Jeff also posted these from Shotwell's talk:
/-- "Shotwell: temperature issue w/roll control nozzle caused 2nd stage roll on F9 launch. That problem has been corrected."
/-- "Shotwell added the F9 launch report will be released in the near future, once it clears ITAR and related approvals."
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NASA has a spare space station module that could be launched via an expendable rocket to the ISS to provide extra docking ports for an inflatable habitat or other new modules: Test article could facilitate space station applications - Spaceflight Now.
The September issue of Discover Magazine has an article about the Dream Chaser project at SNC. Don't see anything about it on the magazine website yet.
No big revelations about the project. (Oddly, the article doesn't mention SpaceDev or Jim Benson at all.) It does say that the "company's total budget for Dream Chaser production is estimated to be at least $200 million". Seems on the low side, though perhaps they mean that's how much the company would kick into a pot that would also include money from NASA. Currently the company is working with the $20M from NASA's CCDev program, which the company is matching with its own money.
Here is the CCDev update on the SNC/Dream Chaser project.
A reader points to a gallery of Armadillo Aerospace photos that includes shots of their new streamlined vehicle as they were setting up for tests last Saturday: Flickr: weldsman's Photostream. There are also closeup pictures of the engine.
SpaceX has released the following report on the test drop of the Dragon capsule:
SpaceX’s Dragon Spacecraft Successfully Completes High Altitude Drop Test
Final Test Before Launch Validates Mission Critical Function – Successful Test of Parachute Systems and Recovery Operations for Spacecraft Set to Return Supplies from Space Station
HAWTHORNE, CA – Today SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies) announced their Dragon spacecraft has successfully completed a high altitude drop test - meeting 100% of test objectives. This is the last in a series of tests to validate parachute deployment systems and recovery operations before the craft’s first launch.
During the August 12th test, an Erikson S-64F Air-Crane helicopter dropped a test article of the Dragon spacecraft from a height of 14,000 feet, roughly nine miles off the coast of Morro Bay, California. In a carefully timed sequence of events, dual redundant drogue parachutes deployed first to stabilize and gently slow the craft before three main parachutes, 116 feet in diameter, further slowed the craft to a picture perfect landing. From there, recovery ships successfully returned the Dragon and parachutes to shore.
While Dragon will initially be used to transport cargo, the spacecraft was designed to transport crew and the parachute system validated during the test is the same system that would be used on a crew-carrying Dragon.
“By holding the Dragon to stringent standards for manned missions from the start, tests like this will ensure the highest quality and reliability for Dragon over the long term,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and CTO. “We are proving, every day, that the future of American missions to space will rely on American made commercial companies.”
The two drogue parachutes create a more gradual reduction in speed, important for future manned missions, while the three oversized parachutes are important to ensuring a safe and comfortable landing, slowing the spacecraft's decent to approximately 16-18 feet per second. Under nominal conditions, astronauts would experience no more than roughly 2-3 g’s during this type of decent—less than you’d experience at an amusement park. And with three main parachutes, even if Dragon were to lose one, crew would still land safely.
“Data gathered during the drop test will be invaluable as we prepare for the upcoming demonstration flight of the first operational Dragon spacecraft,” said Chris Thompson, SpaceX VP of Structures.
In June 2010, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft test article. Later this year, SpaceX will take the next step in testing, delivering an operational Dragon to low earth orbit atop a Falcon 9. This is the first demonstration flight under its inclusion in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, established in 2006 to encourage private companies to develop commercial space transport capabilities.
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and its Falcon 9 launch vehicle have been selected by NASA to deliver supplies to and from the International Space Station starting in 2011. The Dragon spacecraft can return as much as 2,500 kilograms (5,510 lbs) of cargo from the space station back to Earth, a service not offered by any other commercial cargo supply system.
Landing of an operational Dragon is a far more precise operation than seen in the drop test. Draco thrusters fired during reentry will ensure Dragon lands less than a mile from the targeted site. The dispersion is due only to wind pushing Dragon’s parachutes—in low winds Dragon's landing accuracy will be within a few hundred feet. Once the ability to accurately control reentry is proven, SpaceX plans to add deployable landing gear and use thrusters to safely land Dragon on land.
A minor incident occurred on the runway at Mojave airport this morning, which involved a mechanical problem with the left hand-side landing gear of WhiteKnightTwo. No injuries were sustained and the incident did not involve the Spaceship which was not attached to WhiteKnightTwo. WhiteKnightTwo was on its 37th test flight, and has been flying since December 2008. Further information will be posted in due course.
Objectives:
Perform fifth full scale flight design RM2 hot-fire
Continue all systems evaluation
Continue fuel formulation evaluation
Continue nozzle evaluation
Continue motor structural evaluation
Continue Valve/Injector performance evaluation
Results:
All objectives completed. Performed successful increased duration hot-fire, including igniter performance, oxidizer flow and pressurization systems, data acquisition system measurements, structural evaluation, nozzle ablation, and fuel regression rate data collection. Determined stability levels.
Doing some tests today after Reuben rebuilt the igniter test cart. Here is high speed video of a 2 second firing at 300 frames/sec. The igniter is used to start the rocket motors on Masten Space VTVL sub-orbital spacecraft. There is no sound on the video, just think of something really loud, like a rocket. The igniter is also used by our customers for teaching liquid rocket propulsion and exhaust plume studies. Get your own today. But wait, call now and we'll include, absolutely free...........
