SpaceX Newsletter

[Johnbr]

NASA ANNOUNCES: DRAGON TO THE SPACE STATION
December 8 2011, marked the one year anniversary of Dragon’s first Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration flight. The flight made history as SpaceX became the only commercial company to successfully return a spacecraft from orbit. This feat had previously been accomplished only by five nations and the European Space Agency.
We are now preparing the Dragon spacecraft for yet another historic flight – becoming the first commercial vehicle in history to visit the International Space Station (ISS)!
NASA recently announced February 7, 2012, as our new target launch date for the upcoming mission. In addition, NASA officially confirmed that SpaceX will be allowed to complete the objectives of COTS 2 and COTS 3 in a single mission.
This means Dragon will perform all of the COTS 2 mission objectives which include numerous operations in the vicinity of the ISS, and will then perform the COTS 3 objectives. These include approach, berthing with the ISS, astronauts opening Dragon and unloading cargo, and finally, astronauts closing the spacecraft and sending it back to Earth for recovery from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.
This mission marks a major milestone in American spaceflight. While our first missions to the ISS will be to transport cargo, both Falcon 9 and Dragon were designed to ultimately transport astronauts. Every trip we make to the ISS from this point forward gets us closer to that goal. SpaceX is incredibly excited for what the future holds and as always, we greatly appreciate NASA’s continued support and partnership in this process.

THE COTS 2/3 DEMONSTRATION MISSION
Just as Dragon’s first mission to orbit and back involved a level of effort equal to launching the first Falcon 9, preparing Dragon for two weeks of operation in space and for approach and berthing with the ISS poses new challenges. Meeting them requires a large amount of detailed planning and careful execution.
Each launch day will have just one narrow liftoff window—no more than a few minutes—in order to synchronize Dragon’s flight with the orbit of the ISS. Catching up to the ISS will take from one to three days. Once there, Dragon will begin the COTS 2 demonstrations to show proper performance and control in the vicinity of the ISS, while remaining outside the Station’s safe zone.

 

[Byeman]

Re: Falcon X Newsletter

Where does it say Falcon X anywhere in the newsletter. It only references the Falcon 9. Is the title suppose to be SpaceX newsletter?

 

[RGClark]

The Feb. 7th flight to the ISS has been postponed:

1st Private Rocket Launch to Space Station Delayed.
by Denise Chow, SPACE.com Staff Writer
Date: 16 January 2012 Time: 01:51 PM ET
http://www.space.com/14251-launch-delay-spacex-dragon-spaceflight.html

The Russians and some members of NASA were uncertain about SpaceX's ability to perform the linkup with the ISS successfully. For a $100 billion asset, that is an understandable concern.

A couple of suggestions. First hire away from the Russians some top guys involved with the Progress cargo vehicle to the ISS and from the Europeans some top guys involved with the ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle(ATV). For the billion dollar cargo supply contract SpaceX has with NASA, it can afford to do that.

Secondly, prior to the ISS docking mission do some rendezvous missions in space with the Dragon spacecraft. Ideally it would be with a vehicle that it could actually dock with. The Progress M-13M cargo vehicle for instance is scheduled to undock from the ISS in a few days. According to the Wikipedia page the undocking is scheduled for the 25th:

Progress M-13M.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-13M

while on this NASA release it's listed as on the 23rd:

NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 19 January 2012.
Source: NASA HQ
Posted Thursday, January 19, 2012
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=39635

The release of a small Russian satellite from the Progress and the de-orbit burn for the Progress is scheduled to occur a day later. Could the undocking or least the de-orbit burn be postponed for enough time for SpaceX to launch the Dragon to be able link up with the Progress vehicle?

In any case, the current plan is not for Dragon to perform the final link-up with ISS under its own power and navigation capabilities but just to get close enough for the robot arm to grapple it and pull it to the station to dock with it. So for this, all the Dragon has to do is demonstrate the ability to get close enough to some orbiting satellite without colliding with it to within a similar distance is it would be to the ISS. It might be able to do this several times with different satellites to further demonstrate this capability.


Bob Clark

 

[Hobbes]

Is the docking system bidirectional? I.e. can a Progress be docked with another Progress (or a Dragon, as the case may be)?

 

[archipeppe]

Is the docking system bidirectional? I.e. can a Progress be docked with another Progress (or a Dragon, as the case may be)?

Absolutely not.
Progress has the (active) Russian probe-drogue system, the passive part is on ISS side (mainly Zvezda).
SpaceX Dragon has the American berthing mechanism system (utilized by all the US/European/Japanise module to be connected togheter).

No way to perform such maneuver but a simple rendez-vous without any physical contact between spacecrafts, furthermore Progress and Dragon doesn't utilize the same communication system so it would be really difficult to coordinate the ground teams involved in.

 

[Michel Van]

there another problem with the Russians
SpaceX never contacted or transmit Data about Dragon to Roskosmos

So Roskosmos will not give permission for Dragon docking ISS
http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Private_US_capsule_not_to_dock_with_ISS_999.html

 

[blackstar]

The Feb. 7th flight to the ISS has been postponed:

This confirms some rumors that I picked up over the past few weeks. I had no idea of their veracity, but they started to pile up. One person who has some good contacts with the company said that he was hearing a lot of bad news. He would not be more specific than that, and I assumed it was a corporate thing (i.e. money issues or something like that) rather than technical issues. But now I think he was referring to the technical issues leading to a delay. Another person posted anonymously to a bulletin board that apparently there was a F9/Dragon review by NASA last fall that went badly, and he thinks that SpaceX spent several months trying to fix a lot of issues only to conclude that they would have to slip the launch date.

I hope they succeed, but I don't have any illusions about this stuff. These things are tough, and I'm not sure that SpaceX yet has the depth of technical experience that they need to deal with them. I hope they get it. There's a lot riding on them being successful.

 

[blackstar]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/120120delay/

"The company has not set an official target launch date for its Dragon cargo carrier, but the long-awaited mission is not expected to fly before March 20 and it could slip to early-to-mid April depending on what it takes to shoehorn the flight into an already busy space station schedule and to book a slot with the Air Force Eastern Range, which orchestrates all East Coast launches."

SNIP

"NASA sources said the company ran into problems with the planned rendezvous profile needed to guide the Dragon capsule to the space station. NASA dispatched a veteran flight director and trajectory analysts to Hawthorne to help SpaceX get to the bottom of the issue. Sources also said SpaceX engineers had encountered an electromagnetic interference issue with one or more components in the Dragon capsule. A SpaceX spokeswoman confirmed that an EMI issued had been discovered during testing, but she characterized it as relatively minor. Likewise, Lindenmoyer downplayed the technical issues, saying "it's just good practice to wring out your hardware, your software, your operations to make sure you're in the best possible shape for a good successful mission."
In a telephone interview, he said SpaceX engineers identified three areas requiring additional work.
"Down at the Cape, the rocket's in good shape, it's ready to go," he said. "This is the first time they're checking out and integrating the Dragon with all its new systems on it. So I would say down at the Cape they're taking some extra time just to complete a full checkout of the vehicle and complete some integrated systems testing down there. ... They're closing out all the, what they call 'open tickets' on anything that needed resolution before they button it up and get it n final shape for flight."
At the SpaceX factory in Hawthorne, meanwhile, "their software engineers have been so busy finishing up the integration work with the integrated testing with the station and making sure everything they learned coming out of that testing was properly implemented into their software, they wanted to take some extra time and just do a good, solid job of software mission assurance testing.
"And they recognized they really hadn't tested the software to the same extent that they did for that previous flight and their engineers reported that to (SpaceX management) and they decided well, you know, they're going to take the time that's needed to make sure they're comfortable that flight software's ready to go."
Finally, Lindenmoyer said a recently completed integrated simulation with NASA flight controllers in Houston and SpaceX engineers in Hawthorne revealed procedures issues that needed additional work.


SNIP


"We're working with SpaceX to just help them through the complexities of doing a joint operation," he said. "I would say it's just a normal part of our partnership. After conducting the sim, some of the mission ops folks went down to SpaceX and they reviewed their tools and processes with them and are tuning them up so that they can be in top shape for the mission."

 

[RGClark]

Is the docking system bidirectional? I.e. can a Progress be docked with another Progress (or a Dragon, as the case may be)?

Absolutely not.
Progress has the (active) Russian probe-drogue system, the passive part is on ISS side (mainly Zvezda).
SpaceX Dragon has the American berthing mechanism system (utilized by all the US/European/Japanise module to be connected togheter).

No way to perform such maneuver but a simple rendez-vous without any physical contact between spacecrafts, furthermore Progress and Dragon doesn't utilize the same communication system so it would be really difficult to coordinate the ground teams involved in.

Could any of the various docking adapters that have been produced allow them to dock?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgynous_Peripheral_Attach_System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Docking_System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft_docking_and_berthing_mechanisms#Docking_to_manned_spacecraft

http://www.go-taikonauts.com/en/chinese-space-news/211-chinese-docking-adapter-compatible-with-international-standard


Bob Clark

 

[blackstar]

Could any of the various docking adapter that have been produced allow them to dock?

Yes. But that misses why it was designed this way. It is a safety/certification issue. If they had to design it for docking, that would require a lot more testing and redundancy and additional systems. That is more expensive. This way, SpaceX (or OSC) is only required to get their vehicle close to the station, and then the station takes over.

 

[Byeman]

Is the docking system bidirectional? I.e. can a Progress be docked with another Progress (or a Dragon, as the case may be)?

Absolutely not.
Progress has the (active) Russian probe-drogue system, the passive part is on ISS side (mainly Zvezda).
SpaceX Dragon has the American berthing mechanism system (utilized by all the US/European/Japanise module to be connected togheter).

No way to perform such maneuver but a simple rendez-vous without any physical contact between spacecrafts, furthermore Progress and Dragon doesn't utilize the same communication system so it would be really difficult to coordinate the ground teams involved in.

Could any of the various docking adapters that have been produced allow them to dock?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgynous_Peripheral_Attach_System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Docking_System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft_docking_and_berthing_mechanisms#Docking_to_manned_spacecraft

http://www.go-taikonauts.com/en/chinese-space-news/211-chinese-docking-adapter-compatible-with-international-standard


Bob Clark

APAS is too expensive and too narrow
NDS does not really exist yet
Russian probe only works on Russian segment

 

[Johnbr]

The new Newsletter
SPACEX TEST FIRES ADVANCED NEW ENGINE
New Video Shows SuperDraco Engine in Action
Hawthorne, CA – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has successfully test fired SuperDraco, a powerful new engine that will play a critical role in the company’s efforts to change the future of human spaceflight.

WATCH THE VIDEO: http://youtu.be/PUUnYgo1-lI
“SuperDraco engines represent the best of cutting edge technology,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Technology Officer. “These engines will power a revolutionary launch escape system that will make Dragon the safest spacecraft in history and enable it to land propulsively on Earth or another planet with pinpoint accuracy.”
The SuperDraco is an advanced version of the Draco engines currently used by SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to maneuver on orbit and during reentry. As part of SpaceX’s state-of-the-art launch escape system, eight SuperDraco engines built into the side walls of the Dragon spacecraft will produce up to 120,000 pounds of axial thrust to carry astronauts to safety should an emergency occur during launch.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program awarded SpaceX $75 million in April of last year to begin work developing the escape system in order to prepare the Dragon spacecraft to carry astronauts. Less than nine months later, SpaceX engineers have designed, built and tested the engine.
In a series of recent tests conducted at the company’s Rocket Development Facility in McGregor, Texas, the SuperDraco sustained full duration, full thrust firing as well as a series of deep throttling demonstrations.
SpaceX’s launch escape system has many advantages over past systems. It is inherently safer because it is not jettisoned like all other
escape systems. This distinction provides astronauts with the unprecedented ability to escape from danger at any point during the launch,
not just in the first few minutes. The eight SuperDracos provide redundancy, so that even if one engine fails an escape can still be carried
out successfully.
SuperDracos can also be restarted multiple times if necessary and the engines will have the ability to deep throttle, providing astronauts with precise control and enormous power. In addition, as a part of a recoverable Dragon spacecraft, the engines can be used repeatedly, helping to advance SpaceX’s long-term goal of making spacecraft more like airplanes, which can be flown again and again with minimal maintenance between flights.

SuperDraco engines will provide the Dragon spacecraft with the capability to perform on target propulsive landings
anywhere in the solar system. Credit: SpaceX

SuperDraco engines will power a revolutionary launch escape system that will make SpaceX’s Dragon the safest spacecraft
in the world. Eight SuperDraco engines built into the side walls of the Dragon spacecraft will produce up to 120,000 pounds
of axial thrust to carry astronauts to safety should an emergency occur during launch. Credit: SpaceX

 

[blackstar]

They issued a lot of press releases last year. Didn't launch anything.

 

[Orionblamblam]

They issued a lot of press releases last year. Didn't launch anything.

Clearly, they should just give up. Everything that will ever be developed for spaceflight, has been developed.

 

[Johnbr]

Here is the new one.
Mission Would Make SpaceX the First Commercial Company to Attempt to Send a Spacecraft to the International Space Station
Hawthorne, CA – On Monday, April 30, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will webcast a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket’s nine powerful Merlin engines in preparation for the company’s upcoming launch. The webcast, available at spacex.com, is set to begin at 2:30 PM ET/ 11:30 AM PT, with the actual static fire targeted for 3:00 PM ET/ 12:00 PM PT.
The 9 engine test will take place at the company’s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as part of a full launch dress rehearsal leading up to the second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) launch. During the rehearsal, SpaceX engineers will run through all countdown processes as though it were launch day. The exercise will end with all nine engines firing at full power for two seconds.
After the test, SpaceX will conduct a thorough review of all data as engineers make final preparations for the upcoming launch, currently targeted for May 7. SpaceX plans to launch its Dragon spacecraft into low-Earth orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket. During the mission, Dragon’s sensors and flight systems will be subject to a series of tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to berth with the space station. If NASA decides Dragon is ready, the vehicle will attach to the station and astronauts will open Dragon’s hatch and unload the cargo onboard.
This will be the first attempt by a commercial company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station, a feat previously performed by only a few governments. Success is not guaranteed. If any aspect of the mission is not successful, SpaceX will learn from the experience and try again. It is also the second demonstration flight under NASA’s program to develop commercial supply services to the International Space Station.
The first SpaceX COTS flight, in December 2010, made SpaceX the first commercial company in history to send a spacecraft to orbit and return it safely to Earth. Once SpaceX demonstrates the ability to carry cargo to the space station, it will begin to fulfill its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract for NASA for at least 12 missions to carry cargo to and from the space station. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft were designed to one day carry astronauts; both the COTS and CRS missions will yield valuable flight experience toward this goal.

 

[Johnbr]

Update on SpaceX COTS 2 Test Launch May 19, 2012
Today’s COTS 2 Demonstration launch was aborted half a second before liftoff when the flight computer detected slightly high pressure in the engine 5 combustion chamber. We have discovered root cause and repairs are underway.
During rigorous inspections of the engine, SpaceX engineers discovered a faulty check valve on the Merlin engine. We are now in the process of replacing the failed valve. Those repairs should be complete tonight. We will continue to review data on Sunday. If things look good, we will be ready to attempt to launch on Tuesday, May 22nd at 3:44 AM Eastern.
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The next launch attempt will be webcast live at www.spacex.com.[/font]

 

[Johnbr]

SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft Completes Key Tests In Quest to Visit Space Station


Most Difficult Challenges Still Ahead




Hawthorne, CA – Today, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Dragon spacecraft completed key on-orbit tests as part of a historic attempt to be the first commercial company in history to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station.
In the days since SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the vehicle has steadily completed one task after another as it prepares to berth with the International Space Station. Only minutes after the spacecraft separated from the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage, its solar arrays successfully deployed, providing power to the spacecraft. The door that had been covering sensors needed for proximity operations opened successfully.
On Tuesday and Wednesday Dragon traveled in orbit, firing its thrusters to catch up to the space station. During that time, the vehicle hit a series of milestones. Dragon showed its Absolute Global Positioning System (GPS) is in good working order. The vehicle demonstrated both a pulsed and a full abort. It also demonstrated free drift, floating freely in orbit as it will when grappled by the space station’s robotic arm. And its proximity operations sensors and SpaceX’s COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) are up and running.
Early this morning, Dragon’s thrusters fired, bringing the vehicle 2.4 kilometers below the International Space Station. The vehicle completed two key tests at that distance. Dragon demonstrated its Relative GPS and established a communications link with the International Space Station using CUCU. Astronauts commanded on Dragon’s strobe light to confirm the link worked.

View of the Dragon spacecraft as taken by a camera on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA​

Image of the International Space Station taken by the Dragon spacecraft’s thermal imager. Credit: SpaceX​

With these tests complete, Dragon has started the trip flying around the space station, returning the spacecraft to its original
approach location.
Dragon has been performing well, but the most difficult aspects of the mission are still ahead.

FRIDAY MORNING - Final Approach, Dragon Grapple
Around 2:00 AM Pacific/5:00 AM Eastern NASA will decide if Dragon is GO to move into the approach ellipsoid 1.4 kilometers around the space station. If Dragon is GO, after approximately one hour Dragon will move to a location 250 meters directly below the station. Dragon will then perform a series of maneuvers to show systems are operating as expected. If NASA is satisfied with the results of these many tests, Dragon will be allowed to perform the final approach to the space station.
Sometime around 6:00 AM Pacific/9:00 AM Eastern, astronauts on the space station will grapple Dragon with the space station’s robotic arm and the spacecraft will attach to the station.

SATURDAY MORNING - Hatch Opening
If all goes well, at approximately 2:00 AM Pacific/5:00 AM Eastern, the crew will start procedures to open Dragon’s hatch. It will take around 2 hours to complete all operations leading to the hatch opening. Once the hatch is opened, astronauts will enter Dragon for the first time
in space.
All dates and times are approximate and could easily change.
This is SpaceX’s second demonstration flight under a 2006 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement with NASA to develop the capability to carry cargo to and from the International Space Station. Demonstration launches are conducted to determine potential issues so that they might be addressed; by their very nature, they carry a significant risk. If any aspect of the mission is not successful, SpaceX will learn from the experience and try again.

 

[Machdiamond]

I don't know about you guys, but SpaceX achievement is a very significant event.
Our industry (aero and space) has many lessons to learn from it. Things like setting ambitious targets and getting there by focusing at doing the right thing, an alien concept to many.
And, quite honestly from someone who does not live there, the United States should be very proud to be the only place where an entrepreneur can achieve anything like this.
--Luc

 

[RGClark]

I don't know about you guys, but SpaceX achievement is a very significant event.
Our industry (aero and space) has many lessons to learn from it. Things like setting ambitious targets and getting there by focusing at doing the right thing, an alien concept to many.
And, quite honestly from someone who does not live there, the United States should be very proud to be the only place where an entrepreneur can achieve anything like this.
--Luc

Actually the importance of what they accomplished is that other countries can do it and at similar costs. There was nothing particularly innovative about their engines or of their structures. All that would be required is to use normal good business practice in privately developing the launchers and the spacecraft.


Bob Clark

 

[UpForce]

... There was nothing particularly innovative about their engines or of their structures ...

I kinda gather what you're trying to say there, but to me attributing all to "good business practice" is way too much of a blanket statement; even if it's a "traditional" rocket. In a way I think good design/engineering eventually sort of drives itself forward, it acquires the hallmarks of emergent qualities and capabilities. I do not know how public SpaceX has had to made their proprietary tech (there may be something available in patent documentation, NASA approvals, or such) but they certainly have no requirement to advertise the extent of their in-house R&D capabilities or achievements. They do have competition. Quotes from a recent New Scientist interview with Elon Musk:

NS: You claim to be getting away from the government-assisted model of spaceflight engineering and the lack of innovation that approach entails. Yet your website says your Falcon 9 rocket's main Merlin engine design is inspired by the Apollo lunar module main engine. So you still depend on government-inspired inventions?
EM: Heh (laughs). We should probably change that text, it's probably not the best in the world. That's a bit like saying a modern day car is based on what Daimler and Benz did. We're in fact using something that's far more advanced than they had on the Moon, which was a type of injector called a pintle, a large signal coaxial injector - and that was the basic architecture we used. We said that originally because it had to be super safe - it was a single point of failure - and it's a type of engine architecture that is naturally stable and is not subject to combustion harmonics that can cause a combustion chamber to explode.
NS: What kind of technology do you really want to advance, given the freedom you have to do it your own way?
EM: The really big advance, the fundamental breakthrough that's needed, is a fully reusable rocket system. There was an attempt at that with the space shuttle but it failed. The space shuttle was only ever going to be partially reusable as the main tank - the primary flight structure to which the orbiter and booster were attached was discarded on every mission. And the parts that were reused were so difficult to reuse that the shuttle ended up costing four times more to run than an expendable rocket of equivalent payload capacity. The space shuttle was often used as an example of why you shouldn't even attempt to make something reusable. But one failed experiment does not invalidate the greater goal. If that was the case we'd never have had the light bulb.
...
NS: What about performance though? Anyone can cut costs..
EM: Our engine has the highest thrust to weight ratio of any engine in the world, our airframe has the best mass fraction of any rocket in the world - and our electronics are the lightest and have have the most computing power over that of any other rocket.

...

NS: SpaceX is crew rating your capsule and say your "guiding star" is safety. How much of a challenge is it to crew rate the Dragon?
EM: There's a lot of testing that needs to take place. I made sure the basic design of it is suitable for crew from the beginning. That's why it has windows and returns safely to Earth. The technology driver there is our launch escape system, which has high thrust liquid-fuelled escape engines built into the side walls of the vehicle.
NS: I gather that these hypergolic motors might have planetary landing applications?
EM: Yes. The escape system's motors will allow the capsule to land anywhere in the solar system, whether it has an atmosphere or not - and that's pretty cool. These motors can even fire supersonically which is important for Mars: in the higher altitudes of Mars the atmosphere is so thin that parachutes are completely pointless. So retro thrusters have to be able to fire when you are supersonic so they have to be very high thrust.
...

 

[Machdiamond]

Actually the importance of what they accomplished is that other countries can do it and at similar costs.

I was wondering about that, but you probably missed my point that they didn't.

 

[Orionblamblam]

Actually the importance of what they accomplished is that other countries can do it and at similar costs.

I was wondering about that, but you probably missed my point that they didn't.

More important still is the fact that this ability is now within the grasp not only of smaller nations, not only of private corporations... it's also within the grasp of shadowy super-secret organizations. Keep an eye on Japanese volcanic lakes... we might see some launches!

 

[Machdiamond]

Ok I am signing off from this forum, I don't need more silly statements.

 

[Orionblamblam]

Ok I am signing off from this forum, I don't need more silly statements.

As opuses go, that was pretty short.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Buh bye!!!

 

[dannydale]

C ya round, breaux.

 

[hagaricus]

Gotta say I was rather impressed with the dragon capsule; If nothing else, it looks several decades newer than what we're used to seeing (it should, it is) and especially the hatch is gorgeous from either side, and the sliding stowage a major improvement.

 

[Byeman]

Gotta say I was rather impressed with the dragon capsule; If nothing else, it looks several decades newer than what we're used to seeing (it should, it is) and especially the hatch is gorgeous from either side, and the sliding stowage a major improvement.

the hatch is not new or the fact that it slides either. It is standard on all modules on the US segment. nodes, lab, airlock module, shuttle logistics modules, Japanese and European modules all use the same type of hatch mechanism. The Japanese logistics vehicle and soon to fly OSC Cygnus also use the same system. The design of this hatch system goes back to the late 80's/early 90's.

And no, the Dragon capsule does not look newer, it is a throwback.

 

[Johnbr]

Here ia new one.
Intelsat Signs First Commercial Falcon Heavy Launch Agreement with SpaceX
Advanced Vehicle Provides Expanded Options for Operator of the World's Largest Satellite Fleet
Washington, DC / Hawthorne, CA May 29, 2012 - Today, Intelsat, the world's leading provider of satellite services, and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), the world's fastest growing space launch company, announced the first commercial contract for the Falcon Heavy rocket.
"SpaceX is very proud to have the confidence of Intelsat, a leader in the satellite communication services industry," said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer. "The Falcon Heavy has more than twice the power of the next largest rocket in the world. With this new vehicle, SpaceX launch systems now cover the entire spectrum of the launch needs for commercial, civil and national security customers."
"Timely access to space is an essential element of our commercial supply chain," said Thierry Guillemin, Intelsat CTO. "As a global leader in the satellite sector, our support of successful new entrants to the commercial launch industry reduces risk in our business model. Intelsat has exacting technical standards and requirements for proven flight heritage for our satellite launches. We will work closely with SpaceX as the Falcon Heavy completes rigorous flight tests prior to our future launch requirements."
This is the first commercial contract for SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launch vehicle. Under the agreement, an Intelsat satellite will be launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

About the Falcon Heavy
Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket in the world and historically is second only to the Apollo-era Saturn V moon rocket. Capable of lifting 53 metric tons (117,000 pounds) to low Earth orbit and over 12 metric tons (26,000 pounds) to GTO, Falcon Heavy will provide more than twice the performance to low Earth orbit of any other launch vehicle. This will allow SpaceX to launch the largest satellites ever flown and will enable new missions. Building on the reliable flight proven architecture of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, Falcon Heavy is also designed for exceptional reliability. The vehicle is designed to meet both NASA human rating standards as well as the stringent U.S. Air Force requirements for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, making it an attractive solution for commercial, civil and military customers.
About SpaceX
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world's most advanced rockets and spacecraft. With a diverse manifest of 40 launches to deliver commercial and government satellites to orbit, SpaceX is the world's fastest growing launch services provider. In 2010, SpaceX became the first commercial company in history to put a spacecraft into orbit and return it safely to Earth. With the retirement of the space shuttle, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are carrying cargo, and one day astronauts, to and from the space station for NASA. Founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, SpaceX is a private company owned by management and employees, with minority investments from Founders Fund, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Valor Equity Partners. The company has over 1,800 employees in California, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Florida. For more information, visit www.SpaceX.com.
About Intelsat
Intelsat is the leading provider of satellite services worldwide. For over 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world's leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat's satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of High Definition, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far. For more information about Intelsat, visit www.intelsat.com. Intelsat is the world's leading provider of fixed satellite services. With Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far.
# # #

 

[RGClark]

Gotta say I was rather impressed with the dragon capsule; If nothing else, it looks several decades newer than what we're used to seeing (it should, it is) and especially the hatch is gorgeous from either side, and the sliding stowage a major improvement.

the hatch is not new or the fact that it slides either. It is standard on all modules on the US segment. nodes, lab, airlock module, shuttle logistics modules, Japanese and European modules all use the same type of hatch mechanism. The Japanese logistics vehicle and soon to fly OSC Cygnus also use the same system. The design of this hatch system goes back to the late 80's/early 90's.
And no, the Dragon capsule does not look newer, it is a throwback.

How does the hatch slide over? Does it slide out into the vacuum of space or is the spacecraft docked far enough into the station that when the hatch slides over it stays within the station?


Bob Clark

 

[Donamy]

It slides and pivots to the side of the Dragon.

 

[RGClark]

It slides and pivots to the side of the Dragon.

That is to the outside? Or is there enough space for it to slide inside the outer wall of the capsule?

Bob Clark

 

[hagaricus]

see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCZwUohCp1o @ 1:12

 

[Johnbr]

The Dragon Has Landed SpaceX’s Dragon Spacecraft Safely Completes Historic Mission to the Space Station
This morning, at approximately 8:42 AM Pacific/11:42 AM Eastern, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) completed its historic mission when the Dragon spacecraft splashed down safely in the Pacific. The vehicle will now be recovered by boats and start the trip back to land.
At 11:00 AM Pacific/2:00 PM Eastern, SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk will join NASA Space Station Program Manager Mike Suffredini and NASA COTS Program Manager Alan Lindenmoyer for a press conference to discuss today’s exciting events.
Last week, SpaceX made history when its Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle in history to successfully attach to the International Space Station. Previously only four governments – the United States, Russia, Japan and the European Space Agency – had achieved this challenging technical feat. Dragon departed the space station this morning.
This is SpaceX's second demonstration flight under a 2006 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement with NASA to develop the capability to carry cargo to and from the International Space Station.

 

[RGClark]

I don't know about you guys, but SpaceX achievement is a very significant event.
Our industry (aero and space) has many lessons to learn from it. Things like setting ambitious targets and getting there by focusing at doing the right thing, an alien concept to many.
And, quite honestly from someone who does not live there, the United States should be very proud to be the only place where an entrepreneur can achieve anything like this.
--Luc

Actually the importance of what they accomplished is that other countries can do it and at similar costs. There was nothing particularly innovative about their engines or of their structures. All that would be required is to use normal good business practice in privately developing the launchers and the spacecraft.

I discuss this here:

On the lasting importance of the SpaceX accomplishment.
http://exoscientist.blogspot.com/2012/06/on-lasting-importance-of-spacex.html

SpaceX is due congratulations because of their successful launch of the Dragon, their docking it to the ISS, and their successfully recovering it after reentry. However, their most important accomplishment might be they showed how spaceflight can become routine.


Bob Clark

 

[sferrin]

However, their most important accomplishment might be they showed how spaceflight can become routine.


Bob Clark

They've launched it once. How've they demonstrated anything of the sort?

 

[Bill Walker]

However, their most important accomplishment might be they showed how spaceflight can become routine.


Bob Clark

They've launched it once. How've they demonstrated anything of the sort?

They have launched and recovered two Dragons. More importantly, they have developed, and launched twice, for a fraction of the cost of a government program, and in a fraction of the time. The key words in Bob's quote are "can become routine". I agree that SpaceX is well on their way to this.

 

[Byeman]

However, their most important accomplishment might be they showed how spaceflight can become routine.


Bob Clark

They've launched it once. How've they demonstrated anything of the sort?

They have launched and recovered two Dragons. More importantly, they have developed, and launched twice, for a fraction of the cost of a government program, and in a fraction of the time. The key words in Bob's quote are "can become routine". I agree that SpaceX is well on their way to this.

No, they demonstrated cheap development but nothing towards routine with over a year between launches.

 

[hagaricus]

AsI see it; yes, it's old-style rocketry, as clearly brought home by the chase plane footage of dragon plummeting to earth under its 2 drogues. But it's done with 21st century knowhow, and rethought all the way through. It may or may not "count" as a private venture. It may or may not be cheaper or more routine, but it is a big incremental improvement on older systems, and has worked astonishingly well for a 3rd test flight, performing a controlled shutdown with less than a second on the clock, and splashing down slightly ahead of schedule, right on target, with more cargo on board than it left with. What this means in the big picture of spaceflight remains to be seen, but to me it's a job well done, and the coolest rocket-and-capsule earth orbit system to date.

 

[Hobbes]

No, they demonstrated cheap development but nothing towards routine with over a year between launches.

They have demonstrated a rocket that has been designed for routine launches. The choice to use 9 engines was part of that: with 9 engines per rocket, you soon get into the realm of series production, whereas building 1 engine at a time remains a costly one-off operation. That there was a year between the first two launches, doesn't mean they can't have a shorter turnaround time.