SpaceX launch today

[Caruso]

GrumpyTwig said:

oops!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qv2VEX9iyI

That's what you call a successful test of the Flight Termination System!

Edited by Caruso on Saturday 23 August 21:32

[Mojocvh]

From the video on the bbc news website, it SEEMS like the propulsion system failed..

[Eric Mc]

That's what I thought. There is a brief flare from the exhaust area so it looks like an engine may have cut out or even exploded. The whole caboodle was going to fall back so the Range Safety Office pressed the destruct button.

[OldandGrumpy]

It looks like one of the external engines ( three were used) had a problem. Interestingly the termination was automatic and was achieved by rapid decompression on the LOX tank, nature taking its course after that.

[MartG]

Tomorrow's planned commercial launch postponed indefinitely - I guess they are quite rightly playing it safe

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/012/status.h...

[OldandGrumpy]

All went well in the end

http://www.spacex.com/news/2014/09/08/spacex-falco...

[MartG]

SpaceX one of the two finalists in NASA's CCV, though only half the funding of Boeing's CST100

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/190282-nasa-awa...

[Caruso]

MartG said:

SpaceX one of the two finalists in NASA's CCV, though only half the funding of Boeing's CST100

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/190282-nasa-awa...

I suspect SpaceX will be able to achieve twice as much with half the money.

[MartG]

Dragon arriving at ISS now

http://new.livestream.com/spacex/events/3400686?or...

[Caruso]

SpaceX began work on a new Launch complex in Texas.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/post.asp?h=0&am...

Elon Musk said:

what we see is a level of demand in terms of launches that even Cape Canaveral could not support, so we needed another great launch site in order to support the flight rate that we expect.

[MartG]

They may attempt to land a Falcon 9 on a floating platform this December

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/spa...

[MartG]

X marks the spot

Pic just tweeted by Musk shows the Autonomous spaceport drone ship. Thrusters repurposed from deep sea oil rigs hold position within 3m even in a storm.

[MartG]

A new render of a landed F9

[scubadude]

MartG said:

A new render of a landed F9

I assume with most of the fuel spent this wouldn't be as top heavy as it looks? I've spent alot of time on boats and things fall over at the slightest hint- always the expensive things, so I assume SpaceX has some kind of automated grab/velcro pads/net etc to keep it upright once it touches down.

[MartG]

scubadude said:

I assume with most of the fuel spent this wouldn't be as top heavy as it looks? I've spent alot of time on boats and things fall over at the slightest hint- always the expensive things, so I assume SpaceX has some kind of automated grab/velcro pads/net etc to keep it upright once it touches down.

Interns with rolls of gaffer tape will rush out to secure it once it lands

[MartG]

Well it works in Kerbal Space Program



( Not my pic )

[Eric Mc]

Just - that's a bit close to the edge.

[Brother D]

MartG said:

X marks the spot

Pic just tweeted by Musk shows the Autonomous spaceport drone ship. Thrusters repurposed from deep sea oil rigs hold position within 3m even in a storm.

I thought there was a Maratime law preventing ships in international waters without a crew/captain? (Sure I read that tankers/cargo 'drone' ships were not allowed due to this)?

[MartG]

Brother D said:

MartG said:

X marks the spot

Pic just tweeted by Musk shows the Autonomous spaceport drone ship. Thrusters repurposed from deep sea oil rigs hold position within 3m even in a storm.

I thought there was a Maratime law preventing ships in international waters without a crew/captain? (Sure I read that tankers/cargo 'drone' ships were not allowed due to this)?

SeaLaunch already do something similar, though obviously for launches rather than landings. I suspect they can get away with it because the ship isn't a drone, it is under remote human control at all times

[MartG]

SpaceX wants to hire a farmer for its Texas site - I suspect the land tax exemption is the real driver here

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/business/20141202/...