SpaceX F9 - CRS-17 - SLC-40

[Grendal]

Launch Date: May 4th Saturday
Launch Window: 0648 GMT (2:48 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40 Cape Canaveral
Booster Recovery: ASDS - OCISLY just offshore
Booster Type: B1056.1 - New
Orbit: ISS in LEO
Dragon Return - 6/3/19

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 19th Dragon spacecraft mission on its 17th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. The Dragon was used previously on CRS-12.

 

[e-FTW]

Watching the crew DM-1 launch and docking, I realize how much I could have used having watched the CRS missions all the way to ISS!
They mentioned during the stream that they had one CRS mission where the ISS crew had to send the vehicle a “back-off” command. Unexpected excitement!

 

[e-FTW]

SpaceFlightNow has added a more precise launch time of “Approx. 1015 GMT (6:15 a.m. EDT)” to their launch schedule page.

 

[e-FTW]

SpaceFlightNow has added a more precise launch time of “Approx. 1015 GMT (6:15 a.m. EDT)” to their launch schedule page.

And they have firmed it up, but 5 minutes later... 1020 GMT (6:20 a.m. EDT)

 

[Electroman]

And why are they not using Crew-Dragon as another test mission, before the real one with astronauts ?

 

[e-FTW]

And why are they not using Crew-Dragon as another test mission, before the real one with astronauts ?

Different programs, but it sounds like SpaceX might want to do that in the future with flight-proven Crew Dragons.

 

[e-FTW]

@Grendal Updated date and time below: Chris G - NSF on Twitter

 

[Nikxice]

CRS-17 just pushed out four days. Now Tuesday April 30th @ 4:22 a.m. EDT. That's more than two hours before sunrise. Quote from NASA. ""Falcon 9 and Dragon are on track to be flight-ready for an earlier launch attempt; however, April 30 is the most viable date for both NASA and SpaceX due to station and orbital mechanics constraints."
Assuming the F9 tracks up the east coast, there's always a chance of getting a visual. Anyhow, always fun to try. Last time for me was about 25 years ago catching a glimpse of a Shuttle several seconds before MECO. Low in the southeastern sky, miles beyond Boston and Portsmouth, NH.

 

[mongo]

And why are they not using Crew-Dragon as another test mission, before the real one with astronauts ?

The recently return crew dragon is being refurbished for the in flight abort test. The other completed capsule is slated to carry the first set of astronauts.
The capsule configuration is different also, which makes it less suitible for cargo (seats/ screens).

 

[Electroman]

The recently return crew dragon is being refurbished for the in flight abort test. The other completed capsule is slated to carry the first set of astronauts.
The capsule configuration is different also, which makes it less suitible for cargo (seats/ screens).

Thank you.

So only one launch-docking-landing test in crew dragon (without crews) followed by an abort test, and the next one is with humans?

 

[mongo]

Thank you.

So only one launch-docking-landing test in crew dragon (without crews) followed by an abort test, and the next one is with humans?

That's my understanding.
It already had the pad abort test and the F9 has had its required (7? I think) flights in the current configuration (new COPVs). So one more test and then the real deal.

 

[Grendal]

Take note that this launch will be using a refurbished Dragon 1 cargo capsule. I think current cargo resupply missions are all D1's from the CRS1 contract which is 20 missions. CRS2 will probably all be reused Crew Dragons.

 

[Grendal]

I just changed the first post with the B1056.1 update. The booster will now be doing an ASDS landing just offshore from the Cape due to contamination at LZ-1 from the Capsule anomaly.

 

[Nikxice]

I just changed the first post with the B1056.1 update. The booster will now be doing an ASDS landing just offshore from the Cape due to contamination at LZ-1 from the Capsule anomaly.

That's actually some welcome news. There was likely some concern CRS-17 would be delayed to the ISS. Although there's no Super Dracos involved here, perhaps this indicates that SpaceX/NASA have narrowed the cause of the DM-1 capsule anomaly.

 

[Grendal]

One day slip. Static fire planned for 4/27-ish. First post adjusted.

 

[Pricee2]

Has there been a static fire yet?

Never mind. It was the 27th.

 

[Grendal]

Weather good for day of launch: 80%. Less so for backup date on the 2nd: 70% on that day.

 

[Nikxice]

Not official yet, Spaceflight Now is reporting tonight the launch of CRS-17 is expected to be rescheduled for no earlier than Friday morning.

NASA is troubleshooting an issue with the electrical power system onboard the ISS. At least some of the problem could affect the redundancy NASA requires for operating the Canadian-built robot arm, critical for berthing the Dragon capsule.

 

[ecarfan]

NASA is troubleshooting an issue with the electrical power system onboard the ISS.

Yep. See Space station power problem delays CRS-17 Dragon launch

 

[Grendal]

The livestream video is up nice and early for the Friday launch.