LIVE Thread - X43-A Mach 10 Launch

NASA TV Live ^ | 11/16/2004 | JAMBE

[Jambe]

Live thread of 3rd and final X43-A drop.

Drop scheduled approx 5:30 EST. B52 is airborne.

[PhotoFixer3]

Waste of taxpayer money.

NOT!

[megatherium]

"Good luck and Godspeed to the pilot."

No pilot.

For some reason this brings to mind the old cartoon where Bugs Bunny is expected to go up in the rocket, and against his protests he is told he is going because "rabbits are expendable".

[Jambe]

NASA commentators stated that running a SCRAMJET is like keeping a match lite during a hurricane.

[Brilliant]

There is no pilot.

[Prime Choice]

No pilot.

Well that takes all the fun out of it! ; )

[maestro]

.......prayers for another U.S.A.,.....success.........God Speed!

[TomGuy]

Many products developed in the last 30 years are directly or indirectly related to the space program.

Teflon and microwave ovens are just two example that are in common use. There are literally thousands of such products that are a direct or indirect developments from the space program.

[Army Air Corps]

Agreed. This is better than tax payer money going to distribute condoms in schools or paying for people on welfare to have scores of kiddies. We actually gain benefits from technology and research expenditures.

[JohnD9207]

Guess it (waste of taxpayers money) depends on how you look at it. I guess if you work for the company that built the jet you would be in opposition.

Seems strange that folks think the NASA projects are built on another planet. I think its one of the only government agency's that is interesting. Not a flame here, and No I don't work for NASA, just an opinion.

[ChadGore]

Mach 10 bump

[GOP_1900AD]

I am having no luck connecting. So a few words to describe what is being shown on NASA TV would be well appreciated.

[Southack]

"Many products developed in the last 30 years are directly or indirectly related to the space program. Teflon and microwave ovens are just two examples..."

No, those aren't space related. Teflon was first used in an atomic bomb over Hiroshima. Microwaves were first used in WW2 during the Battle of Britain.

[ChadGore]

bttt

[IrishCatholic]

While not an expert in this area to an interested layman I can see several reasons why this is not a waste of taxpayer money.
The first is force projection that is unstoppable by any other countries technology. With Europe's interest in their own GPS satellites whose sole function is to weaken our defense, improvements in our weapons technology makes sense.
Next, like any other military technology developed this has crossover applications from the launching of satellites to possibly a practical method of achieving manned spaceflight that is economically feasible for private commercial use.
Other previous wastes of money could include the M1 tank,F15 Eagle, F22 Raptor, B1, B2 bombers, missile defense, GPS satellites, etc.
Compare that with the cost of even one 9/11 event and it seems like a good use. The best way to defeat evil or bullies is to be the toughest kid on the block. It worked with Libya.
Just my opinion, of course.

[GOP_1900AD]

Plus, I wonder what the "cost" would be if the US were to incur a nuclear Pearl Harbor because we did not develop this and someone else did.

[Poohbah]

Computer miniaturization got its start with the space program.

Nobody wanted to launch a Univac 1100 into LEO...

[Jambe]

Nine minutes from drop. Checking all systems for final GO!

[redhawk]

NASA TV http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/

[Chemist_Geek]

Microwaves were first used in WW2 during the Battle of Britain.

Actually, much of early radio research - Hertz, Marconi, etc. - used UHF and microwave frequencies. One of Hertz's early papers was about the behavior of waves at 500 MHz. It was only later, for propagation and power reasons, that they migrated to low frequencies.

[ChadGore]

T-8 mins to X43-A drop