Deep Space Information

2016年9月1日星期四

Ceres' Mountain Ahuna Mons: Side View

Ceres' lonely mountain, Ahuna Mons, is seen in this simulated perspective view. The elevation has been exaggerated by a factor of two. The view was made using enhanced-color images from NASA's Dawn mission. via NASA http://ift.tt/2c81958

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket explosion: What we know and don't know

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral this morning. Here's what we know and don't know.

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Explosion at Test Stand Causes Loss of SpaceX Rocket

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket explodes while being fueled for test firing.

This morning (Friday, Sep. 1, 2016) at around 09:00 EDT, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded while being fueled up for an engine test firing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At this time, I have no info on what happened, except that the explosion occurred three minutes before the test was scheduled. The rocket was uncrewed and no one was near the pad, so no one was injured. However, it appears that the payload, an Israeli communications satellite called AMOS-6, was lost. The launch was to have been on Sep. 3.

My colleague Susan Matthews at Slate has more information.

This is bad, have no doubt. It will delay the launch schedule for SpaceX for months to come, including the first flight of the Falcon Heavy, a huge rocket that was supposed to launch late this year, and the first flight of a previously used first stage booster that re-landed after being used in a launch. There have been 28 Falcon 9 launches with two failures (if you include this one, and again we don't know the cause, and it wasn't during launch).

I suggest following SpaceX and Eric Berger on Twitter for updates. I'll post more information when I can.

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NASA OIG Report On Commercial Crew Certification

NASA OIG: NASA'S Commercial Crew Program: Update on Development and Certification Efforts

"Moreover, both companies must satisfy NASA's safety review process to ensure they meet Agency human-rating requirements. As part of the certification process, Boeing and SpaceX conduct safety reviews and report to NASA on potential hazards and their plans for mitigating risks. We found significant delays in NASA's evaluation and approval of these hazard reports and related requests for variances from NASA requirements that increase the risk costly redesign work may be required late in development, which could further delay certification. Although NASA's goal is to complete its review within 8 weeks of receipt of a hazard report, the contractors told us reviews can take as long as 6 months. We also found NASA does not monitor the overall timeliness of its safety review process. Given delays in the Commercial Crew Program, NASA has extended its contract with Roscosmos for astronaut transportation through 2018 at an additional cost of $490 million or $82 million a seat for six more seats. If the Program experiences additional delays, NASA may need to buy additional seats from Russia to ensure a continued U.S. presence on the ISS."

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ISS Daily Summary Report – 08/31/2016

Trailing Thermal Control Radiator (TTCR) Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: The Commander and Flight Engineer-6 completed their pre-EVA medical checkup, final EVA tool configuration and EVA timeline review earlier today. This afternoon the crew performed a conference with EVA ground specialist to discuss any final question about tomorrow’s TTCR EVA. The crew also prepared the Equipment Lock, EMUs and ancillary hardware to support EVA prep activities. Crew egress of the Airlock is scheduled for 7:10 am CDT. Multi-Omics sample collections: Flight Engineer-5 collected samples for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Multi-Omics experiment. Samples were then placed into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The Multi-omics analysis of human microbial-metabolic cross-talk in the space ecosystem (Multi-Omics) investigation evaluates the impacts of space environment and prebiotics on astronauts’ immune function, by combining the data obtained from the measurements of changes in the gut microbiological composition, metabolites profiles, and the immune system. Biomarkers for immune dysfunction during the crewmembers time on the ISS could be useful for the health management of astronauts. Habitability walkthrough: The Commander performed his sixth and final Habitability walkthrough video. Williams has been requested to focus on the windows available to the crew on the ISS, and their impact on habitability and productivity. The Habitability investigation results will be used to assess the relationship between crew members and their environment in order to better prepare for future long-duration spaceflights. Observations recorded during 6 month and 1 year missions can help spacecraft designers determine how much habitable volume is required, and whether a mission’s duration impacts how much space crew members need. Fine Motor Skills (FMS): Flight Engineer-5 completed his 9th of 20 sessions of FMS. Performing a series of interactive tasks on a touchscreen tablet were completed for the Fine Motor Skills investigation. This investigation is critical during long-duration space missions, particularly those skills needed to interact with technologies required in next-generation space vehicles, spacesuits, and habitats. The crewmember’s fine motor skills are also necessary for performing tasks in transit or on a planetary surface, such as information access, just-in-time training, subsystem maintenance, and medical treatment. Circadian Rhythms: After 36 hours of wear-time, Flight Engineer-5 doffed the Double Sensors and Thermolab Control Unit and stowed the equipment. The objective of the experiment is to get a better understanding of any alterations in circadian rhythms in humans during long-term space flights. Such knowledge will not only provide important insights into the adaptations of the human autonomic nervous system in space over time, but also has significant practical implications by helping to improve physical exercise, rest- and work shifts as well as fostering adequate workplace illumination in the sense of occupational healthcare in future space missions. Today’s Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. NEUROIMMUNITET. Saliva Samples Collection NEUROIMMUNITET. Closeout Ops Multi Omics (MO) Multi Omics Saliva P/L. Saliva Sampling Ops SPLANKH. Setup and Starting EGEG Recording NEUROIMMUNITET. Saliva Samples Collection Multi Omics (MO) Multi Omics Saliva P/L Multi Omics (MO) Multi Omics P/L Questionnaire KORREKTSIYA. NEUROIMMUNITET. Blood Samples Collection KORREKTSIYA. NEUROIMMUNITET. Processing venous blood samples using Plasma-03 centrifuge NEUROIMMUNITET. Venous blood samples processing (smear) Regeneration of БМП Ф1 Micropurification Cartridge Soyuz 720 Stowage Ops for Return NEUROIMMUNITET. Psychological Test EVA Tool Config Fine Motor Skills (FINEMOTR) Experiment Ops CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS Ops Replacement of FS1 laptop main HDD. DOSETRK iPad data entry Greetings Video Footage Removal of deployed Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Monitors EVA Procedure Review HABIT Habitability Walk-Through Video USOS EVA Tool Audit SPLANKH. Termination of EGEG Recording and Closeout Ops SPLANKH. Photography of the Experiment Ops СОЖ Maintenance LBNP Training Soyuz 731 IRIDIUM Phone Recharging Soyuz 720 Stowage for Return ALGOMETRIYA. Experiment Ops NEUROIMMUNITET. Hair Samples Collection Replacement of СРВ-К2М Separator and Membrane Filter Separator (МФР) EV1 Glove Repair IMS Delta File Prep Robotics Workstation Monitor Checkout PAO Hardware Setup Changeout of СРВ-К2М purification column assembly (БКО) EVA Procedure Conference Download Pille Dosimeter Readings Crew Prep for PAO PAO Event Pille sensors prep for USOS EVA Crew Departure Prep Equipment Lock Preparation INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops EVA, iPad Contingency Procedures preparation ISS HAM RADIO Power Down NEUROIMMUNITET. End of ECG Recording. Closeout Ops and Data Downlink Airlock LHA Replacement Completed Task List Items None Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. Lab CDRA to Standby Nominal ground commanding Three-Day Look Ahead: Thursday, 09/01: TTCR EVA Friday, 09/02: EVA Debrief, EMU H2O Recharge, Post EVA PHS, Soyuz Descent Training Saturday, 09/03: Crew Off Duty, Housekeeping, Overhead CQ Cleaning QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) On [СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) Off Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Idle Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Operate Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Standby Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Standby Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Off Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Full Up

September 01, 2016 at 12:00AM
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Explosion Reported at SpaceX SLC-40 Pad

Keith's note: Multiple reports from Cape Canaveral AIr Force Station report that a Falcon 9 rocket exploded this morning. NASA has confirmed an explosion - but not specifically that of a Falcon 9. More details to follow. The 45th Space Wing has reported that there are no casualties. The explosion likely occurred during a static fire test of the rocket's engines according to early reports.