#bargex

[hywel1995]

An Awesome Article!!

[americaspace]

Less than six weeks since its most recent cargo ship returned from the International Space Station (ISS), SpaceX—the Hawthorne, Calif.-based launch services operator, headed by entrepreneur Elon Musk—will deliver another Dragon into orbit on Sunday, 28 June. Liftoff of the CRS-7 mission, which represents the seventh dedicated cargo flight under SpaceX’s $1.6 billion Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA, is presently scheduled to occur from the storied Space Launch Complex (SLC)-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., no sooner than 10:21 a.m. EDT. As with previous ISS-bound Dragon missions, the “launch window” will be an instantaneous one and an on-time launch will produce a rendezvous and berthing at the space station’s Earth-facing (or “nadir”) Harmony node on Tuesday, 30 June. If SpaceX is unable to meet Sunday’s opening attempt, it carries Eastern Range clearance for a backup opportunity on Monday. MORE- http://www.americaspace.com/?p=83395 Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace @mikekillianphotography #SpaceX #CRS7 #ISScargo #SpX7 #Dragon #CapeCanaveral #Florida #BargeX #LetsTryThisLandingThingAgain #ISS1year #spacestation #ISS #Space #ExploreSpace #NASA

[americaspace]

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It’s now T-2 days until the scheduled launch of SpaceX’s next Falcon-9 rocket, which will boost the sixth dedicated Dragon cargo resupply mission (CRS-6) to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA. Operating under the language of a $1.6 billion Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract, signed between NASA and SpaceX back in December 2008, the mission will deliver about 4,390 pounds (1,990 kg) of provisions, payloads, tools and scientific experiments to the space station’s incumbent Expedition 43 crew. MORE-http://www.americaspace.com/?p=79776 Video Credit: SpaceX #SpaceX #CRS6 #SpX6 #BargeX #Rocket #Falcon9 #Dragon #ISS #SpaceStation #ISS1Year #Space #ExploreSpace #RocketLaunch #CapeCanaveral #GameChanger #ElonMusk #Falcon #Engineering #Technology #Reusability #Exp43

[americaspace]

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SpaceX spokesperson Hans Koenigsmann discussed tomorrow's second first stage landing attempt. #DSCOVR #spacex #falcon9 #justreadtheinstructions #bargex #explorespace #NASA #NOAA #USAF

[for-all-mankind]

SpaceX releases video of Falcon 9 landing attempt. Earlier this morning, I posted an article on Elon Musk’s tweets to John Carmack showing images of the Falcon 9 attempting to land on the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship following the CRS-5 launch last week. Those images appear to have been video stills from a camera on the barge, and taken from the above video. SpaceX posted this footage to their Vine account at 11:53 AM EST today.  You can see the booster approaching the barge at a 45 degree angle following the failure of the hypersonic grid fins. This failure was caused by not enough hydraulic fluid in the grid fin control system, which in turn powered the system down.  The engine section of the booster explodes upon impact with the ASDS’s surface, causing residual booster propellant to explode. The upper portion of the booster continues to fall, careening off the side of the ship and into the ocean.

This is incredible footage of an extremely difficult maneuver. SpaceX will again attempt to land the first stage of their Falcon 9 rocket following the January 31 launch of DSCOVR.

As Musk himself echoes in the Vine’s title: “Close, but no cigar. This time.”

[for-all-mankind]

SpaceX’s Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS) returned to its port in Jacksonville, Florida earlier today (11 January 2015).

As seen in the image above, a portion of one of the barge’s corners have been significantly charred by the Falcon 9’s landing attempt. Additionally, portable hardware containers nearby were damaged, though as Elon Musk himself tweeted, the damage is not significant.

It is unclear what is under the tarps on the barge’s deck, though it could possibly be pieces of the Falcon 9 rocket.

The location of the damage near the corner and edge of the barge corroborates the details given by Musk on the landing attempt's failure. He stated that hydraulic fluid controlling the first stages control find ran out shortly before reaching the barge. The location of the damage lines up with the statement of a "hard" landing, as well as the loss of the rocket stage from toppling over in the ocean after impact.

SpaceX is scheduled to launch the DSCOVR mission for NASA later this month, which may also see another attempt at first stage recovery.

[for-all-mankind]

The SpaceX CRS-5 mission successfully launched to the International Space Station at 4:47AM EST this morning (January 10).

Dragon is scheduled to reach the space station Monday, January 12.

CRS-5 also tested out the landing capability of the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage. The Autonomous Spaceport Drone was situated down range from the vehicle’s trajectory for the first stage to aim for.

According to tweets sent by Elon musk following the flight, the first stage made it to the barge, but landed “hard.” Additionally, some equipment on the platform itself was damaged.

It is unknown to the public what constitutes “making it to the barge.” Did it land and topple over? Did it land on the edge of the platform and fall off? Did it impact the water nearby and damage the equipment? Did it come in too fast and destroy itself? We won’t know unless SpaceX comes public with more information.

SpaceX could attempt a landing on their next Falcon 9 flight scheduled for the end of January.

Graphic above drawn by John Atkinson and found on facebook.

[rocket-tenor]

Okay all you crazy SpaceX fans! At about 1:47AM PST we will hopefully get to watch the successful launch (and maybe even landing) of a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. Tune in at the link above at 1:30 PST to catch the webcast from the start!