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SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch

  1. gdupree Feb 6, 2018

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    Anybody else excited for the SpaceX Falcon Heavy test launch today?

    For those unfamiliar, Falcon Heavy is the most powerful operational rocket in the world, and is capable of carrying the second most payload into orbit, second only to the legendary Saturn V. It's first stage rockets give it 5.1 million lbf of thrust, which falls a little short of Saturn V's 7.89 million lbf. But, given that Falcon Heavy only weighs 3.1 million pounds, to Saturn V's 6.5 million, I think it's safe to say that this thing has some 'get up and go' to it. Still, it's biggest achievement is probably that it will boast a cost-per-launch of only about 7% of Saturn V's cost-per-launch, $90 million versus $1.2 billion (adjusted for inflation).

    Really though, it's just exciting to me that this is a rocket powerful enough to send people & payload into an orbit of the same distance as Mars. Of course this is privately owned, so it is available to any country, which is all-the-better as it will surely be a global effort when we eventually make it to Mars, rather than the "space race" of old... and the payload for this test flight to a Mars-like orbit? Elon Musk's personal red Tesla roadster. Musk should toss a Speedmaster in the glove box, just for old time's sake...

    The launch, which hopefully goes smoothly, can be watched live at http://www.spacex.com/. I believe the target launch is 1:30pm EST. Here's to hoping its a successful one.
     
    Edited Feb 6, 2018
  2. MikeMan2727 Feb 6, 2018

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    Very cool, I will tune in! Should've worn the Speedmaster today had I know!
     
  3. eugeneandresson 'I used a hammer, a chisel, and my fingers' Feb 6, 2018

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    yup :)
     
  4. rcs914 Feb 6, 2018

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    I've had it on my Outlook calendar to tune in today.
     
  5. sevenhelmet Feb 6, 2018

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    Yes, you should have! It's Tuesday, after all. :)

    IMG_3757.jpg
     
    duc, MikeMan2727 and gdupree like this.
  6. BlackTalon This Space for Rent Feb 6, 2018

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    Any idea when the Lego version will be available? :D
     
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  7. gdupree Feb 6, 2018

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    He has you there @MikeMan2727! But I’m right there with you. My Zodiac GMT just came in, so I had to take it on a spin!
     
    Edited Mar 21, 2018
    George.A, Spruce, duc and 1 other person like this.
  8. scv55 Feb 6, 2018

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    I should be in the air for it, hope we don't get a scrub. Ill try to take some pictures.
     
    gdupree likes this.
  9. eugeneandresson 'I used a hammer, a chisel, and my fingers' Feb 6, 2018

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    Well muck fee if that launch/landing didn’t go as smoothly as a porno shot in a KY wrestling pit...unbelievable...well done Elon Musk and Space-X...
     
    Edited Feb 6, 2018
    Paedipod, duc and neilfrancis like this.
  10. Riviera Paradise Feb 6, 2018

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    That was bloody brilliant...loved the Spaceman / Tesla / Don't Panic screen with Bowie Life on Mars in the background...and incredible seeing boosters land simultaneously...looked like something from Thunderbirds!

     
    Kmart, Starman71, Longbow and 3 others like this.
  11. gdupree Feb 6, 2018

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    Incredible! So exciting.

    Has there been an issue with the return of the center engine to the seaborne landing pad?
     
  12. SteveZ28 Feb 6, 2018

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    Unbelievable launch. Wonder how much that Tesla will be worth after its billion year Orbit? $$$
     
  13. Riviera Paradise Feb 6, 2018

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    Looks like they lost the center core...check-out 38:29


    Still an amazing achievement overall for a test flight.
     
  14. eugeneandresson 'I used a hammer, a chisel, and my fingers' Feb 6, 2018

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    85C97F95-235D-4DE0-A2DF-3216EFB9BFF6.png

    Edit : yup, if space-x would hire me I would definitely buy this tesla...

    Edit edit :
     
    Edited Feb 6, 2018
  15. R3D9 Feb 6, 2018

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    That landing of the two side boosters simultaneously was maybe the most goddam impressive thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

    Awesome.
     
    citizenrich, GordonL, Kmart and 9 others like this.
  16. amanson Feb 6, 2018

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    Agreed. Incredible.
     
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  17. sdre Feb 6, 2018

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    Got a video of it? Just woke up and heading to work now
     
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  18. duc Feb 6, 2018

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    :) My son, wearing my Speedy, sent me the link. It was awesome to watch it from the quite of my closed door office (company policy is to maintain an open door, but I broke the rules for this event).
     
    R3D9 likes this.
  19. SteveZ28 Feb 6, 2018

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    R3D9 likes this.
  20. Riviera Paradise Feb 6, 2018

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    Live press conference now