SpaceX COTS-2/3 Flight

[mike alexander]

Clock just reset to T-13 min.

[Swift]

I thought this from Spaceflight Now was interesting:

1913 GMT (3:13 p.m. EDT)
The countdown clock has been recycled to T-minus 13 minutes and holding. This is the standard point at which the countdown can resume before going into the terminal phase.

If this problem had occurred on launch day, the mission would be scrubbed for the day because the Falcon 9 rocket has only an instantaneous window to reach the International Space Station.

And SpaceX can only launch every three days or so to ensure enough propellant is aboard the Dragon spacecraft for a series of demonstration maneuvers and tests on the way to rendezvousing with the space station.

[Swift]

1922 GMT (3:22 p.m. EDT)
SpaceX says they "may recycle and try again today" after the last-minute hold in the countdown.

1936 GMT (3:36 p.m. EDT)
The launch team reports a limit was "improperly set" that caused the hold in the last countdown. SpaceX says the limit is being reset for another static fire attempt today.

[slang]

Webcast available at http://www.spacex.com/webcast.php

[slang]

Countdown resumed, at about T-11 minutes now

[Swift]

Also watching on NASA TV
LINK

[Swift]

2011 GMT (4:11 p.m. EDT)
T-minus 4 minutes and counting. All systems remain go for the hotfire test.

[Swift]

2014 GMT (4:14 p.m. EDT)
T-minus 1 minute and counting. A steering check of the first stage engines will occur at T-minus 50 seconds, and propellant tanks will pressurize for ignition at T-minus 40 seconds.

[Swift]

Looks like it went OK. I saw fire for 3 seconds then it shutdown. NASA TV's caption now says securing vehicle.

[slang]

"Test complete, thank you for viewing."

Did my feed hiccup or was that a really, really short firing?

[Swift]

I think it was a really, really short firing. The count "up" stopped at +3 seconds, when the engines shutdown. I guess if it was longer, it would have launched.

[Swift]

From Spaceflight Now:

2017 GMT (4:17 p.m. EDT)
SpaceX reports the Falcon 9 engines reached full thrust for two seconds, deeming today's static fire a success.
Engineers will carefully review all day from the hotfire in the next few days before the mission's scheduled May 7 launch to the International Space Station.

2024 GMT (4:24 p.m. EDT)
SpaceX founder, CEO and chief designer just tweeted: "Woohoo, rocket hold down firing completed and all looks good!!"

[slang]

Thanks. In my window it showed the engines firing for maybe a quarter of a second. It looked very much like an aborted test. Glad it did work out ok though.

Note to self: choose alternate feed over SpaceX homebrew next time.

[Garrison]

I missed the whole thing! Ah well one step closer to the launch.

[Garrison]

And the flight has been pushed back to May 19th...

[KaiYeves]

After finals, when I'll be able to watch at home with my family on our new desktop with those speakers my dad is so proud of.

[Gemini]

Any baut'ers planning to go to the launch? I'm seriously considering driving down to watch.

[jrkeller]

Any baut'ers planning to go to the launch? I'm seriously considering driving down to watch.

I had planned to go to the April 30th launch. If it is delayed till mid-June, then I will go.

[Swift]

From NASA.gov

Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, of Hawthorne, Calif., on Friday targeted May 19 for the launch of its upcoming demonstration mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff time is at 4:55 a.m. EDT, with a launch window that is instantaneous.

[Garrison]

From NASA.gov

So that's 9:55am UK time. Lets hope all goes well; the ISS needs those socks!

[Swift]

So that's 9:55am UK time. Lets hope all goes well; the ISS needs those socks!

Yes, you get to sleep in, have a nice cup of tea, and watch the launch with your scone. I'll be asleep on this side of the pond, let me know how it turns out.

And I thought is was a shipment of toothpaste, and mother packed some cookies.

[Garrison]

Yes, you get to sleep in, have a nice cup of tea, and watch the launch with your scone. I'll be asleep on this side of the pond, let me know how it turns out.

And I thought is was a shipment of toothpaste, and mother packed some cookies.

If it makes you feel better I'll be doing overtime tomorrow and trying to catch updates on my smartphone.

[slang]

Planetary.org has a preview story.

Spaceflight Now has its usual Mission Status Center and lots of other linkies on their main page.

The weather outlook continues to be favorable for liftoff tomorrow, according to Air Force forecasters.

There remains a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions for the instantaneous launch opportunity at 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 GMT).

[ravens_cry]

I just might stay up for this, despite the launch being planned for almost 0200 hours on this side of this pond.

[Gemini]

I'm currently sitting on a dock in Titusville staring at a Falcon 9.

[slang]

*pokes Gemini* Stay awake, buddy!

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/status.html

0655 GMT (2:55 a.m. EDT)
T-minus 2 hours and counting. The strongback structure, a support structure that supports umbilical connections to the rocket, will soon be retracted about 15 degrees away from the Falcon 9.

[slang]

A little over half an hour to launch!

[slang]

T-10 minutes

[slang]

Abort!

Engines lit up... then stopped.

[Don Alexander]

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFt - plop