User Panel
Posted: 6/22/2018 8:10:26 PM EDT
In this thread we will document the progress of the SpaceX man rated crew vehicle...Crew Dragon.
Launch date projection as of 28 September 2020: a. Uncrewed Demo 1 - 2 March 2019. Successful b. In-flight abort test - 19 January 2020 around 800 AM EST. Successful c. Crewed Demo 2 - 30 May 2020. 3:22 PM EDT. Launch successful. Crew Dragon docked with the ISS on 31 May. Undocking at 734 PM EDT on 1 August 2020. Pensacola site sea splashdown successful. d. Crew-1. First operational mission - 31 October 2020 2:40 AM EDTNext up e. Crew-2. Second operational mission - 30 March 2021 Note: Docking with the ISS is around 1027 AM EDT on Sunday, 31 May 2020. Overview of the 30 May 2020 manned launch (Demo-2). SpaceX streaming is here as well. SpaceX streaming to start about 1100 AM on 30 May. NASA TV coverage starts at 1100 AM, 30 May 2020 NASA Live: Official Stream of NASA TV NASA TV Schedule: NASA TV schedule May 31, Sunday 10:27 a.m. - Docking of the SpaceX/DM-2 Crew Dragon and NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station - Hawthorne, California/Johnson Space Center (All Channels) 12:45 p.m. - SpaceX/Crew Dragon hatch opening to the International Space Station - Hawthorne, California/Johnson Space Center (All Channels) 1:15 p.m. - SpaceX/Crew Dragon and International Space Station crew welcoming event aboard the International Space Station (All Channels) 3:15 p.m. - SpaceX/Dragon DM-2 post-docking briefing (All Channels) 4:30 p.m. - Video file feed of SpaceX/DM-2 rendezvous, docking, hatch opening and welcoming ceremony (Media Channel) SpaceflightNow coverage Archived posting Engine test anomaly early report here Watch on NASA TV (all times ET): https://go.nasa.gov/2IW7vYt March 7 12:15pm Hatch Closure March 8 2:00am Undocking March 8 7:30am Deorbit Burn & Splashdown Hatch closure soon (now 1236 PM EST) My initial guess as to where the capsule will be in the fiery (plasma) portion of re-entry (and overhead) is a little southeast of Columbia SC, near Spartanburg SC, up to Waynesville NC. Since I have seen a shuttle re-entry about twice this distance, I will extend the range to a short distance north of Knoxville TN, past Monticello KY towards Elizabethtown KY. If you run a pass for the ISS to include daylight passes, find the one around 830 AM EST. If the elevation of the pass is high (70 degrees or so), you can use the predictions with reasonable validity for azimuth and elevation. For Spartanburg SC, The ISS passes overhead at 838 AM EST. 30 seconds later is passes over Columbia SC. The Capsule may be several minutes later so allow five minutes or so. Since the spacecraft will be much lower that the ISS, as you get away from this line and the highest elevation of the pass gets lower (roughly 50 degrees and lower), you will have to look below that path in an attempt to see it if it is visible during daylight. I am guessing that by this point it will be five minutes or so behind the ISS passage. If there is a sonic boom, that may occur closer to the South Carolina coast. People in the northwest might be able to see the ISS, Crew Dragon and trunk in visually semi-close position. I would plan on using binoculars for the capsule and trunk. You may have to scan a little lower than the path of the ISS and before and after it. This information is the best that I can derive at this time. Later position information from SpaceX or NASA would override my guess. Here is the pass for Seattle |
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...where it is? View Quote https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Research_Center#Plum_Brook_Field_Station |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCJM5eHn9OA View Quote |
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Do they have an ascent abort test scheduled yet? View Quote Any bets on whether SpaceX or Boeing launches Crew first? |
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According to wiki the tentative launch date for the first manned flight is the 17th of January 2019, I'm sure it'll get pushed back but I can't wait.
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According to wiki the tentative launch date for the first manned flight is the 17th of January 2019, I'm sure it'll get pushed back but I can't wait. View Quote |
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Is there any plan for it to have a launch escape system? View Quote SpaceX Pad Abort Test |
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Yes. It uses a pusher system integrated into the capsule itself vs the launch escape tower tractor systems historically used and used on the Orion and Starliner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_FXVjf46T8 View Quote |
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Quoted: Was originally going to be the landing system as well. View Quote Dragon 2 Propulsive Hover Test |
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Currently not scheduled but assumed to be in between the September DM1 uncrewed flight and the January DM2 first crewed flight. I assume those dates be will slip as well. Any bets on whether SpaceX or Boeing launches Crew first? View Quote |
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Quoted: Supposedly the bottleneck for both now is NASA certification paperwork. View Quote SpaceX still has to successfully fly Block 5 seven times before they can fly crew. First launch that counts towards the 7 will be DM1 as it is the first Block 5 that will fly with the COPV 2.0. ETA: I don't think NASA has officially given the green light to SpaceX doing "load and go" on crewed launches as well. But, once again waiting on NASA certification. |
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I can certainly believe that. Supposedly certifying the RD-180 has been a giant pain in the ass due to getting the needed information from Russia. SpaceX still has to successfully fly Block 5 seven times before they can fly crew. First launch that counts towards the 7 will be DM1 as it is the first Block 5 that will fly with the COPV 2.0. ETA: I don't think NASA has officially given the green light to SpaceX doing "load and go" on crewed launches as well. But, once again waiting on NASA certification. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted: Supposedly the bottleneck for both now is NASA certification paperwork. SpaceX still has to successfully fly Block 5 seven times before they can fly crew. First launch that counts towards the 7 will be DM1 as it is the first Block 5 that will fly with the COPV 2.0. ETA: I don't think NASA has officially given the green light to SpaceX doing "load and go" on crewed launches as well. But, once again waiting on NASA certification. |
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Yes. It uses a pusher system integrated into the capsule itself vs the launch escape tower tractor systems historically used and used on the Orion and Starliner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_FXVjf46T8 View Quote |
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It needs some windows. View Quote Attached File |
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Currently not scheduled but assumed to be in between the September DM1 uncrewed flight and the January DM2 first crewed flight. I assume those dates be will slip as well. Any bets on whether SpaceX or Boeing launches Crew first? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Do they have an ascent abort test scheduled yet? Any bets on whether SpaceX or Boeing launches Crew first? Of course, I could be wrong. The Elon Musk haters have assured me that everything he does is smoke and mirrors. We'll find out any day now that he hasn't actually been launching payloads for the last several years. |
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Quoted: Meanwhile NASA is still years away from flying their SLS, which is still billions from its first test flight. Oh, and it's just a collection of parts that our nazis designed. Sigh. View Quote |
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In other news, both Blue Original and Virgin should be flying paying customers on suborbital hops next year as well. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
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According to wiki the tentative launch date for the first manned flight is the 17th of January 2019, I'm sure it'll get pushed back but I can't wait. |
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Quoted: SpaceX. I don't even think it will be that close. Of course, I could be wrong. The Elon Musk haters have assured me that everything he does is smoke and mirrors. We'll find out any day now that he hasn't actually been launching payloads for the last several years. View Quote Tesla and Solar City, on the other hand, take tons of Gov't money and return nothing to the taxpayer. Those businesses (1 now, but still) are specifically structured to maximize gov't handouts. People see that, and say 'Musk is a Huckster'. They're right... but that doesn't mean that everything he does is that way. People can't split the actions from the man or company. SpaceX is the real deal. Tesla/Solar City are subsidy factories. |
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Yes. It uses a pusher system integrated into the capsule itself vs the launch escape tower tractor systems historically used and used on the Orion and Starliner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_FXVjf46T8 View Quote |
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My plant is a SpaceX supplier. They have really ramped up their supplier audits in preparation for manned flight.
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Next stop, the Cape! |
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