SpaceX Tuesday...

[Eric Mc]

Watched that earlier today. I do like Tim Dodd.

[MartG]

Another step forwards to manned Dragon flights

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/09/nasa-signs-o...

[Beati Dogu]

I'm sure the ground support crew would rather work around an inert rocket than a live one.

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Beati Dogu said:

I'm sure the ground support crew would rather work around an inert rocket than a live one.

Indeed.

Having meandered amongst various aircraft, loaded with various types of ordinance, there is a natural tendency to develop a somewhat blasé attitude about the whole shooting match.


And that's the danger point.

[MartG]

USAF looking at BFR and New Glenn for future requirements

https://www.nowscience.co.uk/single-post/2018/08/1...

[Eric Mc]

Kccv23highliftcam said:

Beati Dogu said:

I'm sure the ground support crew would rather work around an inert rocket than a live one.

Indeed.

Having meandered amongst various aircraft, loaded with various types of ordinance, there is a natural tendency to develop a somewhat blasé attitude about the whole shooting match.


And that's the danger point.

Look up the "Nedelin Incident".

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Eric Mc said:

Kccv23highliftcam said:

Beati Dogu said:

I'm sure the ground support crew would rather work around an inert rocket than a live one.

Indeed.

Having meandered amongst various aircraft, loaded with various types of ordinance, there is a natural tendency to develop a somewhat blasé attitude about the whole shooting match.


And that's the danger point.

Look up the "Nedelin Incident".

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

02.29....

[Eric Mc]

Kccv23highliftcam said:

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

02.29....

Converted to a working link for anybody who wants to watch the video.

[MartG]

Some views inside crew Dragon

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/08/spacex-rev...

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Pretty good, hones,t reporting there.

I specifically liked the long round of applause re the reference to the astronauts families...a subtle but important gesture to the astronauts from the production facility staff.

[MartG]

Crew Dragon crew access arm on its way to pad 39A

https://twitter.com/WordsmithFL/status/10297668696...

[MartG]

Crew access arm ready to be lifted into place

[Eric Mc]

It's a bit slicker looking than the old Apollo and Shuttle access arms.

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Is that some giant mutant bird from the Mohave desert test areas??

[Eric Mc]

Probably an appropriate time to remind someone of that famous Father Ted episode.

[ZOLLAR]

MartG said:

Crew access arm ready to be lifted into place

At first I thought that's fairly small then I noticed the big crane truck bottom right of the photo and the comparison

[Beati Dogu]

As previously mentioned, it's the same tower they used for Apollo & the Shuttle programs. Albeit shortened & more Apollo-like these days.


They could have actually opted to load the astronauts while the rocket was still horizontal.

They do this for so-called "late load" items (e.g. mice) on the Dragon cargo capsule:



Perhaps it's just easier to climb aboard when it's upright. Or maybe NASA just wanted it that way.

[Beati Dogu]

Kccv23highliftcam said:

Is that some giant mutant bird from the Mohave desert test areas??

Here's a close up:



Diiiiiiiiiiiive !!!!!!!

[Flooble]

Beati Dogu said:

As previously mentioned, it's the same tower they used for Apollo & the Shuttle programs. Albeit shortened & more Apollo-like these days.


They could have actually opted to load the astronauts while the rocket was still horizontal.

They do this for so-called "late load" items (e.g. mice) on the Dragon cargo capsule:

Perhaps it's just easier to climb aboard when it's upright. Or maybe NASA just wanted it that way.

Maybe it's just a certification thing? Never loaded astronauts that way before, so paperwork would be more hassle than just doing it the same way as ever?

[Beati Dogu]

Probably.

The Russian also bring their rockets in horizontally, then they're raised upright & filled about 3 hours prior to launch.

The rocket is venting clouds of O2 when the crew arrive on site by bus. Then they're taken up an elevator to be loaded into the capsule