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SpaceX Launching Dragon Capsule to Space Station
- xtc 14y agoAnyone else here on the Causeway for the launch?
- r4n50m 14y agoFollow #Dragon on twitter. This is the last launch of the Falcon 9 v1.0, with the square engine configuration. The next launch is the Falcon 9 v1.1 with the Merlin 1D engines http://en.wikipedia.oro/wiki/File:Falcon_9_v1.0_and_v1.2_engine.svg http://en.wikipedia.oro/wiki/File:Falcon_9_v1.0_and_v1.2_eng... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9 https://twitter.com/SpaceX https://twitter.com/SpaceX NASA TV Media is LIVE: http://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html http://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-spa...
- nkoren 14y agoThe best webcast for these launches typically comes from SpaceX itself, and can be found here: http://www.spacex.com/webcast/ http://www.spacex.com/webcast/
- Cieplak 14y agoPersonally, I'd rather have a Dream Chaser. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Chaser http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Chaser http://www.sncspace.com/ss_space_exploration.php http://www.sncspace.com/ss_space_exploration.php
- cryptoz 14y agoThe date today is 1 Mars, 2013 (in Quebec, anyway). I tweeted this to Elon, but I guess he's pretty busy launching spacecraft. I'm so excited for this launch! The more routine these get, the better.
- showsover 14y agoI'm really, really interested in space and astrophysics, but I'm working full-time. (studied a bachelor in IT, with minimal maths and physics) A degree in astrophysics is at least 5 years, which is impossible for me. What books / material can I study on my own to perhaps try the degree in 2 or 3 years full-time?
- InclinedPlane 14y agoLots and lots of math. Linear algebra, calculus, statistics, vector calculus, tensor calculus, group theory. Physical chemistry, astrophysics basics of course, fluid dynamics, magnetohydrodynamics. Good luck.
- pvarangot 14y agoDepends on what you want to learn about, a degree in astrophysics or aeronautial engineering prepares you for many different possible jobs. I'm in a somewhat similar situation, maybe this will help: (DISCLAIMER: I am not an aerospace engineer by training) Calculus: You'll definitely need to be very comfortable with single variable calculus and vector calculus up to partial derivatives, vector calculus integrals (Green, Stokes, Gauss) will definitely help. I wouldn't learn that from a book, try MIT's OCW, there is a calculus course covering all that. Learn the basic about ODEs, and be comfortable around PDE notation. Linear Algebra: In some sub-disciplines such as control and signal processing you'll also need to be very comfortable with linear algebra, so that all those matrices and stuff don't get in the way when learning modern control/DSP. I definitely recommend Prof. Strang's course in OCW for this. Try to at least be comfortable with simple ODEs before starting it. Linear algebra also helps a lot with Physics. To get more into lineal algebra maybe you can read Linear Algebra Done Right if you want to learn more about Hilbert Spaces, and then maybe Shilov for tensors... those two books should be optional... Software: You don't need to be fast or maybe even know how to solve complex integrals in pen and paper. Try to complement learning calculus, differential equations and linear algebra with learning Matlab/Simulink and Mathematica. I can't even find a word to emphasize how much Matlab/Simulink is used in aerospace engineering... Dynamics: Learn classical mechanics, lots of it. Be confortable with rigid body dynamics in 3D. This is the best reading guide I know about, oriented to game development, but also useful for simulation and control: http://chrishecker.com/Physics_references http://chrishecker.com/Physics_references Code simulators, visualizations, etc... Know what rotation, nutation and precession are, when and how they happen, etc... From that list I have read a little of Goldstein and some Symon. If you find this books too hard, don't follow the guide but instead jump directly to the Feynman lectures (if you want to read) or Physics I from OCW (Prof. Lewin course, really really good). Physics II from OCW can also help, maybe. Space: Once you are not scared with simple problems from all the previous subjects and can solve them, and can understand complex ones you should have no trouble following the first chapters (about dynamics, orbital and attitude maneuvering, etc) of some classical but real space books, for example: SMAD by Wertz, a really classical book for space engineering courses. You should really be able to read it cover to cover but its not a very specific book and more oriented torwards missions management. Sometimes it gets boring because of it lack of details. http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Space-Dynamics-Aeronautical-Engineering/dp/0486651134/ http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Space-Dynamics-Aeronautic... http://www.amazon.com/Spacecraft-Dynamics-Control-Practical-Engineering/dp/0521787807/ http://www.amazon.com/Spacecraft-Dynamics-Control-Practical-... http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Spacecraft-Dynamics-Control-Marshall/dp/0471457035/ http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Spacecraft-Dynamics-Control-Mar... You can also browse here: http://astrobooks.com/ http://astrobooks.com/ and see if you find something particularly interesting. I really would like to recommend a more engaging approach and less boring books, but this is the best that I can come up with now. After you can comfortably read the first chapters of those space books you should really choose what to focus into. Dynamics, Simulation, Finite Element Analysis, Mechanics/Thermal engineering, Signal Processing, Control... then learn the basics of that discipline and then try to apply it to space exploration or spacecraft design. Each of this disciplines would need their own reply and reading list I guess... some require more physics than rigid body dynamics, like fluid dynamics or thermodynamics, electromagnetism, etc... Also, as usual, try to have fun but still be disciplined about reading/learning.
- apaprocki 14y agoAnd.. orbit! edit: They made it look so easy :) edit2: "Some sort of problem"? Maybe spoke too soon...
- ahage16 14y agoNot so fast, seems to be a problem according to the SpaceX webcast. There is supposed to be a press conference within a few hours.
- jcoby 14y agoPeople seem to think it's an issue with the solar panels on twitter. It's looking like the solar panels didn't deploy.
- InclinedPlane 14y agoAs noted elsewhere the issue is with the software inhibiting the activation of the thrusters. They delayed solar panel deployment because the capsule doesn't have attitude control yet.
- jcoby 14y agoOh wow, that's even worse news. Hopefully the override works.
- InclinedPlane 14y agoIt's better, I'd say. The chances that it's just a software or sensor problem are pretty high, and they can just issue an override.
- jcoby 14y agoI would think that without thrusters that it would be unable to dock with the ISS. According to http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/status.html http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/status.html SpaceX says one thruster pod is working, and two are "preferred" to deploy solar arrays. Four thruster pods are on the Dragon spacecraft. "We are working to bring up the other two in order to plan the next series of burns to get to station," a SpaceX spokesperson says. And at 11:40 EST: "Thruster pod 3 tank pressure trending positive. Preparing to deploy solar arrays," Musk just tweeted. At least two thruster pods are needed to deploy the power-generating solar arrays, which stretch 54 feet tip-to-tip. So it's looking positive that they'll recover from this.
- palebluedot 14y agoUh-oh - they just announced that Dragon is having problems, and there should be a press conference in about 30 min. I hope it is not major.
- cobrabyte 14y agoShucks, looks like they encountered some issue after reaching orbit.
- baggachipz 14y agoUh.... what just happened?
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- adastra 14y agoThe space industry's go-to place for minute by minute updates on any launch is Spaceflight Now: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/status.html http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/status.html Here's the last couple of updates: FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 1527 GMT (10:27 a.m. EST) "It appears that although it achieved Earth orbit, Dragon is experiencing some kind problem right now," said John Insprucker, SpaceX's Falcon 9 product manager. We'lll have to learn about the nature of what happened. According to procedure, we expect a press conference to be held a few hours from now. At that time, further info may be available." FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 1524 GMT (10:24 a.m. EST) ANOMALY. SpaceX is reporting some type of anomaly on the Dragon spacecraft. Deployment of the solar arrays was supposed to occur at T+plus 11 minutes, 45 seconds, but on-board cameras did not show the panels unfurl as planned. SpaceX's webcast cut away from the solar array view and went to a slate.
- FD3SA 14y agoFRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 1736 GMT (12:36 p.m. EST) "A NASA official says three Dragon thruster pods are required to approach the International Space Station." Is there any chance of them getting all three thruster pods active? If not, will they have to abort the mission?
- rst 14y agoThere are four pods. One is working already, so they need to reactivate two of the three that are squelched. They have telemetry, and solar power, so that gives them time to work on the problem; battery lifetime is not a constraint. But if they can't get this solved, the delivery can't happen, and the cargo is likely lost. They could try to recover some of it by bringing the Dragon down, and hoping the chutes work --- if they've got enough fuel and control to do that in a controlled way. But that would still result in the loss of the unpressurized cargo in the "trunk", which is separated and burns up on reentry, and also probably some time-sensitive experimental material inside the Dragon itself.
- FD3SA 14y agoIs there any chance NASA will let them go ahead with two pods? I see that only two are required for full control of the craft, but I assume NASA wants three for redundancy in case of a failure.
- palebluedot 14y agoNASA TV just said that they will have a status update on the mission, at 11 AM Eastern time (so, ~15 minutes).
- palebluedot 14y agoElon just tweeted: "Issue with Dragon thruster pods. System inhibiting three of four from initializing. About to command inhibit override." Edit: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/307515784610058241 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/307515784610058241 Edit 2: Follow-up tweet from him: "Holding on solar array deployment until at least two thruster pods are active" Edit 3: Looking better! Latest tweet: "Thruster pod 3 tank pressure trending positive. Preparing to deploy solar arrays." Edit 4: YES! "Solar array deployment successful"
- nkoren 14y agoYeah, I thought the Dragon looked a bit driftier than usual, after separation. Glad to know it's alive and talking, if not necessarily in good health. Let's hope they can nurse it back.
- larrydag 14y agoIt sounds like they're going to have to manually put it in orbit. Probably something happened to the software that auto initiates the thrusters to put it in the right trajectory. I'm just guessing as I'm no Rocket Scientist.
- nkoren 14y agoIt's in orbit already. The question is whether they'll be able to get Dragon to the station. Most likely it's either a software bug or a faulty sensor -- the vast majority of aerospace problems are generally attributable to one or the other.
- dba7dba 14y agohttp://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/status.html http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/status.html FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 1736 GMT (12:36 p.m. EST) A NASA official says three Dragon thruster pods are required to approach the International Space Station. As far as I can tell, only 2 out of 4 thruster pods are working. Hate to say it but this 3rd SpaceX mission might have to be cancelled. Hope it doesn't turn out that way.
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- larrydag 14y agoDragon is now in active control and out of free drift. Tweet from Musk. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/status.html http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/status.html
- jboggan 14y agoThe exciting thing about all of this is the fact that this or any other private space launch won't make the front page in a few years.