Photo for the Day - March 03, 2013

-- Happy Berth Day --

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft berthed* to the International Space Station at approximately 8:56 a.m. EST Sunday, installed onto the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module. Dragon arrived to station with over 2,300 pounds of cargo and packaging to ensure safe travel, and during the next 22 days, astronauts will unload and then load cargo, including materials to support critical science experiments. Dragon will return to Earth with over 3,000 pounds of cargo, and has a targeted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja, Calif. on March 25. Dragon is the only spacecraft in the world today capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth.

Keep up with the latest at link below:

 https://spacex.com/updates.php

Or at

National Aeronautics and Space Administration - NASA

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Have a safe and successful mission SpaceX!

AubreyJ………

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All info/images from SpaceX website

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Photo for the Day - October 05, 2012

About above image: SpaceX recently performed a demonstration roll to the launch pad of its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule. Targeted Launch Time is set for 7:35pm CDT, this Sunday, my Birthday, October 7th and will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Image by NASA/Jim Grossmann

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Forecast Calls for 60 Percent Chance of Acceptable Conditions

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 - 10:30am CDT

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SpaceX is putting the finishing touches on its Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket as launch day nears for the SpaceX CRS-1 cargo flight to the International Space Station. Weather forecasters are eyeing the possibility of thick clouds and rain as Sunday's launch time approaches. Liftoff is scheduled for 7:35pm CDT with an instantaneous launch window. The Dragon will carry about 1,000 pounds of experiment equipment and crew supplies to the orbiting laboratory during the first operational cargo mission for the company's flagship launcher and spacecraft.

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SpaceX Managers Gave the “Go” for Sunday Launch

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 - 5:36pm CDT

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SpaceX managers held a Launch Readiness Review Friday afternoon and gave a “go” to proceed toward launch of the SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services-1 (CRS-1) mission on Sunday.

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On Saturday, NASA TV will air an International Space Station Science Briefing at 3pm EDT and the SpaceX CRS-1 Prelaunch News Conference at 6pm on NASA Television and on the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv.

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The weather forecast remains 60 percent favorable conditions for launch, Sunday.

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Much more to come in a new post on Launch day… so check back!

AubreyJ………

Romney/Ryan2012

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SpaceX Mission Updates: Thursday, May 24, 2012

SpaceX Mission Updates

SpaceX/Dragon on track for Station Rendezvous/Berthing

EARLY Friday Morning, May 25^th

- NASA TV’s LIVE Coverage starts: 1:00am CDT

Post Date: Thursday, May 24, 2012

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Image Credit: SpaceX

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While we wait for Friday’s Hookup

Watch some LIVE Video from the ISS

Note: Video feed may cut off from time to time, but check back… It’s on more than not!

WATCH NASA TV at link below this video for the LIVE Coverage

Scroll down for NASATV

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POST UPDATE:

Well good early Friday morning, all…

Dragon Authorized to Proceed Toward Station

Friday, May 25, 2012 - 01:27am CDT

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The International Space Station mission management team completed a thorough review of the progress of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and at 9:38pm CDT unanimously authorized the International Space Station and Dragon flight control teams to proceed toward rendezvous and berthing about 10:20am CDT Friday morning. [The actual Capture Time will be around 6:30am CDT.]

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The SpaceX mission management team reported all spacecraft systems are ready for the final stages of rendezvous and completion of the final COTS demonstration objectives… and space station managers reported the orbiting outpost is ready for the commercial spacecraft's arrival.

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Dragon has nearly completed its fly-around of the station, crossing behind the station and beginning its final approach.

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POST UPDATE:

Has this been COOOL to watch or what!!!?

Station Crew Captures Dragon

Friday, May 25, 2012 - 10:41am CDT

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The International Space Station Expedition 31 crew successfully captured the SpaceX Dragon capsule with the station's robotic arm at 8:56am CDT. The feat came 3 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 23 seconds after the mission's launch. The station was 251 miles over northwest Australia when capture occurred.

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Would like to add that it isn't over yet… The actual final berthing process of Dragon to the ISS will still not be over for another hour or so… but it looks to me to be getting near the end now! Still going on though so keep watching!

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NASA TV coverage began at 1am CDT this EARLY Friday morning and is still on.

Click out the LIVE Video coverage below…

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POST UPDATE:

Well--That’s about it for the day…

Station Crew Captures/Berths Dragon to ISS

Friday, May 25, 2012 - 11:15am CDT

 Image credit: SpaceX

At 11:02am CDT, DRAGON was officially… finally hooked up to the International Space Station.

Official, final Berthing Time… 11:02am CDT

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Well THAT was a LONG Night and morning… No I had to take a few hrs nap in between… lol Getting old man!

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NOTE: I’m not going to do another post on Dragon until it is time to come home in a few days. But… keep up with the latest on the mission, Hatch opening/closing and such at links below…

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That’s it for me…

AJ OUT!

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Watch the Mission LIVE at…

NASA TV

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-- NASA TV’s SpaceX/Dragon Mission Schedule --

Friday, May 25th

1:00am CDT - SpaceX/Dragon ISS Rendezvous and Berthing Coverage begins

Saturday, May 26th

5:30am CDT - SpaceX/Dragon Hatch Opening Coverage begins

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* Keep up with the Latest Mission Info…

From NASA HERE

* Read info about overall mission- HERE

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AubreyJ………

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All info compiled from the NASA.gov website

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OK… One more time!

In case you missed it…

Station Crew Video of the Dragon Grapple and Berthing

Expedition 31 crew members aboard the International Space Station captured this video of the approach, grapple and berthing of the SpaceX Dragon cargo vehicle to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module.

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SpaceX “GO” for early Tuesday Morning, May 22nd Launch

OK… Let’s try this one more time!

SpaceX “GO”

For An Early Morning

Tuesday Launch

Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

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Falcon 9 and Dragon Standing at Launch Pad

Post Date:

Monday, May 21, 2012

9:3am CDT

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The SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket is standing atop Space Launch Complex-40 this morning at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida following inspections on an engine that shut down during Saturday's launch attempt. SpaceX has confirmed the Falcon 9 Rocket is on track to launch early Tuesday morning, May 22^nd, at 2:44am CDT.

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Launch Date: Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Launch Time: 2:44am CDT

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* Launch Coverage:

Watch Launch LIVE at…

NASA TV

Coverage starts at 1:30am CDT

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Launch Blog

Also begins at 1:30am CDT

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* Keep up with the Latest Mission Info…

From NASA HERE

* SPACEX.com - Live Video/Info HERE

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.Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

About Mission: Dragon Spacecraft built by SpaceX will head to the International Space Station with about 1,200 pounds of cargo during its demonstration mission, including commemorative patches and pins, 162 meals and a collection of student experiments…

Read the rest HERE

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Image credit: NASA TV
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POST UPDATE:

Liftoff!!!

Of SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon!

And what a beautiful sight it was to see.

Early Tuesday morning…

May 22, 2012

2:44am CDT

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SpaceX Falcon 9 and its Dragon Spacecraft have successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and are now heading into space, chasing down the International Space Station for hopefully a successful hookup in just a few days time.

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So far so good!

And… great job SpaceX Team on getting her into space, error free…

Yes sir -- JOB WELL DONE!

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Night all!!!

AubreyJ………

Info from the NASA.gov website

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Here’s a 14 minute video clip of launch.

Takes us from just a few moments before launch, all the way to when Dragon is in orbit and the opening of the Solar Arrays occur.

Some really cool video, gang… so be sure to click it out!

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This video posted on YouTube by Hexydes

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SpaceX still “GO” for early Saturday Morning, May 19th Launch

SpaceX Still “GO”

For An Early Morning

Saturday Launch

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Falcon 9 and Dragon Standing at Launch Pad

Friday, May 18^th, 2012

7:14am CDT

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The SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket with its Dragon Spacecraft was stood vertical overnight on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. At this time, we still have a “GO” for Launch.

Read more HERE

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Launch Date: Saturday, May 19^th, 2012

Launch Time: 3:55am CDT

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* Launch Coverage:

Watch Launch LIVE at…

* NASA TV *

Coverage starts at 2:30am CDT

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NASA LaunchBlog

Also begins at 2:30am CDT

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* Keep up with the Latest Mission Info from NASA HERE

* SPACEX.com - Video/Info LIVE Feeds HERE

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About Mission: Dragon Spacecraft built by SpaceX will head to the International Space Station with about 1,200 pounds of cargo during its demonstration mission, including commemorative patches and pins, 162 meals and a collection of student experiments.

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Since the company's rocket and spacecraft are conducting a test flight, the manifest attests to important goods for the station's crew of astronauts and cosmonauts, but not mission-critical items.

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A successful flight, due to liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., at 3:55am CDT on May 19th, is expected to lead to regular cargo missions that will carry a wider range of goods to the orbiting laboratory. Hawthorne, Calif.-based SpaceX, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies, is also deep into the work required to make Dragon suitable to carry people into orbit.

Read the rest HERE

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UPDATE: 4:00am CDT

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WELL CRAP!!!

Countdown clock went down to zero and the rocket just sat there!!!

Flight computer saw something it didn’t like and shut everything down… And I’m sure that was a good thing. But DAMN, I really wanted to see her fly this morning… OHHHH well…

Next launch attempt will be on Tuesday if all goes as planned.

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Post UPDATE:

Saturday, May 19, 2012

11:00amCDT

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SpaceX Engine to be Inspected

Next Launch Opportunity will be this Tuesday, May 22^nd

(Launch Time 2:44am CDT)

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Engineers will physically inspect engine 5 on the SpaceX Falcon 9 after high pressure readings from the engine prompted a launch abort half-a-second before liftoff, SpaceX officials said during a briefing Saturday morning.

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The next launch attempt could come as early as this Tuesday, May 22nd, (Launch Time 2:44am CDT,) but that determination won't be made until after the inspection, said Gwynne Shotwell, President of Space Exploration Technologies of Hawthorne, Calif., known as SpaceX.

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There’s also another launch opportunity on Wednesday, May 23rd.

* Read more HERE

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Well… all we can do now is wait and see!

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With all the delays this sucker has been having just to get off the ground… makes me wonder if the SpaceX bunch can even come close to guiding the Dragon Spacecraft anywhere near the International Space Station when they finally do get her off the ground. Not to mention actually hooking UP with it! Really hope none of this comes out to be the case… What a setback THAT would be!

AubreyJ………

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All info from the NASA.gov website - Image credit: NASA/Gianni Woods
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In case you missed it -- Here it is again!

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Falcon 9 Rocket/Dragon Spacecraft still go for May 19th Launch

Just a reminder of upcoming SpaceX Launch…

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Spacecraft: SpaceX Dragon
Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9
Launch Date: Saturday, May 19th, 2012
Launch Time: 3:55am CDT
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
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This mission is a demonstration flight by Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, as part of its contract with NASA to have private companies launch cargo safely to the International Space Station.

Info from NASA.gov website

Image credit: NASA/Cory Huston - March 2, 2012

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Maybe we’ll get that sucker up this weekend.

Fingers Crossed!!!

AubreyJ………

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SpaceX Announces Launch Delay of Falcon 9 Rocket and Dragon Spacecraft from April 30th to May 7th

About above image: The Dragon/Falcon 9 completed a successful demonstration mission in December 2010.

Image credit: NASA/Kevin O'Connell

SpaceX Announces Launch Delay of Falcon 9 Rocket and Dragon Spacecraft from April 30th to May 7^th

Post Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012

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In response to SpaceX's announcement that it has delayed launch of its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon Spacecraft from April 30th to May 7th, NASA issued the following statement from Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier:

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"We appreciate that SpaceX is taking the necessary time to help ensure the success of this historic flight. We will continue to work with SpaceX in preparing for the May 7 launch to the International Space Station."

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As scheduled, the mission will be the first to see a privately built and funded spacecraft rendezvous with the station. If successful, the mission is expected to pave the way toward regular operational commercial cargo missions…

Read the full report from NASA HERE

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Post Update:

Update from SpaceX on Launch Date

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

12:44pm CDT

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At this time, a May 7th launch appears unlikely. SpaceX is continuing to work through the software assurance process with NASA. A statement will be issued as soon as a new launch target is set.

All info taken from the NASA.gov website

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Again I say… I sure do hope they do not have to continue to push this launch date farther and farther down the road. But I know a safe, surefire launch is always the best... however long it takes.

Can’t wait to see it FLY!

AubreyJ………

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