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SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

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Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#181

What's the difference in how SpaceX is run vs Musk's other companies? It seems to succeed doing the hardest things whereas the others have struggled to meet their goals. Would Musk focusing only on it make any difference? edit: This is not a complaint, just a question, why the downvotes? I'm used to getting downvoted for no reason, but this is basic a question, with great answers. Come on HN! We can't ask questions?

NYTimes article mentioned their initial target for a heavy rocket launch was 2013 due to being "naive." Safe to say SpaceX isn't all that different from Tesla or Solar City in that regard.

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to SpaceX, the orbit could potentially last for a billion years if the timings work out.

Source? I was poking around for the orbit's parameters last night...

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/05/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-a...

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To bad that it is only for americans. Due to some sort of US regulation.

That's not really their call because of ITAR.

ITAR is not limited to just Americans. I work with ITAR materials and am not an American (working in Europe)

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#184

They lost the center core: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_tWbjFIGI&t=2307 But 2/3 is impressive! Seeing the simultaneous landings had me in tears!

Thanks. That clip is the confirmation I’ve been looking for since the live stream ended. I agree that it’s still an amazing achievement!

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#185
It was awesome. The synchronized landing of both boosters was emotional.

Might be a naive thought, but for a few minutes, you forget everything else. There were millions of people from every nation live-watching the broadcast and everyone was cheering and hoping for the best.

The world seemed at peace during that moment and this is what I love about space exploration and all these great human achievements.

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#186
post #8

I. Am. Just. Speechless. Perfect takeoff, 2 simultaneous landings (still waiting for confirmation on the droneship landing), the car is in orbit. I don't remember being so nervous watching a launch video since... Space Shuttle missions, I think. Great job, SpaceX!

> car is in orbit. That is correct...but NOT in orbit of our home planet!

My understanding from the diagrams they showed is that the orbit is a wide one (oval) around Earth that passes near Mars.

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like it was lost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_tWbjFIGI&feature=youtu.be... Although there hasn't been an official statement by SpaceX yet, and whoever said "we lost the center core" could have just been referring to the video feed from the drone ship.

The quote from the video is: "We lost the center core." For those like me unfamiliar with the terminology used in this context, is this wording reserved for situations where the rocket is destroyed or could it also mean they lost contact/video feed with the center core?

They normally call out "LOS" or "loss of signal" when they lose a video (or any other kind of) feed, but I have heard it on other streams that they say something like "We lost stage 1... signal/camera feed".

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of the centre core, these are the last few moments before it is lost from the feed. Smoke can be seen... https://youtu.be/wbSwFU6tY1c?t=38m20s ... and then back to the presenters. As someone said to me, "That's their lying face!" :) Can't fault them for wanting to dwell on the positives though, was an amazing moment to watch. Edit: You can switch cameras on the above youtube video to the countdown net; you can clearl…

Can't fault them for sure, but it's strange for them. SpaceX tends to be very upfront with their failures, and tends to broadcast and in many cases re-upload video of their failures. Doubly so when the "failure" isn't part of the primary mission.

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Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#190

There was something doubly awesome about the two falcons landing at the same time right next to each other!

Watching that made me realize I now have to re-evaluate many "bad sci-fi scenes" into "pretty accurate predictions of the future"!
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