[6:56 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: https://www.space.com/ Hi Scouts, SpaceX Dragon capsule is due to launch this evening if the weather is ok. The two astronauts are loaded in the spacecraft. You can follow the launch live on space.com. Launch at 8:22pm Irish time. If all goes to plan and skies stay clear we might be able to see the SpaceX capsule from Ireland - as it enters space, in the SW under the moon. At about 10-15 minutes after launch. So at about 8:32 to 8:37pm today. COOL!
Wrong! Due to earlier launch on Sat (original launch date Wed 27th May scrubbed due to bad weather) too much daylight to see the capsule.
BUT it apparently is possible to see ISS and craft like Dragon in daylight with binoculars/telescope.
But it is very hard.
[8:22 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: T minus 1 minute!!!
[8:23 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Go for launch
Launch.
Stage 1 seperation.
Stage 1 lands back successfully on floating platform.
Looking for capsule at 8:42 ish but . .
[8:53 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Too many clouds I think. :-7. I couldn't find a tracker for the Dragon capsule.
Nice sunset but clouds in West and spread. Moon to south.
Expected ISS and capsule transitions low from West to East below moon.
[8:54 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Just 19 hours now until they catch the ISS!
Derek/Keith:
we should see it later.. too bright just after launch.. 2nd time lucky 🤞🤞
"You can see the pass over the UK tonight, 22:10 BST. Look west, low on the horizon & it will cross to the south east, passing beneath the moon. If launches, it will follow about 5 mins later. The sky will be too light to see SpX on 1st pass after launch."
[9:33 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1289255/SpaceX-tracker-how-to-see-Crew-Dragon-ISS-tonight This is better, a bit more specific about tracking it. Don't get your hopes up. Next pass 10:18pm Irish time. (11:18pm CEST) The ISS passes slightly higher in the sky a few mins earlier but it is not considered a visible pass by some tracking sites I have looked at. "For those in NW Europe trying the second pass two hours after launch, with the trajectory very low on the horizon: use binoculars and go to a place with unobstructed view to the horizon." "And take an uncertainty of several minutes in the predicted pass times into account!"
[9:35 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: The launch went well. The first 2 stages burned and seperated. The astronauts just got out of their space suits and into pyjamas for the next few hours 😀. After 3pm Irish time tomorrow they will be at ISS and docking.
Heavens Above website seemed to have difficulty.
Could not get ISS predicted times.
Later it started working.
Using Stellarium with ISS tracker . . . could see ISS rising from the west.
So I went out onto the roof.
[10:12 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: I see the ISS now!!!
[10:13 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Passed under moon
[10:13 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Very very faint now
[10:13 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Moving left to East
[10:14 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Oh! Bright again
[10:14 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Not too low
[10:14 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Well to left of moon now in the east
[10:14 p.m., 30/5/2020] xx: Can't see it
[10:15 p.m., 30/5/2020] xx: Spotted!!!!!
[10:15 p.m., 30/5/2020] xx: Incredible
[10:16 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: YESSSS!!# faded out fast now
[10:21 p.m., 30/5/2020] xx: Very fade but just a tiny dot now
[10:21 p.m., 30/5/2020] xx: Hard to keep focus on it
[10:24 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: The dragon capsule much smaller. Pesky clouds!! :) ISS was an orange sunset coloured dot drifting to East became visible under the moon.
[10:25 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: It's like looking for moving statues now! :-)
[10:29 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: I can see stars coming out now with binoculars
[10:39 p.m., 30/5/2020] xx: The capsule is tiny now! Almost fully gone for me
[10:39 p.m., 30/5/2020] xx: I saw the ISS for a second then it went
[10:58 p.m., 30/5/2020] yy: That was awesome
[10:58 p.m., 30/5/2020] yy: I only got to see it on the second time round, but wow
[11:00 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: Wikipedia has great info. The orbit is circular at a 51 degree angle to equator, 15 orbits per day. It's a bit like the tide, it orbits a bit more to East each time so gradually passes over alot of the earth's surface. Lots of the orbits are in day time so there will be periods of a few weeks when we have no visible passes but then will come a period with a few visible passes per night. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station#Orbit
[11:00 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station#/media/File:ISS_orbits_04132013.jpg
[11:01 p.m., 30/5/2020] James Coleman: it looks like the latitude of Ireland is about the highest it gets to
Later installed Gpredict on new computer and got ISS tracks.
No ISS passes considered visible but can see passes about 10pm probably hard to see but sky will be darkening and setting sun will probably catch the ISS so will be possible maybe to see bits of them.
This pass not down as visible but once it went to South it was visible . . .
| 30 May | - | 22:09:41 | 10° | W | 22:12:31 | 25° | SSW | 22:15:20 | 10° | SSE | daylight |
Got lucky last night sitting on our roof. The ISS pass @22:18 was not meant to be visible in Dublin but as it passed to South under moon the sun caught it. Lovely orange sunset-coloured dot heading off into the East.
Heavens Above app and website is good for ISS tracking.
The first thing you have to do is set you location as accurately as possible.
The pass last night was not a "visible" pass!
There will be another slim chance this evening to see ISS from Dublin 21:21 to 21:25 W to E pretty high skirting just under moon (at S mid-way).
So especially the later 21:21 pass tomorrow might be somewhat visible
| 31 May | - | 16:32:58 | 10° | SSW | 16:35:21 | 18° | SE | 16:37:46 | 10° | E | daylight . . SW to E |
| 31 May | - | 18:08:22 | 10° | WSW | 18:11:39 | 51° | SSE | 18:14:56 | 10° | E | daylight . . WSW to E high in sky skirting above moon |
| 31 May | - | 19:44:56 | 10° | W | 19:48:17 | 66° | S | 19:51:38 | 10° | ESE | daylight . . . high in sky almost directly overhead W to E well above moon |
| 31 May | - | 21:21:44 | 10° | W | 21:24:48 | 33° | SSW | 21:27:52 | 10° | SE | daylight . . . W to E pretty high skirting just under moon |
| ISS - All Passes |
| Search period start: | 30 May 2020 00:00 | |
| Search period end: | 09 June 2020 00:00 | |
| Orbit: | 417 x 420 km, 51.6° (Epoch: 30 May) | |
Passes to include:
Click on the date to see the ground track during the pass.
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 30 May | - | 17:20:13 | 10° | SSW | 17:23:01 | 25° | SSE | 17:25:50 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 30 May | - | 18:56:06 | 10° | WSW | 18:59:26 | 59° | S | 19:02:46 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 30 May | - | 20:32:46 | 10° | W | 20:36:05 | 60° | S | 20:39:25 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 30 May | - | 22:09:41 | 10° | W | 22:12:31 | 25° | SSW | 22:15:20 | 10° | SSE | daylight |
| 31 May | - | 16:32:58 | 10° | SSW | 16:35:21 | 18° | SE | 16:37:46 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 31 May | - | 18:08:22 | 10° | WSW | 18:11:39 | 51° | SSE | 18:14:56 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 31 May | - | 19:44:56 | 10° | W | 19:48:17 | 66° | S | 19:51:38 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 31 May | - | 21:21:44 | 10° | W | 21:24:48 | 33° | SSW | 21:27:52 | 10° | SE | daylight |
| 01 Jun | - | 15:46:04 | 10° | S | 15:47:44 | 13° | SE | 15:49:23 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 01 Jun | - | 17:20:41 | 10° | SW | 17:23:52 | 41° | SSE | 17:27:05 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 01 Jun | - | 18:57:07 | 10° | W | 19:00:28 | 68° | S | 19:03:49 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 01 Jun | - | 20:33:51 | 10° | W | 20:37:04 | 42° | SSW | 20:40:16 | 10° | SE | daylight |
| 01 Jun | - | 22:11:28 | 10° | WSW | 22:13:14 | 14° | SW | 22:15:00 | 10° | S | daylight |
| 02 Jun | - | 16:33:05 | 10° | SW | 16:36:07 | 32° | SSE | 16:39:11 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 02 Jun | - | 18:09:18 | 10° | WSW | 18:12:38 | 65° | S | 18:16:00 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 02 Jun | - | 19:45:59 | 10° | W | 19:49:16 | 51° | SSW | 19:52:33 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 02 Jun | - | 21:23:08 | 10° | W | 21:25:35 | 19° | SSW | 21:28:02 | 10° | SSE | daylight |
| 03 Jun | - | 15:45:37 | 10° | SSW | 15:48:24 | 24° | SSE | 15:51:11 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 03 Jun | - | 17:21:29 | 10° | WSW | 17:24:48 | 59° | S | 17:28:08 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 03 Jun | - | 18:58:07 | 10° | W | 19:01:27 | 60° | S | 19:04:47 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 03 Jun | - | 20:35:02 | 10° | W | 20:37:52 | 25° | SSW | 20:40:43 | 10° | SSE | daylight |
| 04 Jun | - | 14:58:20 | 10° | S | 15:00:42 | 18° | SE | 15:03:04 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 04 Jun | - | 16:33:42 | 10° | WSW | 16:36:59 | 50° | SSE | 16:40:16 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 04 Jun | - | 18:10:16 | 10° | W | 18:13:37 | 66° | S | 18:16:57 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 04 Jun | - | 19:47:03 | 10° | W | 19:50:08 | 33° | SSW | 19:53:12 | 10° | SE | daylight |
| 05 Jun | - | 14:11:26 | 10° | S | 14:13:01 | 13° | SE | 14:14:38 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 05 Jun | - | 15:45:59 | 10° | SW | 15:49:10 | 40° | SSE | 15:52:22 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 05 Jun | - | 17:22:24 | 10° | W | 17:25:45 | 68° | S | 17:29:06 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 05 Jun | - | 18:59:08 | 10° | W | 19:02:20 | 42° | SSW | 19:05:33 | 10° | SE | daylight |
| 05 Jun | - | 20:36:42 | 10° | WSW | 20:38:31 | 14° | SW | 20:40:19 | 10° | S | daylight |
| 06 Jun | - | 14:58:21 | 10° | SW | 15:01:22 | 31° | SSE | 15:04:25 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 06 Jun | - | 16:34:32 | 10° | WSW | 16:37:52 | 65° | S | 16:41:13 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 06 Jun | - | 18:11:14 | 10° | W | 18:14:31 | 52° | SSW | 18:17:48 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 06 Jun | - | 19:48:21 | 10° | W | 19:50:49 | 19° | SSW | 19:53:18 | 10° | SSE | daylight |
| 07 Jun | - | 14:10:51 | 10° | SSW | 14:13:36 | 24° | SSE | 14:16:23 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 07 Jun | - | 15:46:41 | 10° | WSW | 15:50:00 | 58° | S | 15:53:20 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 07 Jun | - | 17:23:19 | 10° | W | 17:26:39 | 60° | S | 17:29:59 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 07 Jun | - | 19:00:13 | 10° | W | 19:03:04 | 26° | SSW | 19:05:56 | 10° | SSE | daylight |
| 08 Jun | - | 13:23:32 | 10° | S | 13:25:52 | 18° | SE | 13:28:12 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 08 Jun | - | 14:58:52 | 10° | WSW | 15:02:08 | 49° | SSE | 15:05:25 | 10° | E | daylight |
| 08 Jun | - | 16:35:24 | 10° | W | 16:38:45 | 66° | S | 16:42:06 | 10° | ESE | daylight |
| 08 Jun | - | 18:12:12 | 10° | W | 18:15:17 | 34° | SSW | 18:18:22 | 10° | SE | daylight |
mission plan:
Final part of mission now . . Dragon capsule at Waypoint 1 220m away small thrusters firing. Align to docking axis. Approx Irish times @15:13 go/no-go for docking, 15:18 20m away. 15:23 go in for dock. 15:28 contact and capture. Live on https://www.space.com/ is interesting.
Good timeline here: https://everydayastronaut.com/crew-dragon-timeline/
Highlights for today: 6am-8am more burns to bring to full 10km orbit, 12:02 Burn approach 400m keep-out-sphere. Go/no-go. Enter keep-out-sphere. 14:37 Waypoint 1 220m away. Align to docking axis. 15:13 go/no-go for docking, 15:18 20m away. 15:23 go in for dock. T+15:28 contact and capture.
Irish times. Times may vary a bit.
Highlights for today: T+9:44,11:10,11:55 more burns to bring to full 10km orbit, times may vary. T+17:40 Burn approach 400m keep-out-sphere. Go/no-go. Enter keep-out-sphere. T+18:15 Waypoint 1 220m away. Align to docking axis. T+18:51 go/no-go for docking, T+18:56 20m away. T+19:01 go in for dock. T+19:06 contact and capture.
Mission Times, where T 0 == 8:22pm Irish time
Final part of mission now . . Dragon capsule at Waypoint 1 220m away small thrusters firing. Align to docking axis. Approx Irish times @15:13 go/no-go for docking, 15:18 20m away. 15:23 go in for dock. 15:28 contact and capture. Live on https://www.space.com/ is interesting.
https://iss-sim.spacex.com/ There is a cool simulator here where you can manually dock the Dragon Capsule with the Space station.
09:44:44 | There’s another phase adjustment burn |
|---|---|
11:10:15 | The Dragon Capsule performs a 44.2 m/s burn using its draco thrusters to boost its orbit closer to the International Space Station |
11:55:01 | There’s another burn, this time of 57.89 m/s which circularizes the orbit |
17:40:24 | After a few mid course burns, the Crew Dragon is approaching the 400m keep out sphere and requires a Go / No-Go poll from Mission control to continue |
17:50:24 | The Dragon Capsule enters the keep out sphere and hits Waypoint Zero which is 400m below the ISS |
18:15:24 | The Dragon Capsule arrives at Waypoint 1 and holds approximately 220m away to align to the docking axis |
18:51:24 | A final Go / No-Go Poll is given for docking |
18:56:24 | The Dragon Capsule arrives at Waypoint 2 which is only 20m away and gets placed into a short hold |
19:01:24 | The Dragon capsule departs Waypoint 2 and goes in for the docking |
19:06:24 | the Dragon Capsule has contact and capture with the International Space Station |
19:06:25 | A big sigh of relief from the crew and Mission Control, the Dragon is docked and the crew has officially arrived at the International Space Station! |
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