Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

SES-10 Mission

spacex.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

261–270 of 368 posts

Re: SES-10 Mission

#261

Post by msl »

ufmace wrote: post #199

Amazing! I genuinely think that this is a bigger deal than the moon landings. The moon landings were pretty awesome in their own way, but at the end of the day, with the way they were done, it was basically a stunt. None of it put any infrastructure for the long-term access of space into place, or anything to make future moon landings easier. This paves the way for the costs of space flight to be cut in half, or even…

> None of it put any infrastructure for the long-term access of space into place, or anything to make future moon landings easier.

This is not entirely fair. The actual landings (which did teach us a lot about the moon) were just the tip of an iceberg. Consider project Gemini [1] for example. A dozen missions and several astronaut-weeks of space time to get hang of such consepts as rendezvous and docking of two spacecraft and extra vehicular activity, all of utmost importance in modern space exploration. Much of the hardware developed for the Apollo program was also very versatile, as demonstrated by, for example, the Skylab program [2]. A lot more mileage could have been extracted from the investment by means of the Apollo Aplications Program [3] had it not been killed to make way for the STS (I'm simplifying the history somewhat on this point).

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Gemini

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Applications_Program

Re: SES-10 Mission

#262

Post by seer »

Joeri wrote: post #245
Cyph0n wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And when, say, an amazing archeological artifact is uncovered, we probably won't appreciate the complexity that went into that, and the folks at ArcheologistNews will be pissed. There are so many fields and so many complex processes. I can assure you that any one of: the world of power transmission, or offshore oil drilling rigs, or commercial shipping, or chemical process design and optimization, or tons of other st…

For me one of the amazing miracles is the supermarket. The logistics to get all those products there in time year round are astounding. A supermarket can only exist because of a planet-wide system of incredible complexity.

This is definately off topic but I also have thought about supermarkets a lot lately but mostly how they are a regression of the prvious thing which was "the bazaar" - because you limit competition "within the supermarket" - and hide the externalities, you get much worse quality of foods. Individually competing independent producers, put in very close prodimity so you can easily judge their output with a glance is incredibly effective. You can also direclty influence the producers themselves with your cash. Yes its usually "messier" but works gets you so much healthier food in the end. Just market forces at work.

Re: SES-10 Mission

#263

Post by aphextron »

Watching the raw video stream today, I couldn't help but feel that we're looking at a quantum leap in rocket technology. The intensity of sound and exhaust from the engines was something I have never seen from a rocket that size before. I'm curious how the specific impulse of the newest Merlin compares to what ULA is using, considering a lot of their stuff is either Russian made or designs from the 60's. It's possible they will not only capture the launch market, but the engine market for other manufacturers as well.

Re: SES-10 Mission

#264

Post by ninjamayo »

They should have had commentary during launch from that guy who made comments during the unveiling of the Mars mission last year. The one who went to Burning Man.

Re: SES-10 Mission

#265

Post by Jaruzel »

JshWright wrote: post #164
SEJeff wrote: post #53

I can't wait until I have a talk with my kids when they realize the significance of this day: Kid: Daddy, ou mean when you were growing up, they threw away rockets each time? Me: Yes Kid: Doesn't that make them expensive? Me: Yes. And then not long after will be the other talk: Kid: Daddy, you mean people used to be in charge of driving themselves in cars? Me: Yes Kid: Did people ever die? Me: Millions Good job Elon…

>I can't wait until I have a talk with my kids when they realize the significance of this day https://goo.gl/photos/7rT5rxvsP9AxVZxn6 My four year old daughter, watching the launch with rapt attention. When we watched the Echostar 23 launch two weeks ago, she asked why it didn't land... Crazy that rockets landing is already totally normal for her.

Kudos for Doing Parenting Right.

So many 'parents' dump their kids in front of Cartoon Network, and ignore them for 18 years.

Re: SES-10 Mission

#266

Post by rohit89 »

grondilu wrote: post #243
issa wrote: post #235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the stated reason for building a sustainable city on Mars--to ensure that a disaster on Earth doesn't end the species--is a damned good one. The science and other technology that will come as a result of the colonization is just bonus.

> I think the stated reason for building a sustainable city on Mars--to ensure that a disaster on Earth doesn't end the species--is a damned good one. It's stupid. If we can live on mars, we can live on Earth no matter what happens to it. I don't see anything that could turn Earth into worse a place to live than mars.

Learning to survive on Mars is what will enable us to survive on earth.

Re: SES-10 Mission

#269

Post by di4na »

ncallaway wrote: post #238
kilroy123 wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I honestly don't think they'll _have_ the chance to enjoy the margins. There will likely be a lot more competition in the future. The Chinese, Russians, Indians, blue origin, vector space systems, and United Launch Alliance finally getting their shit together, trying to do a redesign to better compete.

Certainly in the long term they won't be able to enjoy their margins. However, they are already one of the lowest cost launch providers available at the moment. Others have work to do just to catch up with SpaceX today. And _nobody_ is just around the corner on reusability. I don't know of any other provider that will have a reusable launch in the next 3 years. Even then, those other providers will just be dipping th…

Under 5 years, Ariane VI could do it probably. 3 years, i don't think so.

Re: SES-10 Mission

#270

Post by fooker »

ykl wrote: post #250
rtkwe wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It helps drive the costs down when you're not inventing the entire field basically from scratch. Not saying what they've accomplished isn't impressive but it's very much a 'standing on the soldiers of giants' situation.

*shoulders of giants. :)

Pretty sure Elon Musk is going to breed an army of giants to colonize Mars.
Post reply on HN