SpaceX F9v1.1 Launch w/ Dragon: CRS-3 4/18/2014

[chickensevil]

Yeah, I'm scheduled to donate on March 13th. The sample then gets FedExed or similar to Florida, prepped, and then put in the Dragon refrigerated storage for launch on the 16th. If there's a last minute slip, then they may use fresher samples from one of the backup groups.

I originally was scheduled to donate yesterday for a Feb 22nd launch. They had me go ahead an do that for a dry run. It's an apheresis donation, so I can give again after a week, but a slip of just a few days occurring within a few days of the expected launch means they use the a backup group. So hopefully there won't be any last minute delays. And hopefully I don't get cloned by aliens.

Nah you are going to get cloned when a catastrophic event happens on earth and those samples are all that is left of the human race! Your clone will go on to populate mars so Humans can continue to exist. It's the inevitable outcome...

 

[aronth5]

Mounting landing legs (~60 ft span) to Falcon 9 for next month's Space Station servicing flight.
A water landing but still very exciting.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/437761896028975104/photo/1

 

[chickensevil]

She looks B-E-A-utiful! Can't wait!

 

[voidptr]

Now that the east coast Supercharger network is open, anyone else planning on taking their Model S to attend the launch?

 

[anticitizen13.7]

SpaceX F9v1.1 Launch w/ Dragon: CRS-3 2014-03-16

Mounting landing legs (~60 ft span) to Falcon 9 for next month's Space Station servicing flight.
A water landing but still very exciting.

I can't wait to see video of a Falcon 9 landing on its legs. Reminds me of some space ships from the TV show Doctor Who. There were some Rhino-like alien space police that used them.

 

[doug]

So do those fairings over the legs stay in place or do they get dumped at some point before landing?

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

I can't wait to see video of a Falcon 9 landing on its legs. Reminds me of some space ships from the TV show Doctor Who. There were some Rhino-like alien space police that used them.

Judoon, apparently. I think more of Thunderbirds. Wait a minute, SpaceX are tryig to fly a reusable rocket to a space station, want to hot swap a large, heavy object from the middle of the Model S, and Elon Musk bought the James Bond Lotus and wants to make it submersible...

 

[roblab]

View attachment 44166

So do those fairings over the legs stay in place or do they get dumped at some point before landing?

Those fairings are the legs. There are hydraulic extenders under them which push them out into position.

See: Grasshopper - Page 10

 

[ElSupreme]

So do those fairings over the legs stay in place or do they get dumped at some point before landing?

I think Roblab is correct. The 'fairings' are actually attached/part of the legs themselves.

 

[doug]

Thanks. Yeah I see it now. I was thrown by the change in color and orientation.



According to Jurvetson:

One of four landing legs for the new SpaceX rocket, with a huge carbon fiber layup and hydraulic ram. During liftoff, it lies flush against the body, and then acts as an air brake on the return.

In later missions, the Shuttle SRBs had on board cameras that ran from liftoff to splashdown. I'd love to see continuous video taken from this F9 first stage.

 

[Grendal]

This next flight is going to be damn exciting. I really hope they give us some video of the landing attempt. Maybe park the hexacopter about a quarter mile out to get a second angle on the landing too.

 

[claytorj]

SpaceX outlines CRS-3 landing legs plan toward first stage recovery ambitions | NASASpaceFlight.com

 

[rabar10]

Static Fire of the leggy Falcon 9 v1.1 for CRS-3 Dragon is technically scheduled for today at 1PM EST.

But seeing as there haven't been any sightings at the Cape of the rocket rolled out to the pad and taken vertical, the static fire has most likely been delayed due to winds or weather.

NasaSpaceFlightForum: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS-3 SpX-3 PROCESSING/Pre-LAUNCH UPDATES (specific posts re: static fire)

EDIT: 24-hour delay confirmed, Static Fire now set for Saturday the 8th at 1PM EST.

 

[chickensevil]

Static Fire of the leggy Falcon 9 v1.1 for CRS-3 Dragon is technically scheduled for today at 1PM EST.

But seeing as there haven't been any sightings at the Cape of the rocket rolled out to the pad and taken vertical, the static fire has most likely been delayed due to winds or weather.

NasaSpaceFlightForum: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS-3 SpX-3 PROCESSING/Pre-LAUNCH UPDATES (specific posts re: static fire)

EDIT: 24-hour delay confirmed, Static Fire now set for Saturday the 8th at 1PM EST.

When it does happen can you see if someone gets some video or pictures of it? I would love to see it

 

[rabar10]

When it does happen can you see if someone gets some video or pictures of it? I would love to see it

Static fire confirmed, but no photos/video as yet.

Article: Falcon 9 v1.1 conducts Static Fire ahead of CRS-3 mission | NASASpaceFlight.com

 

[aronth5]

Static fire confirmed, but no photos/video as yet.

https://www.facebook.com/SpaceX

 

[Mario Kadastik]

SpaceX tweeted and made the post on FB as well about the rocket being ready in the hangar for the Sunday launch @ 4:41 EDT (finally a launch that is in the morning for me, around 10:41 AM here in Tallinn).

 

[claytorj]

Nasa TV coverage begins at 3:15am on Sunday morning:

NASA - The National Aeronautics and Space [...] (via noodls) / NASA Coverage Set for March 16 SpaceX Mission to Space Station

 

[Vger]

What a gorgeous piece of elegant design!

 

[claytorj]

I love in the static fire photo how you can clearly see the legs in the retracted position.