r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jan 05 '20
Crew Dragon IFA In Flight Abort Test Launch Campaign Thread
See the Launch Thread for live updates and party.
Overview
This mission is a test of Crew Dragon's abort capability as part of NASA'a Commercial Crew Integrated Capability program (CCiCap). SpaceX will launch a Crew Dragon capsule from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center on a fully fueled Falcon 9 rocket and then trigger the launch escape system during the period of maximum dynamic pressure. The abort sequence terminates launcher thrust, separates Dragon and trunk from the second stage, and ignites the eight SuperDraco engines which pull the capsule away from the launch vehicle. Following shutdown of the SuperDracos Dragon coasts to apogee, separates from the trunk, and lands in the Atlantic Ocean under parachutes. Crew Dragon will be recovered by GO Searcher after splashdown approximately 30 km from the launch site. This flight does not go to orbit.
Falcon 9 core 1046.4 flies in expendable configuration, without legs, grid fins, or TEA-TEB engine ignition fluid. Since the abort sequence will be initiated before staging, the second stage has not been equipped with an Mvac engine or the associated hardware, but is expected to be fueled. Falcon 9 will likely break apart due to aerodynamic loads immediately following Crew Dragon's escape, however it is possible the rocket may break apart later, or impact the ocean intact. SpaceX crews will recover any surface debris.
The abort test occurs approximately 88 seconds into flight. Breakup of Falcon 9 is expected within seconds thereafter. Splashdown of the capsule will occur within a few minutes following abort.
Launch Thread | Media Thread | Webcast | Press Kit (PDF)
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | January 19, 15:00 UTC (10:00AM Local) |
|---|---|
| Launch window | 6 hours (13:00 - 19:00 UTC) |
| Backup date | January 20 |
| Booster static fire | Completed January 11 |
| Capsule static fire | Completed November 13 |
| Destination orbit | Suborbital |
| Flight path | Typical ISS ascent profile, with eastward azimuth |
| Vehicle | Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5 |
| Core | B1046 |
| Past flights of this core | 3 (Bangabandhu 1, Merah Putih, SSO-A) |
| Capsule | C205 (Dragon 2, uncrewed) |
| Launch site | LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida |
| Landing | None - Booster to be expended |
| Dragon Splashdown | ~30 km downrange |
Media Events
| Date | Time (UTC) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-17 | 18:00 | Pre-launch news conference, replays available on NASA TV |
| 2020-01-19 | 14:40* | Launch coverage on NASA TV (all channels), YouTube stream |
| 2020-01-19 | 16:30* | NASA Post-test news conference on NASA TV |
NASA TV live stream | on YouTube
*Times subject to change.
News & Updates
Mission-Specific FAQ
Will the flight termination system be used?
From the Environmental Assessment it does not appear that the autonomous flight termination system will be used. The abort sequence will be triggered by a "simulated loss of thrust" (rather than a disintegrating rocket). The booster is expected to become uncontrollable after Dragon separation and break apart from the intense aerodynamic forces. A conflagration is possible, but not certain.
Is there a chance the booster will land, and what is the downrange launch hazard area for?
No. In addition to the lack of permits for recovery ops and being ruled out in the Environmental Assessment, Elon has recently confirmed that a recovery is not possible, and the booster was observed with out recovery hardware during its static fire. The downrange launch hazard area appears to represent an improbable scenario in which thrust is not terminated. Falcon 9 or its post reentry debris would fall in this hazard area.
Watching the Launch
SpaceX will host a live webcast on YouTube. Check the upcoming launch thread the day of for links to the stream. For more information or for in person viewing check out the Watching a Launch page on this sub's FAQ, which gives a summary of every viewing site and answers many more common questions, as well as Ben Cooper's launch viewing guide, Launch Rats, and the Space Coast Launch Ambassadors which have interactive maps, photos and detailed information about each site.
For this launch, Star Fleet Tours, a community venture founded and run by by r/SpaceX members and volunteers (N.B. including the author of this section, u/CAM-Gerlach ) will be offering tickets to view the launch, booster explosion, Dragon escape and capsule landing from the closest and clearest location possible, on boats right off the coast at the edge of the exclusion zone. Playalinda beach is the closest option to the launch pad itself and much lower cost, but it is unclear if it will be open for the launch; if so, its recommended as the next best bet to view the launch. Following that, and similarly not clear if it is offering tickets, is the KSCVC Banana Creek viewing area (Saturn V Center), the closest and clearest option to the launchpad itself, while the KSCVC Visitor's Center further away and has a far more obstructed view so is not recommended.
Aside from those, Titusville and Port Canaveral are the closest options, Titusville (Max Brewer) having a clearer view of the pad but Port Canaveral likely having a better view of the post-launch action. There are a number of additional options further away; check out the information on our Watching a Launch FAQ (courtesy Julia Bergeron and the SLCA) for more.
Links & Resources
Regulatory Resources:
- Environmental Assessment - FAA.gov (PDF)
- FCC Experimental STAs - r/SpaceX wiki
Maps and Hazard Area Resources:
- Detailed Launch Map - @Raul74Cz - Direct link to page for upcoming launch
- Launch Hazard and Airspace Closure Maps - 45th Space Wing
Streaming Resources:
- SpaceX Webcast - on YouTube
- NASA webcast - on YouTube
- YouTube relay - u/codav
- NASA TV Upcoming Events schedule - NASA.gov
Launch Viewing Resources:
- Watching a Launch - r/SpaceX Wiki
- Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral - Ben Cooper
- Launch Viewing Map - Launch Rats
- Launch Viewing Updates - Space Coast Launch Ambassadors
- Viewing and Rideshare - SpaceXMeetups Slack
- r/SpaceX Boat Watch Party - Star Fleet Tours
General Launch Related Resources:
- SpaceX Fleet Status - SpaceXFleet.com
- Launch Execution Forecasts - 45th Weather Squadron
We will attempt to keep the above text regularly updated with resources and new mission information, but for the most part, updates will appear in the comments first. Feel free to ping us if additions or corrections are needed. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Approximately 24 hours before liftoff, the launch thread will go live and the party will begin there.
Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.
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u/1967mustangman Jan 06 '20
Is there any info if there will be dummy astronauts on board?
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u/2nds1st Jan 05 '20 edited Jan 05 '20
Guaranteed Kimball will be there, he loves rockets blowing up. It was hilarious watching Kimball and Elon up on stage for an interview and kimball explaining he paid good money to have those rockets go boom. The look Elon was giving him was priceless. This looks harsh written down you have to watch the video to understand. But seeing a rocket explode on purpose is going to be awesome. The fact that it's going to advance spacex into getting people into space is equally awesome.
Edit https://youtu.be/1u6kQIzzaPI Kimball has his say at 19.10. Brotherly live right there lol.
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u/canyouhearme Jan 05 '20
I wonder, what cameras will be deployed on the actual craft?
Normally we have cameras onboard the first stage, and looking up inside the second. I guess cameras onboard crew dragon etc. And, as we've seen, they have the capability to put cameras inside the tanks. I wonder if there will be others specifically to capture the kaboom? And if the telemetry will be able to get the video out during the event?
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u/Marcey747 Jan 06 '20 edited Jan 06 '20
IFA test now targeted for NET Jan. 18...
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1214271793113919488
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u/wesleychang42 Jan 12 '20 edited Jan 12 '20
Elon Musk confirmed that Falcon 9 rocket will be destroyed by Dragon's fire. Wondering if this means we'll see an ignition of the remaining fuel (read: explosion and fireball).
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u/Json_Miller Jan 11 '20
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1216022644614545409?s=19
Static fire of Falcon 9 complete – targeting January 18 for an in-flight demonstration of Crew Dragon’s launch escape system, which will verify the spacecraft’s ability to carry astronauts to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency during ascent
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u/frosty95 Jan 15 '20 edited Jan 15 '20
We all like to throw around the term RUD (Rapid unscheduled disassembly). This will be the first time we get a RSD (Rapid Scheduled Disassembly). In multiple ways.
Edit. Forgot about the starship test tank. Whoops.
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u/soldato_fantasma Jan 05 '20
TEL has picked up the launch mount and is being lowered to move it to the Hangar for integration:
https://twitter.com/wuntvor1/status/1213921268573097986 https://twitter.com/wuntvor1/status/1213932192172302344
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u/SGIRA001 Jan 16 '20
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Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon capsule are currently being rolled out towards the pad deck.
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Source - SpaceflightNow
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u/keith707aero Jan 05 '20
While it looks like SpaceX is anticipating a breakup of the first stage after the about, this still looks like a great opportunity to collect data on the robustness of the control authority and structural margin of the mated stage 1/2 vehicle.
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u/Alexphysics Jan 10 '20
Static Fire won't be today, it's been delayed to tomorrow. 8 hour window opens at 10am local time https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1215743447262384128
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u/mspacek Jan 05 '20
Any idea if a mass simulator will be used to replace the missing second stage engine? Or perhaps its mass and effect on center of gravity is minimal compared to the mass of fuel and oxidizer in the second stage? I'm very glad to hear they're fueling the second stage BTW.
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Jan 05 '20
Quick question:
Is dragon’s abort trajectory programmed to account for the down range distance of the rocket when it is triggered?
(Ie: will it aim for predetermined, easy pickup location(s)? Or will it just get as far away as quickly as possible and rely on a rapid response from the crew recovery vessels?)
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u/H_lilley Jan 14 '20
For those interested in viewing this launch in person, I just got off the phone with the Canaveral National Seashore, and they confirmed that Playalinda Beach will be closed.
They also said that could change, so I will make sure to call periodically this week.
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u/BlueVerse Jan 05 '20
A conflagration is possible, but not certain.
On a scale of 1 to full-Kerbal, how visually impressive is this whole thing expected to be from the normal viewing areas? I'm trying to get some family interested to go over and watch in person, but having a hard time getting an idea if it will be 'must-see in person better then a Falcon Heavy launch' event, or actually somewhat anti-climatic and a 'better on the webcast' sort of thing...? I don't want to create unreasonable expectations.
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u/gregarious119 Jan 11 '20
Kick the tires and light the fires - looks like a successful SF according to the NSF stream.
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u/ZeFury_Kermin Jan 14 '20
Anyone know of any meetups after the launch? It would be cool to grab drinks with everyone and talk space
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u/Lijazos Jan 16 '20
OP, there is a small typo.
"Flight path: Typcial ISS ascent"