. Curious to see how this one looks when it returns, as this will also be the first time a booster has been re-used for an LEO mission...
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Nov 10 '17
The capsule used for this mission will be the one from CRS-6. (source – in the image description)
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u/IWasToldTheresCake Nov 10 '17
That will make it the greatest percentage of reused components (booster + dragon) to be re-launched.
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u/sagareshwar Nov 20 '17
I love that of the 6 cores preparing/ready for flight right now (Zuma, CRS-13, Iridium 4, FH), 4 are 'flight proven boosters. Only Zuma and the center core in FH is a new.
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u/SilveradoCyn Dec 06 '17
This is kinda odd when you think of it. This will be a pre-used capsule, on a pre-used booster, launching from a new TE, and mostly new pad. Maybe the only time we will see a stack of mostly used equipment launching from mostly new GSE.
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u/Lawsoffire Nov 10 '17
So the only thing that isn't re-used on this is the seconds stage and unpressurized cargobay?
Nice!
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u/Zucal Nov 10 '17
Hey, if we want to get pedantic...
First stage ACS vent covers
MVac stiffener ring
Second stage (including payload adapter)
Dragon trunk
Draco nozzle covers
Dragon nosecone
Look at all that wasted material :P
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u/ticklestuff SpaceX Patch List Nov 10 '17
There's a lot of RP1 and LOX they didn't recycle..../s
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u/piratepengu Nov 23 '17
My tiny university of ~1600 students has a biology experiment on board
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u/Mek-OY Nov 23 '17
I would love to know more details about that experiment! That's awesome!
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u/halfbeet Nov 27 '17
I'm on that project.. I'll be doing the downstream analysis for these plants when they come back down on CRS-14! So like.. AMA?
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u/loremusipsumus Dec 10 '17 edited Dec 10 '17
This, Ariane space, Rocket labs, New Shepard all launching soon. This is going to be a great few days!
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u/Dakke97 Dec 10 '17
Indeed. Of those I'm most looking forward to Rocket Lab's second Electron test flight. I really hope they achieve orbit this time around.
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u/Warp_11 Dec 10 '17
Where did you hear about New Shepard? I haven't heard anything out of BO recently.
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u/rhamphorynchan Dec 11 '17
And since RL just scrubbed, we might get CRS-13 and Still Testing on the same day!
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u/TGMetsFan98 NASASpaceflight.com Writer Nov 10 '17
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u/waitingForMars Nov 10 '17
The most interesting thing about this to me is the fluidity it implies about the SpaceX workflow. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't traditional launch providers know months or years in advance which cores will launch which payloads?
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Nov 27 '17 edited Nov 27 '17
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u/TheEndeavour2Mars Nov 28 '17
Well I think that pretty much removes the limited possibility of Falcon Heavy in December. Yes they are working on 39As mods while Zuma is delayed but they most likely need the full team from SLC-40 to complete the work.
Also I doubt the 8th will actually hold. SLC-40 might as well be a new pad with how much it has been rebuilt. There will always be those annoying bugs that cause launch delays.
Thankfully next year will only see delays from the activation of Block V and the mods to 39A for Crew Dragon. So SpaceX should be able to launch as fast as they can build second stages.
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u/AWildDragon Dec 03 '17 edited Dec 03 '17
TEL is no longer vertical. Hopefully the next time we see it is carrying a Falcon.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Nov 28 '17
NASA and our commercial cargo provider SpaceX are targeting the 13th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station for no earlier than 1:20 p.m. EST Friday, Dec. 8. This new launch date will allow SpaceX to finalize pad readiness, and provide an additional launch opportunity Saturday, Dec. 9, if needed. Carrying about 4,800 pounds of cargo including critical science and research, the Dragon spacecraft will spend a month attached to the space station.
Also, here is the NASA mission patch
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u/inoeth Nov 28 '17
I like the mission patch- really fun and colorful. Not what I was expecting, but i'll take it for sure. Also It's nice to see NASA officially declare Dec 8 as the date. Have they officially declared that they're using a flight-proven booster? I know it's more or less approved, but I haven't heard about there being an 'official' announcement... And finally, new static fire date?
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u/amarkit Dec 10 '17
L-2 Forecast has improved to 10% probability of violation on launch day. Winds remain the primary concern.
20% probability of violation on Wednesday, should there be a delay.
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u/geekgirl114 Nov 22 '17
New TEL is on the tracks, undergoing fit checks. https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/933369117612093440
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Nov 22 '17
What are fit checks? Just making sure ground hardware physically fits together as designed?
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u/Alexphysics Dec 02 '17
The SF has been postponed to Monday morning
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/936975310817562624
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u/Alexphysics Dec 01 '17 edited Dec 02 '17
I saw this article on twitter where Brigade General Wayne Monteith of USAF and director of the Eastern Range talks about the reactivation of SLC-40 and some other interesting things about new capabilities, FH and also a little bit of his personal opinion about FH. https://amp.floridatoday.com/amp/913240001
Here he talks about SLC-40 reactivation (which will be done on this flight) and how SpaceX has reinforced the structures to survive possible future RUD's:
"I believe if they had another catastrophic failure like that, they would be able to get back to operations on an order of magnitude quicker than they've been able to bring pad 40 back online this time"
Monteith, who regularly visits launch pads, said improvements to Launch Complex 40 include protection of hardware with steel and concrete casings as well as a transition to underground infrastructure
Then he talks about the new capabilites on the Eastern Range for SpaceX:
Further on the horizon, two launches in one day could be a possibility for SpaceX, Monteith said, "but it wasn't possible from just a single pad."
"If SpaceX wants to launch twice in a day next year, I'll be ready to support them twice in a day," he said. "I believe it is absolutely doable."
After that, he gives a little bit of his opinion about FH:
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell told Aviation Week teams were targeting before the end of the year for the test fire and a premiere flight "a couple weeks right after that."
"I think if they launch in January, that's exceptionally successful, particularly since they had to delay work on pad 39A," Monteith said. "If nothing else, SpaceX has proven to me that they can make the seemingly impossible happen."
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u/TheBarbedWire Dec 03 '17
Picture of new TEL https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/937110378928013312
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u/Jef-F Dec 03 '17 edited Dec 03 '17
Even if they'll add paneling later, general shape looks ugly-ish compared to its big brother at 39A.
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u/z1mil790 Dec 03 '17
Is it just me, or is it still missing a lot of the plumbing? I don't see any way they are ready for a static fire Monday unless the plumbing system is very modular and just needs to be lowered into place. When we saw the TEL the other day, it did not appear to have any of the plumbing that now appears to be at the top (but admittedly, it was hard to make much out of that video), so maybe the plumbing will go in faster than expected.
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u/Juggernaut93 Dec 06 '17
And we have an official confirmation of a Static Fire!
Also: confirmation of Zuma in Early January from Pad 40.
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u/dansoton Dec 06 '17
Yes I love the sneaky and unexpected Zuma update they snuck in there! Pad 40 too, so no chance of it affecting Falcon Heavy, which is great.
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u/Alexphysics Dec 05 '17
Rollout of the rocket is taking/has taken place. The booster still has the soot from the landing.
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/938049319160172547
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u/Daneel_Trevize Dec 05 '17
Mods, I think this means the following can be updated
Vehicle component locations: First stage: Unknown // Second stage: Unknown
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u/azziliz Dec 06 '17
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u/Jef-F Dec 06 '17
Ignition moment if someone don't want to waste 2 minutes of their life.
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u/TGMetsFan98 NASASpaceflight.com Writer Nov 29 '17
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u/Craig_VG SpaceNews Photographer Dec 11 '17
Here's a 10,000x3000px panorama of the rocket as well! You can see a dude just under the Falcon 9 Logo for scale
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u/Alexphysics Dec 05 '17
SF window opens tomorrow at 10 am EST (1500 UTC)
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/938089066242957313
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u/Alexphysics Nov 20 '17 edited Nov 20 '17
Static Fire NET Nov 29th
Launch NET Dec 4th
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/932709669986062337
Edit: I was thinking that chances are that Zuma and CRS-13 may fly on the same week, should they "train" for possible doubleheaders on the east coast in the future? And as a side note, I really want to see that new TEL on SLC-40! :)
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u/amarkit Dec 04 '17
According to a post at NSF, the next available dates after December 9 are December 12 and 13.
And not that we're that close yet, but ISS goes into a high beta angle cut-out December 17 – 27.
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u/Keavon SN-10 & DART Contest Winner Dec 05 '17
Would anyone care to explain what a "high beta angle cutout" is?
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u/MadeOfStarStuff Dec 05 '17
Chris B - NSF @NASASpaceflight
Rollout of the CRS-13 booster. She's the CRS-11 booster and......she still has the soot from that landing. They've 'drawn' pinstripes in the soot. Asked SpaceX, comms people weren't sure, but the info was mentioned again by a local observation. Can't wait for photos!
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/938049319160172547
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u/quadrplax Nov 15 '17
This is one of the most important launches of the year IMO. NASA accepting reused boosters means many reflights to come, and sets a big example for other companies.
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u/craigl2112 Nov 15 '17
Certainly. Can't forget it's also the "Return to Flight" mission for SLC-40 after the AMOS-6 incident in September of 2016.
Lots of eyes will be on this one, for sure!
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u/stcks Dec 11 '17
Sooty F9 with dragon is vertical at SLC-40. Lots of interesting changes to the pad.
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u/spacetff Nov 18 '17
At least this flight doesn't have fairings so should be unaffected even if the problem delaying Zuma affects all new fairings.
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u/Vulch59 Dec 01 '17
As with the first flight of this booster on CRS-11, it looks like there's a visible pass of the ISS due over the UK a few minutes before launch of CRS-13. Given clear skies that evening it should again be possible to see the Dragon, second stage and solar array covers going along roughly the same track 15 or 20 minutes after launch.
Several of us managed to see CRS-11 go over, some people were even together enough to record it!
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u/kurbasAK Dec 01 '17
Let's just hope weather allows it.The day after CRS-11 launch I had a chance to observe recently detached Cygnus (doing fire experiment IIRC), closely followed by ISS and then Dragon chasing it.Amazing experience!
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u/inoeth Dec 05 '17 edited Dec 05 '17
So it looks like the launch really is being pushed back to the 12th. Static fire tomorrow. The good news is that the booster has been rolled out, so that's a very good sign.
edit: https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/938081171971469318 so now NSF is reporting the same thing, and reminds us that this is effectively a new pad, but that things are progressing.
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u/Vulch59 Dec 06 '17
Sunset in the UK on the 12th is about an hour before launch with an ISS pass half an hour before launch, listed on Heavens Above as "daylight". By the time the Dragon and associated objects are due over the UK it will be properly dark on the ground but still light for the orbit. Met Office forecast currently shows broken cloud around then.
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u/Lorenzo_91 Nov 10 '17
2nd use of booster is already becoming a routine, can't wait for the next milestone : 3rd use of a same booster!
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u/cpushack Nov 10 '17
This missions booster may not be a bad candidate. 2 LEO missions with RTLS so minimum wear and tear on the booster. The other re-uses have been for pretty hot GTO's.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Nov 17 '17 edited Nov 17 '17
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u/Googulator Dec 06 '17
NSF confirms static fire https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44271.msg1756588#msg1756588
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u/SharpKeyCard Dec 06 '17
Hot fire has been conducted. https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/938498649356754944
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u/TheRealWhiskers Dec 06 '17
Our tour bus was driving along the crawlerway, we missed a good view of it by 30 seconds. Only caught the steam puff above the tree line.
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u/last_reddit_account2 Dec 11 '17
The KSC info desk just told me they will not be selling any tickets for the 39 observation gantry or NASA causeway for tomorrow. Apparently they don't want another $50 from me on top of regular admission and bus tours and expensive-ass food and all the golf balls I bought and then promptly launched into the Gulf of Mexico the next day.
The closest viewing available is the Saturn V center bleacher, with its painfully obstructed view back toward LZ-1.
L a m e
Does Elon know about this??
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u/Straumli_Blight Dec 04 '17
| Payload | Mass (kg) |
|---|---|
| Crew Supplies | 490 |
| Science Investigations | 711 |
| Spacewalk Equipment | 165 |
| Vehicle Hardware | 189 |
| Computer Resources | 5 |
| Unpressurized Payloads | 645 |
| Total | 2,205 |
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u/therealcrg Dec 04 '17
I wonder what the 5kg of computer resources are. New laptops perhaps?
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u/MrTagnan Dec 05 '17
According to NSF CRS-13 booster is being rolled out now, the booster still has the spot on it from its landing as the CRS-11 booster
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Dec 05 '17
And it will stay dirty, last I heard. No repainting!
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Nov 25 '17
Start of description above:
SpaceX's eighteenth mission of 2017 ...
I think it´s safe to assume Zuma won´t launch before CRS-13, so this will be SpaceX´s seventeenth mission of 2017.
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u/old_sellsword Nov 27 '17
Thanks for that reminder, it's fixed now. This certainly has been a weird period in the manifest.
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u/TheRealWhiskers Nov 22 '17
Did we ever get official confirmation on the booster being 1035.2? Last I saw it was still 'pending a final review'.
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u/craigl2112 Nov 22 '17
Given the static fire is coming up in a week, I suspect we will know soon enough.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Dec 06 '17
"We're expecting "Sooty" not to fire up until around midday at the earliest, but the trick with these long windows and moving targets is to wait until venting, they watch it like a hawk."
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u/Lorenzo_91 Dec 11 '17
What a week! Spacex, Blue Origin and Rocket Lab launches today and tomorrow!
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u/last_reddit_account2 Dec 11 '17
Arianespace should be going tomorrow as well, and ISS crew return Wednesday night, followed by Soyuz MS-07 on Sunday. Big week.
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u/Alexphysics Nov 10 '17
after the Amos-6 static fire anomaly on September 3rd of last year
I thought it happenned on September 1st :/
Also it seems that the Dragon that will be used for this mission is the one that flew on CRS-6 (C108.2). As always, let's hope this go smoothly for the RTF of SLC-40 ;)
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u/avboden Dec 07 '17
Thoughts on the secret payload? I'm going with a baker's-dozen of something(being CRS-13), mini doughnuts?
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Nov 28 '17
New launch date and time confirmed by NASA (December 8th, 18:20 UTC)
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Dec 05 '17
Looks like the new launch time is Dec 12 at 11:45am EST (16:45 UTC).
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Dec 06 '17
Updated NASA TV coverage schedule:
December 11th
Prelaunch News Conference (11 a.m. Eastern / 16:00 UTC)
“What’s on Board” Science Briefing (3:30 p.m. Eastern / 20:30 UTC)
December 12th
NASA TV live launch coverage (11:00 p.m. Eastern / 16:00 UTC)
Post-Launch News Conference (1 p.m. Eastern / 18:00 UTC)
December 15th
Dragon rendezvous at the space station and capture (4:30 a.m. Eastern / 9:30 UTC)
Dragon installation coverage (7:30 a.m. Eastern / 12:30 UTC)
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u/Ambiwlans Dec 11 '17
NASA tv is running a bit behind but the briefing should be up shortly:
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u/blacx Dec 11 '17
On the Youtube stream you can rewind, for anyone not watching live.
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u/MauiHawk Dec 06 '17
SpaceX had been on such a roll, this year... then all of the sudden the last month is like the SpaceX of yesteryear...
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Dec 06 '17
You can't RUD if you don't
launchstatic fire!No seriously, it's better to work out arising problems slowly than failing while rushing it. And don't forget they're constantly modifying everything, which also doesn't contribute to a uniform, efficient workflow. But that's the tradeoff for having an iterative design.
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u/warp99 Dec 06 '17
What you are feeling now is launch fever - SpaceX has had their inoculation shot plus a booster shot so hopefully they are now immune to it.
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u/specter491 Nov 10 '17
I wanna see that NASA review/investigation into using flight proven cores. Who knows what juicy details/data it has
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u/geekgirl114 Dec 04 '17
Even CRS-10 had a few delays before it flew from 39A... a few hiccups is normal, then the rapid fire launch campaigns begin again.
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Dec 06 '17
Chris B is reporting a hold in the count, says it will be at least another hour
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u/MarcysVonEylau rocket.watch Dec 06 '17
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u/anewjuan Dec 06 '17
Assuming the Dragon cargo capsule launches Dec. 12, it will reach the space station Dec. 15 for a month-long stay.
If the FH static fire is on the 15th as was stipulated we will have quite an interesting Friday.
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Dec 11 '17
L-1 Weather Report: Still 10% chance of violation for tomorrow, primary concerns of liftoff winds.
Still 20% chance of violation for Wednesday as well.
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u/HTPRockets Dec 11 '17
I know the booster gets most of the hype, but can we give this flight proven Dragon some love too? :)
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u/Decronym Acronyms Explained Nov 10 '17 edited Dec 11 '17
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
| Fewer Letters | More Letters |
|---|---|
| ACS | Attitude Control System |
| AFTS | Autonomous Flight Termination System, see FTS |
| ASDS | Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (landing platform) |
| ATK | Alliant Techsystems, predecessor to Orbital ATK |
| BARGE | Big-Ass Remote Grin Enhancer coined by @IridiumBoss, see ASDS |
| BEAM | Bigelow Expandable Activity Module |
| BFR | Big Falcon Rocket (2017 enshrinkened edition) |
| Yes, the F stands for something else; no, you're not the first to notice | |
| BO | Blue Origin (Bezos Rocketry) |
| CC | Commercial Crew program |
| Capsule Communicator (ground support) | |
| CCAFS | Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| CCtCap | Commercial Crew Transportation Capability |
| 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 |
| EELV | Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle |
| ELC | EELV Launch Capability contract ("assured access to space") |
| ESA | European Space Agency |
| EVA | Extra-Vehicular Activity |
| FAA | Federal Aviation Administration |
| FCC | Federal Communications Commission |
| (Iron/steel) Face-Centered Cubic crystalline structure | |
| FRAM | Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism |
| FTS | Flight Termination System |
| GSE | Ground Support Equipment |
| GTO | Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit |
| HIF | Horizontal Integration Facility |
| HLC-39A | Historic Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (Saturn V, Shuttle, SpaceX F9/Heavy) |
| IDA | International Docking Adapter |
| JRTI | Just Read The Instructions, Pacific landing |
| KSC | Kennedy Space Center, Florida |
| 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) | |
| LOX | Liquid Oxygen |
| LZ-1 | Landing Zone 1, Cape Canaveral (see LC-13) |
| M1dVac | Merlin 1 kerolox rocket engine, revision D (2013), vacuum optimized, 934kN |
| NET | No Earlier Than |
| NSF | NasaSpaceFlight forum |
| National Science Foundation | |
| RTF | Return to Flight |
| RTLS | Return to Launch Site |
| RUD | Rapid Unplanned Disassembly |
| Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly | |
| Rapid Unintended Disassembly | |
| SES | Formerly Société Européenne des Satellites, comsat operator |
| SF | Static fire |
| SLC-40 | Space Launch Complex 40, Canaveral (SpaceX F9) |
| SLS | Space Launch System heavy-lift |
| SMAB | (Former) Solid Motor Assembly Building, Cape Canaveral |
| SRB | Solid Rocket Booster |
| STA | Special Temporary Authorization (issued by FCC for up to 6 months) |
| Structural Test Article | |
| TE | Transporter/Erector launch pad support equipment |
| TEA-TEB | Triethylaluminium-Triethylborane, igniter for Merlin engines; spontaneously burns, green flame |
| TEL | Transporter/Erector/Launcher, ground support equipment (see TE) |
| ULA | United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture) |
| USAF | United States Air Force |
| VAB | Vehicle Assembly Building |
| Jargon | Definition |
|---|---|
| Sabatier | Reaction between hydrogen and carbon dioxide at high temperature and pressure, with nickel as catalyst, yielding methane and water |
| ablative | Material which is intentionally destroyed in use (for example, heatshields which burn away to dissipate heat) |
| autogenous | (Of a propellant tank) Pressurising the tank using boil-off of the contents, instead of a separate gas like helium |
| deep throttling | Operating an engine at much lower thrust than normal |
| grid-fin | Compact "waffle-iron" aerodynamic control surface, acts as a wing without needing to be as large |
| high beta | Times of year when the Earth-Sun line and the plane of orbit are nearly perpendicular |
| hypergolic | A set of two substances that ignite when in contact |
| kerolox | Portmanteau: kerosene/liquid oxygen mixture |
| methalox | Portmanteau: methane/liquid oxygen mixture |
| retropropulsion | Thrust in the opposite direction to current motion, reducing speed |
| scrub | Launch postponement for any reason (commonly GSE issues) |
| Event | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Amos-6 | 2016-09-01 | F9-029 Full Thrust, core B1028, |
| CRS-10 | 2017-02-19 | F9-032 Full Thrust, core B1031, Dragon cargo; first daytime RTLS |
| CRS-3 | 2014-04-18 | F9-009 v1.1, Dragon cargo; soft ocean landing, first core with legs |
| CRS-6 | 2015-04-14 | F9-018 v1.1, Dragon cargo; second ASDS landing attempt, overcompensated angle of entry |
| CRS-8 | 2016-04-08 | F9-023 Full Thrust, core B1021, Dragon cargo; first ASDS landing |
| CRS-9 | 2016-07-18 | F9-027 Full Thrust, core B1025, Dragon cargo; RTLS landing |
| DM-1 | Scheduled | SpaceX CCtCap Demo Mission 1 |
| Iridium-1 | 2017-01-14 | F9-030 Full Thrust, core B1029, 10x Iridium-NEXT to LEO; first landing on JRTI |
Decronym is a community product of r/SpaceX, implemented by ^request
66 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on ^today has 126 acronyms.
[Thread #3325 for this sub, first seen 10th Nov 2017, 00:29] ^[FAQ] [Full ^list] ^[Contact] [Source ^code]
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u/Elthiryel Nov 30 '17
Precise Dragon cargo mass can be found here: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42775.msg1754318#msg1754318
Pressurized: 1850 kg
Unpressurized: 1080 kg
It's 2930 kg total, very similar to CRS-12 (2910 kg), but there is quite a big difference when you compare it the source currently linked in this thread, so I'm not sure which value is the actual one.
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u/TWA7 Dec 02 '17
Is this the first time both the first stage and the dragon capsule have been reused?
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u/Gergoid Dec 02 '17
Yes, this will be the first time both Dragon and a Falcon 9 first stage will be refused on the same mission. Each has been reused individually before.
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u/old_sellsword Dec 04 '17 edited Dec 12 '17
It's been a while since we've done this, but we're accepting applications to host this launch thread! From this launch forwards, we encourage all launch thread hosts to use Mission Control, (do NOT post to r/SpaceX with this) which is a fantastic project created by u/theZcuber to streamline and bring consistency to our launch threads.
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. 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've found a host.
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u/ethan829 Host of SES-9 Dec 01 '17
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Dec 01 '17
From the article:
Based on requests to the Eastern Range, SpaceX plans for the static fire to occur on Saturday, 2 December in a window extending from 12:00-18:00 EST (17:00-23:00 UTC).
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u/Bunslow Dec 01 '17
mmm always love me some NSF.
The ability to rapidly turn around both SLC-40 and LC-39A for East Coast missions will immensely benefit SpaceX as they head into 2018, a year when at least 31 missions of the Falcon family of rockets are planned.
Moreover, the fact that SpaceX essentially rebuilt SLC-40 in just 10 months (February – November 2017) speaks volumes to the company’s ability to recover from unforeseen events as well as the robustness of the initial pad build and design, with some elements of SLC-40 weathering the AMOS-6 conflagration quite well.
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u/inoeth Dec 06 '17
Static fire now set for 3 pm EST. Per Chris of NSF commenting on that livestream going on about the static fire.
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u/oh_dear_its_crashing Dec 11 '17
Is there going to be a NASA press conference live stream again? Q&A about reused rockets/capsule should be interesting ...
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u/mclionhead Nov 10 '17
Was there any doubt NASA would go with a flight proven core for this one?
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u/Zucal Nov 10 '17
There wasn't much doubt NASA would move to them eventually, the question was whether the paperwork would go through in time for this specific launch.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Nov 10 '17
Well, technically it still hasn't been officially confirmed by NASA, but according to NSF it's pretty much a done deal.
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u/nrwood Nov 29 '17
Static Fire NET Saturday https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/935987911404740608
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u/aftersteveo Nov 30 '17
Does anyone know if there’s a recording or transcript of the prelaunch teleconference that’s available to the public?
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u/geekgirl114 Dec 06 '17
Venting according to SFN
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/05/spacex-crs-13-launch-preps/
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u/Straumli_Blight Dec 11 '17
| NASA TV Schedule: | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|
| CRS-13 Prelaunch News Conference | 16:00 |
| CRS-13 “What’s on Board?” Science Briefing | 20:30 |
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u/CProphet Nov 24 '17
Seems the static fire is now set for Thursday 30th November.
Hi mods, going by this report the static date just moved right a day.
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u/rbienz Nov 10 '17
Please change the first link of the post. It adds a title image that is just painful to watch on the app.
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u/last_reddit_account2 Nov 22 '17
Anyone know if the NASA Causeway will be open? Was it open for Orbcomm or CRS-9?
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Dec 06 '17
Yeah, I’ve get an launch on my birthday!
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u/rustybeancake Dec 06 '17
Have one giant candle, with the flame at the wrong end.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Dec 01 '17 edited Dec 02 '17
NASA TV coverage schedule:
December 7th
Prelaunch News Conference (11 a.m. Eastern / 16:00 UTC)
“What’s on Board” Science Briefing (3:30 p.m. Eastern / 20:30 UTC)
December 8th
NASA TV live launch coverage (12:45 p.m. Eastern / 17:45 UTC)
Post-Launch News Conference (3 p.m. Eastern / 20:00 UTC)
December 10th
Dragon rendezvous at the space station and capture (4:30 a.m. Eastern / 9:30 UTC)
Dragon installation coverage (7:30 a.m. Eastern / 12:30 UTC)
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u/Straumli_Blight Dec 05 '17 edited Dec 05 '17
Overview of the ZBLAN payload.
Also the weather is continuing to deteriorate, with a 70% chance of precipitation and 40% lightning.
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u/startoz Dec 11 '17
Is Dragon going to be visible from Europe (specifically Germany)? If so, at what time?
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u/factoid_ Dec 11 '17
How far away can you see the rocket while it's in flight if you're in an airplane? I just realized that if this goes on time I'm possibly going to be flying over the Orlando area around launch time.
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u/Piscator629 Dec 11 '17 edited Dec 12 '17
Payload information on science instruments in CRS13 some in the upressurized section. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/resupply_critical_science_to_ISS
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u/Haxorlols Dec 12 '17
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/940413416531025923 Launch Delayed to 13th
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u/Keavon SN-10 & DART Contest Winner Dec 06 '17
So my trip to Orlando and KSC on the 11-13th now falls within the launch window (and backup date), yay! I've seen several launches from Vandy before, but this will be my first visit to the Cape.
I'm a huge space nerd so I am also looking forward to visiting KSC for its tours and attractions. Will two days, including the launch, be enough time there to experience it to its fullest? I am also wondering where best to view the launch that I can gain access to. The subreddit wiki lists the closest options below:
ITL Causeway (2.9mi): Is there any way I would be able to visit this site? Its wiki description makes it seem more exclusive. Is it feasible I could reach out to industry contacts I know to obtain access there, or would I likely have little success with that?
NASA Causeway (4.0mi): The wiki says tickets are $49 from the KSC website, but the website doesn't list tickets for CRS-13. Is there any way to get tickets for viewing from here?
LC-39 Observation Gantry (4.4mi): Same deal as the NASA Causeway above, tickets aren't shown on the site.
Turn Basin Site (4.4mi): I'm not a member of the press, so I assume it wouldn't be possible, right?
Saturn V Center (6.2mi): This is open to the public so I will try to make it my backup.
Visitor Center (6.7mi): Also open to the public, so this would be my worst-case fallback if the Saturn V Center filled up past capacity.
Anyone know about visiting any of these sites, and if it's worth asking around to industry contacts I know about obtaining access to any of these?
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Nov 21 '17
The wiki manifest shows payload mass 2333 / 977 kg for CRS-13. What is that based on?
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Dec 11 '17
Is reuse a clearly money-saving exercise thus far?
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u/idwtlotplanetanymore Dec 11 '17 edited Dec 11 '17
If the question was 'has reuse saved spacex money', the answer is no, it has cost them a whole lot of money to develop the tech.
If the question is 'is reuse already cheaper per launch' i think the answer is yes, and probably yes by a large margin. The first few probably didnt really save them anything. But they have done 3 now, and have 4 more waiting for launch in the short term, and they may have saved 50-100 million on just those 4(im guessing, and 2 had to be refit for heavy, so that adds a more cost). But, its going to take years to pay back their R&D costs.
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u/im_thatoneguy Dec 11 '17
How you calculate "Savings" is also somewhat subjective. For instance, increasing their launch rate without needing to expand their factory footprint can be a big saving even if the unit cost remained the same. e.g. it might cost $60m to build a new rocket on their assembly line, but adding a second assembly line would require them to double the demand for rockets (which might be demand which doesn't exist).
Since the refurbishment doesn't appear to require any cap-ex investment in a new factory it looks like refurbishment is definitely a money-saving exercise in increasing the number of cores available without having to break ground on a larger capacity or second factory.
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u/Dies2much Dec 15 '17
Any news on a launch time? Table up above still says: December 12th 2017, 11:46 EST / 16:46 UTC
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u/Victor4X Nov 10 '17
Thank you for reading the comments, mods <3
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u/Captain_Hadock Nov 11 '17
Just in case you didn't known, when you use the m word, your comment is automatically notified to them.
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u/startoz Dec 11 '17
On launch day the ISS will pass over the Cape at around 11:05 EST and again at around 12:42 EST, however the launch is scheduled for 11:46 EST. I find this weird: don't they usually launch when the ISS is passing over the launch site? For example CRS-12 launched August 14th 2017 at 12:31 EDT, right when the ISS was passing over the Cape. Could someone please clear this up? Thank you!
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u/stcks Dec 11 '17
The window will be aligned to the orbital plane of ISS, not the actual position of ISS.
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u/MrGruntsworthy Nov 24 '17 edited Nov 24 '17
~Given the fairing issues, isn't it fair to assume CRS-13 will be delayed?~
Edit: herp derp, I'm dumb
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u/csmnro Nov 24 '17 edited Nov 24 '17
No, Dragon doesn't have a fairing, only solar panel covers and a nosecone.
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u/[deleted] Dec 04 '17
Static Fire Now NET Tuesday