SpaceX Tuesday...
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
FANTASTIC - but - they have a few technical hurdles to clear first.
Launch a Falcon 9 heavy successfully - at least once.
Launch and recover a man capable Dragon - at least once.
But hey - this is great news. So looking forward to this.
Totally agree! Fantastic news! Just think of the live (ish) streaming and how that will capture the imagination of millions of kids. Launch a Falcon 9 heavy successfully - at least once.
Launch and recover a man capable Dragon - at least once.
But hey - this is great news. So looking forward to this.
I think that both of those things you mention Eric should be done at least twice as well as at least two manned ISS missions so I expect (as so often with SpaceX) that the date will push out somewhat - 2020?
I do think the end of 2018 is a very optimistic target - but Musk is nothing if not ambitious.
It would be a poignant date to do this as it would coincide with the first ever manned flight around the moon - Apollo 8 which orbited the moon in December 1968.
It would be great if the crew of Apollo 8 were able to witness this flight. All three crew members are still with us.
It would be a poignant date to do this as it would coincide with the first ever manned flight around the moon - Apollo 8 which orbited the moon in December 1968.
It would be great if the crew of Apollo 8 were able to witness this flight. All three crew members are still with us.
k yeahThe live TV from 1968 to 1972 was impressive enough. With modern cameras and digital technology the images will be "out of this world".
It's hard to work out what the cost will be for the two paying passengers. At the moment, the Russians are charging the US $81 million for each person to the ISS.
I am assuming that passengers will be accompanied by at least one proper Dragon pilot.
It's hard to work out what the cost will be for the two paying passengers. At the moment, the Russians are charging the US $81 million for each person to the ISS.
I am assuming that passengers will be accompanied by at least one proper Dragon pilot.
How close are they going to fly to the moon? 1000 miles or skim the surface?
I think he is missing a massive gimmick here. Why not have a world wide TV series with everyone competing chipping in $100,000 and then the announcement made. That would give a wider opportunity for the most amazing lifetime possibility that would be out of the reach for most people.
I think he is missing a massive gimmick here. Why not have a world wide TV series with everyone competing chipping in $100,000 and then the announcement made. That would give a wider opportunity for the most amazing lifetime possibility that would be out of the reach for most people.
Amazing announcement. I thought they'd want to have had a solid year of successful launches before making this kind of step.
Morningside said:
How close are they going to fly to the moon? 1000 miles or skim the surface?
I think he is missing a massive gimmick here. Why not have a world wide TV series with everyone competing chipping in $100,000 and then the announcement made. That would give a wider opportunity for the most amazing lifetime possibility that would be out of the reach for most people.
I think, given the risks, it's probably better that the public doesn't get too attached to whoever it is...I think he is missing a massive gimmick here. Why not have a world wide TV series with everyone competing chipping in $100,000 and then the announcement made. That would give a wider opportunity for the most amazing lifetime possibility that would be out of the reach for most people.
Exactly.
We have seen the debacle that the Mars 1 "talent contest" approach is. Musk wants to maintain a degree of probity and sense with his programme.
I am sure, whoever these individuals are, they will have some flight experience and will be trained in the operation of the spacecraft. they won't be mere passengers.
Are they flying with a "proper" astronaut.
We have seen the debacle that the Mars 1 "talent contest" approach is. Musk wants to maintain a degree of probity and sense with his programme.
I am sure, whoever these individuals are, they will have some flight experience and will be trained in the operation of the spacecraft. they won't be mere passengers.
Are they flying with a "proper" astronaut.
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