 |
View previous topic :: View next topic |
|
|
|
|
|
Author |
Message |
|
|
|
|
|
red assassin
Joined: 15 Feb 2004
Posts: 593 on topic
Location: Oxford, UK
|
 Posted: Tue, 22. May 12, 13:43 Post subject: SpaceX launches successfully on ISS docking mission |
   |
|
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/may/22/spacex-blasts-off-space-station
So, second attempt at launching this mission after a faulty valve caused a high pressure cutoff on the first attempt (and numerous postponements before that), but everything seems to have worked perfectly today. Successful orbit, separation, and deployment of the capsule's solar panels (the panels are a first, but a Dragon has been put into orbit before). Now they're headed for the station itself, with some demonstration/testing manoeuvres to be followed by docking.
Did anybody else watch the launch live on NASA TV or SpaceX's own feed this morning?
_________________
A still more glorious dawn awaits, not a sunrise, but a galaxy rise, a morning filled with 400 billion suns - the rising of the Milky Way
Amarok media player |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Xenon_Slayer
EGOSOFT
Joined: 09 Nov 2002
Posts: 9520 on topic
Location: Ego HQ, Germany (Originally England)
|
| Posted: Tue, 22. May 12, 13:53 Post subject: |
|
|
Missed it this morning but saw the abort last week. That was the oddest launch/non launch I've seen. Even caught the commentator off guard.
But nice to hear it's all going well so far.
_________________
Annoying BurnIt! since 2008... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BugMeister
Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 3624 on topic
Location: elsewhere..
|
| Posted: Tue, 22. May 12, 14:04 Post subject: |
|
|
missed it.. watched the "phutt!" the other day..
- good news, hope it goes well..
looks like Friday is the day for docking..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
thetack
Joined: 13 Feb 2004
Posts: 787 on topic
|
| Posted: Tue, 22. May 12, 14:23 Post subject: |
|
|
the bbc news has the launch film , sorry cant link it but worth a look very spectacular in the pitch black sky.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EmperorJon
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Posts: 6665 on topic
Location: Leicester
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
red assassin
Joined: 15 Feb 2004
Posts: 593 on topic
Location: Oxford, UK
|
| Posted: Tue, 22. May 12, 14:57 Post subject: |
|
|
| Xenon_Slayer wrote: |
Missed it this morning but saw the abort last week. That was the oddest launch/non launch I've seen. Even caught the commentator off guard.
But nice to hear it's all going well so far. |
SpaceX anchors its rockets to the ground after ignition while final tests are run, which is when the abort happened, so you can get some rather unexpected behaviour if you're not familiar with that.
The commentator was pretty funny, though.
_________________
A still more glorious dawn awaits, not a sunrise, but a galaxy rise, a morning filled with 400 billion suns - the rising of the Milky Way
Amarok media player |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Freya Nocturne
Joined: 14 Apr 2010
Posts: 1154 on topic
|
| Posted: Tue, 22. May 12, 18:45 Post subject: |
|
|
Saw the launch live last night, pleased it didn't blow up, though at the same time I'm a little disappointed it didn't blow up
_________________
Leaving Egosoft for friendlier sites.
(You all know who you are) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bishop149
Joined: 09 Apr 2004
Posts: 1413 on topic
Location: London, Kings Cross
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
red assassin
Joined: 15 Feb 2004
Posts: 593 on topic
Location: Oxford, UK
|
| Posted: Fri, 25. May 12, 16:34 Post subject: |
|
|
Dragon has now been successfully captured by the ISS robot arm! Looks like they're planning to go ahead with completing docking today.
_________________
A still more glorious dawn awaits, not a sunrise, but a galaxy rise, a morning filled with 400 billion suns - the rising of the Milky Way
Amarok media player |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Usenko
Moderator (English)
Joined: 04 Apr 2007
Posts: 362 on topic
|
| Posted: Fri, 25. May 12, 17:26 Post subject: |
|
|
This is huge. Game-changing, in fact.
_________________
| Morkonan wrote: |
What really happened isn't as exciting. Putin flexed his left thigh during his morning ride on a flying bear, right after beating fifty Judo blackbelts, which he does upon rising every morning. (Not that Putin sleeps, it's just that he doesn't want to make others feel inadequate.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apothos
Joined: 06 Nov 2002
Posts: 1702 on topic
Location: Cwmbru
|
| Posted: Fri, 25. May 12, 17:38 Post subject: |
|
|
Not really.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bishop149
Joined: 09 Apr 2004
Posts: 1413 on topic
Location: London, Kings Cross
|
| Posted: Fri, 25. May 12, 18:13 Post subject: |
|
|
| Usenko wrote: |
| This is huge. Game-changing, in fact. |
Why?
I really don't see the big issue, so a private company has decided they might be able to make a bit of money from getting things into orbit by making efficiency savings on pre-exsisting (government developed) technology. Enough investors agree with them to make it a viable business.
Well I guess that's good, but IMO was inevitable. All technology gets cheaper over time.
I seriously doubt a private company will ever do any purely scientific space exploration, if they do then it will be entirely as a side show to their profit making activities. I personally can't see a profit margin in sending probes or people to other parts of the solar system.
So we will be left with the government funding research and paying private companies to get the stuff out of our gravity well which isn't a million miles from whats happened for decades . . . government funds R&D, lowest bidder contracted to build finished product.
The only cash currently to be had in the space sector is in sending commercial assets into earth Orbit.
In the near future Space tourism might become a profitable venture.
In the distant future we might start to be able to exploit the solar systems resources at a profit.
When a private company (or anyone else in fact) starts getting things into orbit using NEW technology I might get a bit more excited.
_________________
X3 game
Magnate
X-TREME
Flagship: "The Certainty of Death" Split Python |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Usenko
Moderator (English)
Joined: 04 Apr 2007
Posts: 362 on topic
|
| Posted: Sat, 26. May 12, 05:08 Post subject: |
|
|
Game changing in that it means we will have a clear delineation - the private sector handles all the routine stuff (they've been launching satellites for years, but now they can do the LEO resupply stuff too), and the government takes risks and does exploration.
This is what I see, anyway.
(Of course, government could mess it up - "They can do this now, close NASA down . . ")
_________________
| Morkonan wrote: |
What really happened isn't as exciting. Putin flexed his left thigh during his morning ride on a flying bear, right after beating fifty Judo blackbelts, which he does upon rising every morning. (Not that Putin sleeps, it's just that he doesn't want to make others feel inadequate.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pjknibbs
Site Admin
Joined: 06 Nov 2002
Posts: 25961 on topic
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Sat, 26. May 12, 07:28 Post subject: |
|
|
| Bishop149 wrote: |
I seriously doubt a private company will ever do any purely scientific space exploration, if they do then it will be entirely as a side show to their profit making activities. |
Major companies spend considerable amounts of their income on research and development, and not all of that is stuff which immediately has a use--I wouldn't be surprised to see a "blue sky research" project sending a probe to, say, the Asteroid Belt to see if there's any viability in mining minerals from the rocks there. Yes, this ultimately has the aim of making a profit, but it's still going to provide considerable scientific data you wouldn't otherwise get!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
brucewarren
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 1556 on topic
Location: Not in Kansas any more, Toto.
|
| Posted: Sat, 26. May 12, 10:17 Post subject: |
|
|
On the one hand it clearly works 
On the other it's not skylon 
_________________
| When questioned about Nuking your own house to get rid of squirrels mrbadger wrote: |
| I think it could be worth the risk..... |
| Furthermore Samual Creshal wrote: |
| Sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Search