Another Successful Space X launch

[Brovane]

Space X has put another satellite into GTO. Looking ahead SpaceX has a really busy launch schedule this year with 10+ launches. It will be interesting to see if they can keep the launch tempo up.

http://www.universetoday.com/107802/spacex-starts-2014-with-spectacular-private-rocket-success-delivering-thai-satellite-to-orbit/

 

[unokitty]

Beautiful!

A lot riding on SpaceX launch

The private space transport company's most recent launch signaled its arrival as a competitor in the market for launches of commercial satellites, which the United States mostly has lost to competitors overseas. A successful third flight, this time of a Thai broadcasting satellite, would certify SpaceX's upgraded Falcon 9 rocket as eligible to compete for launches of the Department of Defense's national security missions and NASA's high-value science satellites.

Now, only United Launch Alliance is certified to fly those missions on Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, but the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program is working to introduce competition in hopes of lowering launch costs.

"Competition for EELV launches benefits both the Air Force and the American taxpayer," SpaceX spokeswoman Emily Shanklin said. "SpaceX greatly appreciates the Air Force's ongoing support throughout the certification process and we look forward to providing the U.S. with highly reliable launch services for national security satellites." ...

After four years with no commercial satellite launches from Cape Canaveral, Monday's mission would be the second in a month from SpaceX

Nice to see the Cape getting back into the rocket launching business.

Uno

 

[Brovane]

Beautiful!

A lot riding on SpaceX launch



Nice to see the Cape getting back into the rocket launching business.

Uno

It is nice and nice to see the US getting back into the Commercial Launch business. The current US launchers before Space X came along where fairly over-priced and the main customer was the DOD of the US launchers. What is interesting is that their is some question if the 1st launch of the Falcon 9 v1.1 will be certified as successful since when they tried to re-ignite the 2nd stage it didn't ignite and basically came apart in orbit. This didn't affect the primary payload since it was just a Earth Orbit however if it would have been a GTO mission it would have failed. The DOD still hasn't certified any of the launches as being successful for Space X.

 

[cytg111]

SpaceX for the win.
Did you see the even for Dragon 2.0 ? Much like the grasshopper when landing. Exciting stuff. Interresting times.
(where the hell is NASA, and more to the point, wth is the funding...)

 

[Jaskalas]

SpaceX for the win.
Did you see the even for Dragon 2.0 ? Much like the grasshopper when landing. Exciting stuff. Interresting times.
(where the hell is NASA, and more to the point, wth is the funding...)

No funding for NASA, this country is struggling to afford food, water, and shelter for its people.

 

[cytg111]

No funding for NASA, this country is struggling to afford food, water, and shelter for its people.

Here's an idea, cut back on wars, use spending on space instead, and in no-time you'll be able to fry those pesky talibans from orbit instead of from the ground.. it's a win-win.

 

[manimal]

No funding for NASA, this country is struggling to afford food, water, and shelter for its people.

Small minded thinking


Thankfully previous generations invested in the infrastructure and technology trough thick and thin and world wars. We would still be living on plantations and walking on dirt roads if the likes of you were in charge.

 

[Vanth]

Small minded thinking


Thankfully previous generations invested in the infrastructure and technology trough thick and thin and world wars. We would still be living on plantations and walking on dirt roads if the likes of you were in charge.

I fail to see the problems associated with working on a plantation or walking on a dirt road. I successfully see the problems associated with the status quo: disillusioned masses, hunched in front of their computers, praying for liberation from their Internet addiction, and suffering from vitamin D deficiency.


SpaceX will not be the savior of the ailing American rocket technology and space exploration. And now with the ban of Russian rocket exports to the US, the coffin has surely been sealed all too tightly.

 

[manimal]

I fail to see the problems associated with working on a plantation or walking on a dirt road. I successfully see the problems associated with the status quo: disillusioned masses, hunched in front of their computers, praying for liberation from their Internet addiction, and suffering from vitamin D deficiency.


SpaceX will not be the savior of the ailing American rocket technology and space exploration. And now with the ban of Russian rocket exports to the US, the coffin has surely been sealed all too tightly.

Well it sounds like your fine living in the Stone Age or living in a house someone else pays for. How much progress and innovation has grown from these investments?

What's funny is this status quo only exists in your mind. Thirty years ago science was being funded just fine and the economy grew and profited from that infrastructure spending .


Your using a short term Economic problem to justify going backwards becuse its too hard.

Your fitting a solution to a problem that only exists in your mind.

 

[K1052]

SpaceX will not be the savior of the ailing American rocket technology and space exploration. And now with the ban of Russian rocket exports to the US, the coffin has surely been sealed all too tightly.

Please. All the Russians have to sell is decades old technology the we can (and will) replace. They won't sell us the RD-180 engines...fine...we have the plans and can reproduce it in a few years time if required. Meanwhile we have a stock of the engines to satisfy NRO/military launches on Atlas for the next several years and others can be pushed over to Delta or Falcon launchers.

The Russians have so many launch failures now I'm surprised anyone still wants to trust them with payload.

 

[cytg111]

Well, whatever ... If you aint gonna do it we're gonna do it ourselves

http://copsub.com/

(denmark, 5 million people and also part of esa)

Point being, like it or not, space is here to stay AND if you dont get ahead of this curve, you get left behind.