SpaceX Launching Dragon Capsule via Flacon9 to ISS, Testing Rocket Barge Landing
Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream
[Update postponed until 4.14.15 at 4:10pm EST]
One of the major research being sent on the Dragon capsule is synthetic muscle tissue that can regenerate in robotics. At T-Minus 10 minutes, all systems are autonomous, auto sequence has started. You cannot hold within T-Minus 10 seconds.
Science payloads will study new ways to possibly counteract the microgravity-induced cell damage seen during spaceflight, the effects of microgravity on the most common cells in bones, gather new insight that could lead to treatments for osteoporosis and muscle wasting conditions, continue studies into astronaut vision changes and test a new material that could one day be used as a synthetic muscle for robotics explorers of the future. Also making the trip will be a new espresso machine for space station crews. After five weeks at the space station, the spacecraft will return with more than 3,000 pounds of cargo, including crew supplies, hardware and computer resources, science experiments, space station hardware, and trash.
[via NASA]
With 2:39 seconds, the weather reared it’s ugly head. They are calling for relaunch tomorrow at 4:10pm EST but there’s a 50% chance of rain.
Update: We have liftoff!
The Dragon capsule launch was a success, but the landing of the Falcon9 on barge was not. No one said it was going to be easy. Remember- it’s never been done before. The more you launch and land the more data you have to figure out how to successfully pull it off time and time again. Reusable rockets are the key to getting off the planet. It would bring down the cost of going to the moon and setting up a base. Beyond the moon is where you would see even more savings. Going to Mars and the outer planets and starting colonization becomes more feasible.
Congrats @SpaceX and @NASA team on a successful launch! Watched with my crewmates aboard #ISS. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/kVeCevGCjQ
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) April 14, 2015