Article Image

IPFS

SpaceX 3rd launch to space station successful, but problem with capsule (UPDATE2)

Written by Subject: Space Travel and Exploration

SPACEX ACHIEVES FIFTH CONSECUTIVE FALCON 9 LAUNCH DURING SECOND OFFICIAL CARGO RESUPPLY  

 

Dragon spacecraft heads toward International Space Station

Hawthorne, Calif. – Today, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to orbit for SpaceX’s second mission under its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. Falcon 9 completed its job perfectly, continuing its 100 percent success rate.

“Falcon 9 was designed to be the world’s most reliable rocket, and today’s launch validated this by adding to Falcon 9’s perfect track record with our fifth success in a row,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX.

After Dragon separated from Falcon 9’s second stage approximately nine minutes after launch, a minor issue with some of Dragon’s oxidation tanks was detected. Within a few hours, SpaceX engineers had identified and corrected the issue, normalizing the oxidation pressure and returning operations to normal. Dragon recomputed its ascent profile as it was designed to and is now on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) with possible arrival on Sunday, just one day past the original timeline.

Dragon is the only spacecraft in the world today capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth. Dragon will stay on station for a three-week visit, during which astronauts will unload approximately 1,200 pounds of cargo and fill the capsule with return cargo, for return to Earth. Dragon is filled with supplies for the ISS, including critical materials to support science investigations. Later this month, Dragon will return a payload that includes research results, education experiments and space station hardware.

Updates on the CRS-2 mission can be found at www.spacex.com/webcast. Broadcast quality video may be downloaded atvimeo.com/spacexlaunch and high-resolution photos are posted at spacexlaunch.zenfolio.com.

About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches the world's most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. Today, SpaceX is advancing the boundaries of space technology through its Falcon launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX is a private company owned by management and employees, with minority investments from Founders Fund, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Valor Equity Partners. The company has more than 3,000 employees in California, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Florida. For more information, visit SpaceX.com.

 
 
Flawless Falcon 9 flight up and released Dragon capsule into correct orbit.  No information other than something went wrong but I think from what I saw the solar panels on Dragon failed to deploy.  Further info at a press conference later today.
 
(Publisher - Tweets taken from www.SpaceX.com at 1:30pm EST)

profile SpaceX SpaceX

NASA Adm Charlie Bolden with Garrett Reisman at @SpaceX HQ this morning to watch the Falcon 9 launch #Dragon twitpic.com/c7sor6 about 1 hour ago · reply · retweet · favorite

elonmusk Attempting bring up of thruster pods 2 and 4 about 1 hour ago · reply · retweet · favorite

elonmusk Solar array deployment successful about 1 hour ago · reply · retweet · favorite

elonmusk Thruster pod 3 tank pressure trending positive. Preparing to deploy solar arrays. about 1 hour ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Lori_Garver Beautiful liftoff. Probably seen more than 75 in my life, but it just never gets old. Go Falcon 9 go! 3 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

elonmusk About to pass over Australia ground station and command inhibit override 2 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

elonmusk Holding on solar array deployment until at least two thruster pods are active 2 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

elonmusk Issue with Dragon thruster pods. System inhibiting three of four from initializing. About to command inhibit override. 2 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

elonmusk Falcon 9 delivered Dragon to its target orbit. All good on the rocket. 2 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

SpaceX LIFTOFF of Falcon 9 and #Dragon to the International Space Station pic.twitter.com/3fQVuiJW6z 2 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

 
PirateBox.info