US Launch Goes Well

[Justin]

The landing of the first stage was the icing on the cake!

O2

Ps. I just wish they could get the transmission problems that always exist at the moment of landing on the drone ship fixed.

That basically has to do with the rockets causing so much shaking of the equipment on the landing barge that the directional antennas can't maintain contact. I think Everyday Astronaut did a video on it awhile back.

FWIW, SpaceX has usually shot footage of landings from a distance, but it's not broadcasted live. This footage usually shows up in some of their later released videos.

[O2HeN2]

I found it amusing that the only time I got REALLY nervous was when the helium loading started. That's what caused the complete CATO four years ago...

In that explosion, loss of telemetry happened less than 100ms (0.1 seconds) after the first indication of trouble. I don't know if the Dragon capsule could get away fast enough in that case, but I would not be surprised if it could!

O2

[Duman]

I found it amusing that the only time I got REALLY nervous was when the helium loading started. That's what caused the complete CATO four years ago...
O2

Helium loading? Are they hauling helium to the ISS?

[O2HeN2]

Helium loading? Are they hauling helium to the ISS?

It's used for pressurizing the propellant tanks as they empty.

Like the LOX, it's supercooled to make it denser.

O2

[ChadAmberg]

Bob and Doug were definitely just along for the ride, just watching the screens. I think it would have been cooler if they had one big red button to launch or something, instead of being perfectly computer controlled. I will say I love the design of the suits, the cockpit, everything.

[Eric P]

Awesome to see what the private sector can do.

[CS1983]

[O2HeN2]

Watched the Dragon dock with the ISS. Hatch opening [my best estimate] 10:15-10:45am Colorado time.

nasa.gov live stream.

Only SNAFU so far is the hardwire coms between the Dragon and the ISS aren't working. RF is working fine, however.

O2

On edit: 11-11:30am.

[Eric P]

pretty neat

[Irving]

How do you think it stays up there?