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Falcon Heavy Demonstration Mission [pdf]

spacex.com

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demonstration Mission [pdf]

#31

Post by eric_h »

scrumbledober wrote: post #16
owlninja wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did it get delayed? YouTube channel now says going live in another 2 hours

It's currently delayed until about an hour before the launch window closes, and they are hoping for the winds to die down. looks unlikely that they will launch today. EDIT: nevermind fuel is being loaded and the "holy mouse click" has happened.

They're filling it with rocket fuel, so I think there's a pretty good chance of a launch.

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/960956373994438656

Re: Falcon Heavy Demonstration Mission [pdf]

#32

Post by gnode »

dylan604 wrote: post #7

I saw the video animation of the Tesla separating from the second stage. At that point, the car no longer has thrust, so I'm assuming they've calculated the thrust to be just enough to reach Mars and to be able to fall into orbit. To quote the movie Apollo 13, "we've just put Isaac Newton in the driver's seat". I dearly hope that Musk and team have been referring to the "dummy" in the driver's seat of the Tesla as Is…

When / if the Tesla nears Mars, it'll be going at escape velocity, and so won't enter orbit. So unless lithobraking is employed, it'll fly straight by, and remain in an orbit around the sun.

Continuing the homage to David Bowie, the dummy driver is called Starman.

Re: Falcon Heavy Demonstration Mission [pdf]

#34

Post by Axsuul »

scrumbledober wrote: post #15
Axsuul wrote: post #9

This will be a historic flight. It will be interesting regardless the outcome XD 27 engines! "When Falcon Heavy lifts off in 2018, it will be the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two"

the most powerful operational rocket, but not the most powerful ever. I believe the Saturn V was more powerful.

Yep, in the "current" world though is what the quote was alluding to.
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