SpaceX webcast to reveal manned spacecraft


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Here we go - the reveal of Dragon V2, SpaceX's new manned spacecraft and product of the DragonRider program.

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

SpaceX CEO & Chief Designer Elon Musk to Unveil Dragon V2 Spacecraft

WHO: Elon Musk, CEO & Chief Designer, SpaceX

WHAT: Mr. Musk will introduce SpaceX?s new Dragon V2 spacecraft, a next generation spacecraft designed to carry astronauts into space.

WHERE: SpaceX, 1 Rocket Road, Hawthorne, CA, 90250.

WHEN: Thursday, May 29. Check in begins at 6:00 p.m.; event begins at 7:00 p.m. PT.

Due to International Trade and Arms Regulations, this event is open to U.S. Citizens and Green Card holders only.

For those who cannot attend in person, this event will also be webcast LIVE at

www.spacex.com/webcast.

NOTE: SpaceX usually simulcasts on Livestream,

https://new.livestream.com/spacex

SpaceXDragon2Reveal.jpg

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Confirmed in my email: Livestream will carry the Dragon V2 unveil.

Link....

Dragon V2 Unveil

Thursday, May 29th, 2014 at 10:00 PM EDT on spacex

On Thursday, May 29, 2014, SpaceX will reveal Dragon V2 - SpaceX's next generation spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to space. The Unveil will be webcast LIVE beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT.

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Dragon V2 Unveil by time zone

UTC (GMT): Friday, May 30, 2014 (02:00:00)     

Los Angeles: Thursday, May 29, 2014 7:00:00 PM PDT (UTC-7 hours )

New York: Thursday, May 29, 2014 10:00:00 PM EDT (UTC-4 hours)

London, UK: Friday, May 30, 2014 3:00:00 AM BST (UTC+1 hour)

Perth, Australia: Friday, May 30, 2014 10:00:00 AM AWST (UTC+8 hours) 

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This pic showed up a week or so ago and may (or may not) be an image of Dragon V2's wind tunnel model. Take with a grain of salt.

Dragon V2 is also likely to have fins on the trunk, and there are changes to the trunks configuration and uses that may be mentioned.

5ubu2eja.jpg

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From SpaceX PAO:

We expect to post event photos and video to our website following the event?s conclusion. You may also want to follow us on Twitter for live tweets and photos via @SpaceX

Lastly, a live satellite feed of the event will be available at the following coordinates and times:

Satellite: AMC-16 (85 degrees west)

Transponder: K21

Slot: A18

Bandwidth: 18.00Mhz

Downlink Frequency: 12111.0000 Vertical

Format: 1080i / Stereo

Compression: MPEG2, 4:2:0

Modulation: DVB-S

FEC: 3/4

Symbol Rate: 15.0 msps

Data Rate: 20.7352941

Uplink/Troubleshooting: 1-928-642-6773

Feed Schedule:

28 MAY 2014: Test Only: 14:00-14:30 EDT / 18:00-18:30 GMT

29 MAY 2014: Test Bars & Tone: 21:00 EDT / 01:00 GMT next day.

29 MAY 2014: Live Event Begins at: 22:00 EDT / 02:00 GMT next day.

(Event is approximately :30 minutes)

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I watched it on YouTube's 'spacexchannel'. Only 1500 viewers.

Shorter than expected because a couple videos they were going to show weren't ready, Livestream was hammered and had technical problems.

Solar panels now coat the Trunk and the new FINS, which increase stability during aborts (think shuttlecock.) Nose cone protects the docking adapter so it can be reused.

SuperDracos are paired in a pack, and on each side 2 packs are <45? apart, leaving a broad space for Windows and Draco packs. 12 Dracos, 3 per cluster.

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Long time coming. That additional 20 min almost did me in ;-)

Very impressed. Makes the CST-100 look a bit sick doesnt it?

Surely the abort will be absent the trunk, perhaps the fins serve an aerodynamic purpose on ascent.

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Excellent to see some competition in the space sector. SpaceX are doing rather nicely I must say, and I'm sure LM/Boeing will (eventually) rise to the challenge. 

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Long time coming. That additional 20 min almost did me in ;-)

Very impressed. Makes the CST-100 look a bit sick doesnt it?

Surely the abort will be absent the trunk, perhaps the fins serve an aerodynamic purpose on ascent.

The finned trunk stays with her during aborts. They add stability during the abort boost phase, sort of like a shuttlecock.

The nose cone protects the docking adapter during reentry so it can be reused.

The metal isogrid in the interior wont be exposed - they're still working with NASA on the wall configurations and any storage etc. in them.

The SuperDravo pods are arranged for 2 broad faces; one for the fronts hatch & windows, and the rear for rear windows and to keep the SuperDracos away from the "hot" side during reentry.

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With a trunk full(ish) of payload? Doubtfulll. Very doubtfull. In any case it seems like an extravagant way to go about things. Time will tell.

Isn't the pad abort set for next month or so? June -August or there abouts.

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Pad abort should be in a few weeks.

There are at least 2 Trunks, one standard and one enhanced length. Most missions will be the standard Trunk. Both are not that heavy.

Even a loaded trunk will hardly slow it down with all 8 SuperDracos pumping through 1,688kg of propellant in 5 seconds. That maths been done. The mass may even help prevent making astronaut soup ;)

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If you think that abort system is heavy take a look at MLAS - one of the abort systems NASA was looking at for Orion.

Full cover for the spacecraft.

Coast skirt w/fins (like Dragons trunk.

Propulsion skirt with the abort engines.

ALL thrown away before ever getting to orbit. No cargo capability, just 15 tonnes of junk after 2.5 minutes of flight.

MLAS

MLASPic003.jpg

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Yup. MLAS was every bit an overwrought contraption.

Now all Orion has is the spacecraft cover and a tower abort system with a rocket the size of a theater ballistic missile.

Dragon V2's is much more elegant, the SuperDracos reusable, and they are 3D printed using Inconel.

Orion abort test. Plumes are a tad close to the aeroshell.

pad-100507-02.jpg.jpg

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