SpaceX launch poll 2013-03-01

Okay everyone, here we go again. On March 1st, SpaceX is scheduled to launch another Dragon to the ISS on the Falcon 9 carrier rocket. Will they succeed?

Haha
But I think that you went a little bit over the top with the options this time. You made me smile, but not laugh frantically as I did while reading your last few polls

Poll: I think it is going to be so boring, that everybody falls asleep... during the live webcast of the launch!

Fun fact that I've only realized a few minutes ago:
If this launch (and berthing) is successful, then SpaceX will have done as many ISS resupply flights in just one year, as ESA's ATV accomplished in four years!

True, but ATV carries more than twice as much cargo as Dragon. That thing is big. On the other hand, Dragon has return capability, which ATV doesn't, so we can already say that it's returned more cargo than ATV ever has...

At least their static-fire was successful http://spacefellowship.com/news/art32458/spacex-conducts-successful-static-fire.html

You know, that last option is really beautiful. When people take success for granted, that is the true victory over, um, gravity, or something. Well, you get what I'm trying to say!

So much for a boring launch... NOT!

Dragon achieved orbit, but something went wrong: the last thing I heard before the video link was lost/cut was something about "abort passive".

Then there was a pause after which the SpaceX guy admitted that there was some problem with Dragon and that they have to figure out what's going on...

Aaaand back to 'nominal':



To recap for those of us who couldn't follow the story: it seems that for whatever reasons only one out of four thruster pods were initially pressurized. Allegedly a software issue that prevented valve(s) to open. This in turn put the spacship into passive abort mode, in which it didn't proceed with usual actions (most noticeably deploying solar panels). Overriding commands were sent to Dragon before first orbit finished allowing for activation of one additional thruster pod and deployment of panels. NASA procedures however demand three thruster pods to be functional for approach to ISS, so any maneouvers were postponed until this state could be achieved. This seem to just have happened.

On a side note: Dragon was scheduled to arrive to ISS within 18h from launch - a new record for US launched ship. Unfortunately the record will be unbeaten on this flight.

SpaceX seem to be balancing on the edge of failure an awful lot. On the other hand, so far they've managed to stay on the right side pretty well. Conclusion: they've perfected not spending too much on unnecessary reliability?

No, they just read your poll options and decided to add a little bit of suspense!

Well, they managed to shake loose the stuck valves and fly to the station, where they are now safely berthed. Pretty awesome. Incidentally, I put some numbers together recently and it seems that SpaceX can fail 80% of their CRS missions and still match Orbital's Antares/Cygnus package on price/kg to the ISS. Quite impressive...