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16.06.2015
Mission Live Updates
Jun 26 - Falcon 9 : CRS-7 Launch site Cape Canaveral AFB, FL
Launch Date Jun 26
From Launch Pad LC-40
Launch Window : 11:09 am EDT (15:09 GMT)
The seventh SpaceX cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract is scheduled to launch June 26, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
It will be loaded with more than 4,000 pounds of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations and supplies, including critical materials to support science and research investigations that will take place on the space station.
Also to be carried up to the ISS is IDA-1 International Docking Adapter 1 which will be fitted to the reconfigured ISS to allow the docking of the new crewed spacecraft.
Quelle: AS
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Update: 20.06.2015
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SpaceX moves Space Station resupply launch to June 28
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk could celebrate his 44th birthday with a rocket launch if all goes well on June 28. SpaceX moved the scheduled Falcon 9 launch from Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28.The CRS-7 mission is scheduled to take off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 10:21 a.m. EDT on Sunday. If the launch is a “no go” the next launch window is on Monday, June 29 at 9:58 a.m.
The Falcon 9 rocket will carry the Dragon resupply cargo spacecraft filled with more than 5,000 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station. The supplies include science and research material for the in-orbit lab. Also on board are two docking adapters, built by Boeing that will be used by commercial crew spacecraft when they dock at the Space Station.
This will be the seventh cargo mission by SpaceX to the Space Station.
Quelle: Orlando Sentinel
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Update: 25.06.2015
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90 Percent ‘Go’ Forecast for CRS-7
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Weather forecasters from the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron are predicting a 90 percent chance of favorable weather at the scheduled time for launch of SpaceX CRS-7. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft is targeted for 10:21 a.m. EDT on Sunday, June 28, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This is the company’s seventh cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station under the agency’s Commercial Resupply Services contract.
Launch coverage on NASA Television will begin at 9 a.m. A Sunday launch will result in the Dragon spacecraft arriving at the space station on Tuesday, June 30. Expedition 44 Flight Engineer Scott Kelly of NASA will use the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to reach out and capture Dragon at about 7 a.m. Station commander Gennady Padalka of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will support Kelly as they operate from the station’s cupola. NASA TV coverage of rendezvous and grapple of Dragon will begin at 5:30 a.m. Coverage of Dragon’s installation to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module will begin at 8:30 a.m.
If the launch does not occur on Sunday, the next launch opportunity would be at 9:58 a.m. on Monday, June 29, resulting in a grapple and berthing on Thursday, July 2.
The Dragon spacecraft will be filled with more than 4,000 pounds of supplies and payloads, including critical materials for the science and research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 44 and 45. Science payloads will offer new insight to combustion in microgravity, perform the first space-based observations of meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere, continue solving potential crew health risks and make new strides toward being able to grow food in space. Research continues to support the twins study and one-year mission investigations with NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. This mission also is launching more than 30 student experiments, all of which are flying to the U.S. National Laboratory managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS). The first of two International Docking Adapters for the station will be delivered in Dragon’s unpressurized trunk. The adapters will enable space station docking of commercial crew spacecraft, including the Boeing CST-100 and SpaceX Crew Dragon.
After more than five weeks at the space station, the spacecraft will return with more than 1,400 pounds of cargo, including science experiments, crew supplies, hardware and computer resources, space station hardware, and trash.
In addition to launch coverage, NASA also will host a series of prelaunch news conferences and events on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. All briefings will air live on NASA TV and the agency’s website.
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Update: 26.06.2015
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SpaceX resupply launch, barge landing attempt set for Sunday
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a resupply capsule to the International Space Station is set to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base on Sunday, June 28 at 10:21 a.m. EDT. The aerospace company announced Thursday they will make another barge landing attempt of the rocket booster.
On Thursday the U.S. Air Force weather forecasters predicted a 90 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for the Sunday launch window. If the launch is scrubbed the next available window will be Monday at 9:58 a.m.
SpaceX CRS-7 resupply flight will be loaded with more than 4,000 pounds of supplies and experiments for the astronauts during ISS Expeditions 44 and 45. The crew will perform experiments for the U.S., Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the European Space Agency.
This will be the third attempt to land a Falcon 9 booster on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX said they have made corrections to the throttle valve that caused the last hard landing on their drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” in April. The company will use a new custom-built drone ship off the coast of Jacksonville on Sunday called “Of Course I Still Love You.” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk named both drone ships for science fiction writer Iain M. Banks' book "The Player Games."
Musk could celebrate his 44th birthday on Sunday with a barge landing if all goes well.
After Falcon 9 launches and Dragon separates it will reach its preliminary orbit and begin a series of thruster firings to reach the Space Station. The capsule should arrive on Tuesday, June 30. Astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonaut Gennady Padalka will use the station’s robotic arm to capture the spacecraft. Houston ground control will install Dragon to the bottom of the Space Station.
The science payload will include the Meteor Composition Determination investigation for the first space-based observations of meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere. The meteor study will take high-resolution video and photos using a program to search for bright spots.
Dragon will also carry materials to support more than 30 student research projects. A hypothesis will be tested about pollination stimulation for food crops in low gravity. Another experiment will test a new type of plastic developed to block radiation from the Sun that could be used to protect astronauts on future missions to Mars. The student experiments are managed and supported by Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS).
The spacecraft will remain docked at the Space Station’s Harmony module for five weeks allowing the crew to unload supplies and load cargo to be sent back to Earth. During this time, a new docking adapter flown up by Dragon will be installed by astronauts for future commercial crew to dock at the Space Station. The spacecraft will return to Earth with more than 1,400 pounds of supplies, science experiments, hardware and trash. Dragon will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.
This will be the seventh resupply mission to the International Space Station by SpaceX under the Commercial Resupply Services contract.
Quelle: Orlando Sentinel
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Update: 23.00 MESZ
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Quelle: AS
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Update: 27.06.2015
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Microsoft's HoloLens to Go Into Orbit Atop SpaceX Dragon
Microsoft's virtual reality goggles will be on board SpaceX's next launch to the International Space Station. Pictured: NASA and Microsoft engineers test Project Sidekick on NASA’s Weightless Wonder C9 jet.
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When the SpaceX Dragon blasts off for its seventh resupply mission to the International Space Station this weekend, it will be carrying two pairs of Microsoft's HoloLens goggles.
The augmented-reality wearable device, which was first shown off in January at Microsoft's Windows 10 event, hasn't yet hit the consumer market. The astronauts at the International Space Station will be among the first to strap on the goggles and use Sidekick, a technology designed to help them work in space.
"HoloLens and other virtual and mixed reality devices are cutting edge technologies that could help drive future exploration and provide new capabilities to the men and women conducting critical science on the International Space Station," Sam Scimemi, director of the ISS program at NASA, said in a statement.
The hope is the new technology could one day allow astronauts more autonomy as they travel into deep space and experience more communications delays with Earth.
The Sidekick devices have two modes of operation. The first allows astronauts to use Skype to connect with an expert on Earth to help coach them on a task while the second overlays a standalone set of procedures and illustrations.
SpaceX Will Try Ambitious Rocket Landing Again
If all goes according to plan on Sunday, SpaceX will also try for a third time to land its Falcon 9 rocket on a floating barge.
A video from the most recent attempt in April shows the Falcon 9 rocket hitting its target when it returned to Earth but landing too hard for survival. The company said it has since made corrections to the valve that caused the rough landing.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said recycling rockets will "revolutionize access to space."
"If one can figure out how to effectively reuse rockets just like airplanes, the cost of access to space will be reduced by as much as a factor of a hundred," he said.
Quelle: abc-news
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Update: 28.06.2015 / 14.00 MESZ
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Quelle: NASA
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