SpaceX

[zack]

Test flight my ass. Flight. Pure and simple.

 

[rabar10]

They made orbit. Solar array deployed.

The Dragon has wings!

 

[Bradleybang]

That was incredible. I think they showed spacex can easily launch an orbit with a payload for profit (ie satlelites). The tough one coming is attaching to the space station. It's an international governmental affair. So everything will need to be perfect. My fingers are crossed

 

[doug]

Great stuff. The SpaceX feed was definitely more exciting.

 

[STxTesla]

Congrats to SpaceX for Successful Launch

Congrats Elon!

A new era in space science has begun and SpaceX is at the forefront.

:applause: (hey...where's the applause emoticon?)

 

[NigelM]

So, how much should the astronauts give as a tip for a 500kg delivery to the ISS?

 

[daniel]

I am not surprised. Congratulations to the folks at SpaceX for a successful launch, and best wishes for the rest of the mission to be successful as well. I have no doubts that it will be.

 

[AnOutsider]

I'm also not surprised, but I AM relieved. Nothing is certain and a disaster here could have caused major ripples.

 

[VolkerP]

So, how much should the astronauts give as a tip for a 500kg delivery to the ISS?

660kg in waste.

 

[Norbert]

(hey...where's the applause emoticon?)

We are going to need that a lot in the next 3 months.

 

[Grendal]

Congratulations, Space X! Congratulations, Elon Musk! And for that matter, congratulations, Tesla! What a fantastic accomplishment.

 

[Norbert]

Image Credit: NASA/Alan Ault

 

[dpeilow]

 

[Larry Chanin]

Only had an inexpensive hand-held camera, but had a great time witnessing history being made in the Sunshine state!

Larry

 

[daniel]

Cool pics. Thanks to both of you for posting those.

 

[Norbert]

Spaceflight Now Mission Status Center

New status:

"LIDAR system, and the capsule's thermal imager appear to working as expected"

"Dragon's commanded abort demonstrations, employing full burns and pulsed firings of its Draco thrusters, were completed earlier today. The craft also demonstrated its free drift mode, in which Dragon's attitude control thrusters are switched off."

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
2120 GMT (5:20 p.m. EDT)

Dragon's commanded abort demonstrations, employing full burns and pulsed firings of its Draco thrusters, were completed earlier today. The craft also demonstrated its free drift mode, in which Dragon's attitude control thrusters are switched off.

NASA and SpaceX are reviewing data from the demos.

The abort and free drift functions are required for Dragon's approach to the space station. An abort may be necessary if problems develop during the final phase of rendezvous, and Dragon must go to free drift mode before being grappled by the station's robot arm.

SpaceX has thus far reported no significant issues with the spacecraft on its first day in orbit. More burns are on tap overnight and tomorrow to fine-tune its high-speed pursuit of the space station.

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
1151 GMT (7:51 a.m. EDT)

Dragon's laser ranging instrument, called a LIDAR system, and the capsule's thermal imager appear to working as expected, but the big test won't come until Friday's final rendezvous with the International Space Station. The sensors will then be called upon to feed precise range and relative velocity data to Dragon's flight computer and guidance system.

 

[vfx]

Launch photo

 

[daniel]

^ Cool!

 

[NigelM]

Which one is Larry?:

 

[Larry Chanin]

Which one is Larry?:

View attachment 6228

Hi Nigel,

No nice bleachers where we were viewing. :wink:

Larry