Topic: [Discuss] SpaceX Falcon Heavy maiden launch
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-02-2018 04:16 PM
quote:Originally posted by mode1charlie: What's the launch window?
Per Spaceflight Now:
SpaceX plans a three-hour window each day to launch the Falcon Heavy, opening at 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-03-2018 11:05 AM
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued SpaceX a launch license for "a flight of the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) transporting the modified Tesla Roadster (mass simulator) to a hyperbolic orbit."
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-04-2018 10:57 PM
From Elon Musk on Twitter:
Falcon Heavy remains go for launch at 1:30pm [EST] on Tuesday.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-05-2018 05:52 AM
From Elon Musk on Instagram:
Starman in Red Roadster
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4658 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-05-2018 05:57 AM
Major Tom needs cameras installed to beam back his journey.
holcombeyates Member
Posts: 268 From: UK Registered: Dec 2010
posted 02-05-2018 11:12 AM
Any suggestions on how to watch the launch online for free?
Any ideas on orbital path, be great to see it ascending over U.K. skies...
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-05-2018 11:20 AM
SpaceX will be webcasting the launch, beginning at about T-20 minutes, here.
SpaceX has yet to release any trajectory details, though a fact sheet is expected to be posted later today at the link above.
quote:Originally posted by SpaceAholic: Major Tom needs cameras installed to beam back his journey.
If you look at photos, there appears to be camera mounts in front of the car and to the left and front of the "driver."
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-05-2018 12:49 PM
SpaceX video
Falcon Heavy sends a car to Mars.
damnyankee36 Member
Posts: 42 From: Alamogordo, NM USA Registered: Aug 2017
posted 02-05-2018 01:53 PM
.
skyguard23 Member
Posts: 34 From: Central Switzerland Registered: Dec 2016
posted 02-05-2018 02:00 PM
I always liked SpaceX's simulation videos. But this really tops everything, it's startlingly touching.
It'll be glorious tomorrow, assuming everything goes well.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-05-2018 02:57 PM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: SpaceX has yet to release any trajectory details...
In an interview just now with Ars Technica, Musk said:
We are doing a six-hour coast to demonstrate to the Air Force the capability to do direct-to-GEO missions. Risk is that the Roadster ends up in LEO [low Earth orbit].
If the third burn goes as we hope, the Tesla will get as far away as 380 to 450 million km from Earth.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 929 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 02-05-2018 07:20 PM
I'm glad to see that it appears that the mannequin is wearing not just his/her seatbelt, but a racing harness of some sort.
328KF Member
Posts: 1285 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 02-05-2018 07:49 PM
The sight of two stages returning to land at once should be quite spectacular. A double sonic boom off of each one? So will there be four booms or will they be close enough together to overlap each other?
oly Member
Posts: 1104 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 02-06-2018 01:44 AM
quote:Originally posted by holcombeyates: Any ideas on orbital path...
The Commercial Space Transportation License issued by the FAA reads that the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch will be "on a nominal launch azimuth of 90 degrees."
Aeropix Member
Posts: 54 From: Houston Registered: Apr 2010
posted 02-06-2018 01:54 AM
Judging from Mr. Musk's previous inspirations from movies such as "Spaceballs," the look of the "Roadster and Astronaut" as configured in the above photos have an uncanny resemblance to the "Corvette Soft Landing" opening montage from 1981's "Heavy Metal."
jimsz Member
Posts: 626 From: Registered: Aug 2006
posted 02-06-2018 07:07 AM
While the overall mission is fascinating launching a car is a ridiculous stunt.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-06-2018 07:49 AM
If SpaceX successfully launches later today (Feb. 6), it will coincide with the anniversary of Alan Shepard hitting a golf ball off the moon — which, if you think about it, is rather apropos given the same spirit behind the payload aboard the Falcon Heavy.
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 1618 From: Gardner, KS Registered: Feb 2003
posted 02-06-2018 08:58 AM
quote:Originally posted by jimsz: While the overall mission is fascinating launching a car is a ridiculous stunt.
You forgot to insert the word "publicity" in there somewhere.
While I am excited about the launch and hope it all goes well, we could have done without the car.
Philip Member
Posts: 6068 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 02-06-2018 10:08 AM
Looking for an online source comparison table on the payload capacity of heavy launch vehicle to the Moon or TLI.
50 ton = Long March 9
48 ton = Saturn V
27 ton = Falcon Heavy
23 ton = N1
20 ton = Energia KRK STK
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-06-2018 10:50 AM
From SpaceX on Twitter:
T-0 delayed to 2:20 p.m. EST, 19:20 UTC due to upper level wind shear. Continuing to monitor winds and will update as info becomes available.
Update: Now 3:15 p.m. EST (2015 GMT). According to Elon Musk on Twitter:
Upper atmosphere winds currently 20% above max allowable load.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 929 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 02-06-2018 12:13 PM
quote:Originally posted by MrSpace86: ...we could have done without the car.
I think the car payload is GREAT!!! As mentioned, it's an homage to the Corvette portion of the Heavy Metal movie, and it's a publicity stunt for another of Musk's companies, Tesla. Finally, it's just FUN.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-06-2018 12:17 PM
Countdown clocks have been paused as SpaceX works out a new "final" T-0 for today's launch attempt.
spaced out Member
Posts: 3128 From: Paris, France Registered: Aug 2003
posted 02-06-2018 12:36 PM
The car payload with the dummy sitting in the driver's seat and camera trained on it is ridiculous and puerile... and I love it.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-06-2018 12:43 PM
Clocks are ticking again, now to a 3:45 p.m. EST (2045 GMT) T-0. SpaceX will poll to proceed with fueling at 2 p.m. EST.
From Elon Musk on Twitter:
Launch auto-sequence initiated (aka the holy mouse-click) for 3:45 liftoff.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-06-2018 01:48 PM
From SpaceX on Twitter (at 2:45 p.m. EST):
T-60 minutes until Falcon Heavy’s first test flight. Launch webcast will go live about 20 minutes before liftoff.
MarylandSpace Member
Posts: 1371 From: Registered: Aug 2002
posted 02-06-2018 03:01 PM
Just an incredible launch. What a team. What video coverage. How 'bout them boosters landing simultaneously. Awesome scientists and awesome mathematicians. And the worker bees back at the plant were so excited and justly so.
Congratulations Elon Musk and SpaceX.
nasamad Member
Posts: 2159 From: Essex, UK Registered: Jul 2001
posted 02-06-2018 03:03 PM
What an amazing sight! Incredible to see such a large vehicle take off and those two side boosters landing was like something from a science fiction film.
Kudos to all at SpaceX, their subcontractors and KSC.
tedc Member
Posts: 143 From: Renton, WA USA Registered: Mar 2002
posted 02-06-2018 03:03 PM
Very, very impressive. What a treat with the video feeds provided to us.
trajan Member
Posts: 111 From: Chester, Cheshire, UK Registered: May 2004
posted 02-06-2018 03:04 PM
Awesome launch. SpaceX are doing an incredible job, and the sight of two boosters landing simultaneously at Canaveral was the stuff of sci-fi. Incredible, and every plaudit to Elon and team!
BA002 Member
Posts: 192 From: Utrecht,NL Registered: Feb 2007
posted 02-06-2018 03:05 PM
Stupendous. Incredible. Unbelievable. And to be able to see live coverage from the boosters, core and second stage all at the same time, it’s just mind boggling. The picture of the Tesla floating in space will go down in history. Congratulations on this well deserved success!!!
butch wilks Member
Posts: 336 From: Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK Registered: Mar 2007
posted 02-06-2018 03:15 PM
Love the reference to "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" — "Don't Panic" on the dash tv. I hope Starman has his towel with him.
Congratulations on a well planned mission.
Paul78zephyr Member
Posts: 692 From: Hudson, MA Registered: Jul 2005
posted 02-06-2018 03:17 PM
Congratulations to Musk/SpaceX. Real 21st century stuff!
Constellation One Member
Posts: 119 From: Lorain, Ohio, USA Registered: Aug 2008
posted 02-06-2018 03:18 PM
Amazing that SpaceX can launch a car to Mars but still chooses not to find a solution to maintain video feed from a boat a couple hundred miles away! I guess it isn't a high priority!
Congratulation to SpaceX and thanks for the continuing inspiration.
spaced out Member
Posts: 3128 From: Paris, France Registered: Aug 2003
posted 02-06-2018 03:24 PM
Stunning. Difficult to imagine a single booster stage landing vertically a few years ago, and it still looks surreal today, but two landing simultaneously? A technical tour de force.
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 1618 From: Gardner, KS Registered: Feb 2003
posted 02-06-2018 03:28 PM
Alright alright. I am the first to rain on my own parade... yeah, it was a cool and fun launch. I appreciated that the car shots were not overdone.
Hats off to them. It's interesting the power shift that we just all witnessed; the most powerful rocket in the world belongs to a private company.
Larry McGlynn Member
Posts: 1301 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003
posted 02-06-2018 03:29 PM
How cool was that!
damnyankee36 Member
Posts: 42 From: Alamogordo, NM USA Registered: Aug 2017
posted 02-06-2018 03:37 PM
My palms have never sweat so much since STS-1! Any word on the center booster landing?
holcombeyates Member
Posts: 268 From: UK Registered: Dec 2010
posted 02-06-2018 03:38 PM
What a great achievement.
The best part... sharing in the excitement of a countdown with my young kids who could watch all the elements of the launch as it happened. Well done SpaceX.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44782 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-06-2018 04:04 PM
Live video of Elon Musk's Telsa Roadster in space:
328KF Member
Posts: 1285 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 02-06-2018 04:14 PM
quote:Originally posted by 328KF: So will there be four booms or will they be close enough together to overlap each other?
Via Marcia Smith on Twitter:
The sonic booms were out of this world. Three booms each — a total of six in rapid succession. Great to experience as a visitor but if I had a house nearby I’d worry about broken windows.
posted 02-02-2018 04:16 PM
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