Live Rocket Launch

[psmiffy]

A rocket launch like this hasn't been seen since the 1970s.

Is that the last time that someone launched their sports car into orbit?

 

[Tin Pot]

Is that the last time that someone launched their sports car into orbit?

Good grief.

 

[marinyork]

Is that the last time that someone launched their sports car into orbit?

I was working a lot Weds-Friday so didn't see the static firing. I could have posted the footage, but it looks maybe a bit boring to some people. There is some dispute as to whether it was six or eleven seconds and whether the firing was staggered (I think likely).

Static firing is completely standard to SpaceX, nothing really to get excited about, other than that it went successfully on something new and the long awaited Falcon Heavy is pretty likely to launch (successfully or not) on or later than 6th February.

Unless you think static firing counts, someone pedantic could have picked up on the wording I used and wondered precisely why I used the wording I did (some leeway in it).

There are two more powerful rocket systems than this being devised, that may follow Falcon Heavy. But if falcon heavy is successful, it's a very exciting rocket launch as it ****s on the currently available systems to take payload to a Low earth orbit or geosynchronous one.

I don't know whether it'll be the last time someone launches their sports car into orbit, what SpaceX are working on after Falcon Heavy is much more insane and worthy of publicity stunts and indulgence.

P.S. I just like the way it can be presented to the public. Any child or adult messing about with rockets has probably thought that's cool and went well, but what would happen if I strap another two of those on the side!

 

[psmiffy]

Static firing is completely standard to SpaceX, nothing really to get excited about,

I dont think it really matters - firing 27 motors is pretty impressive in itself - as will if they manage to recover all three first stages

 

[Fnaar]

Has the 'giant disco ball' featured in this thread?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...omers-angry-over-launch-of-fake-star-into-sky

 

[marinyork]

Today's the day for Falcon Heavy. Could go up after 6:30pm. If the window is aborted there will be an attempt tomorrow.

 

[Drago]

Fingers crossed it works. Its the keystone to a whole load of other programmes, starting with the circumlunar private mission.

 

[psmiffy]

Today's the day for Falcon Heavy

On U Tube

Elon Musk - optimist?

"I'll consider it a win if it just clears the pad and doesn't blow the pad to smithereens. That's 4,000,000lbs of TNT equivalent. There's probably not going to be much left if that thing lets loose."

 

[Drago]

He's a persistent bugger though. Look at the failures they endured with the self recovering boosters - with each failure they got incrementally closer to their goal, and eventually they did it.

None of the Falcon Heavy technology is unique. The real challenge is lighting off three at once in perfect harmony, although none of the individual sub assemblies such as pumps, motors, ignitors etc are actually untestested in flight.

I hope it comes off. If it does, NASA will have to question whethernto keep throwing money at the SLS. Why duplicate that which you can buy off the shelf?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Am I right in thinking the Falcon Heavy is a sort of a Saturn V sort of a thing for the 21stC?

 

[Drago]

Am I right in thinking the Falcon Heavy is a sort of a Saturn V sort of a thing for the 21stC?

Pretty much. Not quite the capacity of the V, but still near on twice of anything else around at the moment. Apart from its big payload capacity, once up and running its supposed to be very cheap, because of the re-usability. Space X are talking in the region of $100,000,000 a flight (assuming a payload and orbital profile that leaves enough fuel for the boosters to recover themselves), which really would be a game changer for large payload orbital and deep space access.

 

[Drago]

Almost 400 tonnes of chilled RP1 fuel and oxidiser would go off like a tactical nuke.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

What time is she going up...

EDIT: (18:30 GMT).


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk338VXcb24&feature=youtu.be

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I'd love to throw my old volvo up to mars, but it would be too heavy

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Pretty much. Not quite the capacity of the V, but still near on twice of anything else around at the moment. Apart from its big payload capacity, once up and running its supposed to be very cheap, because of the re-usability. Space X are talking in the region of $100,000,000 a flight (assuming a payload and orbital profile that leaves enough fuel for the boosters to recover themselves), which really would be a game changer for large payload orbital and deep space access.

I thought I heard that in heavy mode, with a large payload, reuse will not be possible?