Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 F4 CRS SpX-1 Updates

[Donamy]

Let's hope it is a successful launch whenever it goes.

 

[orb]

The Planetary Society Blog: SpaceX ready for return to International Space Station

 

[Kyle]

A static fire test for CRS-1 will be conducted Saturday (rollout Friday) of the Falcon 9 rocket.

 

[orb]

NASA News Release:
MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-194
NASA Coverage Set for Oct. 7 SpaceX Launch to Space Station

Sept. 28, 2012

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The first SpaceX launch for NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7, from Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. There is a single instantaneous launch opportunity for the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule at 8:35 p.m. EDT. Backup launch opportunities are available on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, if needed.

NASA Television launch coverage from Cape Canaveral begins at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7.

The launch of the Dragon spacecraft, designated SpaceX CRS-1, will be the first of 12 contracted flights by the company to resupply the International Space Station and is the second trip by a Dragon to the station, following a successful demonstration mission in May. Under the CRS contract, SpaceX will restore an American capability to deliver and return significant amounts of cargo, including science experiments, to the orbiting laboratory -- a capability not available since the retirement of the space shuttle.

The Dragon will be filled with about 1,000 pounds of supplies. This includes critical materials to support the 166 investigations planned for the station's Expedition 33 crew, including 63 new investigations. The Dragon will return about 734 pounds of scientific materials, including results from human research, biotechnology, materials and educational experiments, as well as about 504 pounds of space station hardware.

{...}

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING

Saturday, Oct. 6 (L-1 day): A space station and SpaceX CRS-1 mission science briefing will be held at Kennedy's Press Site at 3 p.m. NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming Internet coverage.

Participating in the science briefing will be:

• Julie Robinson, program scientist, International Space Station, Johnson Space Center
• Timothy Yateman, interim chief scientist, Center for the Advancement of Science in Space
• Sheila Nielsen-Preiss, scientist, Montana State University
• Scott Smith, NASA scientist, Johnson Space Center

PRELAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE

Saturday, Oct. 6 (L-1 day): The prelaunch news conference for the NASA/SpaceX launch will be held at Kennedy's Press Site at 6 p.m. NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming Internet coverage.

Participating in the prelaunch news conference will be:

• Bob Cabana, director, Kennedy Space Center
• Sam Scimemi, director, International Space Station, NASA Headquarters
• Mike Suffredini, program manager, International Space Station, Johnson Space Center
• Gwynne Shotwell, president, SpaceX
• Mike McAleenan, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE

Sunday, Oct. 7 (Launch day): A post-launch news conference will be held at Kennedy's Press Site and is targeted to begin at 10 p.m., approximately 90 minutes after launch.

Participating in the post-launch news conference will be:

• Sam Scimemi, director, International Space Station, NASA Headquarters
• Gwynne Shotwell, president, SpaceX

{...}

NASA TV LAUNCH COVERAGE

Sunday, Oct. 7 (Launch day): NASA TV live coverage will begin at 7 p.m. and will conclude at approximately 9 p.m. A post-launch news conference is planned at approximately 10 p.m. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv​

Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA "V" circuits which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, "mission audio," the launch conductor's countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135 starting at 7 p.m. Launch coverage also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz, heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast.​

IN-FLIGHT NASA TV COVERAGE

Wednesday, Oct. 10 (L+3 days): Rendezvous and grapple coverage begins at 4 a.m. for a grapple at 7:30 a.m. Berthing coverage begins at 9:15 a.m. for the start of berthing at 9:30 a.m.

Unberthing and release for deorbit is currently scheduled on Sunday, Oct. 28, however times have not yet been determined.​

NASA WEB PRELAUNCH AND LAUNCH COVERAGE

Prelaunch and launch day coverage of the SpaceX CRS-1 flight will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and text updates beginning at 7 p.m. as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video, podcast and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact Jeanne Ryba at 321-867-7824. To follow countdown coverage on NASAS's launch blog and learn more about the CRS-1 mission, go to the mission home page at:

http://www.nasa.gov/station​

TWITTER

The NASA News Twitter feed will be updated throughout the launch countdown at:

http://www.twitter.com/nasa

and

http://www.twitter.com/nasakennedy

and

http://www.twitter.com/spacex​

{...}

 

[Kyle]

F9 is vertical on the pad.

Last I heard was that the static firing is still on for today.

---------- Post added at 04:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:40 PM ----------

The Falcon 9 rocket rolled to the launch pad this morning for a final countdown rehearsal and static fire engine test ahead of liftoff Oct. 7 to the International Space Station.
Ignition of the rocket's nine Merlin first stage engines is expected around 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT).

---------- Post added at 06:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:14 PM ----------

Firing occurred on time at 1:30 pm EDT. Note there was no Dragon attached to the vehicle.

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: Falcon 9 hot fires its engines as the ISS prepares for Dragon’s arrival

Florida Today: Space X test fires rocket engine

SPACE.com: Private SpaceX Rocket Test-Fires Engines for Space Station Trip

 

[orb]

Static fire test video reply

 

[Kyle]

Everything looks like it went good with the static test firing yesterday, so we're at L-7 days and counting and everything is still in a go status.

 

[Kyle]

Sept. 28, 2012

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-194

NASA COVERAGE SET FOR OCT. 7 SPACEX LAUNCH TO SPACE STATION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The first SpaceX launch for NASA's Commercial
Resupply Services (CRS) contract is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7,
from Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in
Florida. There is a single instantaneous launch opportunity for the
Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule at 8:35 p.m. EDT. Backup launch
opportunities are available on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, if needed.

NASA Television launch coverage from Cape Canaveral begins at 7 p.m.
on Oct. 7.

The launch of the Dragon spacecraft, designated SpaceX CRS-1, will be
the first of 12 contracted flights by the company to resupply the
International Space Station and is the second trip by a Dragon to the
station, following a successful demonstration mission in May. Under
the CRS contract, SpaceX will restore an American capability to
deliver and return significant amounts of cargo, including science
experiments, to the orbiting laboratory -- a capability not available
since the retirement of the space shuttle.

The Dragon will be filled with about 1,000 pounds of supplies. This
includes critical materials to support the 166 investigations planned
for the station's Expedition 33 crew, including 63 new
investigations. The Dragon will return about 734 pounds of scientific
materials, including results from human research, biotechnology,
materials and educational experiments, as well as about 504 pounds of
space station hardware.

MEDIA CREDENTIALING

Media who want to attend the prelaunch events, including the launch
pad photo opportunity, prelaunch news conference and launch, must
request accreditation online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

The deadline for U.S. media to apply for accreditation is Oct. 3. The
deadline has passed for international news media to apply.

Media credentials will be valid for mission activities from launch
through splashdown at both NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and
Johnson Space Center in Texas.

For further information about media accreditation, contact Jennifer
Horner at 321-867-6598 or 321-867-2468.

PASS AND IDENTIFICATION BUILDING HOURS OF OPERATION

The Pass and Identification Building on State Road 3, Merritt Island,
will be open to pick up media credentials on the following schedule:

Friday, Oct. 5: noon - 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 7: 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING

Saturday, Oct. 6 (L-1 day): A space station and SpaceX CRS-1 mission
science briefing will be held at Kennedy's Press Site at 3 p.m. NASA
Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming Internet
coverage.

Participating in the science briefing will be:
-- Julie Robinson, program scientist, International Space Station,
Johnson Space Center
-- Timothy Yateman, interim chief scientist, Center for the
Advancement of Science in Space
-- Sheila Nielsen-Preiss, scientist, Montana State University
-- Scott Smith, NASA scientist, Johnson Space Center

PRELAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE

Saturday, Oct. 6 (L-1 day): The prelaunch news conference for the
NASA/SpaceX launch will be held at Kennedy's Press Site at 6 p.m.
NASA Television will provide live coverage, as well as streaming
Internet coverage.

Participating in the prelaunch news conference will be:
-- Bob Cabana, director, Kennedy Space Center
-- Sam Scimemi, director, International Space Station, NASA
Headquarters
-- Mike Suffredini, program manager, International Space Station,
Johnson Space Center
-- Gwynne Shotwell, president, SpaceX
-- Mike McAleenan, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station

POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE

Sunday, Oct. 7 (Launch day): A post-launch news conference will be
held at Kennedy's Press Site and is targeted to begin at 10 p.m.,
approximately 90 minutes after launch.

Participating in the post-launch news conference will be:
-- Sam Scimemi, director, International Space Station, NASA
Headquarters
-- Gwynne Shotwell, president, SpaceX

Media may participate in the news conferences in person at Kennedy
Space Center or via a phone bridge by calling the newsroom at Kennedy
15 minutes before the briefings begin at 321-867-2468. Audio of the
prelaunch briefings will be carried on the NASA "V" circuits which
may be accessed directly by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or
-7135.

FALCON 9 LAUNCH PAD PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Sunday, Oct. 7 (Launch day): There will be a photo opportunity of the
Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule on the launch pad. Media will
depart from Kennedy's Press Site by government bus at 10:30 a.m. for
Space Launch Complex 40. Media will return to the Press Site at 11:45
a.m. SpaceX security regulations require that media representatives
attending this event be U.S. citizens. A sign-up sheet will be
available in the newsroom for media desiring to participate in this
opportunity. Available space is limited and media must sign up in
person.

REMOTE CAMERA SETUPS

Sunday, Oct. 7 (Launch day): Media will be able to establish
sound-activated remote cameras at the launch pad. The location is
within Space Launch Complex 40 on the east side of the pad inside the
perimeter fence. Media who wish to participate in remote camera setup
will depart from Kennedy's Press Site by government bus at 10:30 a.m.
for the launch pad photo opportunity. The return to the Press Site
will be at 12:30 p.m., after remote cameras have been established.
SpaceX security regulations require that news media representatives
participating in any activity inside the pad be U.S. citizens. A
sign-up sheet will be available in the newsroom for media desiring to
participate in this opportunity. Available space is limited and media
must sign up in person.

NEWS MEDIA LAUNCH VIEWING

Sunday, Oct. 7 (Launch day): Media members may view the launch from
the NASA Causeway or Kennedy's Press Site. Busses will depart from
the Press Site parking lot for the NASA Causeway at 7 p.m. A sign-up
sheet will be available in the newsroom for media desiring to
photograph the launch from the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Available space is limited and media must sign up in person.

NASA TV LAUNCH COVERAGE

Sunday, Oct. 7 (Launch day): NASA TV live coverage will begin at 7
p.m. and will conclude at approximately 9 p.m. A post-launch news
conference is planned at approximately 10 p.m. For NASA TV downlink
information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried
on the NASA "V" circuits which may be accessed by dialing
321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, "mission audio,"
the launch conductor's countdown activities without NASA TV launch
commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135 starting at 7 p.m. Launch
coverage also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency
146.940 MHz, heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast.

IN-FLIGHT NASA TV COVERAGE

Wednesday, Oct. 10 (L+3 days): Rendezvous and grapple coverage begins
at 4 a.m. for a grapple at 7:30 a.m. Berthing coverage begins at 9:15
a.m. for the start of berthing at 9:30 a.m.

Unberthing and release for deorbit is currently scheduled on Sunday,
Oct. 28; however, times have not yet been determined.

NASA WEB PRELAUNCH AND LAUNCH COVERAGE

Prelaunch and launch day coverage of the SpaceX CRS-1 flight will be
available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming
and text updates beginning at 7 p.m. as the countdown milestones
occur. On-demand streaming video, podcast and photos of the launch
will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about
countdown coverage, contact Jeanne Ryba at 321-867-7824. To follow
countdown coverage on NASA's launch blog and learn more about the
CRS-1 mission, go to the mission home page at:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

TWITTER

The NASA News Twitter feed will be updated throughout the launch
countdown at:

http://www.twitter.com/nasa

and

http://www.twitter.com/nasakennedy

and

http://www.twitter.com/spacex

KENNEDY NEWS CENTER HOURS OF OPERATION

Friday, Oct. 5: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 7: 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Media badges will be valid for access to Kennedy's Press Site through
Gate 3 on State Road 405 located east of the Kennedy Space Center
Visitor Complex. Gate 2 on State Road 3 will be closed over the
weekend and on the Columbus Day holiday, but State Road 405 may be
accessed from State Road 3 via Space Commerce Way.

RECORDED STATUS

Recorded status reports on the launch of CRS-1 and updates to the
media advisory will be provided on the Kennedy media phone line
starting Friday, Oct 5. The telephone number is 321-867-2525.

WIRELESS CAPABILITY

Wireless capability is available at the Kennedy Press Site for the
news media.

For further information about the International Space Station,
research in low Earth orbit, NASA's commercial space programs and the
future of American spaceflight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

For more information about SpaceX, visit:

http://www.spacex.com

...

---------- Post added 10-02-12 at 08:51 PM ---------- Previous post was 10-01-12 at 09:35 PM ----------

And here's our first good look at the Dragon spacecraft!

---------- Post added 10-03-12 at 05:59 PM ---------- Previous post was 10-02-12 at 08:51 PM ----------

And here's it being attached to the Falcon 9!

Launch is still go for Sunday night!

 

[orb]

NASA News Release:
MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-198
Google+ Hangout Oct. 5 with NASA Administrator and SpaceX CEO

Oct. 3, 2012

WASHINGTON -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will discuss the first contracted cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station during a Google+ Hangout from 1-1:30 p.m. EDT Friday, Oct. 5. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and its Dragon cargo spacecraft are scheduled to lift off at 8:35 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7 from at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Bolden and Musk will talk about the flight, which will be the first of 12 contracted for NASA by SpaceX to resupply the space station. The SpaceX flights under the Commercial Resupply Services contract will restore an American capability to deliver and return significant amounts of cargo, including science experiments, to the orbiting laboratory -- a feat not achievable since the retirement of the space shuttle.

Followers on Twitter may ask a question in advance of or during the event using the hashtag #askNASA. On NASA Facebook and Google+, a comment thread will open for questions on the morning of the event. To join the hangout, visit the NASA's Google+ page:

http://plus.google.com/+NASA​

{...}



Parabolic Arc: Bolden, Musk to Hangout on Google+ on Friday

Universe Today: Hangout with Elon Musk

 

[Kyle]

On the pad!

 

[IronRain]

New internship, new Dragon mission. Let's go! (the previous Dragon mission was during my previous internship )

 

[orb]

collectSPACE: Space station-bound SpaceX Dragon gets mission patch

Florida Today: Favorable forecast for Sunday SpaceX launch

SpaceX: SpaceX CRS-1 Press Kit | October 2012 (PDF)

 

[Star Voyager]

Looks like that patch drew some inspiration from the MR-4 souvenir patch:

 

[Kyle]

Thread updated to reflect patch.

---------- Post added 10-05-12 at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was 10-04-12 at 09:06 PM ----------

SpaceFlightNow: The preliminary weather outlook for Sunday's instantaneous launch opportunity calls for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

 

[orb]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogJee-ys5Bw"]NASA & SpaceX Hangout - YouTube[/ame]

AmericaSpace: Launch Viewing Guide: SpaceX Falcon-9 Rocket GO For Launch Sunday Evening

ScienceDaily: Dragon Readies for Operational Delivery Flight

Aviation Week: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk: Inaugural Commercial Re-Supply Contract Flight a Challenge


SpaceX via Twitter:

At today’s official Launch Readiness Review meeting, launch managers gave a “go” to proceed towards launch on Sunday, 10/7

 

[N_Molson]

Did I miss the Red-Timer-Thingie (tm, orb 2012) ?

 

[orb]

[highlight]L[eventtimer]2012-10-8 0:35;%c%%ddd%/%hh%:%mm%:%ss%[/eventtimer][/highlight]​

SpaceX via Twitter:

At today’s official Launch Readiness Review meeting, launch managers gave a “go” to proceed towards launch on Sunday, 10/7

Spaceflight Now:

• Commercial resupply of space station blasts off Sunday
  
  
• Mission Status Center
  
  
• Dragon launch cargo
  
  
• Dragon return cargo
  
  
• PHOTOS: Dragon capsule attached to Falcon rocket
  
  
• PHOTOS: Falcon 9 completes rollout demo

Florida Today: SpaceX is readyto fly Sunday night

SPACE.com:

• Private Dragon Spacecraft 'Go' to Launch Toward Space Station Sunday
  
  
• How SpaceX's First Space Station Cargo Mission Will Work

 

[Kyle]

Restricted airspace map over KSC for Sunday.

 

[orb]

Restricted airspace map over KSC for Sunday.

Here's the source of the screenshot:

Patrick AFB: Restricted Airspace Map (PDF)