Spacex first human launch 27th May

Discodog · 30-05-2020 2:39pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Jesus rte just now on TV when reporting that the second attempt at the launch today dropped the explosion into the report. Why ? It's not connected at all FFS.

Of course it's connected. Millions of people think that manned space flight is routine & safe. People didn't bother watching Apollo 12 but 13 made people realise how dangerous space fight is. Falcon is fuelled at the last minute & that's potentially dangerous.

It never hurts to have reminders & this one was only yesterday.

Capt'n Midnight · 30-05-2020 2:41pm

Like Apollo and Soyuz and unlike the Shuttle, SpaceX have escape systems.

On September 26, 1983 a Soyuz blew up on the pad.

Turbopump went rogue and there was a fire. It's generally accepted that sitting on top of 250 tons of rocket propellent may not be the optimum location during a fire.

"The launch control team activated the escape system but the control cables had already burned through, and the Soyuz crew could not activate or control the escape system themselves." :eek:

But there was a radio backup for the escape system

Their first action after the firing of the escape tower had actually been to switch off their cockpit voice recorder. According to Titov: “We were swearing!”

There's been two other Soyuz escapes on the way up. Most recent was in 2018
https://www.rt.com/news/441125-russian-launch-escape-system/
Titov later said he felt "like a puppy being pulled out of a river by a strong hand" at the moment.

30-05-2020 2:53pm

That Launch America logo is horrid. Looks like something from 40 Germany or an 80s Verhoeven satire

Capt'n Midnight · 30-05-2020 2:57pm

Discodog wrote: »

Of course it's connected. Millions of people think that manned space flight is routine & safe.

It's routine.

No rocket carrying humans has exploded in the last 597 days.

Discodog · 30-05-2020 3:18pm

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

It's routine.

No rocket carrying humans has exploded in the last 597 days.

Wow 2 years out of 60 years of spaceflight. No one involved thinks it's routine even more so when it's a new system.

Must be a lot longer than that.

Acosta · 30-05-2020 3:25pm

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

Weather conditions at the Cape permitting the launch will be shown live but forget about seeing anything in the skies over Ireland.

Weather or just not coming this way?

ScrubsfanChris · 30-05-2020 3:29pm

Acosta wrote: »

Weather or just not coming this way?

I'm guessing it will still be too bright out.

Don't think the course is changed from Wednesday.

Acosta · 30-05-2020 3:37pm

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

I'm guessing it will still be too bright out.

Don't think the course is changed from Wednesday.

Ah ya. Forgot it was earlier. Passing over around 8.35. Pity it isn't an hour later as it looks like it will be nice and clear again.

MonkieSocks · 30-05-2020 3:41pm

SpaceX will launch the second demonstration mission of its Crew Dragon vehicle as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Transportation Capability Program (CCtCap), carrying two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. This mission will be the first crewed flight to launch from the United States since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011. DM-2 demonstrates the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon's ability to safely transport crew to the space station and back to Earth and it is the last major milestone for certification of Crew Dragon. NASA has extend the mission duration to allow the astronauts to participate as Expedition 63 crew members. The exact duration of the mission will be determined in orbit based on the readiness of the first operational crew mission.

Itssoeasy · 30-05-2020 4:11pm

Discodog wrote: »

Wow 2 years out of 60 years of spaceflight. No one involved thinks it's routine even more so when it's a new system.

Must be a lot longer than that.

That's why it's taken five years before they have put humans on top of it. That's why every spacecraft the US and russia have had since the early sixties had test flights and checking over and over again before humans flew on them. Yes there have been people killed. The Soyuz rocket family is one of the safest ever(maybe the safest) and that goes back to the start.

Discodog · 30-05-2020 4:17pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

That's why it's taken five years before they have put humans on top of it. That's why every spacecraft the US and russia have had since the early sixties had test flights and checking over and over again before humans flew on them. Yes there have been people killed. The Soyuz rocket family is one of the safest ever(maybe the safest) and that goes back to the start.

The Russians have always operated on the principle that simplicity is best. I remember seeing an early capsule, at the Science Museum & joking about the brass handrails.

namloc1980 · 30-05-2020 4:24pm

Discodog wrote: »

Of course it's connected. Millions of people think that manned space flight is routine & safe. People didn't bother watching Apollo 12 but 13 made people realise how dangerous space fight is. Falcon is fuelled at the last minute & that's potentially dangerous.

It never hurts to have reminders & this one was only yesterday.

Wouldn't agree. Only for the crewed Dragon launch RTE and most other media wouldn't have bothered reporting on the Starliner test. It's only being reported for a bit of sensationalism.

The test article for Starliner is at an extremely early developmental phase. In any field where new technologies are being developed failure is par for the course. It just happens that test failures in rocketry are quite spectacular.

ankaragucu · 30-05-2020 5:31pm

Hi, would someone be good enough to break it down for us as regards when and where we should be looking over the next hours please?
Launch at 8.22pm Irish time.
Details on when/where to look after lift off.
Same with regard to second, third pass, if there is one, I dont know?
And what about the ISS tonight?Tommorrow?
Finally will we in Ireland get to see the Dragon closing on the ISS or is that due to happen out of our view?
Would be a great help to have this info in the same place for all the extra amateur observers that are no doubt taking an interest in this.
Thanks

Capt'n Midnight · 30-05-2020 5:34pm

Discodog wrote: »

The Russians have always operated on the principle that simplicity is best. I remember seeing an early capsule, at the Science Museum & joking about the brass handrails.

The first space flight used an elliptical orbit so if the retros didn't fire atmospheric drag would get it to de-orbit before the supplies ran out.

The Americans took the same approach with Apollo 13 , use the supplies and wait until you come home.

Discodog · 30-05-2020 5:39pm

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

The first space flight used an elliptical orbit so if the retros didn't fire atmospheric drag would get it to de-orbit before the supplies ran out.

The Americans took the same approach with Apollo 13 , use the supplies and wait until you come home.

I loved the Russian approach to how to reach switches during high G - use a stick :pac:

Dragon is very roomy.

Itssoeasy · 30-05-2020 6:22pm

Hatch is closed on dragon and there will be a check on the weather at T-1hour before they start loading the fuel. It's raining ATM.

Covid19 · 30-05-2020 6:26pm

ankaragucu wrote: »

Hi, would someone be good enough to break it down for us as regards when and where we should be looking over the next hours please?
Launch at 8.22pm Irish time.
Details on when/where to look after lift off.
Same with regard to second, third pass, if there is one, I dont know?
And what about the ISS tonight?Tommorrow?
Finally will we in Ireland get to see the Dragon closing on the ISS or is that due to happen out of our view?
Would be a great help to have this info in the same place for all the extra amateur observers that are no doubt taking an interest in this.
Thanks

It will pass again at 10.15pm. Look towards the moon. If it's clear.

Inquitus · 30-05-2020 6:32pm

Looks like another scrub due to the weather

Hopefully it clears up in the next 45 minutes.

Muahahaha · 30-05-2020 6:42pm

How many minutes past 8.22pm might it be visible? Also is it correct that it is due south west and what angle on the horizon to look

irishgeo · 30-05-2020 6:54pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

How many minutes past 8.22pm might it be visible? Also is it correct that it is due south west and what angle on the horizon to look

It's going to be very hard to see if not impossible.

Covid19 · 30-05-2020 7:05pm

irishgeo wrote: »

It's going to be very hard to see if not impossible.

It will be visible at 10.15pm. Still bright but the low sun shoukd reflect against the radiators which will have extended from the capsule.

Itssoeasy · 30-05-2020 7:05pm

Inquitus wrote: »

Looks like another scrub due to the weather Hopefully it clears up in the next 45 minutes.

We will know at 19:22 but it's looking iffy.

Itssoeasy · 30-05-2020 7:26pm

Still go.

Itssoeasy · 30-05-2020 7:29pm

Just from the pictures of the capsule it looks much more promising weather wise. It got very dark a while back but it's looking better to me. I realise it's not just the weather at the launch pad but compared to how it looked it's improving.

namloc1980 · 30-05-2020 7:31pm

There's some thunderstorms brewing in central Florida. Typical for this time of year in the afternoon. Hope they stay away.

namloc1980 · 30-05-2020 7:34pm

Weather is go at the moment!

Itssoeasy · 30-05-2020 7:38pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

Weather is go at the moment!

Cross everything ye can lads. I want it to launch today for the two astronauts because I'd hate for them to have to walk across that access arm twice in there days.

MonkieSocks · 30-05-2020 7:38pm

The Call is GO

45 mins to go

irishgeo · 30-05-2020 7:40pm

MonkieSocks wrote: »

The Call is GO

45 mins to go

propellant loading at t-35mins

namloc1980 · 30-05-2020 7:48pm

Prop is loading

Itssoeasy · 30-05-2020 7:50pm

Well at least the escape system is better than Gemini which was bizarre. Two Roman candles I think John young called it if they needed it which they never did thankfully bar that one launch that didn't.

lord lucan · 30-05-2020 8:01pm

Haven't been this excited about a launch in a long long time. Interesting new era in US spaceflight,fingers crossed for a perfect start to it.

namloc1980 · 30-05-2020 8:05pm

I know it's perfectly normal but the sight of propellant boiling off still makes my heart jump!

Itssoeasy · 30-05-2020 8:07pm

Okay we have gotten passed the time there was a scrub on Wednesday.

embraer170 · 30-05-2020 8:08pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

I know it's perfectly normal but the sight of propellant boiling off still makes my heart jump!

I am in the Netherlands right now. Beautiful cloudless evening. On what website could I check whether it will be visible?

Westernyelp · 30-05-2020 8:09pm

lightening down range is the last watch item. they are pretty confident it will be green at t-7 mins though

phobia2011 · 30-05-2020 8:11pm

Where can I watch live

BorneTobyWilde · 30-05-2020 8:11pm

i know you can't see it, but when will it pass over Ireland after take off

namloc1980 · 30-05-2020 8:11pm

phobia2011 wrote: »

Where can I watch live

YouTube spacex or NASA channels

phobia2011 · 30-05-2020 8:12pm

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

i know you can't see it, but when will it pass over Ireland after take off

Will we not be able to see it?

namloc1980 · 30-05-2020 8:12pm

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

i know you can't see it, but when will it pass over Ireland after take off

About 20 minutes after liftoff.

Westernyelp · 30-05-2020 8:12pm

Forward to Shannon! listen out for that call

Ludo · 30-05-2020 8:12pm

phobia2011 wrote: »

Where can I watch live

https://www.spacex.com/launches/index.html

namloc1980 · 30-05-2020 8:12pm

phobia2011 wrote: »

Will we not be able to see it?

No sky is too bright

Itssoeasy · 30-05-2020 8:13pm

Westernyelp wrote: »

Forward to Shannon!

Zaragoza is replaced.

30-05-2020 8:13pm

Hopefully not needed, Ireland just called out as mission abandon site

phobia2011 · 30-05-2020 8:13pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

No sky is too bright

Typical, not complaining though, safe travels to them

Beechwoodspark · 30-05-2020 8:13pm

Shannon just got a mention on the nasa official feed

They are heading due north to Newfoundland then will head eastwards to Shannon apparently

Mantis Toboggan · 30-05-2020 8:14pm

Reminds me of watching Apollo 11 on Netflix, fantastic stuff.

namloc1980 · 30-05-2020 8:15pm

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Shannon just got a mention on the nasa official feed

The southwest coast is an abort recovery zone in case of an issue.

Spacex first human launch 27th May

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