Cuban8 Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 **LINK** First flight of SpaceX Falcon Heavy complete with Tesla Roadster. Something like five million pounds of thrust on this one, so should be spectacular. About 1830 our time, they hope to get all three boosters to return and land for re-use at the Cape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Manuel Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 That was well worth watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 yeah brill that - the launch was pretty impressive but the SELF LANDING ROCKET BOOSTERS were simply jaw dropping!! I was waiting for them to drop into the sea on chutes!! Amazing technology! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Alexander Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Very very impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 It remided me of watching the Apollo/Saturn 5 launches live on tv,all those lucky people on site cheering and shouting as the Falcon Heavy left the same launch pad. Is space becoming an adventure again? I hope so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Manuel Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 I guess the Tesla now qualifies as the fastest car ever built ... It will certainly be the highest mileage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan H Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 I also viewed it live and agree with Phil, seeing the two boosters landing simultaneously on adjacent pads was truly amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinBrian Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 What on earth (or off it) is the point of putting a car into orbit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackinBlack Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Posted by FlyinBrian on 07/02/2018 12:32:23: What on earth (or off it) is the point of putting a car into orbit? It's the Tesla scrappage scheme. Haven't seen if they recovered the main rocket on the floating landing pad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Williams Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 No - according to the BBC it was short of fuel, missed the floating pad and smacked into the oggin at 500kph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightflyer Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 The main rocket ended up crashing into the sea as the engines did not start right. Apparently it hit the sea at 500km/h. SO although not 100% successful the test has been successful in most aspects. Great PR for SpaceX and Tesla. I am sure it will be exploited to the full. Seeing the two outer boosters land simultaneously was very impressive and shows how much SpaceX have progressed, and I am sure a number of people at NASA and ESA at least will be worrying about the competition now for launching satellites. Some of the best images has got to be the Roadster in space with an almost Stig like mannequin in the driving seat. Me thinks that David Bowie would also have approved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devcon1 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Been following the Elon Musk story a while. I think we could do with a few more like him in the world who are capable of thinking then doing some amazing things. Putting the car, the dummy and the music into orbit... Brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Manuel Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Posted by FlyinBrian on 07/02/2018 12:32:23: What on earth (or off it) is the point of putting a car into orbit? To prove that a heavy payload can be sent to mars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted February 7, 2018 Author Share Posted February 7, 2018 All very different from the furrowed brows and chain smoking at Cape Canaveral & Houston during the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo days. Launching the car as a dummy load? Why not? It would only have been a mass of concrete or whatever otherwise, and if it's simply a gimmick that gets youngsters into science & tech, it can only be a good thing. I never thought I'd see a manned mission to Mars in my lifetime, but I think it's just possible that SpaceX will go for a manned orbital flight around Mars similar to a vastly more complex Apollo 8 mission, within the next twenty years. Not easy, and there are many issues that would have to be addressed given the distance and planetary orbital mechanics that Apollo 8 didn't have to worry about. I've been following spaceflight since the Gemini days (bit too young at the time for the earlier stuff) but it still gives me thrill to see 'em lift off. Edited By Cuban8 on 07/02/2018 13:23:30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devcon1 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 To name the Falcon rockets after a well known Stars Wars icon, icing on the cake.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary52 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Love the tribute to Douglas Adams on the dashboard. Doesn't look as if the driver is panicking. Must know where his towel is. Edited By Gary52 on 07/02/2018 13:49:23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-JIMG Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 You should ALWAYS know where your towel is!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-JIMG Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Just a thought........... With his phenomenal wealth, fast cars, flame thrower exports and access to rockets, Elon Musk is just a White Furry Cat away from qualifying as a Bond villain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaL Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Be afraid.....be very afraid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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