Updates SpaceX Falcon 9 F5 CRS SpX-2 through CRS SpX-12 Updates

[DaveS]

Can we watch live anywhere?

No. The best will be the occasional Twitter update from either @SpaceX or @elonmusk.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Splashdown has been confirmed. Sounds like a smooth ride down... :tiphat:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

 

[Fabri91]

And some days after the fact, here it is in a truck stop in Arizona:
Imgur album
Reddit link to the thread created by the spotter

Note the sign "flown hardware".

 

[Kyle]

CRS-6 is up next! Patch just released.

 

[Kyle]

CRS-6 delayed to at least April 13th.

 

[dman]

Space X CRS 6 launch scheduled for April 13

http://www.universetoday.com/119685...-13-with-booster-landing-attempt/#more-119685

---------- Post added at 05:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:59 PM ----------

There is zero launch window for April 13 - Space x must launch at precise time otherwise will be scrubbed

Earliest launch attempt if scrubbed is April 14

Also Space X will attempt soft landing recovery of the Falcon 9 booster on a barge in the Atlantic

Anyone want to make book on whether launch occurs on April 13, odds of succesful landing of Falcon 9 booster on barge...??

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Even odds on the launch. I remember a quote from a newscaster (not Cronkite) years ago during a launch attempt that "NASA is doing what they do best, hold". The '9 is still a new rocket (to me anyway) so better to get it right, than, well... not get it right.

As far as a 1st stage recovery; they've proven that they can hit the target (pun intended). So if it can be done, I'm sure they'll get it. With the added hydraulics maybe-maybe not. Nothing ventured-nothing gained. I'm keeping in mind that they are attempting to do what most others have said can't be done. I certainly wish them all the best of luck.

I just wonder how steady the whole thing will be if they do recover. How long would it take the support crew to approach the drone ship, and secure the stage; and the whole shebang be transported back to J-ville.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

5 days to launch and launch processing is quiet so far (although the crucial static fire has yet to come so finger's crossed).

In the mean time, here's a drone view of the ASDS being re-fitted at Jacksonville last month:

 

[dman]

X marks the spot

Crash it here............

 

[Urwumpe]

I bet the barge wins again!

 

[Thunder Chicken]

I hope they land this time, or else MBDA will sue SpaceX for patent infringement on their Exocet anti-ship missile technology.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Apparently the static fire isn't going to happen until Saturday (T-48 hours or so). Talk about tight schedules for the pad rats! :shifty:

In the mean time, here's some 4K footage of previous SpaceX launches: :tiphat:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmJgW-yMAIg"]4K Footage | SpaceX Launches - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Under 2 days to launch!

SpaceX @SpaceX
Final processing for #Dragon ahead of 4/13 launch attempt to @Space_Station (points if you notice what’s new)

SpaceX @SpaceX
Static fire engine test completed today in advance of Monday's launch attempt to the @Space_Station.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Weather looks.....eh.....OK-ish:

Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on April 13, 2015 (4 p.m.)

Mostly cloudy in the morning, then thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 28C. Winds SE at 15 to 30 km/h. Chance of rain 80%.

Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
4 PM|27°C|22°C|71%|62%|0%|75%|1020 hPa|21 km/h SE|

Thunderstorm

The payloads on board the Dragon isn't too distinctive this time, but here's the list:

More info can be found in the press kit: http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceX_NASA_CRS-6_PressKit-2.pdf

 

[Kyle]

How are the seas looking off the coast of Cape Canaveral? They're normally not too rough this time of year.

---------- Post added 04-13-15 at 01:38 AM ---------- Previous post was 04-12-15 at 04:55 PM ----------

From SpaceX

"Just Read the Instructions now on location in the Atlantic in advance of tomorrow's launch, targeted for 4:33pm ET. Since our last landing attempt, the drone ship has been upgraded to tolerate more powerful ocean swells, however weather at the landing site is looking significantly better this time.

After Dragon and Falcon 9’s second stage are on their way to orbit, the first stage will execute a controlled reentry through Earth’s atmosphere, targeting touchdown on an autonomous spaceport drone ship approximately nine minutes after launch."

 

[dman]

One the items Dragon cargo container will be hauling up to ISS is an
expresso coffee maker - designed by Italian coffee maker LAVAZZA for
Italian astronault Samantha Cristoforetti.

Was supposed to arrive in January, but was delayed by loss of earlier supply
rocket

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Caffeine-High-Space-Station-Getting-Espresso-Maker-299500701.html

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Localized thunderstorms will be the key to a green weather status at liftoff.

 

[Delta glider]

:woohoo:
Live broadcasting has started.

 

[Ripley]

...(points if you notice what’s new)...

C'mon! What was that?