Dragon SpX-4 (CRS4) - Falcon 9 v1.1 - Canaveral SLC-40 - 08.08.2014

[Benny]

Вроде бы наиболее вероятное расписание пусков Falcon такое:
Oct: no launches/reconfigure pad for abort test
Nov: Pad abort test
Dec: Spx-5

Orbcomm что-то меняет на своих спутниках и запуск был перенесён на начало 2015 по просьбе клиента. В последнее время, пошли разговоры, что Orbcomm все-таки полетит 2014, и запуск будет сразу после Spx-5 с перерывом в 2-3 недели, под Новый Год.

Про TurkmenSat нет информации.

Просто красивая картинка с форума NSF, показывающая время между пусками Falcon-9.

[Сергио]

В презентации дракона 2 - видно потёртые буквы на первом, отдаёт чем то из старкрафта.
да и второй - настоящий корабль. А Союзы - не будут же они сто лет летать. когда нибудь в будущем спишут.

имеем парадокс - tomorrow is today. а Марс всё равно даже не tomorrow...

Ultra-high pressure helium - какой ультра. выше 25 атмосфер нет смысла, уже твёрдая фаза...

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/

SpaceX's Dragon supply ship ready for return to Earth

 Closing out a five-week mission, a SpaceX Dragon cargo craft will depart the International Space Station on Saturday and dive back into Earth's atmosphere, deploy parachutes and splash down in the Pacific Ocean. Release from the space station's robotic arm is set for 9:56 a.m. EDT (1356 GMT), and splashdown is expected at 3:39 p.m. EDT (1939 GMT).

[Salo]

http://ria.ru/space/20141025/1030079779.html

Грузовик Dragon отстыковался от МКС и возвращается на Землю

ВАШИНГТОН, 25 окт — РИА Новости. Американский космический грузовой корабль Dragon отстыковался от Международной космической станции и возвращается на Землю, сообщает сайт НАСА.

США запустили космический корабль Dragon с грузом для МКС
Космический корабль Dragon, разработанный частной компанией SpaceX, стартовал с мыса Канаверал (штат Флорида) 21 сентября. Он доставил на МКС 2,3 тонны груза, в том числе провиант и научное оборудование. Dragon является на сегодняшний день единственным аппаратом, способным возвращать грузы с МКС на Землю.

Отстыковка грузового корабля от обращенного к земной поверхности модуля "Гармония" состоялась в 17.57 мск.

"Отстыковка подтверждена. Dragon свободен", — сообщил центр управления полетами. Согласно расчетам, через шесть часов, ориентировочно в 23.39 мск, он приводнится в Тихом океане.

Корабль доставит на Землю около 1,5 тонны грузов, прежде всего результаты научных экспериментов.

Ранее планировалось, что грузовик покинет МКС 21 октября, однако в понедельник стало известно, что владелец грузовика, компания SpaceX, отложила это событие из-за погодных условий в Тихом океане к западу от полуострова Калифорния.

[Salo]

Ждём приводнения в 23:39 ЛМВ.

[Salo]

http://beta.spaceflightnow.com/2014/10/25/dragon-mission-status-center/

1941 GMT (3:41 p.m. EDT)
 Splashdown confirmed! The Dragon spacecraft has returned to Earth with nearly 3,300 pounds of space station cargo, ending its fourth operational flight to the complex.
SpaceX says the splashdown occurred at approximately 3:38 p.m. EDT (1938 GMT).  
 
1931 GMT (3:34 p.m. EDT)
 Mission control in Houston just told the space station crew that Dragon is descending under parachutes.
 
1931 GMT (3:31 p.m. EDT)
 After deploying two drogue parachutes for stability, Dragon should now be descending through 10,000 feet under three 116-foot main parachutes, which are designed to slow the craft's speed to a gentle 11 mph at the time of splashdown.
There are no updates fr om SpaceX yet confirming a good parachute deployment.
 
1924 GMT (3:24 p.m. EDT)
 Temperatures outside the Dragon spacecraft are expected to reach up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit during re-entry.
 
1922 GMT (3:22 p.m. EDT)
 The spacecraft is approaching the splashdown zone on a southwest-to-northeast trajectory.
 
1919 GMT (3:19 p.m. EDT)
 Dragon should now be encountering the upper reaches of the atmosphere - a point known as entry interface - over the Pacific Ocean. Officials expect a communications blackout in the next few minutes, followed by deployment of the capsule's parachutes beginning at 3:30 p.m. EDT (1930 GMT).
 
1901 GMT (3:01 p.m. EDT)
 As with its previous missions, SpaceX is not providing live coverage of the re-entry and splashdown of the Dragon supply ship. We'll post updates here as we get them.
At this time, the unpressurized trunk of the Dragon spacecraft should have separated from the ship's entry capsule. The trunk will burn up in the atmosphere.
 
1855 GMT (2:55 p.m. EDT)
 The deorbit burn should now be complete. Jettison of the 12-foot-diameter trunk section with its solar arrays should be coming up in a few minutes, but we don't have confirmation of those events from SpaceX.
 
1843 GMT (2:43 p.m. EDT)
 Flying high above the Indian Ocean, the Dragon spacecraft should now be firing firing its Draco thrusters for the deorbit burn, committing the capsule for return to Earth. The burn is expected to last approximately 10 minutes.
Dragon is carrying more than 1.6 tons of cargo from the space station in its pressurized cabin. The capsule is the only robotic cargo freighter able to retrieve equipment from the space station and return it to Earth for analysis or repairs.
 
1650 GMT (12:50 p.m. EDT)
 A recovery team on a 150-foot boat is in position near the Dragon splashdown zone. The vessel carries a crane to pluck the floating capsule from the Pacific Ocean, along with two inflatable boats to support the capsule's retrieval and safing.
About a dozen SpaceX engineers and technicians are at the splashdown site, which lies about 265 miles west of Baja California southwest of San Diego.
The SpaceX crew includes a four-person dive team to help retrieve the capsule after splashdown.

 
1425 GMT (10:25 a.m. EDT)
 Coming up in a few hours, the Dragon spacecraft will close the door to its guidance, navigation and control bay at around 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT).
Ignition of the capsule's thrusters is set for 2:43:07 p.m. EDT (1843:07 GMT) for an appoximately 10-minute deorbit burn. Splashdown 265 miles west of Baja California is scheduled for 3:39:38 p.m. EDT (1939:38 GMT).
NASA Television coverage of the Dragon resupply flight has ended. No live video is expected of the Dragon's splashdown, but you can check back here for updates on the status of the mission as we receive information.
You can also follow us on Twitter to get periodic updates.
 
1425 GMT (10:25 a.m. EDT)
 Coming up in a few hours, the Dragon spacecraft will close the door to its guidance, navigation and control bay at around 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT).
Ignition of the capsule's thrusters is set for 2:43:07 p.m. EDT (1843:07 GMT) for an appoximately 10-minute deorbit burn. Splashdown 265 miles west of Baja California is scheduled for 3:39:38 p.m. EDT (1939:38 GMT).
NASA Television coverage of the Dragon resupply flight has ended. No live video is expected of the Dragon's splashdown, but you can check back here for updates on the status of the mission as we receive information.
You can also follow us on Twitter to get periodic updates.
 
1408 GMT (10:08 a.m. EDT)
 Dragon's third and final departure burn is complete, moving the craft beyond the 200-meter keep-out sphere, an imaginary bubble around the space station.
 
1401 GMT (10:01 a.m. EDT)
 The Dragon spacecraft has finished its second departure burn. A yaw maneuver is coming up at 10:05 a.m. EDT (1405 GMT), then a final departure maneuver is planned about a minute later.
 
1358 GMT (9:58 a.m. EDT)
 The first departure burn is complete.
 
1357 GMT (9:57 a.m. EDT)
 Astronaut Reid Wiseman has backed the robotic arm away to a distance of about 4 feet. The first of three rocket burns to guide Dragon away from the space station is coming up soon.
 
1357 GMT (9:57 a.m. EDT)
 Dragon is now flying on its own, having been released from the grasp of the space station robotic arm at 9:57 a.m. EDT (1357 GMT) as the craft flew off the northwest coast of Australia.
 
1352 GMT (9:52 a.m. EDT)
 Five minutes until release of Dragon. Spacecraft communicator has radioed the space station astronauts they are "go" for release of the Dragon capsule at 1357 GMT (9:57 a.m. EDT).
 
1350 GMT (9:50 a.m. EDT)
 NASA and SpaceX report they are in good shape for the departure of Dragon with 3,563 pounds of cargo for the return trip to Earth.
The spacecraft are flying over the southern Gulf of Thailand right now.
 
1345 GMT (9:45 a.m. EDT)
 Space station mission control in Houston and SpaceX mission control in Hawthorne are "go" for release of Dragon.
 
1340 GMT (9:40 a.m. EDT)
 The Dragon spacecraft has been placed into free drift, a mode in which its Draco maneuvering thrusters are inhibited. This is a planned step required before release of the cargo craft.
The Dragon's laser rendezvous sensor is reported to be operating as planned.
 
1335 GMT (9:35 a.m. EDT)
 Grasped by the robotic arm, the Dragon spacecraft is near its planned release point below the space station.
Astronaut Reid Wiseman will command the arm to release the capsule at 9:57 a.m. EDT (1357 GMT), while Russian cosmonaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore will assist. The duo will man a communications panel to issue commands to Dragon if necessary.
The crew will monitor the spacecraft until it exits the so-called keep-out sphere 200 meters around the space station.
 
1315 GMT (9:15 a.m. EDT)
 Grasped by the robotic arm, the Dragon spacecraft is near its planned release point below the space station.
Astronaut Reid Wiseman will command the arm to release the capsule at 9:57 a.m. EDT (1357 GMT), while Russian cosmonaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore will assist. The duo will man a communications panel to issue commands to Dragon if necessary.
The crew will monitor the spacecraft until it exits the so-called keep-out sphere 200 meters around the space station.
 
1315 GMT (9:15 a.m. EDT)
 
Closing out a five-week mission, a SpaceX Dragon cargo craft will depart the International Space Station on Saturday and dive back into Earth's atmosphere, deploy parachutes and splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
The spaceship is packed with nearly 3,300 pounds of gear, including research specimens housed inside refrigerators, 10 mice launched to study muscle atrophy in microgravity, spacewalk hardware, computer components, cameras and other equipment.
Astronauts living on the space station loaded the return cargo into the Dragon spacecraft's pressurized cabin over the last few weeks.
The Dragon cargo craft launched Sept. 21 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. It reached the space station Sept. 23, delivering nearly 5,000 pounds of supplies and experiments, including a 3D printer, spacesuit batteries, a small satellite deployer, and a $26 million NASA instrument to help meteorologists study the intensification of hurricanes.
The gumdrop-shaped re-entry capsule, measuring 12 feet diameter and 14 feet tall, will streak through the atmosphere flying southwest-to-northeast over the Pacific Ocean, heading for a splashdown zone a few hundred miles west of Baja California.
SpaceX's resupply freighter is the only spacecraft capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth. Russia's Soyuz crew capsule can land with limited cargo, and the space station's other supply ships from Orbital Sciences Corp., Russia, Europe and Japan are designed to burn up during re-entry to dispose of trash.
Operating on commands from mission control, the space station's robotic arm grappled the Dragon cargo capsule and removed it from the Harmony module's Earth-facing docking port early Saturday.
Release from the robot arm is set for 9:56 a.m. EDT (1356 GMT).
The Dragon's Draco maneuvering thrusters will conduct three burns to depart the vicinity of the space station, then the craft will close and latch the door to its navigation bay before setting up for a de-orbit burn at 2:43 p.m. EDT (1843 GMT).
The spaceship will jettison its unpressurized trunk section and solar panels a few minutes later to burn up in the atmosphere, while the main module re-enters cocooned inside a specialized ablative heat shield developed by NASA and SpaceX to withstand temperatures reaching up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit on its hypersonic approach to a landing zone off the coast of Baja California.
Dual drogue parachutes will deploy when the capsule passes an altitude of about 45,000 feet, then three 116-foot-diameter main chutes will open to slow down the craft's descent to a gentle 10 mph for splashdown at 3:39 p.m. EDT (1939 GMT).
A maritime recovery team will be on standby to recover the capsule from the Pacific Ocean and ferry it back to port in Long Beach, Calif., wh ere SpaceX will hand over time-sensitive samples to NASA for delivery to science teams around the world.
The Dragon's splashdown will end SpaceX's fourth commercial resupply flight to the space station, which began with a middle-of-the-night launch Sept. 21 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.
SpaceX's next cargo mission to the orbiting research lab is set for launch around Dec. 9.
Orbital Sciences, NASA's other cargo transportation provider, is preparing its third operational mission to the space station for liftoff Oct. 27.

[us2-star]

1941 GMT (3:41 p.m. EDT)
Приводнение подтвердил! Дракон космический корабль возвращается на землю с почти 3 300 фунтов космической станции грузов, заканчивая свой четвертый космический полет к комплексу.
SpaceX говорит приводнение произошло примерно в 3:38 p.m. EDT (1938 GMT).

[Salo]

http://tass.ru/kosmos/1532591

Американский грузовой космический корабль Dragon приводнился в Тихом океане
26 октября, 0:04 UTC+4
Это был четвертый рейс Dragon к МКС

ЛОС-АНДЖЕЛЕС, 25 октября. /Корр. ТАСС Александра Урусова/. Американский грузовой космический корабль Dragon, построенный частной компанией SpaceX, вернулся на Землю, приводнившись в Тихом океане у побережья Калифорнии.

"Приводнение подтверждено в 12:38 по местному времени (23:38 мск)", - указали в SpaceX.

Аппарат встречают зафрахтованные компанией суда, которые доставят его в порт недалеко от Лос-Анджелеса.

Корабль совершил стыковку с Международной космической станцией (МКС) 23 сентября, доставив экипажу 2,5 тонны грузов, в том числе продовольствие, оборудование и материалы для научных экспериментов. Обратно на Землю он привез около 1,5 тонн грузов, в том числе результаты проведенных экспериментов. Возвращение Dragon, который является единственным в мире многоразовым космическим "грузовиком", ранее планировалось на 21 октября, но было перенесено из-за шторма в Тихом океане.

Это был четвертый рейс Dragon к МКС. По контракту между NASA и SpaceX на сумму $1,6 млрд он должен слетать туда еще восемь раз. Помимо Dragon, NASA использует для доставки грузов на станцию корабль Cygnus, построенный компанией Orbital Sciences. В этих целях применяются также российские "Прогрессы" и европейские ATV.

На МКС сейчас работает экипаж из шести человек. Это российские космонавты Максим Сураев, Александр Самокутяев и Елена Серова, астронавты NASA Рид Вайзман и Барри Уилмор, а также их коллега из Европейского космического агентства, немец Александр Герст.

[che wi]