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SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

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Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#251

Post by elihu »

StillBored wrote: post #164
zhoujianfu wrote: post #3

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

Yes, that was pretty SF. So, whats to stop them attaching an additional two (or more) to the existing rocket now that they have the basic synchronization worked out.

I guess they'd have to make the center rocket stronger to handle the added force of more rockets. Also, there may be diminishing returns when it comes to adding more boosters, and at some point it makes more sense to just redesign the rocket to be bigger (hence the BFR, which is the planned successor to Falcon Heavy).

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#252

Post by webXL »

pulkitanand wrote: post #152

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!

Was there anything special about the center core other than boosting longer and needing to land out at sea? Seems like they've landed plenty out at sea, but not while landing two on land.

I thought this was impressive: "With a total of 27 first-stage engines, Falcon Heavy has engine-out capability that no other launch vehicle can match—under most payload scenarios, it can sustain more than one unplanned engine shutdown at any point in flight and still successfully complete its mission." http://www.spacex.com/falcon-heavy

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#253

Post by electricslpnsld »

DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #111
buildbuildbuild wrote: post #61

Love that SpaceX’s own team shoots, announces, and switches the live production in-house rather than hiring a production company. Also love seeing machinists side by side cheering with software engineers, standing by a mission control which is placed feet from where engines are assembled on the shop floor. Open company culture well-executed. Congratulations to all there!

It’s like that at BlueOrigin too. I visited twice (they gave me a job offer but withdrew it after I got badmouthed by a reference, gah). They have an avionics software engineering room right next to where they assemble the engines.

> they gave me a job offer but withdrew it after I got badmouthed by a reference

Why in the world would someone agree to be a reference and then bad mouth afterwards? Some folks...

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#254

Post by ajnin »

julien_c wrote: post #125
skykooler wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Someone has a GIF (or explanation) of the Earth-Mars Orbit?

The car is on an elliptic heliocentric orbit that crosses the Earth orbit at its perihelion and crosses Mars' orbit at its aphelion. It is not in orbit around either planet.

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#255

Post by MBCook »

skykooler wrote: post #87
MBCook wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, perhaps I have the name wrong. I meant the part connected to the payload with the Merlin engine designed for vacuum, above the three main rockets (the center of which must be the core).

It will relight its engine again in about five and a half hours to depart Earth orbit for interplanetary space.

Thanks.

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#256

Post by kuschku »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #217
DonaldPShimoda wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These are only baby steps at the beginning of the adventure.

But. We are making them! I've almost lost hope around the end of the Space Shuttle program. I thought it will be only satellites, ISS and occasional science probe launches. SpaceX single-handedly restored my faith in the future of space activities again, and with other player on the scene, we now have realistic hope of seeing an actual industry in space within our lifetimes.

And the amazing thing is, even if SpaceX should fail, an entire industry has started to happen.

Arianespace has spent years developing new rocket engines specifically for reusability, and has started building prototype rockets.

Bezos’ company has mastered landing, and is directly building their mars rocket.

In 5 years we’ll likely see at least 3 major companies up there with SpaceX, and true competition in space.

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#257

Post by aeorgnoieang »

thanatropism wrote: post #167

I like everything about private space exploration except this: when we sent the Voyager golden record to space, we consulted with the great minds about which were the important landmarks of our civilisation. In this model, it's all about idiosyncrasies: the Voyager record had the Vitruvian Man, this has an astronaut on a sports car and largely-irrelevant sci-fi stories. Of course, private space probably means the who…

I'll take real progress over whatever the modern day version of the Voyager golden record might be.

But I think you might also be imagining how the golden record was created. It was spearheaded by Carl Sagan but there wasn't time to consult "with the great minds" [emphasis mine], whatever that might be. I'm sure Sagan worked with 'great minds', but it definitely wasn't some kind of Grand Committee of Earth.

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#258

Post by blackrock »

Did they need to modify the Tesla to make it vacuum worthy?

Like, remove any fluids, remove any parts that might explode in the hot or cold of space, deflate the tires, etc.

Note: I'm more interested in a scientific answer, as opposed to casual conjectures. Preferably from an engineer knowledgeable of such things. And specifically, the materials sciences aspect of how materials will survive in a vacuum.

Re: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

#259

Post by djsumdog »

dz0ny wrote: post #191
peterwaller wrote: post #127

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…

Center core lost, announced on internal feed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_tWbjFIGI&feature=youtu.be...

But they also say the insertion was successful. So the payload made it, but they were planning to recover the center and that failed?
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