SpaceX Success

[ronaldrwl]

A very impressive achievement for SpaceX (I know it didn't blow up). The main booster returns and lands just like in the 1950's sci-fi movies.

http://www.spacex.com/webcast/?platform=hootsuite

[ronaldrwl]

A better article with a video
http://www.universetoday.com/124027/spacex-gallery/

[Irving]

Thanks for posting, forgot this was happening today.

[HoneyBadger]

People are excited because this brings the possibility of re-usable rocket bodies, which would greatly lower costs, but that's really not a new thing, nor is it that big of a deal. The REAL significance of this is the ability to land in "launch orientation" - which enables significantly cheaper and safer missions to other bodies like the moon, but especially to Mars.


ETA: Here's another good source of info on awesome space stuff: http://spacenews.com/falcon-9-launches-orbcomm-satellites-first-stage-lands/

[Irving]

Think of all the money we could save if we'd have been using reusable rockets in Syria!

[Aloha_Shooter]

What I found more significant than the actual landing was the whooping and hollering when they realized they'd done it. That was the kind of energy and enthusiasm NASA used to generate, that pushed the our space program from initial launch failures through Mercury and Gemini to the successes of the Apollo program. America needs the optimism and enthusiasm we had 50 years ago instead of the down-trodden take-care-of-me sorry ass anti-Americanism so rampant today.

We need kids in college who study meaningful subjects with an intent to learn and do great things, not spoiled "foodies" who expect to spend 12 hours a week in class and light reading on a "soft" degree and then get six figure offers with free stuff just thrust at them.

My congratulations to Musk and his team of engineers but I hope this is only the beginning.

[theGinsue]

I supported that launch last night, worked 14 hours yesterday; ugh. It was cool being a part of such a historic event. You should have heard all of the cheering. Not only was the landing of the rocket amazing, it was equally exciting watching the successful launch of 11 separate satellites from the payload vehicle.

Elon Musk & SpaceX really needed this entire launch to be successful or the financial setbacks could have been devastating.

SpaceX gives all members of their launch support teams a patch for that launch (ALL launches have patches, not just SpaceX). I've got a few patches from supporting various SpaceX launches but this one is going to be special.

[KestrelBike]

What I found more significant than the actual landing was the whooping and hollering when they realized they'd done it. That was the kind of energy and enthusiasm NASA used to generate, that pushed the our space program from initial launch failures through Mercury and Gemini to the successes of the Apollo program. America needs the optimism and enthusiasm we had 50 years ago instead of the down-trodden take-care-of-me sorry ass anti-Americanism so rampant today.

We need kids in college who study meaningful subjects with an intent to learn and do great things, not spoiled "foodies" who expect to spend 12 hours a week in class and light reading on a "soft" degree and then get six figure offers with free stuff just thrust at them.

My congratulations to Musk and his team of engineers but I hope this is only the beginning.

I had goosebumps watching the Mars Curiosity landing. That was just incredible and awe-inspiring.

[HoneyBadger]

More success! Congrats SpaceX on finally sticking the barge landing!!

http://www.spacex.com/webcast

Click (or copy and paste) for just the landing:
https://youtu.be/7pUAydjne5M?t=2071

[Gman]

Was just reading about that. Love the name of the "Of Course I Still Love You droneship".

[flogger]

Awesome example of a serious 'rogue' spacecraft competitor to NASA and the usual boys. Great job, this is SF stuff!

[theGinsue]

And, again, I supported this CRS-8 Space-X launch today. While the launch team was impressed and very thrilled that the booster successfully landed on the barge (huge unprecedented achievement), we were more excited by the fact that this rocket actually launched today. Space-X is so notorious for constantly slipping their launch dates that we call them Slip-X. Had todays launch slipped I would have been working tomorrow which was not in my personal plans.

I have a former coworker who sits 2 seats away from Elon Musk during Space-X launches. I should give him a call & congratulate him/them on these achievements (barge landing & not slipping).

[HoneyBadger]

I didn't have anything to do with the launch, but I get to play a very small role in the delivery to the ISS. Space is some really cool stuff. :D



I have a former coworker who sits 2 seats away from Elon Musk during Space-X launches. I should give him a call & congratulate him/them on these achievements (barge landing & not slipping).
I always picture Elon Musk sitting in front of several monitors showing live video feeds and tech data while carefully planning his next twitter post.