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[DrPoo]

another launch from SpaceX today. as usual, there will be a livestream, at http://www.spacex.com/webcast/ . it just went live. (although there is nothing to see at the moment)

Fuck! It failed! ;(

[olemars]

Not failed (yet). The Falcon did its job and the Dragon pod is in proper orbit, but they are having issues getting the thruster pods to initialize.

[sneakey pete]

Its in an orbit from what i gather. Best case, they override it and it works just like normal. worst case.. it sits there orbiting forever*.

*or for a long while until the orbit decays and it reenters

[Coalwalker]

According to Musk, the flight computer entered passive failure mode after three of the four thruster pods failed to initialise, and delayed the solar array deployment.

This means that the Dragon currently has no attitude control. We'll see how this goes...

[alway]

Another one apparently working, and solar panels successfully deployed.

[olemars]

Hopefully they get it fully started up. SpaceX really doesn't need a failure, but recovering from problems is perhaps even better than an uneventful mission. Last time they got to showcase their ability to complete a mission even with partial engine failure.

EDIT: They have two thruster pods working so far, they need three to be allowed to approach ISS.

[andrea]

fingers crossed... but at least with 2 thrusters the capsule won't be stuck in orbit.

did they manage to discover what caused the problem?

[10ebbor10]

fingers crossed... but at least with 2 thrusters the capsule won't be stuck in orbit.

did they manage to discover what caused the problem?

As far as we know, some sort of software glitch caused to command computer to stop the thrusters from activating.

They're currently attempting to override that.

[olemars]

Mission Update: 3/1 12:15PM ET

Falcon 9 lifted off as planned and experienced a nominal flight. After Dragon achieved orbit, the spacecraft experienced an issue with a propellant valve. One thruster pod is running. We are trying to bring up the remaining three. We did go ahead and get the solar arrays deployed. Once we get at least two pods running, we will begin a series of burns to get to station.

Update:

Thruster pods one through four are now operating nominally. Preparing to raise orbit. All systems green.

Because of the delay they will be docking with ISS at least 1-2 days late (original schedule was tomorrow afternoon).

[andrea]

well. they sure are showing a good ability to recover from problems. The delay is bad, but this is ... the third proper orbital mission? they have an excellent track record

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I'd rather have there be a series of problems that they prove competent at containing than no problems and then an utter catastrophe.

[Sirus]

I'd rather have there be a series of problems that they prove competent at containing than no problems and then an utter catastrophe.

There's a fine line there. If they're having problems almost every mission, it's gonna start making people wonder what will go wrong next time.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

With all the systems involved in spaceflight, I'd be more surprised if everything did go smooth.

[andrea]

yes, exactly.
more recent NASA or russian missions went and go relatively smoothly, compared to spaceX. But they also have had decades to test their equipment... expecting perfection on the first ( or second, third, fourth) try is unrealistic. that is why they aren't doing crew missions yet.
what we can expect, however, is ability to fix whatever problems arise

[alway]

I would hardly call either the NASA or Russian missions lately 'going relatively smoothly.'
Between the issues with the Soyuz craft
http://www.space.com/14588-russian-space-failures-larger-problems.html
and of course the space shuttle breaking up in reentry not all that long ago.