SpaceX Dragon

[Salo]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/06/08/13.xml&headline=Crew%20Launches%20To%20Help%20Usher%20In%20New%20ISS%20Era

The 12-day STS-135 mission, tentatively set for a July 8 liftoff aboard Atlantis, will mark the end of the station's shuttle assembly and outfitting era. Atlantis will deliver enough supplies to sustain a station crew of six astronauts for up to a year, easing schedule pressure on NASA's two commercial station resupply program participants, Space X and Orbital Sciences Corp.

The two companies plan to carry out their first station supply mission using the Dragon and Cygnus spacecraft before year's end.

"We're cautiously optimistic they will make that," says NASA's Mike Suffredini, the ISS program manager. "But we'll have about a year's worth of margin if they get snagged along the way."

During a June 1 news briefing, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operation Bill Gerstenmaier said the agency would decide by the end of this month on a launch strategy for the first commercial resupply mission using the SpaceX Dragon.

NASA is leaning toward an initial test flight to demonstrate Dragon's on-orbit operations, followed by a combining of the second and third of the previously planned SpaceX demonstration missions into a single cargo delivery flight. Dragon will rendezvous with the orbiting science laboratory, easing close enough for the station's robot arm to grapple and berth the freighter.

"We are heading in that direction," Gerstenmaier said. "We were thinking around the October/November time frame — maybe September." Fossum, assisted by Furukawa, is prepared for Dragon's arrival.

"It's my job to reach out and grab it," Fossum said in a pre-mission interview in March. "That's a potentially very challenging task. I've trained hundreds of hours."

Cygnus could follow in December, according to Gerstenmaier.

[Потусторонний]

 :roll: Покрыт со всех сторон плитками. Вокруг люка плитка профилирована. Верхний ряд вокруг герметичного отсека прикреплен на винтах с плоским шлицем, нижний ряд (около двигателей) приклеен на панели (?). Плиты наверное что-то типа FRSI с силиконовым наполнителем для водонепроницаемости.  :roll:

FELT REUSABLE SURFACE INSULATION
The FRSI varies in thickness from 0.160 to 0.40 inches depending on the heat encountered during re-entry.  FRSI is 3 to 4 foot squares, except when being used where they are cut to fit.  The FRSI is bonded directly to the orbiter by silicon adhesive applied at a thickness of about 0.20 inch. A white silicon elastomer coating is used to waterproof the felt and provide required thermal and optical properties. FRSI covers nearly 50 percent of the orbiter's upper surfaces.  Figure 4 below shows a thermal blanket after being tested to a temperature of nearly 2000oF.  Most of the blankets don't encounter this temperature but if you were an astronaut wouldn't it be nice to know the blanket exceeds the expectations?

Goodbye, rivets!

[Димитър]

http://www.rian.ru/science/20110610/386547848.html

Согласно программе полетов корабля, размещенной на сайте SpaceХ, на 2011 год, планируется два полета Dragon.
Во время первого из них запланировано сближение с МКС на расстояние 10 километров.
В ходе второго полета планируется осуществить доставку груза и стыковку с МКС.

А я их насчитал три:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

Autumn - Falcon 9  •  Dragon C2
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the second Dragon spacecraft, called Dragon C2. The mission will demonstrate proximity operations during an approach within 6 miles of the International Space Station in a test flight named COTS 2. The company is building the Dragon to fly on resupply missions to the orbiting lab.

Oct. 8 - Falcon 9  •  Dragon C3
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the third Dragon spacecraft, called Dragon C3. The mission will demonstrate rendezvous and berthing with the International Space Station in a test flight named COTS 3. The company is building the Dragon to fly on resupply missions to the orbiting lab.

Dec. 7 - Falcon 9  •  Dragon C4
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the fourth Dragon spacecraft, called Dragon C4. The mission will be the first operational cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services contract. The company is building the Dragon to fly on resupply missions to the orbiting lab.

Причем у второго и третьего - точные даты, а про первый сказано очень неопределено: "осенью". К чему бы ето    :?

[Salo]

К тому, что скорее всего будет только один.

[Димитър]

Dragon C2 и С3 объединят, а С4 запустить не успеют?

[Сторонний]

Dragon C2 и С3 объединят, а С4 запустить не успеют?

Возможно успеют запустить только Dragon C2 в любом варианте.

 Даже при таком раскладе Маск уже давно оставил позади всех конкурентов и он может не захотеть рисковать и торопиться.

[SpaceR]

Пока не пройдёт IPO, ему теперь торопиться рискованно...

[Valerij]

Пока не пройдёт IPO, ему теперь торопиться рискованно...

Ну, до IPO Маску полтора - два года. На самом деле, мне кажется, он действительно вполне может совместить второй и третий пробные полеты. А если первый полет к МКС уйдет на следующий год, то это не смертельно. IPO Маску лучше проводить после начала регулярных рейсов к МКС - так у него и запланировано.

[Космос-3794]

18 июня второй Дракон "оживили" - подали питание для проверки электроники, авионики и пр. Особых глюков не зарегистрировано.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?sclient=psy&hl=en&biw=997&bih=620&tbs=qdr%3Ad&source=hp&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fralphewig.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F6672269431%2Fstarting-a-dragons-heart-this-morning-we-booted&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1

[Salo]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25789.msg765779#msg765779

[Valerij]

July 2, 2011, at 12:53 pm
Musk wins one prize, eyes a bigger one[/size]


At a luncheon on Wednesday in Washington, the Heinlein Prize Trust awarded its second Heinlein Prize for accomplishments in commercial space activities to Elon Musk, the founder, CEO, and CTO of SpaceX. At the luncheon, which attracted an audience from the public and private sectors, including NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver and FAA associate administrator for commercial space transportation George Nield, Musk received the $250,000 prize and its accoutrements, a "Laureate' Diploma" and a sword. Yes, a full-sized sword, the "Lady Vivamus Sword", from the Heinlein novel Glory Road. "I love the sword in particular, it's pretty awesome," Musk said. (Musk, who attended the luncheon with his wife, Tallulah Riley, and two of his young sons, had to remind the boys that the sword, with a sharpened blade, was not a plaything.)

In his acceptance speech, Musk provided an overview of what SpaceX is doing (accompanied by a video, as is the case with nearly every company presentation, regardless of the venue). He did note in the Q&A session after his speech that the company has been "slightly' profitable the last four years and anticipates being profitable again this year, so the company doesn't have an immediate need for capital. However, he said he is considering an initial public offering (IPO) of stock, perhaps late next year. "The public markets are a very efficient way to raise capital," he said, "and it's probably a good move to have a capital reserve." SpaceX has talked from time to time over the last several years about doing an IPO; one drawback he acknowledged Wednesday is that by going public it opens up the company's plans to scrutiny from investors who may have shorter time horizons than Musk and other current investors. "How will the public markets respond to super-long-term thinking?"

That "super-long-term thinking" was a reference to comments he made in his speech about his goal of making humanity a multi-planet species, something that requires a major reduction in launch costs. "This is the first time in four billion years that it's possible for life to become multiplanetary," he said. "That window may be open for a long time, and I'm reasonably optimistic about life on Earth, but it may be open for only a short time. And if it is only open for a short time, we must take advantage of it and take action now to make like multiplanetary." To do that, he said, requires "orders of magnitude" changes in cost and reliability, something that SpaceX hopes to achieve over time.

Doing so, he said, requires being on a "path of continuous improvement" in launch capabilities, something that doesn't exist today. "Space has not been on a path of continuous improvement. It has arguably been on a path of decline," he said, noting that we could go to the Moon in 1969 but we're retiring this month the only US vehicle that can carry people to orbit. "That trend line is going in the wrong direction. It needs to be dramatically reversed, and I'm hopeful SpaceX will make a significant contribution in that direction."

While Musk might be interested in fostering a multiplanet species, not everyone in his family is necessarily onboard. In his opening remarks, prize trustree Art Dula, referring to Musk's two sons in attendance, said that "these are the fellas that are going to ride these rockets when they go beyond Earth orbit," at which point one of the boys cried a note of protest: "No I'm not!" (or something to that effect.) "Oh, my goodness," Dula said to laughter from the audience. "Well, we hope anyways."

Это вот здесь: http://www.newspacejournal.com/2011/07/02/musk-wins-one-prize-eyes-a-bigger-one/

Маск не так прост, как кажется, и прицел у него дальний.

[Bell]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25789.msg765779#msg765779

У меня ощущение, что там нехило разгорелись швы в лобовом экране...

[Salo]

Маск не так прост, как кажется, и прицел у него дальний.

Он Вам кажется (казался) простым?

[Valerij]

Маск не так прост, как кажется, и прицел у него дальний.

Он Вам кажется (казался) простым?

Нет, простым он мне не казался, это штамп. Однако очень сложно подобрать слова. Упоминанием IPO он меня ни капли не удивил.

А вот разговора о мультипланетности человечества, о колонизации Марса я от него сейчас совсем не ждал. Примерно так.
В общем, остается пожелать ему успехов!

[Salo]

Перед IPO самое время поговорить об освоении Марса и мультипланетном человечестве! Лекцию Остапа Бендера с последующим сеансом одновременной игры помните?  :wink:

[Потусторонний]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25789.msg765779#msg765779

У меня ощущение, что там нехило разгорелись швы в лобовом экране...

Можно предположить что побелевшие места на лобовом щите результат полного уноса поверхностного слоя (5-10мм?) :roll:
А кроме того, на корпусе копоть осела полосами идущими аккурат от этих швов  :roll:

[Bell]

Перед IPO самое время поговорить об освоении Марса и мультипланетном человечестве! Лекцию Остапа Бендера с последующим сеансом одновременной игры помните?  :wink:

+500!  :lol:

[Bell]

Можно предположить что побелевшие места на лобовом щите результат полного уноса поверхностного слоя (5-10мм?) :roll:

Я грешным делом думал, что там слой эдак на порядок толще. Но мое внимание больше привлекает ширина щелей, образовавшихся между сегментами. Учитывая, что край щита - едва ли не самое нагруженное место (по динамике уноса, во всяком случае), это не может не вызывать... некоторые опасения :roll:

А кроме того, на корпусе копоть осела полосами идущими аккурат от этих швов  :roll:

Да, это тоже интересный момент...

[Старый]

Поэтому то ту сторону и скрывали?

[Потусторонний]

Поэтому то ту сторону и скрывали?

Просто не афишировали. "Товар лицом" так сказать.
При более внимательном осмотре: побелевшие места - налет от уносимой PICA-X, а сажа на корпуса - тоже, но от другой фракции (?).  :roll:
Сегменты щита спроектированы так чтобы поток не шел вдоль швов, получилось под 45гр. Не думаю что можно что-то изменить при нынешнем размере сегментов. Может попробуют увеличить плотность PICA-X?
С другой стороны многоразовость у Спейсекса всегда "сделаем в следующем полете" :lol:
Еще было бы интересно посмотреть на 4 опорные точки снизу.