SpaceX CRS-3 Mission

>>ColinW+(OP)
Here is a CRS-3 launch and ascent event list. Please note that all timings and values are approximate, as I have based them on a mix of CRS-2 profile telemetry and CRS-3 mission notes.

T-00:00:00 - Falcon 9 lift-off. Stage 1's nine Merlin engines produce 1.3M pounds of thrust.

T+00:00:07 - Falcon 9 clears the launch tower.

T+00:01:00 - Altitude: 6km, Velocity: 241m/s, Downrange distance: 1km

T+00:01:10 - Falcon 9 achieves supersonic speed.

T+00:01:23 - Falcon 9 achieves maximum dynamic pressure (Max Q).

T+00:02:00 - Altitude: 30km, Velocity: 1km/s, Downrange distance: 23km

T+00:02:30 - Altitude: 51km, Velocity: 1.8km/s, Downrange distance: 59km

T+00:02:41 - MECO (Main Engine Cut-Off) Altitude: 80km, Velocity: Mach 10

T+00:02:44 - Stage 1 separates from Stage 2.

T+00:02:45 - Stage 2's single Merlin engine ignites.

T+00:03:25 - Dragon's nose cone is jettisoned.

T+00:04:21 - Altitude: 148km, Velocity: 3.2km/s, Downrange distance: 346km

T+00:05:22 - Altitude: 182km, Velocity: 4km/s, Downrange distance: 541km

T+00:06:24 - Altitude: 200km, Velocity: 4.6km/s, Downrange distance: 767km

T+00:07:31 - Altitude: 210km, Velocity: 5.6km/s, Downrange distance: 1,080km

T+00:09:40 - SECO (Second-stage Engine Cut-Off)

T+00:10:15 - Stage 2 separates from Dragon.

>>Arjuna+Q1
Elon has just confirmed [1] that they will be attempting to recover the first stage. This is the first flight with the landing leg module attached to the first stage. The landing legs will be deployed over sea for a soft landing in preparation for a land-based recovery.

This will be a historic moment if the recovery succeeds, ushering in a new era of space travel due to the massively reduced operating costs of recoverable engines.

1. https://twitter.com/elonmusk

>>FD3SA+L2
Update from Elon [1]:

"Last known state for rocket boost stage is 360 m/s, Mach 1.1, 8.5 km altitude and roll rate close to zero (v important!)"

So it appears it may be a failure, we'll find out soon what went wrong this time. More from Elon regarding what success would be, telemetry wise:

"Rocket boost stage reaching 0 m/s in one piece :) Will know soon. Odds not high." [1]

Regardless, they've demonstrated that the landing-leg module can survive the stresses of liftoff and fully powered flight, particularly at Max Q. This is quite an achievement, and vital for future tests.

1. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/with_replies

>>FD3SA+Zr
I think you're reading more into his comment than he intended. The first tweet,

    Last known state for rocket boost stage is 360 m/s,
    Mach 1.1, 8.5 km altitude and roll rate close to zero
    (v important!)

Was a very upbeat message in the context of their previous attempts.

This rocket was only doing 360 m/s, but importantly, wasn't rolling at all -- Their last 'test' failed when the rocket started rolling at a very high rate of speed and they lost engine power.

Musk was then asked:

    if anything could go better, what would it be?

To which he replied:

    Rocket boost stage reaching 0 m/s in one piece :)
    Will know soon. Odds not high.

The first line is just a joke that the test would go better if the rocket got to the surface in 1 piece. I think his 'odds not high' statement is just to dampen excitement a bit, since they went into this with a ~40% chance of success for the landing stage.

>>mikeyo+ev
Agreed, it appears I was unnecessarily pessimistic. Seems like SpaceX has pulled it off [1]:

"Data upload from tracking plane shows landing in Atlantic was good! Several boats enroute through heavy seas."

Congrats to the SpaceX team if this is the case. I've been glued to my laptop since the launch. I can finally say we've made a significant breakthrough in aerospace during my lifetime.

The last time a breakthrough of this magnitude occurred was during the Apollo program.

1. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/457307742495993856

UPDATE: Further confirmation.

"Flight computers continued transmitting for 8 seconds after reaching the water. Stopped when booster went horizontal."

It appears that we've witnessed history today ladies and gentlemen.

>>FD3SA+gB
Woooooooo!

I was probably unnecessarily optimistic, but I'm so glad they are making this much progress so quickly!

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