DocM Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Ugh, why so late :( I'll have to look back at it friday I guess... booh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 Check the Dragon 2 thread :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geertd Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 ouch will be 3 o clock in the morning for me still planning to watch anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 Dragon V2 seat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 Panel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingskippy Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Looking good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 Molly is a SpaceX engineer Molly McCormick ?@Molliway : Even the jaded Spacerati ?ber-nerds need to tune in tonight, it's gonna be bananas. 7PM PT, http://spacex.com/webcast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malenfant Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blerk Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherITguy Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 When is her first flight? She is gorgeous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 Unmanned in 2015, manned depends on NASA funding. 2016 as it is now, but it could move left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malenfant Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 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 ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malenfant Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 That maths been done. Good to know ;-) So much is counter-intuitive to the layperson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 Forbes article http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2014/05/29/spacex-unveils-its-new-dragon-spacecraft/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malenfant Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Jeez. From the Shuttle - no abort possible untill SRB sep -to that over-wrought contraption. Someones's over compensating I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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