Posted on 02/06/2018 8:42:54 PM PST by WMarshal
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - The world's most powerful rocket, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, roared into space through clear blue skies in its debut test flight on Tuesday from a Florida launch site where moon missions once began, in another milestone for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's private rocket service. ..... Then, capitalizing on cost-cutting reusable rocket technology pioneered by SpaceX, the two boosters flew themselves back to Earth for safe simultaneous touchdowns on twin landing pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, about eight minutes after launch. Each rocket unleashed a double sonic boom as it neared the landing zone.
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While I used to object to Musk getting gov $$$,
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Do you similarly object to NASA getting even more government money to do the same thing, except taking years longer while producing an even more expensive system?
Look what aviation did in 50 years. From the Wright Bros to the SR-71. And we know a lot more stuff now.
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Except now we are into a period of massive failure of political will when in comes to manned space exploration - a period which began in 1964, with partial and lame exception of the Apollo years 1969-1972.
Perhaps Musk can break us out of it, but I would not hold your breath, especially if the Dems retake control of the government in a few years.
There is still a place for NASA. It’s not muslem outreach, it’s to keep our military the best in the world.
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NASA is a military organization under DOD.
Yep - science fiction continues to become reality - it was almost surreal to watch it.
Musk’s Tesla is going out beyond Mars to the asteroid belt.
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Can’t you just imagine that some large astroid attracts the vehicle and the car lands perfectly? What a shock that would be for some putative astroid miner!
Musk’s BFR aka “big f*cking rocket, will be the one to go to Mars, Falcon Heavy is too small and would be used to ferry crew and cargo to LEO. The BFR is not just a singe vehicle but a system.
Musk is done with design of the Falcons, He is now moving on to the BFR.
Falcon heavy
Payload to LEO 63,800 kg (140,700 lb)
BFR
Payload to LEO 150,000 kg (330,000 lb) reusable
I think it’s headed to Mars soon.
The Saturn V was more powerful. Just sayin'.
Both NASA and SpaceX should have our fullest support. Yes NASA should get way more funding! Absolutely. USA should be the absolute undisputed leader in space.
Interesting. That is how Boeing got started too. He wanted to buy a plane and decided he could build a better one.
“Perhaps Musk can break us out of it, but I would not hold your breath, especially if the Dems retake control of the government in a few years.”
And Musk is donating millions to them to make that happen.
“It overshot Mars and is currently headed to the Astroid Belt; no orbit yet established.”
Eh... yeah no. It is not past Mar yet, and the instant the burn was complete the orbit is what it is.
“It was after all, a major malfunction resulting in catastrophic failure. “
In the realm of Aerospace safety “catastrophic” has a specific technical meaning. That does not quality. The primary mission was complete.
I wish I knew it was happening beforehand, used to be able watch the shuttle take off all the way from Miami.
Eh... yeah no. It is not past Mar yet, and the instant the burn was complete the orbit is what it is.
How about it overshot the trajectory needed for Mars insertion. Happy?
I wasn’t referring to a catastrophic failure of the mission itself; only a part of it.
A few days late. It was pretty awesome that America has the most powerful rocket again.
Twofer it’s “private” and watching those two rockets land was soooo cool. I have to hand it to Elon Musk.
Question. Why did it take the US and the world to come up with a rocket almost as powerful as a rocket we had 50 years ago?
Either progress is not linear or generic fail.
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