Flyaway said:
SpaceX gains FRR green light for DM-1 mission to the ISS

Dragon 2 remains on track for her maiden flight to the International Space Station (ISS) in March following a green light from the key Flight Readiness Review (FRR) on Friday. The Agency Level FRR meeting was the final review stage from all relevant elements involving SpaceX, NASA Commercial Crew and the ISS program, with the milestones now progressing towards a SpaceX Launch Readiness Review (LRR) a few days prior to the March 2 target.

Good news for SpaceX, I cannot wait until the first crewed flight to the ISS, whenever that will occur.
 
In January, we ran an exclusive interview with Elon Musk in which he explained, for the first time, his full thinking—and the complex engineering questions—behind his decision to construct SpaceX’s Starship rocket and booster with stainless steel. The previous design for the rocket (which was then known as the BFR) had called for carbon fiber, but Musk recalculated and went with steel due to its durability, cost-effectiveness, and ductility.

Here, in a continuation of that interview, Musk goes deep on what it takes to actually travel beyond orbit and into space. Also, it sounds like Mars will have a nice park.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a26513651/elon-musk-interview-spacex-mars/
 
1440p YouTube drone footage of DM-1 Crew Dragon on pad in January 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_q2gOsSWc
 
Rollout video of DM-1

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1101180975663407105
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE_hCTfMdng

Published on 28 Feb 2019
Take a tour of the interior of SpaceX's Crew Dragon, targeted to launch on its first (uncrewed) demonstration flight on March 2, 2019. Crew Dragon is designed to transport up to four astronauts for NASA missions, along with critical cargo and supplies, to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The Crew Dragon features solar arrays affixed to the side of the spacecraft’s trunk, a launch escape system that will allow crew members to escape an anomaly at any point during flight, a large hatch and windows and a redesigned outer mold line to enhance crew comfort. The first uncrewed flight is an important step in returning human launches on American rockets and spacecraft to the space station from U.S. soil since 2011.
 
Anyone knows what the time will be for the Dragon launch in terms of Greenwich Mean Time (for the UK)? I do not want to miss this launch.
 
It's scheduled for 0748 GMT (0248 local).

Should be both NASA and SpaceX streams to watch:

https://www.space.com/how-to-watch-spacex-crew-dragon-demo-1-mission.html
 
TomS said:
It's scheduled for 0748 GMT (0248 local).

Should be both NASA and SpaceX streams to watch:

https://www.space.com/how-to-watch-spacex-crew-dragon-demo-1-mission.html

Thanks for that update TomS, I will try and not sleep in tomorrow morning.
 
Space X Crew Demo-1 Mission.

https://youtu.be/2ZL0tbOZYhE
 
Thanks for the video Flyaway, I missed the lift off just by two minutes but got the rest of the Dragon capsule launch into space.
 
FighterJock said:
Thanks for the video Flyaway, I missed the lift off just by two minutes but got the rest of the Dragon capsule launch into space.

I must still have a good body clock as I managed to wake up with two minutes to launch. :D
 
March 02, 2019
RELEASE 19-014

NASA, SpaceX Launch First Flight Test of Space System Designed for Crew


For the first time in history, a commercially-built and operated American crew spacecraft and rocket, which launched from American soil, is on its way to the International Space Station. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off at 2:49 a.m. EST Saturday on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

“Today’s successful launch marks a new chapter in American excellence, getting us closer to once again flying American astronauts on American rockets from American soil,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “I proudly congratulate the SpaceX and NASA teams for this major milestone in our nation’s space history. This first launch of a space system designed for humans, and built and operated by a commercial company through a public-private partnership, is a revolutionary step on our path to get humans to the Moon, Mars and beyond.”

Known as Demo-1, SpaceX’s inaugural flight with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is an important uncrewed mission designed to test the end-to-end capabilities of the new system. It brings the nation one-step closer to the return of human launches to the space station from the United States for the first time since 2011 – the last space shuttle mission. Teams still have work to do after this flight to prepare the spacecraft to fly astronauts. The best way to advance the system design was to fly this spacecraft and uncover any other areas or integrated flight changes that might be required.

The program demonstrates NASA’s commitment to investing in commercial companies through public-private partnerships and builds on the success of American companies, including SpaceX, already delivering cargo to the space station. Demo-1 is a critical step for NASA and SpaceX to demonstrate the ability to safely fly missions with NASA astronauts to the orbital laboratory.

“I’d also like to express great appreciation for NASA,” said Elon Musk, CEO and lead designer at SpaceX. “SpaceX would not be here without NASA, without the incredible work that was done before SpaceX even started and without the support after SpaceX did start.”

The public-private partnership combines commercial companies’ unique, innovative approaches to human spaceflight and NASA’s decades-long experience in design, development and operations of a crew space system.

“We are watching history being made with the launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 mission,” said Steve Stich, launch manager and deputy manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “SpaceX and NASA teams have been working together for years, and now we are side-by-side in control rooms across the country for launch, in-orbit operations and, eventually, splashdown of the Crew Dragon right here off Florida’s coast.”

SpaceX controlled the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Control Center Firing Room 4, the former space shuttle control room, which SpaceX has leased as its primary launch control center. As Crew Dragon ascended into space, SpaceX commanded the Crew Dragon spacecraft from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. NASA teams will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from Mission Control Center at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is on its way to the space station for a 6:05 a.m. Sunday, March 3 docking to the low-Earth orbit destination. Live coverage of the rendezvous and docking will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 3:30 a.m. Coverage will resume at 8:30 a.m. with the hatch opening, followed at 10:45 a.m. with a crew welcoming ceremony.

Teams in the space station mission center at Johnson will monitor station crew members’ opening of the spacecraft hatch, entering Crew Dragon and unpacking the capsule.

Mission Objectives

All the launch pad and vehicle hardware, and the launch day operations, were conducted in preparation for the next flight with crew aboard, including the control teams and ground crews. The mission and testing continues once the Falcon 9 lifts off the pad.

During the spacecraft’s approach, in-orbit demonstrations will include rendezvous activities from a distance of up to 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), known as far field, and activities within one mile (1.6 kilometers), known as near field. As the spacecraft approaches the space station, it will demonstrate its automated control and maneuvering capabilities by reversing course and backing away from the station before the final docking sequence.

The docking phase, as well as the return and recovery of Crew Dragon, include many first-time events that cannot be totally modeled on the ground and, thus, are critical to understanding the design and systems ability to support crew flights. Previous cargo Dragon vehicles have been attached to the space station after capture by the station’s robotic arm. The Crew Dragon will approach to dock using new sensor systems, new propulsion systems and the new international docking mechanism to attach to the station’s Harmony module forward port, fitted with a new international docking adapter. Astronauts installed the adapter during a spacewalk in August 2016, following its delivery to the station in the trunk of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on its ninth commercial resupply services mission.

For Demo-1, Crew Dragon is carrying more than 400 pounds of crew supplies and equipment to the space station and will return some critical research samples to Earth. A lifelike test device named Ripley also will travel on the Crew Dragon, outfitted with sensors to provide data on potential effects on humans traveling in Crew Dragon.

For operational missions, Crew Dragon will be able to launch as many as four crew members and carry more than 220 pounds of cargo, enabling the expansion of the crew members, increasing the time dedicated to research in the unique microgravity environment, and returning more science back to Earth.

The Crew Dragon is designed to stay docked to station for up to 210 days, although the Crew Dragon used for this flight test will not have that capability. This spacecraft will remain docked to the space station only five days, departing Friday, March 8. After undocking from the station, Crew Dragon will begin its descent to Earth. Live coverage of the undocking will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 2 a.m., with deorbit and landing coverage resuming at 7:30 a.m.

Additional spacecraft mission objectives include a safe departure from the station, followed by a deorbit burn and parachute deployment to slow the spacecraft before splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Florida Space Coast. SpaceX’s recovery ship, Go Searcher, will retrieve Crew Dragon and transport it back to port. Teams will be closely monitoring the parachute system and entry control system operation, which have been changed from cargo Dragons to provide higher reliability for crew flights.

NASA and SpaceX will use data from Demo-1, along with planned upgrades and additional qualification testing, to further prepare for Demo-2, the crewed flight test that will carry NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station. NASA will validate the performance of SpaceX’s systems before putting crew on board for the Demo-2 flight, currently targeted for July.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with Boeing and SpaceX to design, build, test and operate safe, reliable and cost-effective human transportation systems to low-Earth orbit. Both companies are focused on test missions, including abort system demonstrations and crew flight tests, ahead of regularly flying crew missions to the space station. Both companies’ crewed flights will be the first times in history NASA has sent astronauts to space on systems owned, built, tested and operated by private companies.

Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew program at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

Post launch press conference.

https://youtu.be/HuXPLtJXd14
 
I was wondering at first looking at the cabin arrangement and seat bracing structure why they put so much emphasis toward astronauts comfort but I understand now that Dragon will be offered as a ride for paying civilian customers. With a 4g acceleration (and a bunch of pocket money), a bit comfort will certainly do for me :)
 
SOFT CAPTURE of Dragon 2 with ISS.

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1102159988028555264

Video.

https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1102162692033306624

Crew Dragon docking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPmPUrE5IYI
 
Good news Flyaway, It is going to stay at the station for five days before returning to Earth.
 
some pictures

i started to hum "The Blue Danube" during docking sequence ::)
i guess there will soon Dragon crew docking video with that music coming on You tube...
 

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Michel Van said:
some pictures

i started to hum "The Blue Danube" during docking sequence ::)
i guess there will soon Dragon crew docking video with that music coming on You tube...

You were not the only one humming the Blue Danube tune Michel Van, thanks for posting the photos.
 
Picture of Dragon 2 docked to the ISS.

https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1102171801117962240

Not to go OTT but it really looks like a twenty first century crew vehicle if you get my meaning.
 
The shots of astronauts entering the capsule really showed how roomy the thing is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNVnwirgWys
 

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Flyaway said:
Not to go OTT but it really looks like a twenty first century crew vehicle if you get my meaning.

Or the SpaceX guys finally caught up with that Stanley Kubrick who envision this 50 years ago...
https://youtu.be/0ZoSYsNADtY
 
giphy.gif


the microgravity indicator is a success

At Amazon: momentarily not available
at manufacture Celestial Buddies: "EARTH - TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK DUE TO HIGH DEMAND"
 
Hello!

Michel Van said:
"EARTH - TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK DUE TO HIGH DEMAND"

Sounds like Slartibartfast's phrase from "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" ;D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7vC8T0umig

It's nice, that Crew Dragon' first launch bring such positive mood to many persons.
 
Falcon Heavy and Starlink headline SpaceX’s upcoming manifest

With the all-important Demo-1 launch complete, SpaceX has quickly begun converting Pad 39A to ready it for Falcon Heavy flights. The launch provider is expected to fly not one but two Falcon Heavy missions within the coming months as part of an exciting manifest that also includes the first dedicated Starlink mission.

Almost immediately following the Demo-1 launch, SpaceX technicians were back to work at Pad 39A to reconfigure the hold down clamps from the Falcon 9 to the Falcon Heavy configuration.

The reaction frame – which supports the base of the rocket during the countdown – requires four hold down clamps for Falcon 9 and eight hold down clamps for Falcon Heavy.
 
Undocking of the DM-1 mission from ISS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQmK6_95Rs8
 
Video of Crew Dragon splashdown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsIkeFaC1vg

https://twitter.com/chrisg_nsf/status/1104023690143039488

Wow. NASA just now: "The [Crew Dragon] really performed better than we expected."

Let that sink in. Crew Dragon - as of right now, not counting entry - performed BETTER than NASA expected. #SpaceX #CrewDragon #Demo1 #DM1 #NASA
 
Impressive - mildly surprised how much the main chutes move around though...

Thanks! Mark
 
It’s all go for Space X today as the bottom half of the Big Falcon Hopper has been moved to the launch ground.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1104049273983909892
 
nice successful mission of Crew Dragon

only one question
What are those dark stains on the main chutes?
 
Michel Van said:
nice successful mission of Crew Dragon

only one question
What are those dark stains on the main chutes?

I don't see any stains. You don't mean the colored panels, do you? Those are so they can tell which chute is which.
 
https://twitter.com/spacepadreisle/status/1104034451388956673

Hopper On The Launch Pad

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1104090692215726080

Atmospheric entry at 17,000 mph is like a meteor & will vaporize steel. Burn marks below are on cold side. Main heatshield on bottom.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1104091386230403072

Phenolic impregnated carbon ablator, version 3

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1104092184230289408

All good, system maintained room temperature within spacecraft
 
TomS said:
Michel Van said:
nice successful mission of Crew Dragon

only one question
What are those dark stains on the main chutes?

I don't see any stains. You don't mean the colored panels, do you? Those are so they can tell which chute is which.
some dark coloration and dark stains this link show them clearly
http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/shared/npr/styles/x_large/nprshared/201903/701460226.jpg



It's look like roasted marshmellow, gonna be allot clean-up work for second flight in abort test later this year...
D1JPbz_U0AE6_fE.jpg
 
Michel Van said:
It's look like roasted marshmellow, gonna be allot clean-up work for second flight in abort test later this year...

The heat shield is ablative. As the capsule re enters the heat shield cooks - like a marshmallow - and the marks you see are residue from that. Completely normal.
 
I understand that the back shell is designed to be replaced. It's the pressure hull under it that is expensive and can be reused.
 
Demo-1 Post-Splashdown Remarks from Benji Reed

Marie Lewis Posted on March 8, 2019

The following is a transcript of SpaceX Director of Crew Mission Management Benji Reed’s comments during the NASA TV broadcast following Crew Dragon splashdown on Friday, March 8:

To be honest, I’m shaking, and I’m super excited. It was an incredible journey to get to this moment. The teams have just done an amazing job, both the SpaceX and the NASA teams jointly. Fundamentally this is a great day for the nation, for SpaceX, for NASA, for all of us—really for the world.

I think it was Anne (McClain) who said this is the first time in 40 years that we’ve had a spacecraft designed for humans (test) fly, and not only did she fly and go to the space station and do everything she was supposed to do, but we brought her home safe and sound landing in the Atlantic. It’s amazing.

I can’t believe how well the whole mission has gone. I think on every point, everything’s been nailed, all the way along—particularly this last piece. We were all very excited to see re-entry and parachute and drogue deploy and main deploy, splashdown—everything happened just perfectly, right on time the way that we expected it to. It was beautiful.

As a team, SpaceX, we’re just super honored to have the opportunity to have done this mission, to work with NASA, to work through this. You know, Demo-1 is fundamentally this first major milestone in our process towards certification. I always like to remind everybody that this is a whole system—there’s Crew Dragon, there’s the Falcon that’s going to be certified to fly humans, there’s also the ground systems, the operations, our entire factory and production system—everything that we do is being certified to be able to fly astronauts safely, and this is a huge step towards that.

If you kind of look back over what happened over the last two days, which just seems incredible to me, really it’s the culmination of years of work to get us to this day. We had launch, Crew Dragon deployed, and we saw beautiful free flight. One of the things that’s hard to test when you’re on the ground is how fluids work in microgravity. And what’s amazing is everything worked just like we expected.

We got to station, docked, and, you know, it’s the first time I think in history a commercial vehicle and also an American vehicle has docked autonomously to the International Space Station, so that’s super cool. (Crew Dragon was) loaded with all kinds of sensors, all kinds of tests that we did. We all met Ripley, and she’s loaded with sensors so we can understand exactly all the forces that the crew will feel as they’re launched to station from home. We got to meet the little Earth guy (laughs); I heard he’s going to stay on station. Undocking, of course, some more free flight, and then we came home. We jettisoned the trunk, closed the nose cone, and then again, like I said, just beautiful parachute deployment, everything the way we expected. All of these tests that we’ve been doing on parachutes, all of the analysis that we’ve done on understanding the aerodynamics of re-entry and coming home. Everything was just wonderful.

The important thing now is we’re going to take all of this data and we’re going to apply that to the next steps. There’s a lot more to do because our ultimate goal is to be able to continue to staff space station, to provide astronauts rides up to space, give them a safe place to be, a safe place to come home in, and do crew rotations every six months. So how do we get there? So we finished Demo-1, huge milestone, the next step is we take that data, we apply it, we learn from it, and we’re going to go to our in-flight abort test, similar to that pad abort test that we did a few years ago. We actually will put the same Dragon that we flew on Demo-1, we’re going to take that and we’re going to put it on top of Falcon 9, launch it, get it going super fast to test conditions, and then escape it off of the rocket and again do the same thing, bring it home safely under parachutes, land it in the ocean.

From there, after we get that done, we go to Demo-2, and that’s kind of like, wow, that’s the big prize, because that’s going to be sending Bob (Behnken) and Doug (Hurley)—our NASA astronauts, our partners, our friends—sending them up on Dragon and taking them to station safely and bringing them home safely.

When that’s done, we’ll go through final, full certification and start those six-month rotation missions, which we’re all so excited about.

It’s important to take a step back and think about all that it took to get here, all the work of all the joint teams—NASA and SpaceX—all the support that we’ve had from friends and family. Really, I think, the most important thing is that on behalf of all of the 6,000 people here at SpaceX, we really want to thank NASA, we want to thank the space station, the international partners, and thank the American public for their support and partnership as we go through this. We’re really proud to be part of this endeavor.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/03/08/demo-1-post-splashdown-remarks-from-benji-reed/
 
https://twitter.com/austinbarnard45/status/1104166657214373894

#StarHopper is on the launch pad, awaiting for the raptors arriving from McGregor, Texas next week. Fairing almost completed, it is almost time for hopper test time. I'm honestly so very excited, here is aerial footage taken on 3-8-19 of the Hopper resting on the pad. #SpaceX
 

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