As far as I know, there's no difference other than the presence of seats vs. shelves. Could be wrong though.

EDIT: According to the Wikipedia article, the crew version will also have the escape thrusters. I'm sure they'd include that in the test, so this must technically be the crew dragon but with a small amount of cargo onboard.

That was an awesome watch. Thanks for sharing!

T-50 minutes

Everyday Astronaut is live. (I watch him on the more mundane launches these days.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F47Gu19a7Rc

I miss the technical casts. :(

If you're talking about the countdown net, it's still there. It's just there as a separate "camera" in the bottom toolbar next to the gear icon. Seems like they're just showing the modeled view right now though. Odd.

Yeah, it has always had issues since they tried to merge it. When it was a separate feed it was great.

Super quiet feed tonight. If it weren't for the occasional cheers, I'd think I was watching ULA stream. Well, except for ULA never showing stage 2, deployment, or landing videos. :D

Yeah, wonder why no one cares at Hawthorne tonight. It'll definitely be more exciting for the next one. :)

They're a little more excited for the landing at least. Super cool. I think that's the second one that's been up and down three times.

I know this is getting routine for SpaceX, but it feels like it has been awhile since they had a launch and deserves more excitement. Must just be the diehards.

Yeah, the manifest for the next 2 months should be awesome. DM-1, IFA, and 2 FH launches should all be exciting.

EDIT:
Oops, IFA isn't until June. Oh well, still some exciting launches.

Those in the Rolla area, or who travel through on I-44, have you ever noticed this piece of space program history?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.9765...7i13312!8i6656

<blockquote class="reddit-card" data-card-created="1550833704"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/rocketry/comments/asrivf/what_kind_of_engine_is_this/">What kind of engine is this?</a> from <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/rocketry">r/rocketry</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//embed.redditmedia.com/widgets/platform.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

H1 from Saturn 1

That would make for some talked-about yard art!

Some of the comments in that thread are hilarious. :)

Two Heavy launches? That's great!

With a slight asterisk that, if the first one doesn't go perfectly, the second one will be delayed. It sounds like they're basically planning to just make one of each of the boosters for FH and just replace them if one doesn't land properly. So if all goes well, they'll clean them up and launch again quickly. But if any of the three isn't recovered intact, there will be a lengthy delay while they make another one.

Elon says IFA is April. That seems...ambitious...but I guess you never know.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crew Dragon high altitude abort test</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1098768310844313601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lots of tidbits in that Twitter thread fwiw. They're pretty much counting on the booster getting destroyed, which is why they want to use this one that's been up 3 times already.

Both are NET dates, so will probably slip, but I'm hopeful they'll be close! Arabsat-6A on March 6th and STP-2 on April 29th.

My understanding was that this was only the case for the center core (having to make one special). The side boosters are supposed to be modified pre-flown F9s. Replacing the center core will definitely take more time, but replacing the side boosters should be much shorter (assuming they have spare pre-flown F9's not already assigned to another mission).

Obviously not "official", but this is some cool info...
https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceX/wiki/cores

Sweet! Looking forward to the carnage! :D

FYI, Space Launch Now is a cool app (Android, not sure about iPhone) for keeping up to date on launch schedules from multiple agencies. Links to live streams and details about missions/vehicles too.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...chnow&hl=en_US

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Demo-1 Flight Readiness Review has concluded. The Board set March 2 at 2:48 a.m. EST as the official launch date for <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a>&#39;s flight to <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchAmerica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LaunchAmerica</a> <a href="https://t.co/2DIJ99guG2">https://t.co/2DIJ99guG2</a> <a href="https://t.co/86lV29gVNS">pic.twitter.com/86lV29gVNS</a></p>&mdash; NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) <a href="https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1099058961540698112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Watching the briefing, there are 3 launch windows for DM-1, prior to the next Soyuz, March 2nd, 5th, and 9th.

Looks like payload NET June, so second FH launch not until summer.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fox also says the Space Environment Testbed payload, part of the Air Force STP-2 mission, is now scheduled for launch no earlier than June. It will be the second of two Falcon Heavy launches planned for this spring using the same set of boosters.</p>&mdash; Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1100042388104466432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rolled out to the launch pad ahead of the spacecraft’s first test flight. Liftoff targeted for 2:49 a.m. EST on March 2 <a href="https://t.co/Dud93ZrkgH">pic.twitter.com/Dud93ZrkgH</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1101180975663407105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Might stay up for this one!

;)

I have to leave at like 6am to get up to the mountains for a volunteering thing, so I may be exhausted, but I'm sure gonna try to watch.

Whats the profile? Is it going to dock with ISS?

Yep. It'll seem pretty much like any other CRS launch to the ISS except the capsule is different and has a dummy inside. When it actually gets to ISS, it will DOCK on its own rather than BERTH like Dragon 1 does (where the Canadarm grabs it and guides it into the port).

For what it's worth, the dummy's name is a "Stargal" and is named...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ripley <a href="https://t.co/Z9Ztram8Ai">pic.twitter.com/Z9Ztram8Ai</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1101370880486076416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also, LC-39a is looking damn sexy with its new cladding and crew access arm.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All systems and weather are go ahead of Crew Dragon&#39;s first test flight tomorrow morning at 2:49 a.m. EST, 7:49 UTC → <a href="https://t.co/gtC39uTdw9">https://t.co/gtC39uTdw9</a> <a href="https://t.co/eSAiI9ZyJ2">pic.twitter.com/eSAiI9ZyJ2</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1101579851461550082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oh, very nice! Almost 21st century! And, Ripley...

LMAO

I just realized that this event is literally the reason I started this thread back in 2014. Here's the original OP:

https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/show...04&postcount=4

Almost gets me a little emotional just thinking about it.

:clap:

So will we ever so nuclear powered vehicles?

I really can't get over how much cooler the pad looks. I know that shit doesn't matter, but I can't deny that SpaceX's preference for making shit look neat is a nice bonus. Compare the before:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacex/wp-con...3-1024x576.jpg

to the after:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon are vertical on historic Launch Complex 39A <a href="https://t.co/5MarVJTVYK">pic.twitter.com/5MarVJTVYK</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1101299837322944513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Time to try and sleep for a couple hours!

Anyone else awake?

Welp, maybe just me. I'll still post cool shit for posterity.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpaceX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DM1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DM1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchAmerica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LaunchAmerica</a> T- 22:00 Minutes A look inside firing room 4 at .<a href="https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAKennedy</a> Both NASA and SpaceX teams controlling launch at this venue. <a href="https://t.co/M8XeGjOMqU">pic.twitter.com/M8XeGjOMqU</a></p>&mdash; Gene J. Mikulka, CC (@genejm29) <a href="https://twitter.com/genejm29/status/1101746333831041029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The big T-20 minute vent. Always a good sign. <a href="https://t.co/3XIxHWRCqZ">pic.twitter.com/3XIxHWRCqZ</a></p>&mdash; Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1101746309277597696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Venting, less than 10 minutes away <a href="https://t.co/NVOT9Q7gS6">pic.twitter.com/NVOT9Q7gS6</a></p>&mdash; Loren Grush (@lorengrush) <a href="https://twitter.com/lorengrush/status/1101749013911617536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Main engine cutoff and stage separation confirmed. Second stage engine burn underway <a href="https://t.co/TY5CT14g7g">pic.twitter.com/TY5CT14g7g</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1101752190790586368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">those colors <a href="https://t.co/0irDVcBSKn">pic.twitter.com/0irDVcBSKn</a></p>&mdash; Loren Grush (@lorengrush) <a href="https://twitter.com/lorengrush/status/1101753451795628032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Despite the freeze at the end, still a cool shot! <a href="https://t.co/pbqCinWnSL">pic.twitter.com/pbqCinWnSL</a></p>&mdash; Loren Grush (@lorengrush) <a href="https://twitter.com/lorengrush/status/1101754006181941250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dragon says byyyyye! Next stop ISS! <a href="https://t.co/99BaBJSQpE">pic.twitter.com/99BaBJSQpE</a></p>&mdash; Loren Grush (@lorengrush) <a href="https://twitter.com/lorengrush/status/1101754418071068672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And to all a good night.

Pretty awesome.

It's simply amazing to watch! What the young engineers and scientists have done is simply awesome. Like the "huge leap" we took landing/walking on the moon, these accomplishments MATTER as humankind seeks the stars.

For all the negative there is in the world, and there's a LOT of negative, these people are proving that "awesome" triumphs.

My son, his SO, and a group is his friends at S&T stayed up to watch this, and THAT is a good thing. Especially when he knew there were any number of other watch parties going on around Rolla.

Ha! Love the little Earth on the seat to show weightlessness.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Earth floats gently in zero gravity <a href="https://t.co/XUH3KeDPVe">pic.twitter.com/XUH3KeDPVe</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1101789828574777346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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I won't be getting up for it, but they'll have docking coverage starting at 3:30am Eastern and will last for a while. Hopefully they'll put out a good summary video.

:)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0vKc2PW...g&name=900x900

I slept through docking and hatch opening this morning. :(

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fPmPUrE5IYI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xNVnwirgWys" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Them removing and then figuring out how to stow the footrest for one of the seats looked a little awkward.

NASA still streaming Dragon stuff live...

EDIT: Official "Welcoming Ceremony" of Dragon to start in ~10 minutes.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/21X5lGlDOfg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Great stuff. Hopefully we'll soon by flying American astronauts in an American craft via an American rocket.

And, we get to tell the Russians to go **** themselves and the $70 million per seat on Soyuz.

Was fun to go back and watch. It was interesting how they wasted no time getting the supplies out from under the seats.

Careful...careful...careful...careful...careful...GET THE GROCERIES!!

lol

One of the comments in the article below mentioned that some of the testers they were going to use to check for freon leaks on the Dragon's AC unit were shipped up with the cargo.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019...safely-docked/

Just got home long enough to catch up on everything. In short, hooray! Now they just have to splash down and (next test) abort safely, and we'll almost be to the finish line.

If anyone's looking for a quick recap of everything (with a slight tilt toward the engineering side), Scott Manley did a nice job.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qdZNG-tQ724" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Is the hatch that the ISS crew gained entry through completely "free"? No hinges attaching it to Dragon?

I'm certainly not well versed in the nuances of how it all works. I would guess that there's a door on ISS and a door on Dragon that both have to be opened, but I don't really know.

Separately:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Notice the crane has arrived, per required work on pulling the reaction frames plugs or installing TSMs for Falcon Heavy, which is the next to launch from 39A. <a href="https://t.co/fGImd3it47">https://t.co/fGImd3it47</a></p>&mdash; Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1102623659691266049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I haven't seen a date for FH, but looks like they're working on getting the pad ready. :D

Donger, I don't know if this answers your question, but here's a really detailed look at the path from ISS to Dragon.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/AstroAnnimal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AstroAnnimal</a> welcomes humans aboard the first <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrewDragon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CrewDragon</a> to visit the station and introduces two special guests, Ripley and Little Earth, ushering in the era of <a href="https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Commercial_Crew</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchAmerica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LaunchAmerica</a> <a href="https://t.co/QqzEEgDWzt">pic.twitter.com/QqzEEgDWzt</a></p>&mdash; Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1102235739847180288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

FWIW, this article suggests that FH may be early April at this point. Nothing official - just drawing conclusions about what they know.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019...cexs-manifest/

Splash down and recovery coming up on NASA's stream if anyone is interested.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Drogue Chutes! <a href="https://t.co/iGIl1uof5e">pic.twitter.com/iGIl1uof5e</a></p>&mdash; Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1104014479459786752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And the mains! <a href="https://t.co/YC8dSCLG44">pic.twitter.com/YC8dSCLG44</a></p>&mdash; Loren Grush (@lorengrush) <a href="https://twitter.com/lorengrush/status/1104014878422024192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s a replay of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft coming back to Earth with an on-target splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean east of Florida. <a href="https://t.co/DcjwNciGlg">https://t.co/DcjwNciGlg</a> <a href="https://t.co/HY2ikltM30">pic.twitter.com/HY2ikltM30</a></p>&mdash; Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1104019469683314688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Assuming none of the G forces exceeded expectations, that's a completely perfect mission. Everything went fantastically. PBJ

Here's separation from ISS from earlier this morning.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JgYpYlmZ0Q0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And Dragon is in her nest! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpaceX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrewDragon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CrewDragon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Demo1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Demo1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DM1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DM1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASA</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ft0J9yNSsQ">pic.twitter.com/Ft0J9yNSsQ</a></p>&mdash; Chris G - NSF (@ChrisG_NSF) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1104032037370019840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With those burns on her hull, it looks like something a salvage crew found on the ocean floor, heh.

Pretty cool this went off without a hitch.

Looks like a roasted marshmallow.. :D

Check this shit out (not SpaceX):

<iframe width="968" height="574" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B1R3dTdcpSU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That was frickin' awesome!

I have to say, this is one of the my favorite, non-Chiefs threads of all time. Thank you to all who keep it updated and please, keep posting. Exciting times we live in and this is bigger than most people realize, IMO.

Cool. As. Hell....

And I enjoyed watching the city lights a lot too. Wow!! Earth is COOL!

Any thoughts on broadening the scope of this thread vs. keeping it SpaceX? With Boeing close to their demo launch of Starliner, it seems like this is the logical place for discussion about it. Similar for Blue Origin's stuff in the next few years. SpaceX has been the sexy company to watch and probably will still be for a while, but there's lots of other interesting stuff from others not to far into the future.

We could just change it to a "Space Exploration" megathread instead I suppose.

I vote for all of them here personally. If it ever gets to be too much, then we could look at segregating things out later into sub-threads.

I also would welcome a broader scope for this thread. I have been waiting my whole life (58 years and counting) for private space enterprises and it is finally here! IMO, this is how humanity gets to space, not through governmental programs.

I like it here. One stop shopping...

I think the Mods will grant you that latitude.. LMAO

Expansion is good!

Second SpaceX Falcon Heavy flight gets April 7 launch date:

SpaceX's massive Falcon Heavy rocket is scheduled for its next launch no earlier than April 7 at 6:36 pm ET (22:36 UTC), people familiar with the plans told CNBC.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/15/spac...7-sources.html

In case anyone's got some time to blow, here's a cool discussion between Jim Bridenstine (NASA Administrator), Elon Musk, and the first astronauts slated to ride on Dragon.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2t4l_yMStE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

SpaceX goes all-in on steel Starship, scraps expensive carbon fiber BFR tooling

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-all...p-super-heavy/