{"id":40941,"date":"2009-11-10T22:01:21","date_gmt":"2009-11-10T14:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/sts-129-ready-to-support-dragon-communication-demo-with-iss\/"},"modified":"2009-11-10T22:01:21","modified_gmt":"2009-11-10T14:01:21","slug":"sts-129-ready-to-support-dragon-communication-demo-with-iss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/sts-129-ready-to-support-dragon-communication-demo-with-iss\/","title":{"rendered":"STS-129 ready to support Dragon communication demo with ISS"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When STS-129 launches next week, Atlantis will have one eye on the future, as she carries the CRS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU), a key element for the upcoming demonstration of SpaceX\u2019s Dragon capsule, ahead of its debut arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010.<\/p>\n<p>STS-129\u2019s Dragon Payload:<\/p>\n<p>The Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Communication Unit will be riding in a middeck stowage locker on Atlantis, before being handed over to ISS crewmembers for the 2010 demonstration flights \u2013 although SpaceX\u2019s schedule is deemed fluid.<\/p>\n<p>Developed by SpaceX, in collaboration with NASA, the unit allows for communication between the ISS, Dragon and ground-based mission control. The system also allows the ISS crew to monitor an approaching or departing capsule.<\/p>\n<p>Led by SpaceX\u2019s yet-to-launch Falcon 9 launch vehicle, the Dragon spacecraft has three demonstration flights planned for its cargo supply version.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-12469\" title=\"A2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/A211.jpg\" alt=\"A2\" width=\"378\" height=\"263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/A211.jpg 378w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/A211-350x244.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 378px) 100vw, 378px\">According to NASA documentation at the end of October, Demo 1 is currently classed as a January, 2010 flight, though it is expected to slip to February.<\/p>\n<p>This flight will be based around Dragon carrying out three orbits of the Earth \u2013 which will be solely aimed at testing the capsule\u2019s abilities.<\/p>\n<p>This demonstration won\u2019t involve communications with the ISS, and as a result may be classed only as a Dragon test \u2013 as opposed to a specific COTS related demo \u2013 which might explain why SpaceX are classing the upcoming F9 launch as unrelated to their COTS commitments.<\/p>\n<p>Demo 2 \u2013 currently scheduled for June, 2010 \u2013 will ramp up the testing of Dragon, including the first test relating to the ISS, as the capsule establishes communication and relative GPS with ISS at 23 km, before carrying out a fly-by at 10km below the Station.<\/p>\n<p>Rocket building kits<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Space Shuttle<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Spaceflight news subscription<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>Demo 3 \u2013 currently scheduled for August, 2010 \u2013 will mark Dragon\u2019s debut rendezvous and capture at the ISS, with the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) transitioning the capsule for mating to the Node 2 Nadir port. Demo cargo is yet to be manifested for transfer to\/from ISS during its 14 day stay on Station.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the communication\u2019s system ride on Atlantis, notes on the SpaceX hardware were included in STS-129\u2019s ISS Agency level Flight Readiness Review (FRR) presentation \u2013 available on L2.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCUCU was developed by SpaceX through Space Act Agreement (SAA) to demonstrate proximity communication between Dragon and ISS,\u201d noted the presentation. \u201cFirst component launching to initiate set up of SpaceX Dragon to ISS interface in order to support the SpaceX Dragon missions.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"widget-title penci-border-arrow\">See Also<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Commercial Forum Section<\/li>\n<li>L2 SpaceX Section<\/li>\n<li>L2&nbsp;ISS Section<\/li>\n<li>Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cCUCU provides a bi-directional, half-duplex communications link between Dragon and ISS using existing ISS UHF Space to Space Station Radio (SSSR) antennas, which provides a communication path between MCCX (SpaceX) and Dragon during proximity operations and a command security between ISS and Dragon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnit packaged in a locker to be mounted inside a rack on ISS and connected to ISS data, audio, and UHF antenna resources \u2013 provides a separate Crew Command Panel (CCP) for crew interface to Dragon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As with all new vehicles that have aspirations to approach to the ISS, strict rules and certifications need to be approved and constantly reviewed. SpaceX were well aware of this requirement, as noted by Gwynne Shotwell, President, SpaceX.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe unit had to pass NASA\u2019s strict ISS safety standards and reviews, demonstrating our progress under the COTS program and laying the groundwork for future F9\/Dragon flights to resupply cargo and possibly crew to the ISS when Shuttle retires.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-12466\" title=\"A3\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/A37.jpg\" alt=\"A3\" width=\"303\" height=\"235\">From NASA\u2019s standpoint, the system is ready for its role on the ISS, following a year of qualification and certification reviews, prior and after its arrival at the Kennedy Space Center in September.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHardware\/Software is designed, built, and verified as per the requirements of: CUCU Interface Requirements Document (IRD). CUCU EXPRESS Rack Interface Control Document (ICD). CUCU Software Requirements \u2018derived\u2019 from COTS IRD,\u201d added the FRR presentation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPost Qualification Review (PQR) conducted in July 2009. Board concurred with closure of the CUCU IRD and ICD verification requirements. CUCU software functionality checkout September 2009. Supports CUCU checkout and CUCU End-to-End test. Supports the on orbit checkout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With cabling and seat track brackets \u2013 part of mod kit 1 \u2013 already delivered to the Station via the Russian Progress resupply ship 35P, integration and checkout of the communication unit is scheduled to take place in January of next year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpaceX is providing the CCP Cable, connectors and RF couplers (4 qty). To launch with hardware on ULF3. ISS to CUCU cables (NASA\/Boeing provided hardware),\u201d added the FRR presentation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMod Kit I: Four cable harnesses: 1553 (2 qty), RF (1 qty), Redundant Power (1 qty) and RF Coupler Assembly (1 qty). (Already launched on 35P flight): two cables provided by Express Rack (primary power, Ethernet), already on-orbit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMod Kit II: Audio Cable and 1 Audio switch box. Delivery Date: Nov 09. Installation and routing of all CUCU cables during Increment 22 (Jan. 2010).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Click here for NASASpaceflight.com\u2019s list of SpaceX Articles:<br \/>\nhttp:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/?s=SpaceX<\/p>\n<p>This will the second time an orbiter has provided assistance to SpaceX, following Endeavour\u2019s role with the DragonEye (DE) Detailed Test Objective (DTO) box \u2013 with flash LIDAR and data acquisition unit \u2013 during STS-127.<\/p>\n<p>The DragonEye DTO was mounted to the Trajectory Control System-1 (TCS-1) carrier assembly on Endeavour\u2019s ODS (Orbiter Docking System) starboard location.<\/p>\n<p>DragonEye provided three-dimensional images based on the amount of time it takes for a single laser pulse from the sensor to the reach a target and bounce back, providing range and bearing information from the Dragon spacecraft to the ISS.<\/p>\n<p><em><em>L2 members<\/em><\/em><em><em>:&nbsp;Documentation \u2013 from which the above article has quoted snippets \u2013 is available in full in the related L2 sections, now over 4000 gbs in size.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When STS-129 launches next week, Atlantis will have one eye on the future, as she carries the CRS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU), a key element for the upcoming demonstration of SpaceX\u2019s Dragon capsule, ahead of its debut arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010. STS-129\u2019s Dragon Payload: The Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1395,479,316,9199],"class_list":["post-40941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-dragon","tag-falcon-9","tag-spacex","tag-sts-129"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40941"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40941"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40941\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}