Space Exploration

Are NASA's future missions and budget justified?

  • It's worth the time and expenditures

    Votes: 225 65.8%

  • Complete waste of money

    Votes: 42 12.3%

  • We need to explore, but not at the current cost

    Votes: 75 21.9%
  • Total voters
    342
#1,031
#1,031
LouderVol said:
The landing aspect has always been the riskiest and most impressive part.
Click to expand...

And cheapest. Folks who reuse the Falcon 9 have a low risk, high reward situation.

I just saw something the other day about how a European company is designing a reusable rocket as well. Musk set the stage for cheaper launches and the industry has to play catch up.
 
#1,032
#1,032
Grand Vol said:
And cheapest. Folks who reuse the Falcon 9 have a low risk, high reward situation.

I just saw something the other day about how a European company is designing a reusable rocket as well. Musk set the stage for cheaper launches and the industry has to play catch up.
Click to expand...

cheapest, once it works.
 
#1,037
#1,037
SpaceCoastVol said:
Landing the rocket uses fuel though. Reduces payload. I wonder what the break even is.
Click to expand...

They aren't always in a position to land them. If memory serves, a few months ago they launched a USAF satellite and the first stage couldn't be recovered because it used all the fuel to get the payload to orbit.
 
#1,038
#1,038
Grand Vol said:
They aren't always in a position to land them. If memory serves, a few months ago they launched a USAF satellite and the first stage couldn't be recovered because it used all the fuel to get the payload to orbit.
Click to expand...
I live about 10 miles from the launch pads. One night I was walking a neighbors' dog and they had a launch. I was watching it go into orbit and a few minutes later saw the retro fire on the descent. It could have been at any altitude, but looked like maybe 10-15,000 feet. It fired for a few seconds, went out and then fired continuously when it got closer to the ground. Lit up the whole sky. Then a good 10 seconds after the lights went out, we got the twin sonic boom from the deceleration that occurred minutes earlier. Pretty cool stuff.

I'm not sure the reuseable rockets are more cost effective. Like I said earlier I would be interested in the break even on it. But as a proof of concept for other world landing it is amazing.
 
#1,039
#1,039
SpaceCoastVol said:
I live about 10 miles from the launch pads. One night I was walking a neighbors' dog and they had a launch. I was watching it go into orbit and a few minutes later saw the retro fire on the descent. It could have been at any altitude, but looked like maybe 10-15,000 feet. It fired for a few seconds, went out and then fired continuously when it got closer to the ground. Lit up the whole sky. Then a good 10 seconds after the lights went out, we got the twin sonic boom from the deceleration that occurred minutes earlier. Pretty cool stuff.

I'm not sure the reuseable rockets are more cost effective. Like I said earlier I would be interested in the break even on it. But as a proof of concept for other world landing it is amazing.
Click to expand...

I think the launch I mentioned was out of Vandenburg.

However, how can there not be significantly less cost with a reusable system? Even Boeing says they are on the clock in terms of price and re-usability.

The Great Rocket Race: Boeing-Lockheed vs. Elon Musk’s SpaceX
 
#1,040
#1,040
Grand Vol said:
I think the launch I mentioned was out of Vandenburg.

However, how can there not be significantly less cost with a reusable system? Even Boeing says they are on the clock in terms of price and re-usability.

The Great Rocket Race: Boeing-Lockheed vs. Elon Musk’s SpaceX
Click to expand...
That's kind of what I am saying. But I would guess that there is a point where an expendable rocket is more cost effective. Rockets have one job to do and that is to propel something into orbit (or beyond). That something has weight and if the weight of that payload has to be reduced in order to carry enough fuel to reuse the booster, then it is not cost effective. Vandenberg launches are polar launches so I have no idea how they would work out there. I would think that their performance would be even more hampered launching north/south. Regardless, it is really cool stuff.
 
#1,041
#1,041
SpaceCoastVol said:
I live about 10 miles from the launch pads. One night I was walking a neighbors' dog and they had a launch. I was watching it go into orbit and a few minutes later saw the retro fire on the descent. It could have been at any altitude, but looked like maybe 10-15,000 feet. It fired for a few seconds, went out and then fired continuously when it got closer to the ground. Lit up the whole sky. Then a good 10 seconds after the lights went out, we got the twin sonic boom from the deceleration that occurred minutes earlier. Pretty cool stuff.

I'm not sure the reuseable rockets are more cost effective. Like I said earlier I would be interested in the break even on it. But as a proof of concept for other world landing it is amazing.
Click to expand...

I think thats why you see the heavy come into play. the thing with the reusable platform saves you a bunch. Even if it takes more fuel, and doesn't carry as much as it could, not having to build a new rocket every mission has got to be worth some more fuel.
 
#1,042
#1,042
LouderVol said:
Did a dry test of the Falcon Heavy

Falcon Heavy: Big SpaceX rocket lights 27 engines - BBC News
Click to expand...

A pic from inside the faring (the cargo area) of the Falcon 9 Heavy.

180124170913-falcon-heavy-tesla-roadster-780x439.jpg


That's a Tesla Roadster. Not a huge car, but still looks pretty tiny compared to the area they can work with.
 
#1,043
#1,043
There's a Falcon 9 launch tomorrow afternoon. Window opens at 4:25 EST for a little over 2 hours. You can watch here. (I believe)
 
#1,045
#1,045
Grand Vol said:
Were you able to catch this one?

Just launched. No landing of the first stage since it was pushing the payload to a geosynchronous orbit.
Click to expand...
I was driving home from the gym and looked at my clock right at 4:25. Pulled over and saw it going in and out of the clouds. Cool beans.

Next Tuesday will be the awesome launch of the heavy. A SpacEx guy at the gym said they are gonna land all three of the boosters. dayum.
 
#1,046
#1,046
SpaceCoastVol said:
I was driving home from the gym and looked at my clock right at 4:25. Pulled over and saw it going in and out of the clouds. Cool beans.

Next Tuesday will be the awesome launch of the heavy. A SpacEx guy at the gym said they are gonna land all three of the boosters. dayum.
Click to expand...

Two on the pads, one on the drone ship if everything goes according to plan.

I'm not sure how automated the landings are and if it requires a second control team for the two boosters.
 
#1,047
#1,047
New images from the most accurate model of the universe.

Remind you of something?
 

Attachments

  • newuniverses.jpg
    newuniverses.jpg
    75.7 KB · Views: 6
  • 1-newuniverses.jpg
    1-newuniverses.jpg
    79.4 KB · Views: 5
New Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

Advertisement



Back
Top