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[N_Molson]

On-board press conference

Expedition 31 Flight Engineers Don Pettit, Andre Kuipers and Joe Acaba discuss Dragon's mission with reporters during a crew news conference. Dragon is scheduled to spend six days berthed to the station before being detached and released on May 31.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/120526hatch/

Stephen Clark's article on spaceflight.now

 

[Capt_hensley]

Thanks, the article contains a nice list of items they will ship back.

 

[orb]

A couple of photos of Dragon from André Kuipers' photostream:

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Click on images for larger view​

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Hours on end monitoring Dragon's approach is no punishment. Here over Namibia.

Credit: ESA/NASA​

| Dragon over the Rocky Mountains

Credit: ESA/NASA​

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Approach to 10 metres.

Credit: ESA/NASA​

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Credit: ESA/NASA​

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Manoeuvring Dragon to the docking port.

Credit: ESA/NASA​

| Like this it looks a bit like a model from a 70's sci-fi film.

Credit: ESA/NASA​

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And the Dragon is in its lair! Task accomplished.

Credit: ESA/NASA​

| Dragon's golden gate

Credit: ESA/NASA​

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The gate to the Dragon's lair.

Credit: ESA/NASA​

| Inside of the Dragon module. Beautiful. Spacious, Modern. Blue LEDs. Feels a bit like a sci-fi filmset. Of course it is from Los Angeles.

Credit: ESA/NASA​

collectSPACE: Photos: Enter the Dragon: First private spacecraft at space station

 

[sorindafabico]

Amazing pictures.

 

[Eccentrus]

wow, beautiful, hell if they make space hotels looks like that I'm going to be very interested

 

[Screamer7]

I did not realize how big it is.
I only get the true scale with the astronauts inside the Dragon.
From outside it doesn't look that big.

 

[N_Molson]

It has to be if you want to put 6 astronauts inside.

Manned versions will look more cramped, there the seats are not installed, nor the crew interface, life support equipement, suits, crew supplies, etc, etc...

 

[T.Neo]

There is a picture of people filling up the SpaceX DragonRider mockup;

Of course, this is without suits, without extra hardware, etc that would fill up the cabin. But perhaps it is not as cramped as one might think (though I use the term 'cramped' in relation to other space capsules).

Dragon's size is demonstrated pretty well in images next to humans;

'Up to seven people' does not mean "you have to carry seven people". Crew flights to the ISS may carry fewer passengers- on the order of 3-4. At that crew complement, the relative spaciousness of Dragon could dramatically increase.

 

[N_Molson]

I think they will fill it up as much as possible though. It would make little sense to launch an half-empty capsule.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I think I read on the SpaceX site that the Dragon is supposed to be modular and they could arrange 3 crew + cargo, or 7 crew little bit of cargo, 2 crew and lots more cargo... Something like that.

And I thought the seats (maybe some, not all), would fold away and be stored, making for a bit more elbow room. Even so, 7 people are really going to have to like each other in order to hang around in the capsule for the ride uphill.

 

[Eccentrus]

there's still no business class going upwards right?

 

[NovaSilisko]

there's still no business class going upwards right?

Not yet, anyway

 

[N_Molson]

I think I read on the SpaceX site that the Dragon is supposed to be modular and they could arrange 3 crew + cargo, or 7 crew little bit of cargo, 2 crew and lots more cargo... Something like that.

Yes, that would make sense. Sending 7 people to the ISS isn't going to be always useful. 3-4 astronauts + a complement of cargo seems a good balance.

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: Canada’s Dextre meets SpaceX’s Dragon to demo CRS operations:

With Dragon now installed and ingressed on the International Space Station (ISS), Canada’s Dextre robot took an opportunity to greet the new spacecraft on Sunday. The SPDM (Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator) was translated to the SpaceX vehicle to practise the removal of cargo from the trunk, a key element of future Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions.

{...}

 

[Ripley]

...Unlike ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle or Russian Soyuz and Progress ferries, Dragon is not designed to dock automatically with the Station. It relies on astronauts using the long arm to grab the spacecraft and move it safely into position for temporary berthing to one of the Station ports...

DOH!
Maybe I didn't follow Dragon's birth as I ought to. I thought that grabbing it with the Canadarm was a kind of precaution and was done for safety reasons...
Something like...ok little baby, now that you've come this close, let me handle the rest...maybe next time is your turn.

 

[Ghostrider]

there's still no business class going upwards right?

No, but there will be an economy class: they'll ride wearing spacesuits, strapped to the hull. Barrels o'fun on re-entry...:lol:

 

[Zatnikitelman]

DOH!
Maybe I didn't follow Dragon's birth as I ought to. I thought that grabbing it with the Canadarm was a kind of precaution and was done for safety reasons...
Something like...ok little baby, now that you've come this close, let me handle the rest...maybe next time is your turn.

It's done for more than safety reasons. The large CBM ports that the Dragon cargo version uses are not designed for any relative velocity between vehicles as docking ports like APAS, or the Russian probe and drogue are. I believe however the plan is still for the Dragon crew version to have fully automatic docking all the way in and will use the NASA Docking System (Low Impact Docking System) so the arm shouldn't need to grapple the vehicle on every docking.

 

[anemazoso]

It's done for more than safety reasons. The large CBM ports that the Dragon cargo version uses are not designed for any relative velocity between vehicles as docking ports like APAS, or the Russian probe and drogue are. I believe however the plan is still for the Dragon crew version to have fully automatic docking all the way in and will use the NASA Docking System (Low Impact Docking System) so the arm shouldn't need to grapple the vehicle on every docking.

Thats the only reason. Dragon is fully capable of the fine manuvering required for docking. This the fact that the cargo variant uses the cargo hatch like MPLM and HTV. ATV has the russian docking port. My understanding is that NASA wanted the cargo port for the cargo missions because its a larger opening.

 

[C3PO]

Thats the only reason. Dragon is fully capable of the fine manuvering required for docking. This the fact that the cargo variant uses the cargo hatch like MPLM and HTV. ATV has the russian docking port. My understanding is that NASA wanted the cargo port for the cargo missions because its a larger opening.

AFAIK the manned Dragons will have to use LIDS, in case they need to leave in a hurry.