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SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

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

#331

Post by TeMPOraL »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #213
grkvlt wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK, explain how the landing of the SpaceX first stage was many times more difficult? They used different mechanisms, yes (suicide burn vs. hover-capable) and the purpose of the overall system was different, but they are both VTOL rockets. Blue Origin was first , and Bezos can quite rightly welcome SpaceX to 'the club' as the second company to achieve this, without being accused of being classless, surely?

Why is this downvoted? There is some serious tribalism going on in this thread. You all need to chill out and start thinking again. Who cares whether BO or SpaceX was first, or whether China or America was first? We should be happy that humanity is closer to Mars.

This is not tribalism; those two achievements have an order of magnitude difference at difficulty and practical meaning, and Bezos wasn't first in his class either. I was very happy for Blue Origin then and I'm happy for everyone who pushes the boundaries of space technology (hell, I even start to like ULA), but those two landings are not comparable, and trying to do so diminishes what just happened.

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

#332

Post by alkonaut »

noir-york wrote: post #309
tensor wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> Unless you're German, than that statement is almost certainly false.

What? Imagine a Scandinavian or a Briton chanting their countries names in any other place than a sporting event (with an opposing country). It just doesn't happen.

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

#334

Post by TeMPOraL »

hackuser wrote: post #211
dbh937 wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"New-space" aerospace companies are operating on a different funding framework from the old aerospace juggernauts. Instead of cost-plus funding that came almost solely from the government and which allowed rockets like ULA's Delta IV and Atlas V to stay competitive in the $300-400 million range without having to find ways to cut costs. SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Orbital Sciences, as well as other new companies, have to…

Thanks. I've heard the story but I haven't seen evidence of it, it smells too much like a marketing story (we're young and exciting, those old people are boring and stuck in the past), and it seems very unlikely: I don't buy that the 'old' companies wouldn't want to reduce their costs by 75%, greatly increasing demand for their very expensive service, greatly increasing their bottom line - even in a cost-plus arrange…

Different incentives = different goals. SpaceX had to cut costs down to even be remotely competitive, and they had the benefit of starting from scratch, with no prior commitments in design of machine shops, etc. and with access to several decades worth of spaceflight experience.

And they have a drive, too. Mars is not a marketing story, Elon seems to really believe in doing it, and a lot of people at SpaceX buy into this vision.

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

#335

Post by Omniusaspirer »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #302
CamperBob2 wrote: post #287

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

If you're being serious, one of the most viewed Youtube channels is "Epic Rap Battles of History" which did exactly that.

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

#336

Post by gchokov »

molyss wrote: post #263
twistedpair wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good point. Orbcomm already paid off the booster. Now SpaceX can take it up for a joy ride for only a few hundred grand of gas and really fly the fins off it. I bet they relaunch this booster on their own dime as a demo.

I have no inside knowledge, but I'd suspect Orbcomm paid next to nothing for this launch. Between "You'll be the first launch since the last one... You know, that one with a small anomaly..." and fact that this was the first launch of a new version of the falcon 9 (with slightly different engines, cooler/more pressurized O2), I know that if I were negociating for Orbcomm, I'd ask spaceX to cross the last digit on the…

Total nonsense. They pay a lot. It's the Insurance company who covers the losses.

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

#337

Post by harshreality »

detritus wrote: post #330

An amazing achievement, and one I'm sorry to have missed watching live as I was AFK. However, having watched this just now, I could have really done without all the bro-nerd whooping and faux prime time personality-presentation. The latter's awkward and naff and just got in the way for me - the former was simply irritating in the extreme. Maybe I'm getting old, but I'd rather have a bit of restraint and less of the i…

It's not just you. This is my take on it: However nerve-racking the launch and first stage recovery were, this wasn't a sports event, and cannot support that kind of hyper-enthusiastic presentation style without looking staged and histrionic. Sports presentations like that work because there are lots of fans cheering wildly in the background, and sports might be unique in their license to evoke extreme enthusiasm without being seen as bizarre.

I'm sure some people are less bothered by it than we are, though.

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

#338

Post by sangnoir »

bcook wrote: post #238
mempko wrote: post #235

Elon should thank the American people. This achievement was financed by us and wouldn't be possible without the forward looking NASA program. So before we all thank Elon for taking our money, let's pat our selves on the back. Really we should thank the amazing spacex engineers, who worked tirelessly. Not just Elon. Sure he worked hard too, but not much more than anyone else at spacex I'm just tired of the Elon worshi…

Elon Musk has already been quoted as saying that the United States is "the greatest country that has ever existed on Earth". https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk#Nationalism

> ... the United States is "the greatest country that has ever existed on Earth"

IMO, the statement is not as absolute as it first seems. At one point, Rome held that title, about 100 years ago it was Britain, in another 100, it probably will be China.

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

#339

Post by ufukbay »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #127

I join in congratulating SpaceX for this awesome achievement. It's like, holy fuck, they landed the rocket AND deployed 11 satellites, all in a single Pomodoro! I also want to commend them for a few minor things: - a real-time stream from landing (as opposed to holding it and releasing footage few days later, as before) - a real-time stream from satellite deployment, with a camera placed so that we could see everythi…

When I read about Elon Musk including SpaceX I cannot help myself but think that he is like one of those comic book heroes from Marvel. :)

They want to reuse rockets similar to planes in the future. It's mind blowing and super exciting!

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

#340

Post by lmm »

wereHamster wrote: post #308
TeMPOraL wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

It doesn't have enough fuel, and keeping more in the booster would mean reducing the payload it could carry. I think most of the ways the landing could go wrong involve the rocket falling over, which wouldn't be recoverable (the fins do nothing at low speed, and the engine can gimbal but only a little bit).
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