Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Watch the launch of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spaceship with a robo-rider named Ripley
GeekWire ^ | 3/1/19 | Alan Boyle

Posted on 03/01/2019 11:32:12 AM PST by Moonman62

After years of on-the-ground development and testing, the SpaceX spaceship that’s destined to carry NASA astronauts is going on its first uncrewed test mission to the International Space Station tonight — and you can watch the historic liftoff from multiple angles.

When SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule lifts off from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, atop a Falcon 9 rocket, there won’t be any humans aboard. But there will be a crew member of sorts.

SpaceX has placed a spacesuit-wearing, sensor-laden mannequin in one of the Dragon’s seats, to gather data about how rigorous the ride will be for actual astronauts later this year. Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX’s vice president of build and flight reliability, shied away from calling the test device a dummy.

“We call it a ‘smartie,’ and her name is Ripley,” Koenigsmann told reporters at a pre-launch briefing.

The name pays tribute to the spaceflying character played by Sigourney Weaver in the “Alien” series of sci-fi movies. It also brings a bit of anthropomorphic gender balance to SpaceX’s test mannequins: For last year’s maiden launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, the test payload included a Tesla Roadster with a dummy nicknamed “Starman” in the driver’s seat.

Ripley’s ride is due to begin at 2:49 a.m. ET Saturday (11:49 p.m. PT Friday). Streaming-video coverage of the countdown and launch will begin on NASA TV at 2 a.m. ET (11 p.m. PT), and via SpaceX’s YouTube channel sometime afterward:

(Excerpt) Read more at geekwire.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: alien; elonmusk; falcon9; falconheavy; hanskoenigsmann; launch; musk; ripley; sigourneyweaver; spacex
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

1 posted on 03/01/2019 11:32:12 AM PST by Moonman62
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Moonman62

Ripley...that’s funny.


2 posted on 03/01/2019 11:33:09 AM PST by moovova
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Moonman62
D0ia-T1w-Vs-AALo-e
3 posted on 03/01/2019 11:34:48 AM PST by Moonman62 (Facts are racist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

*ping*


4 posted on 03/01/2019 11:36:52 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj ("It's Slappin' Time !")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Moonman62

Thanks for heads up.
Will it be EST or Cental.


5 posted on 03/01/2019 11:37:00 AM PST by tennmountainman (Liberals Are Baby Killers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KC_Lion; Lazamataz

Ping.


6 posted on 03/01/2019 11:37:04 AM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Moonman62

They mostly come out at night. Mostly.


7 posted on 03/01/2019 11:37:40 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: moovova

Believe it or not.


8 posted on 03/01/2019 11:38:47 AM PST by Leep (It's.. (W)all or nothing..!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

Nuke ‘em from space....only way to be sure.


9 posted on 03/01/2019 11:39:27 AM PST by V_TWIN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: tennmountainman

2:49am Eastern.

It has to launch at the exact time in order to dock with the ISS.


10 posted on 03/01/2019 11:39:37 AM PST by Moonman62 (Facts are racist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: tennmountainman

Ripley’s ride is due to begin at 2:49 a.m. ET Saturday


11 posted on 03/01/2019 11:39:52 AM PST by V_TWIN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: tennmountainman

“Will it be EST or Central.”

From post:

Ripley’s ride is due to begin at 2:49 a.m. ET Saturday (11:49 p.m. PT Friday)

2:49 a.m. ET = 2:49 a.m. EST


12 posted on 03/01/2019 11:41:00 AM PST by treetopsandroofs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Moonman62

Believe it or Not!.....................


13 posted on 03/01/2019 11:41:44 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: V_TWIN

14 posted on 03/01/2019 11:41:48 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Leep

GMTA!.........................


15 posted on 03/01/2019 11:42:05 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: moovova

Because it is the first robot, shouldn’t it have been named Ash?


16 posted on 03/01/2019 11:43:47 AM PST by DrDavid (George Orwell was an optimist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Moonman62

17 posted on 03/01/2019 11:44:06 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: V_TWIN

Game over man. GAME OVER! /paxton/hudson


18 posted on 03/01/2019 11:44:52 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Hello, my baby...!


19 posted on 03/01/2019 11:46:03 AM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
D0ja-e-BUw-AEU4h-L

The SpaceX Ripley in her seat and ready to go.

20 posted on 03/01/2019 11:47:04 AM PST by Moonman62 (Facts are racist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson