SpaceX Falcon Heavy

[GooooMarquette]

So what are people expecting with the Falcon Heavy launch this afternoon?  It has been delayed a couple of times, and is currently scheduled for 2:45 CT.

http://www.spacex.com/webcast

Pretty bold plan, launching the heaviest rocket ever into orbit...then have the rocket boosters return to earth and land.  I'm thinking the rocket gets up into orbit, but the boosters don't make it back intact....

[Benny B]

If the rocket gets into orbit, I'd feel pretty good that they're going to get the side boosters back just fine.  SpaceX has already tested the boosters.

The real question is whether they can get the central booster back.... and launch the payload successfully.  I think the former is the real test here, but pictures/video of the latter is what I'm most interested in.



https://www.youtube.com/v/aBr2kKAHN6M
A perfect combination of engineering and humor.  In other words, why American innovation cannot be matched.

[GooooMarquette]

Yeah, I forgot to distinguish between the central and side boosters.  You're right that getting the central one back intact will be the biggest challenge.

[mu03eng]

It depends on your definition of "get back". If you mean recovered for future use, I think the Central Booster crashes but the side boosters are fine. The orbital mechanics of sending boosters up and returning them to earth's surface is "easy". Having them land upright on a designated part of said earth, that's the tough part.

[Hards Alumni]

That was magical.

[Benny B]

The synchronized landing was rocket science porn at its finest.  If there was a PornHub chart that could track XXX activity just in Cambridge, MA and Pasadena over the next two hours, it's going to tank harder than the Dow did this morning.

Don't bet against Elon Musk.  That doesn't mean you have to bet on him, but the guy continues to amaze.

It depends on your definition of "get back". If you mean recovered for future use, I think the Central Booster crashes but the side boosters are fine. The orbital mechanics of sending boosters up and returning them to earth's surface is "easy". Having them land upright on a designated part of said earth, that's the tough part.

Seems like the real challenge is an antenna that will withstand the vibration and distortion of a rocket landing.  Wonder if anyone at SpaceX still uses wire coat hangers.

[GooooMarquette]

Amazing.  Elon Musk is one eccentric dude, but I agree with Benny - I wouldn't bet against him.

The only shame is that his 2008 Tesla will be orbiting Mars instead of sitting in my garage.  I thought about emailing Musk to ask if he'd point the rocket at my house instead of Mars, but then it occurred to me that having an enormous rocket aimed at my house might have unintended consequences.

[mu03eng]

Seems like the real challenge is an antenna that will withstand the vibration and distortion of a rocket landing.  Wonder if anyone at SpaceX still uses wire coat hangers.

Pretty sure the current gen is automated i.e. the boosters have the instrumentation on board to auto-land. I'd guess the receivers for things like GPS, etc are covered during launch in some sort of aerodynamic body and are only exposed after separation.

[mu_hilltopper]

The boosters landed .. and do yourself a favor, put down those beef and cheddars, and watch that video.  It's spectacular.  It's hard to believe it wasn't fake, it's so amazing.

.. the core was unable to light enough engines to land .. crashed at 300mph into the ocean.

[jesmu84]

If they knew there was a chance of losing the cameras on the autonomous platform, why not have a boat or chopper nearby with another camera?

[muwarrior69]

So what are people expecting with the Falcon Heavy launch this afternoon?  It has been delayed a couple of times, and is currently scheduled for 2:45 CT.

http://www.spacex.com/webcast

Pretty bold plan, launching the heaviest rocket ever into orbit...then have the rocket boosters return to earth and land.  I'm thinking the rocket gets up into orbit, but the boosters don't make it back intact....

I believe the Saturn V is still the heaviest rocket with 7.5 million pounds of thrust.

[NorthernDancerColt]

The boosters landed .. and do yourself a favor, put down those beef and cheddars, and watch that video.  It's spectacular.  It's hard to believe it wasn't fake, it's so amazing.

.. the core was unable to light enough engines to land .. crashed at 300mph into the ocean.

Stanley Kubrick would be proud.

[naginiF]

I believe the Saturn V is still the heaviest rocket with 7.5 million pounds of thrust.

OK Mr. "nothing good happened after the Jimi Hendrix died. now get off my lawn and let me yell at you about how great things used to be".  Biggest payload. edit: apparently it is the 'most powerful' rocket

Also, that was really F'n cool to watch.

[GooooMarquette]

The boosters landed .. and do yourself a favor, put down those beef and cheddars, and watch that video.  It's spectacular.  It's hard to believe it wasn't fake, it's so amazing.

.. the core was unable to light enough engines to land .. crashed at 300mph into the ocean.

I was thinking the same thing as the boosters were approaching the landing area - it almost looked like animation...perhaps because it worked just so perfectly.

[Benny B]

If they knew there was a chance of losing the cameras on the autonomous platform, why not have a boat or chopper nearby with another camera?

Evidently, they did have another camera (or two) that captured the crash according to eMusk... not yet released.

Turns out, however, that what I thought was a signal interruption on second look was actually an obscuring of the camera by water and debris from the impact (the drone camera never went dark... just very gray before the feed itself was cut).  Probably should have figured something was up (or down) when the on-screen talent said how they were hoping to get the signal back when they never actual lost the signal.

[jsglow]

This is soo kick arse I can't believe it.  For you youngins,  it reminds me of the heady days of Apollo.  We were just arrogant enough to say 'we got this'.  Awesome.

[Benny B]

I've watched the side booster landing at least 20 times now in the past 24 hours.  Tried to show it to my kids last night, but AirPlay wasn't working.

Isn't that a kick.... we have the knowledge and technology to synchronously land two rockets on a dime but I can't figure out my damn wi-fi router.

[GooooMarquette]

I've watched the side booster landing at least 20 times now in the past 24 hours.  Tried to show it to my kids last night, but AirPlay wasn't working.

Isn't that a kick.... we have the knowledge and technology to synchronously land two rockets on a dime but I can't figure out my damn wi-fi router.

And we still can't cure the common cold....

[warriorchick]

And we still can't cure the common cold....

That's because it's not that common.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I don't get the fascination with space travel. Technology is cool, but I'm not getting up in arms over a rocket.

Is it a generational thing? I just feel like satellites, rockets, space shuttles are so common it's not really not that intriguing to me.

[jesmu84]

I don't get the fascination with space travel. Technology is cool, but I'm not getting up in arms over a rocket.

Is it a generational thing? I just feel like satellites, rockets, space shuttles are so common it's not really not that intriguing to me.

I think we're part of the same generation.

I thought that was incredible.

But I'm a nerd who went to space camp. So...

[jsglow]

I don't get the fascination with space travel. Technology is cool, but I'm not getting up in arms over a rocket.

Is it a generational thing? I just feel like satellites, rockets, space shuttles are so common it's not really not that intriguing to me.

I do think it's a generational thing chitown.  I'm old enough to remember watching the Apollo 11 moon landing well.  It was like witnessing Columbus discover the 'new world' live on TV. So special.

[Tugg Speedman]

Paypal (where his wealth started)
Space X
Tesla
Solar City
The Boring Company (Hyperloop)
He is also building a vertical take-off and landing supersonic jet electric aircraft with electric fan propulsion, known as the Musk electric jet.

Many argue his equals are Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.

You agree?

[tower912]

No.    They physically invented things.    Elon Musk has a vision and works with and directs teams to create them.    I give him very high marks as a visionary, though. 

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

No.    They physically invented things.    Elon Musk has a vision and works with and directs teams to create them.    I give him very high marks as a visionary, though.

Curious though - do you not think Ford and Edison also directed people based on a vision?