SpaceX are set for their sixth launch of the year with the launch of the Dragon spacecraft, carrying essential cargo to the International Space Station.
SpaceX are currently targeting a launch date of June 28 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, with lift off expected at 10:21 ET (15:21 BST). Upon launch the nine Merlin 1D engines will ignite, lifting the 500,000 kg rocket away from the launchpad. The first stage of flight is expected to last 180 seconds, ending with stage separation. The single Merlin 1D-Vac engine will then ignite, putting the spacecraft into a low Earth orbit. This orbit will enable a rendezvous and berthing with the ISS two days later on June 30.
SpaceX are currently targeting a launch date of June 28 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, with lift off expected at 10:21 ET (15:21 BST). Upon launch the nine Merlin 1D engines will ignite, lifting the 500,000 kg rocket away from the launchpad. The first stage of flight is expected to last 180 seconds, ending with stage separation. The single Merlin 1D-Vac engine will then ignite, putting the spacecraft into a low Earth orbit. This orbit will enable a rendezvous and berthing with the ISS two days later on June 30.
This launch will also be the third attempt at landing on the barge out at sea. Since the CRS-6 launch in April, SpaceX have been working hard at making sure this attempt will be a success. The old barge, Marmac 300, has been replaced with a newer Marmac 304. Named “Of Course I Still Love You”, the barge is outfitted with a new steel blast wall to cover the rear containers and various other improvements to ensure it can survive the rough conditions that hampered the DSCOVR landing attempt. Assuming good weather conditions out at sea, the landing attempt is expected to occur ten minutes after lift off from the Cape. If successful, it’ll take just a few days to return the first stage to land and sent off for testing.
The Dragon spacecraft will be filled with more than 4000 pounds of supplies and scientific payloads. The science experiments onboard Dragon will offer a new insight into combustion in microgravity, enable space-based observations of meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere, and make new strides towards being able to grow food in space. The Dragon will also carry in its trunk the first International Docking Adapter to enable future commercial crew vehicles, such as SpaceX’s Crewed Dragon, to dock to the station.
The Commercial Resupply Services contract was awarded by NASA in 2008. The contract asked for 12 cargo transport missions to the ISS to be completed by SpaceX. After proving themselves worthy with COTS-1 and COTS-2 demo flights, NASA announced that SpaceX were now certified to begin transporting useful cargo to the ISS. Due to a reliable launch vehicle and stringent testing, SpaceX have so far managed to complete six successful flights to the ISS. Unlike Orbital Science’s Cygnus, which also received flights in the CRS contract, the Dragon spacecraft has the ability to bring back cargo through a controlled descent and landing in the Pacific. This enables scientific experiments to be returned to Earth for full scale analysis.
Following the successful static fire test on June 26, all is set ahead of launch. SpaceX use the static fire test as a dress rehearsal ahead of the real launch in order to ensure all systems are working. A short duration firing of the engines allows the relevant data to be collected and analysed, vital in ensuring the safe flight of the Falcon 9 rocket.
Current weather reports suggest that the launch has a 90% chance of green conditions, which is very encouraging. Make sure to be following DiscoverSpaceToday on Twitter (@iDiscoverSpace) on Sunday for full launch coverage.
The Commercial Resupply Services contract was awarded by NASA in 2008. The contract asked for 12 cargo transport missions to the ISS to be completed by SpaceX. After proving themselves worthy with COTS-1 and COTS-2 demo flights, NASA announced that SpaceX were now certified to begin transporting useful cargo to the ISS. Due to a reliable launch vehicle and stringent testing, SpaceX have so far managed to complete six successful flights to the ISS. Unlike Orbital Science’s Cygnus, which also received flights in the CRS contract, the Dragon spacecraft has the ability to bring back cargo through a controlled descent and landing in the Pacific. This enables scientific experiments to be returned to Earth for full scale analysis.
Following the successful static fire test on June 26, all is set ahead of launch. SpaceX use the static fire test as a dress rehearsal ahead of the real launch in order to ensure all systems are working. A short duration firing of the engines allows the relevant data to be collected and analysed, vital in ensuring the safe flight of the Falcon 9 rocket.
Current weather reports suggest that the launch has a 90% chance of green conditions, which is very encouraging. Make sure to be following DiscoverSpaceToday on Twitter (@iDiscoverSpace) on Sunday for full launch coverage.