SpaceX F9 - CRS-25 - LC-39A

[Grendal]

Launch Date: July 14
Launch Window: 8:45pm EDT (5:45pm PDT, 12:45 UTC on 15th)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Booster Recovery: ASDS - ASOG
Booster Type: B1067.5
Orbit: ISS in LEO
Mass: 9,525 kg (20,999 lb) for Dragon (C208 - 3rd use)
Dragon Return - 8/20/22
Yearly Launch Number: 30th

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Dragon 2 spacecraft on a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The flight is the 25th mission by SpaceX conducted under a Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA.

SpaceX CRS-25 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Cargo Dragon C208 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Science Highlights:

 

[Grendal]

Delays are coming.

 

[Grendal]

Article about it.

Cargo Dragon mission postponed to investigate potential propellant leak

NASA and SpaceX have postponed the launch of a cargo Dragon mission to the ISS after discovering a potential propellant leak in the spacecraft’s thrusters.

spacenews.com

 

[ecarfan]

Wow, very unusual occurrence for SpaceX.

 

[Electroman]

Is Hydrazine used for thrust maneuvers during docking?

 

[mongo]

Is Hydrazine used for thrust maneuvers during docking?

Yeah, all the Draco and Super Dracos run off that and NTO.

 

[bxr140]

Is Hydrazine used for thrust maneuvers during docking?

Basically any ‘high’ thrust thruster in space uses a variant of hydrazine fuel (and usually N2H4 as oxidizer). Despite being massively toxic and a PITA to handle on the ground, they’re very stable on orbit and can be for decades.

Something like the electric thrusters used on Starlink are micro thrust—they’re not compatible with activities like vehicle docking.

 

[bxr140]

Lol…N2O4

 

[Grendal]

Pushed out to NET July 11.

 

[Grendal]

Newest update - first post updated

 

[Grendal]

NASA Highlights Climate Research on Cargo Launch, Sets Coverage - NASA

NASA and SpaceX are targeting 8:44 p.m. EDT Thursday, July 14, to launch the agency’s next investigation to monitor climate change to the International Space

www.nasa.gov

 

[Grendal]

 

[808?]

 

[Grendal]

 

[Grendal]

NASA's coverage of the launch:

 

[Cosmacelf]

Um, the time in the first post is wrong - should be 8:45 PM, not AM, EDT.

Moderator: Thanks! Corrected.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Nice landing on the droneship, all looks OK.

 

[Grendal]

A boostback burn but still landed on ASOG. Dual Dragon on the ISS. SpaceX is killing it.

 

[MyJoule]

A boostback burn but still landed on ASOG. Dual Dragon on the ISS. SpaceX is killing it.

Anyone know why they didn't use RTLS? or rather why the boost back burn ? Was it to land the booster closer to shore? Keep the loads on the booster lighter? I don't recall a boost back then a Drone ship landing before

 

[Grendal]

Anyone know why they didn't use RTLS? or rather why the boost back burn ? Was it to land the booster closer to shore? Keep the loads on the booster lighter? I don't recall a boost back then a Drone ship landing before

It has happened on both the East Coast and the West Coast. If I remember correctly, the West Coast one was because ULA had a very sensitive military/NRO payload at Vandenberg. Maybe this Dragon had a light payload and which allowed the ability for a partial boostback burn.