Space news, rocket launches and ISS docking

[poohsan 2,486]

And I watched the falcon 1 tests live too - no, not on TV, on location.

 

 

The final meters to hit the barge should be already something easy after the Grasshopper tests.

Other than the amount of vertical velocity they need to scrub off during the landing burn while keeping it stable, something they didn't have to contend with during the grasshopper tests. Not a minor difference at all. In this last attempt they think a valve had some stiction resulting in some response lag - something that likely wouldn't be an issue during the grasshopper tests since they were performed at much slower velocities. They'll eventually get it, just not as soon as an impatient world seems to think they should.

[MikeMelga 7,346]

That is my point: the valve misbehaved against specs, so it was probably due to the flight effort during ascent and descent. You cannot simulate that with a Grasshopper flight. But that leaves the door open for all other components who can go out of spec due to the first 10 minutes of flight.

 

From the software and sensor side, they tested most of it with Grasshopper, now it is a matter of reliability of actuators after a full ascent and descent. Now a valve misbehaved, maybe next time some other component misbehaves. This can lead to a low recovery chance for a long time.

[Darkknight 2,305]

SpaceX will be trying their barge landing again today after the launch of CRS-7 at 1615 German time today..

[Darkknight 2,305]

Well.. Not a good day for SpaceX.. Rocket blew-up shortly after launch..

More Info Here - Link

[MikeMelga 7,346]

2nd stage tank collapsed at Max Q, just before separation.

[hellfire99 4,388]

NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and his fellow Expedition 47 crewmates Yuri Malenchenko of Russia and Tim Peake of the United Kingdom will return to Earth on Saturday, June 17, at 5:15 a.m. EDT (0915 GMT).  

 

Safe journey. 

 

 

 

[Uncle Nick 6,245]

Did they get back yesterday (Friday 17th June) or today (Saturday 18th June)?

[hellfire99 4,388]

Didn't you know, Uncle Nick?  

 

 

It's always Friday in space! 

 

[Uncle Nick 6,245]

Looks like NASA got something wrong - again!

[hellfire99 4,388]

Ouch!   Tad unfair, Uncle!  

[Uncle Nick 6,245]

Maybe they meant Saturday 17th June 2034!

[Mr Metall 53]

I hope they will not bury the capsule because they can not use the metric system correctly.

Mars lander ring any bells?

[French bean 3,463]

If your going to talk space launches, our National Space programme in the UK needs help locating a lost astronaut. I don't know whether NASA or the Russians can help but he's out there somewhere.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-36717820

[hellfire99 4,388]

These guys make this look so easy now. 

 

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Monday, May 1st, 2017 on a classified mission to deliver the NROL-76 satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. After dispatching the rocket's second stage toward its secret orbital destination, the Falcon 9 booster made a rocket-powered U-turn to accelerate back toward Florida for a propulsive touchdown in Landing Zone 1 less than nine minutes after liftoff.

 

 

 

 

 

[Janx Spirit 11,391]

SpaceX "How not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster":

 

 

 

[hellfire99 4,388]

2 hours ago, MikeMelga said:

Elon Musk is a one of a kind person with great plans, but he has to raise money for them to be successful and disruptive. So he needs to be a good salesman.

I would be suspicious of Tesla too, but I am a close follower of SpaceX and what they did was absolutely impressive, both technically and commercially. So don't treat Elon as just a snake oil salesman, he delivers and SpaceX is the proof. SpaceX had 18 rocket launches last year (more than any other competitor), all successes, and recovered all rocket cores that they planned to.

 

BTW, waiting for tonight's test of Falcon Heavy!

 

I'll bring this comment here if you don't mind.  Yes, can't wait for this test. 

 

Elon Musk's huge Falcon Heavy rocket set for launch

 

Quote

 

Elon Musk will attempt to fly the world's most powerful rocket later with his own sports car on the top.

The US entrepreneur's Falcon Heavy launcher is designed to have twice the lifting capacity of any other vehicle.

But because of the historic high failure rate of maiden flights, only a dummy payload is being risked.

Mr Musk has decided this should be his old cherry-red Tesla roadster with a space-suited mannequin strapped in the driver's seat.

David Bowie's classic hit Space Oddity will be looping the radio as the car is hurled into an elliptical orbit that stretches out to Mars' orbit around the Sun.

 

 

 

Thousands of spectators are expected to descend on Florida's Kennedy Space Center to witness the ascent, which could occur as early as 13:30 EST (18:30 GMT).

[MikeMelga 7,346]

Amazing launch! Just remains to see what happened to the center core!

[yourkeau 7,723]

2115: the chancellor of Republic of Northern Mars sends space ships to Earth to take refugees of World War III to the Mars.

This creates outcry, in the next Northern Council elections a new party Changes for Northerners wins the elections. Their new program is called "Mars for Martians".

 

At the same time in the South Mars Confederation the president Donneeld Dump announces a new "South Mars Null" program. He wants to build an asteroid wall between the Earth and the Mars. "We are tied of those criminals and illegal migrants. Mars should be safe from those invaders the Northern Mars brought us. We will not accept that. There is enough trash flying in space, and we will build the wall from this trash. We will make the Earth pay for this wall!"

[theGman 3,520]

That was brilliant! I watched it live. The two boosters landing simultaneously is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

 

 

Worth seeing from further afar too.

 

 

[lisa13 12,246]

some humans are capable of such amazing things

 

makes me all teary

 

thanks for that, @theGman