Looks like there is already a delay: Launch of SpaceX CRS-5 slips to no-earlier-than Dec. 5 - SpaceFlight Insider The title is wrong and it will be No Earlier Than December 9th.
CRS-5 Dragon ISS mission aiming for December 16 target http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/11/crs-5-dragon-mission-iss-evaluating-december-target/
"The fifth SpaceX cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract now is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1:20 p.m. EST Friday, Dec. 19, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA Television coverage of the launch begins at 12:15 p.m." NASA, SpaceX Update Launch of Resupply Mission to the Space Station | NASA
Any updates on how firm the date is for this one? I got the call this morning to donate blood for that cells in space thing again. Last time it was supposed to be on CRS-3. I must have donated four or more times for that one since it kept getting pushed back, and ultimately the experiment didn't fly. Hoping things work out this time around.
Yeah, I'm hoping so too. That was disappointing that it didn't work last time. Here's the update thread at NSF: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - Dragon - CRS-5/SpX-5 - December 19, 2014 - UPDATE THREAD And here's a relevant update posted yesterday:
New Update from NSF forum: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - Dragon - CRS-5/SpX-5 - December 19, 2014 - UPDATE THREAD (Bolding mine)
Looks like it won't launch till after New Years now: SpaceX likely to slip Dragons CRS-5 mission to January | NASASpaceFlight.com
Yep, the previously-linked article has been updated to reflect the new launch date: SpaceX confirms CRS-5 launch slip to January 6 | NASASpaceFlight.com Edit: the reason for the long-ish delay is due to a 'high beta angle' period with the ISS and how its orbit is aligned with the position of the Sun. During this time (from the 28th through January 7th) visiting vehicles are not allowed to berth/dock with the ISS.
Successful static test fire today in preparation for the January launch: CRS-5 LAUNCH UPDATE | SpaceX Seems a bit early since they have such a long delay....
Beta angle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For those who aren't familiar with this as I wasn't. So am I to guess then that the reason for this delay is not because of something with the ISS but rather the capsule itself where it cannot be in the sunlight for too long because it can't handle it? So they have to push the launch back until the ISS goes into a better orbiting period such that the capsule would be exposed to less sun? I am guess the ISS was built to handle a much higher beta angle than dragon was. It is interesting because that isn't something I would have thought about offhand as a general challenge. I would have thought everything would have been built to handle the extreme temps both hot and cold of space, I didn't realize there was also a timing factor to it. This is all rather fascinating
Probably there are at least two factors involved. The Dragon most likely has to rotate to distribute the heat evenly, and cannot do that while docking, or once docked. The other is the Sun position relative to the ISS while docking, as having the Sun at the wrong angle behind the ISS could blind the sensors needed to determine distance.
From the NASA press release: "Beta angles are the angles between the space station orbital plane and the sun, resulting in the station being in almost constant sunlight for a 10 day period. During this time, there are thermal and operational constraints that prohibit Dragon from berthing to the station. This high beta period runs from Dec. 28 through Jan. 7." https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacex/2014/12/18/crs-5-launch-date-net-jan-6/
Here is the fact sheet for the 5th commercial resupply mission not to mention the ocean barge landing attempt. Always interesting are the research highlights which will likely get little media coverage with all the attention paid to the barge landing. -Flatworm regeneration -CATS (no not real cats!) -Fruit Fly Lab -Micro 5 -Nano Racks SABOL http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceX_CRS-5_factsheet.pdf
You forgot the all important Doug's blood experiment. He can verify but I believe it has to do with vampirism or staving off a zombie apocalypse...
I know the launch is scheduled for Jan 6 but I can not find a launch time. Has this been announced, I don't want to miss this one?