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Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

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Re: Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

#21

Post by starik36 »

bane wrote: post #15

SpaceX runs basically as a giant R&D program that also happens to accomplish useful things as byproducts of its approach (with the miracle of insurance to cover costs if things get explody). Every flight is data for incremental improvement. If you think of all SpaceX has ever done was try to get to this point, with somewhere around 80 flights on the Falcon 9, but for a variety of mission buyers (NASA, USAF, Commercia…

All true, however, (splitting hairs, yes), the reason FH9 can best the shuttle boosters is because they had to carry the shuttle itself, which was around 50 tons.

Re: Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

#22

Post by 7thaccount »

bane wrote: post #15

SpaceX runs basically as a giant R&D program that also happens to accomplish useful things as byproducts of its approach (with the miracle of insurance to cover costs if things get explody). Every flight is data for incremental improvement. If you think of all SpaceX has ever done was try to get to this point, with somewhere around 80 flights on the Falcon 9, but for a variety of mission buyers (NASA, USAF, Commercia…

Incredibly impressive, but you have to take into account both more modern technology, as well as the fact that they were able to build off the shoulders of giants. It is still amazing of course, but I doubt they could've done the same thing during the era of the mercury program, so not really apples to apples comparison.

Re: Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

#24

Post by jtwaleson »

jtdev wrote: post #11

How much AI/ML do you think is running on the software associated with this launch and docking? I suspect there’s a great deal of very explicit, well tested code, but very little AI/ML.

I agree (having no actual knowledge). What would be the benefit?

Re: Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

#25

Post by Kaibeezy »

Hamuko wrote: post #14
jari_mustonen wrote: post #12

We are a small step closer inhabiting Mars. When we will, it will be the most important event in the five billion years history of our solar system. In other words, we are witnessing some pretty cool stuff.

How does this get us closer to getting people to Mars?

Can’t tell if serious or troll.

Successful human spaceflight on reusable hardware > lower cost to orbit of personnel > increased economic activity in orbit > construction of manufacturing facilities > scale up of materials, capability, endurance and knowledge > ability to construct and launch Mars ships and supply a colony

Or something like that.

Re: Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

#26

Post by bane »

starik36 wrote: post #21
bane wrote: post #15

SpaceX runs basically as a giant R&D program that also happens to accomplish useful things as byproducts of its approach (with the miracle of insurance to cover costs if things get explody). Every flight is data for incremental improvement. If you think of all SpaceX has ever done was try to get to this point, with somewhere around 80 flights on the Falcon 9, but for a variety of mission buyers (NASA, USAF, Commercia…

All true, however, (splitting hairs, yes), the reason FH9 can best the shuttle boosters is because they had to carry the shuttle itself, which was around 50 tons.

I wonder, as a percentage of launch vehicle, how much mass the shuttle program managed to reuse after a mission vs. the F9Heavy?

It turns out not having to "shuttle" half a dozen humans up to orbit every time you want to get something up there is a good idea.

Re: Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

#27

Post by Hamuko »

Kaibeezy wrote: post #25
Hamuko wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does this get us closer to getting people to Mars?

Can’t tell if serious or troll. Successful human spaceflight on reusable hardware > lower cost to orbit of personnel > increased economic activity in orbit > construction of manufacturing facilities > scale up of materials, capability, endurance and knowledge > ability to construct and launch Mars ships and supply a colony Or something like that.

Lower cost to orbit, sure. Increased economic activity in orbit? Where does that part come from?

It's not like we haven't sent people to the ISS before. And it's not like SpaceX hasn't managed to reuse hardware before. It's basically just a mix of those two things.

Really the most significant things about this were that astronauts were launched to space from the US and it was a private company. And out of those, the first thing is really more symbolic than anything else.

The ISS is about 400 km from the surface of the Earth. Mars is like what, 225 000 000 km?

Re: Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

#28

Post by ahsima1 »

jtdev wrote: post #11

How much AI/ML do you think is running on the software associated with this launch and docking? I suspect there’s a great deal of very explicit, well tested code, but very little AI/ML.

I would guess none. Maybe some in testing/simulations, but I highly doubt there is any ML doing actual flight control.

Re: Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

#29

Post by tnli »

godzillabrennus wrote: post #16
jari_mustonen wrote: post #12

We are a small step closer inhabiting Mars. When we will, it will be the most important event in the five billion years history of our solar system. In other words, we are witnessing some pretty cool stuff.

Elon Musk will have cities on planets names after him for generations to come. The legacy he leaves will be greater than that of Ghengis Kahn, Ceasar, or Alexander the Great.

Elonville, Musktown?

Re: Crew Dragon Docks with ISS

#30

Post by bane »

7thaccount wrote: post #22
bane wrote: post #15

SpaceX runs basically as a giant R&D program that also happens to accomplish useful things as byproducts of its approach (with the miracle of insurance to cover costs if things get explody). Every flight is data for incremental improvement. If you think of all SpaceX has ever done was try to get to this point, with somewhere around 80 flights on the Falcon 9, but for a variety of mission buyers (NASA, USAF, Commercia…

Incredibly impressive, but you have to take into account both more modern technology, as well as the fact that they were able to build off the shoulders of giants. It is still amazing of course, but I doubt they could've done the same thing during the era of the mercury program, so not really apples to apples comparison.

Sure, there are likely many small advantages that add up. For example, 3 flat panels and a few buttons probably weigh less than a metal panel full of dials, allowing for a better payload ratio. That technology wasn't available during the Mercury/Gemini/Shuttle period for any price.
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