SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#301

Post by gozo » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 8:37 AM UTC

resu_nimda wrote: post #183

grkvlt wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really, 'classless'? The achievement is landing a space-capable booster vertically, after an actual mission above 100km, which can then be reused. And, Blue Origin managed that first, no two ways about it. I think it's probably pretty classless to imply that what Blue Origin managed to do was 'trivial'. Just because SpaceX is the current hacker's favourite, doesn't mean you have to downplay everyone else. I think Mus…

The achievement is landing a space-capable booster vertically, after an actual mission above 100km, which can then be reused. Who said that was the achievement? What is important about that achievement? The important achievement is dramatically reducing the cost of sending things into space (such that they will stay there). SpaceX's rockets achieve this, Blue Origin's don't even attempt to be in that league. Using yo…

"Who said that was the achievement?"

Anyone who understood what was being achieved. That doesn't mean that a single achieve or being first in itself is that meaningful, but it's still an achivement.

Just like anyone who understands mountaineering knows that climbing Everest isn't the greatest norvthe hardest achivement among tall mountains i.e. the eight-thousanders.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#302

Post by sillysaurus3 » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 8:59 AM UTC

CamperBob2 wrote: post #287

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Getting off this rock is probably the only thing that matters. Credit is irrelevant when Earth is no longer habitable and we never left.

That, and I want to see an Epic Rap Battle of History between Musk and Bezos some day. It will take a lot of competition and a lot of progress before they have enough dirt to throw at each other.

Hahaha... Thanks, that cheered me up.

Someone should totally do rap battles while pretending to be some famous figure. The possibilities are endless. Faux Bill Gates vs Faux Steve Jobs.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#303

Post by snaily » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 9:01 AM UTC

varjag wrote: post #289

hyperpallium wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why don't they put a smaller engine in the centre for landings?

You won't be able to adjust thrust vector (and stabilize the landing booster) with just one engine.

The Falcon 9 does not rely on differential thrust - the center engine (and the others, I believe) can gimbal ("rotate").

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#304

Post by simonh » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 9:31 AM UTC

hackuser wrote: post #206

nate_martin wrote: post #37

Not sure if the "USA" chant after the first stage landed was warranted.

I think the thing to consider is why a private company chose to include this in what looks like a carefully planned marketing presentation. It's a commercial. What are they selling?

Space Launch capability.

Bear in mind the video was a live stream. Unless the 'USA' chant was pre-planned and orchestrated by the company, it's just part of the background noise of the employees celebrating.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#305

Post by arrrg » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 9:32 AM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #91

nate_martin wrote: post #37

Not sure if the "USA" chant after the first stage landed was warranted.

This is arguably the greatest achievement in space flight since 1969 and you're going to tell the people who made it happen how they should celebrate?

Especially because of that. This nationalism is so weird. I mean, to me it’s mostly incredibly weird, nothing else much. I just cannot picture myself ever ever ever doing something like that, it’s just so incredibly alien.

But a good demonstration of the toxic virality of nationalism, I guess. It manages to wriggle itself into anything.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#306

Post by simonh » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 9:33 AM UTC

zaroth wrote: post #248

In a single moment, SpaceX earns itself more than $50 million dollars, right? That's a big bonus for everyone who made this possible and some well earned time off, and then back to work changing the world! So from what I've read, the returns are immense; the amount of learning they can do from examining their own rocket is the real initial treasure. Their rocket design should advance considerably based on this trove,…

Technically they only earn the $50m when they use this stage to actually launch another mission. Even then, you'd have to subtract any discount offered to the purchaser of the second mission. I'm not in any way trying to detract from this stunning, tear-inducingly great achievement, but that's the reality.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#307

Post by pajop » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 9:35 AM UTC

Falcon 9 First Stage Landing - view from helicopter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCBE8ocOkAQ

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#308

Post by wereHamster » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 9:40 AM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #187

tunesmith wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can someone explain exactly what Bezos/Blue Origin did, and how it is different than what SpaceX did? EDIT: Here's a video that compares/contrasts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8c7RUjNFDo

This video ain't bad, but it skims over the two most important points and skips one completely: - SpaceX rocket goes really fast horizontally; it has to flip around and boost back, and then correct from horizontal to vertical orientation. - Falcon 9 is an actual space launch system; it has different (i.e. much stricter) engineering constraints than a suborbital rocket. In particular, this affects the engine design. -…

So, the falcon 9 could, in theory, do multiple attempts (given it has enough fuel)? If the first attempt doesn't work out, pull itself up a bit, correct, and then fall down again?

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#309

Post by noir-york » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 9:41 AM UTC

tensor wrote: post #283

lolwutf wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a private company based in the USA, contributing to the advancement of USA's technology (largely, NASA). I think it was warranted.

Many of us in other countries wouldn't think of chanting our countries name. I know I generally think of my work as "part of humanity" not for my country necessarily. The US is particularly nationalistic compared to others, which can be off putting for non-americans.

> Many of us in other countries wouldn't think of chanting our countries name

Unless you're German, than that statement is almost certainly false. And even Germany is changing.

Your statement most likely reveals more about your political leanings then the levels of nationalistic fervour in different countries.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#310

Post by lmm » Tue, Dec 22, 2015, 9:50 AM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #126

kibwen wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an impressively ambitious goal. Has SpaceX mentioned any willingness to use returned first stage rockets to launch astronauts? That would be the ultimate expression of their confidence in this approach, though understandably it may be a long ways off.

It's funny, with most vehicles you want to avoid being on a completely new, untested one. Think about it: would you be comfortable flying on a brand new 787 that had never been flown before, not even once? I sure wouldn't. Before long, maybe rockets will be like that too.

Well you want to be in the middle of the curve - you don't feel particularly comfortable flying a 30-year-old plane either (at least I don't). It's just that so far the curve for rockets is more of a spike.