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  1. Greatoldone Mar 30, 2017

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    Theres a big deal going on down at the Cape today, as Spacex will be launching a communication satellite using a previously flown Falcon 9 booster.

    https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/29/spacex-ready-to-put-rocket-reuse-vision-to-the-test/

    I've got everything crossed for this. This is how rockets are supposed to fly. 40 plus years of watching SciFi films has taught me (and clearly the clever engineers at Hawthorne) this to be true. :D

    Here's the video of the first stage they're using today landing at sea on a barge last year after hoisting another comsat.



    And here's a first stage view of a landing.



    :cool:
     
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  2. Greatoldone Mar 30, 2017

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  3. Uniqez Mar 30, 2017

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    Nice!
     
  4. Greatoldone Mar 30, 2017

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    Those crazy magnificent bastards did it again! Wooooohooo! :thumbsup::eek::D
     
  5. alohatime Mar 30, 2017

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    I find it hilarious that Elon Musk named the drone ship "of course I still love you" . Therefore, the guy kept having to repeat the name in the broadcast. :thumbsup:

    Looks like we may go around the moon in 2019 after all !
     
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  6. Greatoldone Mar 31, 2017

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    Being a space nut, I'm sure you'll know why it's called that (and why the other one is called "Just read the instructions") - but for those of you who don't know - they're named after AI controlled starships in Iain M Banks novels:

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spacecraft_in_the_Culture_series#General_Systems_Vehicle
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_spaceport_drone_ship

    :cool:
     
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  7. Greatoldone Apr 1, 2017

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  8. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Apr 2, 2017

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    2018 = 50 years Apollo 8, a mission which orbited the Moon ten times... a commercial space mission is planned with a crew of two and although no names were given, I speculate Elon Musk and Richard Branson could be the crewmembers, as there would be better commercial for their business ;)
    Must see video:
     
  9. Greatoldone Apr 2, 2017

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    Elon's business (Spacex) and Branson's (Virgin Galactic) are seperate entities, and have wildly different goals... So I doubt it'll be the two of them. And as far as I've read, the two in question are paying passengers. I'm guessing as the boss, Elon wouldn't have to pay... :cool:
     
  10. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Apr 2, 2017

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    Correct, but if most of us owned a private space company, wouldn't You like to go Yourself :thumbsdown:
     
  11. TJH Apr 2, 2017

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    Wow! That's a very cool video, and you really get a sense of excitement for the moment from the astronauts...
     
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  12. blubarb Apr 2, 2017

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  13. jaguar11 Apr 2, 2017

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    Very cool stuff!!!!
     
  14. Greatoldone Apr 4, 2017

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  15. citizenrich Metal Mixer! Apr 5, 2017

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    in the 1960's everyone thought the year 2001 was gonna be like kubrick's 2001 Space Odyssey.

    it's now 2017. no moonbases, just BLM and transitionals ... / feelsbadman
     
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  16. Greatoldone Apr 5, 2017

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    Erm... ok? :confused:
     
  17. pix98 Apr 5, 2017

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  18. pix98 Apr 5, 2017

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    oldies but ...
     
    21060628864_72d88da8d8_z.jpg
  19. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Apr 6, 2017

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  20. pix98 Apr 6, 2017

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    what a gold mine!
     
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