SpaceX to dock at ISS

[qube_TA]

I think this is huge, a private company getting NASA approval to fly and dock at the ISS.

More info: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/04/17/spacex_dra...

http://www.spacex.com/updates.php

Hopefully all will go well and it won't be too long before SpaceX are sending up astronauts.

[AlfaFoxtrot]

It's impressively quick progress. Hopefully the test goes ok, they can do a few more and then the financials will be clear (I assume this will be cheaper than the Euro ATV and Soyuz?).

The real game changer then comes with the heavy rocket they're building. Elon Musk to Mars before any nations?

[qube_TA]

Yes, very exciting prospect, space is potentially about to get a lot more interesting!

[Eric Mc]

Yep - and it should be visible from the UK.

[fatboy69]

Eric Mc said:

Yep - and it should be visible from the UK.

Any idea when as ISS tracker isnt any use for times etc. Unless i'm looking in the wrong place which wouldnt be the first time!

[Eric Mc]

Try Heavens-Above.com

[dvs_dave]

And a random MacLaren F1 just parked up in the SpaceX warehouse.

[mattviatura]

Did anyone notice an apparent object about four o'clock to the ISS when it passed at 2135 last night? It appeared to be following the same path. Miss MV and I saw it and a pal phoned at the time to ask if anyone else had seen it.

Before anyone starts I DO NOT THINK IT WAS ALIENS.

Could something have been deliberately jettisoned?

[Eric Mc]

I didn't see it and I wasn't aware that anything was intending to dock with the ISS (or undock from it either).

Occasionaly you see other spacecraft ahead or behind the ISS as a docking is coming up or an undocking has just happened. I've seen the Shuttle both before and after undocking and the ISS being chased by Soyuz, Progress or ESA supply craft such as Jules Verne.

[mattviatura]

Yep I've seen the shuttle. I can remember watching the last one ahead of the ISS on its final return.

This was similar but smaller, behind and slightly 'lower' in the sky if that makes sense. The speed seemed to be roughly equal from our point of view.

I couldn't find details of anything else docking or following a similar orbit last night. Definitely saw something though.

Edited to add, has something just undocked? That might explain it.

[Eric Mc]

I usually read the Spaceflightnow website to catch up on what is happening in space and they had no mention of docking or undocking objects. It might have been just another satellite in a slightly different orbit.

[mattviatura]

Spaceflightnow, I'll have a look around that thanks. Coincidentally orbiting satellite makes most sense, it was certainly interesting to see.

Might go and stir up the hornets on the UFO thread then

[jmorgan]

I have starry night and it uses a list for recent sats and the sky is full of them. Irridium flares has become a must for some, that is photographing the effect. Envisat is another as it does South North (or tother way??) and sometimes appears when the ISS is going by. Envisat by the way is having a few problems at the moment, shut down apparantly. Not sure if its a candidate for re entry but its a big un.

[maffski]

Rather than the complex automatic docking gubbins of the ATV the idea is to park the capsule next to the ISS and then pull them into position using the robotic arm on the ISS - if it works then supply vehicles can be lighter and cheaper.

It's interesting to see just how differently SpaceX approaches things, it's almost like it's their own money they're spending...

[mattviatura]

jmorgan said:

I have starry night and it uses a list for recent sats and the sky is full of them. Irridium flares has become a must for some, that is photographing the effect. Envisat is another as it does South North (or tother way??) and sometimes appears when the ISS is going by. Envisat by the way is having a few problems at the moment, shut down apparantly. Not sure if its a candidate for re entry but its a big un.

Thanks, will have a look at this too.

We saw something on a South North trajectory ahead of the ISS on Saturday (I think) too so it may have been Envisat.

[Eric Mc]

maffski said:

Rather than the complex automatic docking gubbins of the ATV the idea is to park the capsule next to the ISS and then pull them into position using the robotic arm on the ISS - if it works then supply vehicles can be lighter and cheaper.

It's interesting to see just how differently SpaceX approaches things, it's almost like it's their own money they're spending...

Quite clever, making use ogf the tyechnology already invented and paid for by others (the remote maniulator arm) rather than reinventing the wheel.

If they do develop the Dragon capsule as a manned spaxcecraft (which is their intention) then some sort of docking tunnel and entry/exit hatch will have to be used. Again, there's no reason why they can't use one of the designs already in use.

[jmorgan]

mattviatura said:

Thanks, will have a look at this too.

We saw something on a South North trajectory ahead of the ISS on Saturday (I think) too so it may have been Envisat.

I bought this but there is a free one that may have satellite plug ins or whatever, I bought starry night many years ago after using Red Shift and before I knew stellerium was available.

http://www.stellarium.org/

[Eric Mc]

Aha - I forgot I downloaded Stellarium a few weeks ago.

I rewound the clock back to 9.30 last night and activated the satellite button and lo and behold, it looks like the other satellite might have been Intercosmos 25.

There were a few others around but they seemed to be too long before or after the ISS had passed.

[mattviatura]

This is all great - thanks.

[z4chris99]

dvs_dave said:

And a random MacLaren F1 just parked up in the SpaceX warehouse.

Iove that