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NASA To Send SpaceX Resupply Capsule To ISS Despite Technical Problems

Posted by samzenpus on from the show-must-go-on dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Despite a critical backup computer failing on the ISS Friday, an unmanned SpaceX rocket will launch from Cape Canaveral at 4:58 p.m. Monday with more than 2 tons of supplies for the space station. From the article: 'The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration decided to proceed with its resupply mission, despite technical problems with its computer in the International Space Station (ISS), as it needed to deliver necessary supplies.'"

12 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. Open the pod bay door HAL by the_skywise · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There's some risk involved but missing the launch window for supplies could be a greater risk (and spoilage time, etc;)

    1. Re:Open the pod bay door HAL by taiwanjohn · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes. The "obstacle" causing the delay was a problem with a backup unit, while the primary is still functioning fine. They had originally scheduled a spacewalk to fix the backup, but presumably, in the event of a failure, they could just "park" the Dragon a convenient orbit to await repairs. So they're better off launching now instead of waiting for the repairs.

      Sounds good to me... I just want to see another Falcon fly... ;-)

      And if I'm not mistaken, this next flight will also be their first attempt to recover the first stage by propulsive landing. Demonstrating such a capability would be a game changer in itself.

      --
      XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve your problem, you're not using enough of it. --AC
    2. Re:Open the pod bay door HAL by rasmusbr · · Score: 2

      And if I'm not mistaken, this next flight will also be their first attempt to recover the first stage by propulsive landing. Demonstrating such a capability would be a game changer in itself.

      My understanding is that they're going to attempt to "land" the first stage on the ocean surface. If it works as intended the stage will hit the water at low speed and it will be perfectly vertical at the time of impact, which would then indicate that they could have landed it on dry land if they had tried.

    3. Re:Open the pod bay door HAL by taiwanjohn · · Score: 4, Informative

      IIRC, they're not trying to land this 1st stage on land, instead they're going for a "soft splashdown" in the ocean. But if they get good "numbers" from this attempt, they will probably try a "dry" landing in the near future.

      --
      XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve your problem, you're not using enough of it. --AC
    4. Re:Open the pod bay door HAL by Megane · · Score: 3, Informative

      I think they also want to try to recover the stage. Normally they break up because of the stress of sub-orbital re-entry or from hitting the water. (The Shuttle SRBs were designed to take the stress of splashdown.) If this works, it would stop and hover just above the water, then cut out the engines and flop over. This one might not be reusable thanks to salt water, but this is only one test on the way to the final goal.

      --
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    5. Re:Open the pod bay door HAL by davester666 · · Score: 2

      ...which is, of course, the elimination of the moon people.

      --
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  2. Kerbal Space X by Thanshin · · Score: 3, Funny

    despite technical problems

    Well... there are "technical problems." and there are "TECHNICAL PROBLEMS!!!! RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"

  3. WHOSE technical problems? by Thud457 · · Score: 5, Informative

    please note, the technical problems are on the ISS and have noting to do with any Space X equipment.

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    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  4. Re:They like hard western cash. by necro81 · · Score: 2

    American flights, Russian flights ... all made in Taiwan! [source]

  5. Re:But for how long? by LVSlushdat · · Score: 2

    Well if NASA can't keep a spacestation in orbit, there's a company here in Las Vegas that CAN! Bigelow Aerospace has had two structures in orbit since 2006-2007. Genesis I was launched in 2006 and Genesis II was launched in 2007, and they're both still up there sending back video to the Bigelow ops center in North Las Vegas.. Bigelow has a project called BEAM that will attach another module to the ISS, scheduled to launch on SpaceX's CRS Mission 8, in mid 2015.

    www.bigelowaerospace.com

    --
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  6. Not allowed to play with Russia by flyingfsck · · Score: 2

    Prolly cause Obama doesn't want NASA to play with the Ruskies anymore.

    --
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  7. Scrubbed ;_; by Megane · · Score: 2

    There was a helium leak in the first stage. Next launch opportunity is Friday afternoon. I've been wanting to see this thing go up for weeks. First it was sewing machine oil on some cloth around the cargo, then it was the ground radar on fire, now it's a leak. The only good thing about this is that Friday is a holiday day for me, so I can actually watch the launch live. (or watch it get scrubbed again live)

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