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Welcome to the Era of Commercial Space Travel (No Explosions!)

NotASenatorNotASenator Registered User regular
edited June 2010 in Social Entropy++
So, as you all are well aware (because you read up on a lot of science and space exploration news), President Obama has an eye towards taking the advice of the Augustine Commission and cancelling the Constellation project to return humans to the Moon and provide transit capability to the ISS. It was behind schedule and drastically over budget, and there was some concern that it might not even work.

Instead, we are going to task NASA with exploring deeper into our solar system with a new heavy lift system, and turn transit and cargo to LEO (low-Earth orbit) to commercial entities.

The most promising of these commercial ventures is SpaceX, founded by the guy who started Paypal.

They took a couple of shots at launching the Falcon 1, a light rocket, before finally getting it into orbit, and now they are taking the first crack at the Falcon 9, a heavy lift rocket. The first stage is a cluster of nine engines, a pretty complicated system that will provide lower risk (assuming it works).

They are aiming for a 1pm EST launch after a sizeable delay, and you can watch the stream here:
http://www.spacex.com/webcast.php

While this is part of a monumental moment in commercial space flight and a step closer to allowing you to get your ass to Mars, it's also very likely that the rocket will lift off a bit and then explode.

Nothing against SpaceX, but this is a first test flight of a new rocket, history is not on their side with this one.

So we will either see something awesome, or a new rocket taking off.


Here's the Falcon 1 taking off on it's successful launch:

014_Liftoff_RO8A1016_SM.jpg

NotASenator on
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Posts

  • HunterHunter Chemist with a heart of Au Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    All I know is that Obama wants to conquer space for Mohammed and his islamites, and will use baby fetuses to fuel atheist rockets to do it.

    Hunter on
  • Grey GhostGrey Ghost Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Oh good, I was looking for a place to post this

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ5sWfhkpE0

    Grey Ghost on
  • RinderRinder Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I'm just happy the space shuttle program has come to an end.
    Not as happy about budgeting uncertainty, but I enjoy seeing the private sector step up.
    I think the commercial prospects of space will get more public support.

    Rinder on
  • WeaverWeaver Who are you? What do you want?Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
  • ButtcleftButtcleft Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    where is this launching from

    Buttcleft on
  • RinderRinder Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Buttcleft wrote: »
    where is this launching from

    Looks like Omelek Island in the Kwajalein Atoll.

    Edit: That was for Falcon 1 it seems. This one is at Cape Canaveral.

    Rinder on
  • ButtcleftButtcleft Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    So many Paypal/Rocket jokes to make.

    Buttcleft on
  • NotASenatorNotASenator Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    There's a boat on the range causing a no-go at the moment.

    NotASenator on
  • World as MythWorld as Myth a breezy way to annoy serious people Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    they are on a hold condition

    World as Myth on
    kQwcZLJ.png
  • NotASenatorNotASenator Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    NotASenator on
  • World as MythWorld as Myth a breezy way to annoy serious people Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    the hold counter stopped!

    World as Myth on
    kQwcZLJ.png
  • NotASenatorNotASenator Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    They have a helicopter heading out to clear the sailboat out of danger.


    Hopefully with lasers.

    NotASenator on
  • Wrench N RocketsWrench N Rockets Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I wish the Venture Star program was never canceled, if only because of the engine they wanted to use.

    Liner Aerospike engine!
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Twin_Linear_Aerospike_XRS-2200_Engine.jpg

    Wrench N Rockets on
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  • World as MythWorld as Myth a breezy way to annoy serious people Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    wahoo t- 14:28

    World as Myth on
    kQwcZLJ.png
  • kaleeditykaleedity Sometimes science is more art than science Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    T- about 14m

    the timer's ticking down on the stream now.

    ed: abloobloobloo

    kaleedity on
  • NotASenatorNotASenator Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Countdown restarted.

    Thanks, WaM

    NotASenator on
  • Wrench N RocketsWrench N Rockets Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    My stream refuses to do anything.

    Wrench N Rockets on
    sig_lambo.jpg
  • World as MythWorld as Myth a breezy way to annoy serious people Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    arrrrrrgh noooo not a meetinnnnng

    World as Myth on
    kQwcZLJ.png
  • NotASenatorNotASenator Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    T - 10 minutes and counting down.

    GO FALCON 9.

    NotASenator on
  • NotASenatorNotASenator Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    The rocket should take about 9 minutes to reach orbit if nothing goes wrong.

    NotASenator on
  • Vargas PrimeVargas Prime King of Nothing Just a ShowRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    T-00:08:00

    exciting

    Vargas Prime on
  • Wrench N RocketsWrench N Rockets Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Damn it I want a camera feed!

    Wrench N Rockets on
    sig_lambo.jpg
  • World as MythWorld as Myth a breezy way to annoy serious people Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    dude I get all giddy whenever I can hear mission control talking

    World as Myth on
    kQwcZLJ.png
  • SquallSquall hap cloud Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    gah the stream keeps timing out

    Squall on
  • Wrench N RocketsWrench N Rockets Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Seriously what is this, the dark ages? Having to read updates.

    Wrench N Rockets on
    sig_lambo.jpg
  • Vargas PrimeVargas Prime King of Nothing Just a ShowRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    It kept stalling on me at first, but now it seems to be stable.

    T-00:05:00

    Vargas Prime on
  • Wrench N RocketsWrench N Rockets Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Only way this would be better is if a monkey was involved.

    Wrench N Rockets on
    sig_lambo.jpg
  • ChicoBlueChicoBlue Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Oh my goodness.

    ChicoBlue on
  • kaleeditykaleedity Sometimes science is more art than science Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    T-2:00

    kaleedity on
  • Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplace She crawled right inRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    2 minutes to launch

    BUFFERING AAAAARGH

    Clint Eastwood on
  • PiptheFairPiptheFair Frequently not in boats. Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    we find any hot alien chicks yet?

    PiptheFair on
  • SquallSquall hap cloud Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    buffering buffering buffering

    no text updates either

    stupid IE

    Squall on
  • ChicoBlueChicoBlue Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Pip, HOLD MY HAND.

    ChicoBlue on
  • ChicoBlueChicoBlue Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    ABORT

    ChicoBlue on
  • PiptheFairPiptheFair Frequently not in boats. Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    that's not your hand!

    PiptheFair on
  • Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplace She crawled right inRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    got disconnected from the stream entirely. this sucks, i really wanted to watch this :(

    Clint Eastwood on
  • RinderRinder Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Damnit.

    Rinder on
  • jackaljackal Fuck Yes. That is an orderly anal warehouse. Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    blue balls

    jackal on
  • ChicoBlueChicoBlue Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    It's okay, it didn't launch.

    ChicoBlue on
  • SquallSquall hap cloud Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    this thread will be my real-time update source

    everyone, post more

    Squall on
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