SpaceX sticks the landing!

[videogames101]

And visions of control loops danced in my head

That is fucking cool.

 

[indamixx99]

Amazing accomplishment there!

I know there's like a 40 year difference between the two, but I love how modern and clean their mission control center looks compared to NASA's.

 

[Phoenix86]

I can understand how geosynchronous satellites are cheaper to launch from the equator (closer to final destination)
But the ISS is not in a steady orbit, so I'm not sure.

There's geosynchronous and geostationary. Geosynchronous means 1 rotation every 24 hours, you can have a geosynchronous orbit at inclination, which doesn't necessarily benefit from launching at the equator. Geostationary which is also geosynchronous, has a 0 inclination so it does benefit from an equatorial launch.

The fuel difference isn't really worth the moving the launch site though. Take a look at the list of countries on the equator.

 

[Phoenix86]

BTW...

https://xkcd.com/1356/

If you're at all interested in space and gaming I highly recommend you buy KSP. Also, it's on sale 40% off. Just one warning, this will ruin most movies that involve space.

 

[Brovane]

Amazing accomplishment there!

I know there's like a 40 year difference between the two, but I love how modern and clean their mission control center looks compared to NASA's.

Yeah, just a little bit of difference.

 

[cbrunny]

video of landing from helicopter

That's a freaking awesome shot. It almost looks like a regular launch in reverse. Very cool.

 

[Paratus]

I was just reading about that someplace. (Can't find where.) It takes more fuel to fly back to land; so if they can land on a boat they can launch heavier payloads.

Yup. It's just a matter of the distance from the launchpad to where the staging happens is greater than the distance to the boat when you put the boat right under where the rocket stages.

As a reminder most of the energy in a rocket launch goes to forward velocity not altitude.

 

[Paratus]

Yeah, just a little bit of difference.

Our MCC update is scheduled for next year. Besides the ISS FCR is only 9 years old. The old shuttle control room was already updated.

 

[Jaepheth]

I swear, everytime I see the SpaceX rocket I'm reminded of the Syreen from Star Control

 

[Jeff7]

BTW...

https://xkcd.com/1356/

If you're at all interested in space and gaming I highly recommend you buy KSP. Also, it's on sale 40% off. Just one warning, this will ruin most movies that involve space.

Most of them are ruined right out of the gate by trying to make it "believable" to a wide audience.


"But the ship's engines failed. Why is it still moving? BOOOO!!!!"

"These spaceships aren't flying around like WWII airplanes. It looks too fake!"

...

"Asteroid belts do not concern me, commander. Unless it was formed very recently by a large collision, it is going to be almost entirely empty space and we will be able to pass through it without incident."




.

 

[Thebobo]

Amazing I was appauding and pumping my fist in the air yelling go g ogo!

Did NASA TV cover it?

 

[sportage]

Occurred to me, THIS was the way rockets and sci-fi space travel was portrayed in most sci-fi films.
Rockets and astronauts landing vertically. The same way they lifted off.
And not until now has sci-fi become reality.

Returning astronauts land on sea, or by lunar craft, or by winged aircraft.
Again, not until now has reality caught up to sci-fi.
Impressive.
Is this how man will land on Mars?
And will he be welcomed by voluminous big breasted women?
I love space exploration.

 

[11thHour]

Whatever happened to startup companies originating in garages.

 

[jagec]

BTW...

https://xkcd.com/1356/

If you're at all interested in space and gaming I highly recommend you buy KSP. Also, it's on sale 40% off. Just one warning, this will ruin most movies that involve space.

Orbiter is a more full-fledged sim that's free. With everything that entails, of course--KSP will be more "fun" for most people.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Amazing accomplishment there!

I know there's like a 40 year difference between the two, but I love how modern and clean their mission control center looks compared to NASA's.

Government budget vs. for-profit.

Significant other works in mission control, so yeah, I kinda have some insider knowledge

 

[Paratus]

Government budget vs. for-profit.

Significant other works in mission control, so yeah, I kinda have some insider knowledge

Really?

Then your SO should know this is what the new FCR looks like;

 

[Brovane]

Really?

Then your SO should know this is what the new FCR looks like;

Things have come a long way since the Mercury days.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Really?

Then your SO should know this is what the new FCR looks like;

Yes, well, she kinda works there so... Yes? My point still remains. She also pays 10cents for a cup of shit filter Folgers coffee in MC.

 

[Paratus]

Yes, well, she kinda works there so... Yes? My point still remains. She also pays 10cents for a cup of shit filter Folgers coffee in MC.

Well we wouldn't want to waste tax payer dollars on coffee. But let me tell you that coffee becomes critical to safe operations at 3:30 in the morning.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Well we wouldn't want to waste tax payer dollars on coffee. But let me tell you that coffee becomes critical to safe operations at 3:30 in the morning.

Absolutely correct. It helps appease employees which in turn is indirectly more beneficial than not supplying it.

My company provides us with breakfast such as kolaches or chik-fil-a sandwiches every Friday because in the end it costs less to make employees happy than to have high turnover and have to continue to retrain new employees

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Really?

Then your SO should know this is what the new FCR looks like;

Oh by the way, SO decided to chime in. She says that is the blue FCR with MCC 21. The other photo is FCR 1.

Basically, you aren't posting the FCR of the ISS MCC.

 

[Phoenix86]

Oh by the way, SO decided to chime in. She says that is the blue FCR with MCC 21. The other photo is FCR 1.

Basically, you aren't posting the FCR of the ISS MCC.

Can she get me a space pen?

Jokes aside, that's got to be an awesome job, even for government work.

 

[futurefields]

What's so cutting edge and great about this?

Break it down for a noob one time.

 

[Rumpltzer]

The Jeff Bezos "welcome to the club" tweet was absolutely absurd.

 

[Rumpltzer]

What's so cutting edge and great about this?

Break it down for a noob one time.

Reduced cost. Ignore the Mars stuff if it turns you off, but the idea is that reusable rockets will reduce cost.

It's true that a first stage can be fished out of the ocean, but the salt water does a lot of damage. Being able to land the first stage, refuel, and go again obviously reduces cost.

Yes, that's a lot of hand waving to say that you can just refuel and go again, but it must be obvious enough that reusability reduces cost.

Musk often makes the argument in regards to airliners. We fly in an airplane, refuel, load up, and fly again. What if we were to crash land airplanes into the ocean, fish them out, and hope to reuse them again? Who could afford to fly if that were the case?

http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/03/31/reusability-key-making-human-life-multi-planetary

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/03/29/can-spacex-cut-cost-of-space-travel-75-percent.aspx