Space news, rocket launches and ISS docking

[MikeMelga 7,346]

NASA TV is going to cover the launch live, starting at 16h15.

 

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/schedule.html

[MikeMelga 7,346]

Live now, launch in 30min

 

http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv

[thebrucer 544]

ok, that was cool, especially live at separation

[MikeMelga 7,346]

Unsure why they cut the live feed after first stage separation. Probably lost video downlink. Still, we will have nice images from ISS in a couple of days. The telemetry screen was very cool, especially if you play Kerbal Space Program.

[Moondancer 5,723]

Great launch. I love watching these. Still wish I could be an astronaut.

[MikeMelga 7,346]

Falcon9 successfully completed a 4 seconds hot fire today, looking good for next week's launch.

 

Cygnus is in good shape and getting ready for a Sunday berthing to ISS. A small propulsion error placed them on a higher orbit. I actually saw that on the live feed. I think the problem is that the 2nd stage is a solid propulsion rocket, so there is not much control (or none) over thrust and MECO (Main Engine Cut Off).

[Quasy 318]

Did you really have to mention the Kerbal Space Program?

Now I'm playing it for the last 3 weeks and I can't take any sleep any longer. On the drive to work I think of how I can improve my last night's rocket or rover, or how can I bring those stuck Kerbals back from the Mun.

I wasn't hooked at first with this game. Compared to Orbital it just looked foolish. But after downloading the demo, and making my first trip to the Mun and back, with enough fuel in the tanks to enter Kerbol's atmosphere and do an aerobraking, I had to buy the full game. And since then, I'm just calculating orbits, building rockets and rovers, and fly them to the edge of space (well, not quite really: I've been only up to Minimus, and my biggest achievement was bringing back the 3 kerbals stuck on the Mun)

 

 

And the game answered me quite some questions: how are the rendevous made (before the docking part), how does the Oberth effect works, why is the Hochmann transfer orbit so efficient, and so on...

 

thank you Mike for hinting this game :)

[Quasy 318]

Not a space launch in itself, but still an amazing show coming from SpaceX:

 

 

 

I can't wait to see their first complete recovery of the first stage. And I wonder what turnaround times will they have...

[MikeMelga 7,346]

 

Did you really have to mention the Kerbal Space Program?

Now I'm playing it for the last 3 weeks and I can't take any sleep any longer.

 

Maybe I really should not mention this, but version 0.22 is out and it is awesome!!! Problem is I left my good desktop PC in Portugal and I will only be able to play it in November!!

[MikeMelga 7,346]

 

I can't wait to see their first complete recovery of the first stage. And I wonder what turnaround times will they have...

 

The next 2 launches will be without recovery (for performance reasons) but it seems that the next Dragon flight to the ISS will have a recovery attempt, probably with the legs!!! Epic!

[Quasy 318]

the next launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket (upgraded to V1.1) will take place in a few minutes (if everything goes according to the plan). It will be their first launch of a satellite to geostationary orbit.

 

live webcast here

 

LE: i didn't know there were so many changes on the Falcon 9 between the V1.0 and V1.1... the rocket is also quite much longer as before.

[Darkknight 2,305]

Well, looks likes those changes have now stopped the countdown at 6 min. Their still checking stuff out.

 

Update: Countdown reset to 13min and holding for a new launch time..

[Quasy 318]

Launch scrub. Next attempt on Thursday 28.Nov, launch window opens one minute later than today.

[poohsan 2,486]

NASA and SpaceX have confirmed Fri. 4/18 for the next launch attempt for the Falcon 9 rocket to send the Dragon spacecraft on the company's third commercial resupply mission and fourth visit to the space station. Launch is scheduled for 3:25pm ET. The launch will be webcast live beginning at 2:45. A launch on Friday results in a rendezvous with the space station on Sun. 4/20 and a grapple at 7:14am.

 

A link! http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

[Darkknight 2,305]

FYI: 245pm ET is 2045 In Germany..

[Guest]

Is it the same link as in Post#54?

[MikeMelga 7,346]

1 hour to go! Buckle up!

 

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/009/status.html

 

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34502.30

[poohsan 2,486]

Grasshopper test filmed from a drone

 

 

[poohsan 2,486]

and now there's an app for the ISS

 

http://thewestsidestory.net/2014/12/29/25995/nasa-launches-space-station-research-explorer-app-bring-iss-everyones-fingertips/

[poohsan 2,486]

CRS-5 Mission set to launch in just under an hour (I think) - this is the one where they plan to try and land the first stage on a barge.

 

http://www.spacex.com/webcast/