SpaceX launch today

SpaceX launch today

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Discussion

Eric Mc

121,777 posts

264 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
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It won't be easy.

OldandGrumpy

2,681 posts

240 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Sounds from the Twittersphere it all went to plan which must be a big relief for SpaceX. Satellites in orbit, first stage returned, legs deployed, splashed down then they lost it. They seem to be getting there slowly. Next launch will not have legs due to inventory. I think it's great they have a Falcon inventory.

MartG

Original Poster:

20,621 posts

203 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

197 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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So that looks basically right then; it tipped over after landing, which is inevitable in the sea.

Eric Mc

121,777 posts

264 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Another milestone passed.

They're getting there.

MartG

Original Poster:

20,621 posts

203 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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"After landing, the vehicle tipped sideways as planned to its final water safing state in a nearly horizontal position. The water impact caused loss of hull integrity, but we received all the necessary data to achieve a successful landing on a future flight. Going forward, we are taking steps to minimize the build up of ice and spots on the camera housing in order to gather improved video on future launches.

At this point, we are highly confident of being able to land successfully on a floating launch pad or back at the launch site and refly the rocket with no required refurbishment. However, our next couple launches are for very high velocity geostationary satellite missions, which don’t allow enough residual propellant for landing. In the longer term, missions like that will fly on Falcon Heavy, but until then Falcon 9 will need to fly in expendable mode.

We will attempt our next water landing on flight 13 of Falcon 9, but with a low probability of success. Flights 14 and 15 will attempt to land on a solid surface with an improved probability of success."

MartG

Original Poster:

20,621 posts

203 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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"After landing, the vehicle tipped sideways as planned to its final water safing state in a nearly horizontal position. The water impact caused loss of hull integrity, but we received all the necessary data to achieve a successful landing on a future flight. Going forward, we are taking steps to minimize the build up of ice and spots on the camera housing in order to gather improved video on future launches.

At this point, we are highly confident of being able to land successfully on a floating launch pad or back at the launch site and refly the rocket with no required refurbishment. However, our next couple launches are for very high velocity geostationary satellite missions, which don’t allow enough residual propellant for landing. In the longer term, missions like that will fly on Falcon Heavy, but until then Falcon 9 will need to fly in expendable mode.

We will attempt our next water landing on flight 13 of Falcon 9, but with a low probability of success. Flights 14 and 15 will attempt to land on a solid surface with an improved probability of success."

Caruso

7,422 posts

255 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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MartG said:
"Flights 14 and 15 will attempt to land on a solid surface with an improved probability of success."
I look forward to seeing that.

MartG

Original Poster:

20,621 posts

203 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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Chase plane footage of 1st stage braking burn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIlu7szab5I

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

197 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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That looked pretty good. Very weird to see it falling straight down through the sky like that.

hidetheelephants

23,753 posts

192 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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Now that's fking rocket science!

scubadude

2,618 posts

196 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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SpaceX/Tesla/Mr Musk seem to be making a habit of bringing our SciFi dreams true, it looks entirely feasibly that they are going to land a first stage very soon.

Its exciting and it makes me wonder what he'll turn his hand to next, seems he doesn't let the grass grow much...

Eric Mc

121,777 posts

264 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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Hope he's got enough dosh to see all these projects through without going bust.

Soov535

35,829 posts

270 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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Eric Mc said:
Hope he's got enough dosh to see all these projects through without going bust.
Oh he has.


GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

156 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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Soov535 said:
Eric Mc said:
Hope he's got enough dosh to see all these projects through without going bust.
Oh he has.
At least $60 million roughly per launch and I think I've seen their order books have a backlog of not quite triple figures but something on the order of 50 missions.

Well done to the company imo as even back in 2012 they reported to have a $4billion backlog of missions, sounds like a strong future.

Eric Mc

121,777 posts

264 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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Those numbers are meaningless unless

a) the income exceeds the expenditure

b) if it doesn't, the enterprise can be supported privately by Mr Musk

MartG

Original Poster:

20,621 posts

203 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

156 months

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

197 months

Saturday 23rd August 2014
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Ouch, but an inevitable part of the process I expect.