Spacex's Falcon Heavy - Launch successful! -

[Thebobo]

Anyway in the meantime here is a photo earlier in the month of the Falcon Heavy upright with some vehicles and people around it to show for scale. I think they should leave the van there.

 

[Darwin333]

That is one big ass rocket ship. I wish her safe passage through the heavens, may the winds be at her back.

 

[umbrella39]

Back on for tomorrow, or so they say

Currently, the fire is set to fly from beneath Falcon Heavy on Tuesday, sometime after 1 p.m. PT. SpaceX will not be livestreaming the test firing, but it'll possible to watch via Spaceflight Now's subscription webcam.

I might sign up for the month for the $5.99. Has anyone here tried this service?

 

[Thebobo]

Test pushed back till friday, -
Infographic of falcon Heavy Flight.

 

[Thebobo]

And we wait no sooner than monday... In the meantime New Zealand's private rocket company Rocket Lab Electron rocket successfully reached orbit and deployed its customers payload for the first time. Great place to fire of a rocket and enjoy the scenery. Good shots of the booster and fairing falling to earth.

Fast forward to 13:30ish to get to actual launch.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wait are they just sending off the Tesla right from within an earth orbit? Isin't that going to create some really awkward large and unstable orbit? Or does the Tesla have some thrusters on it to do an orbit insertion burn once it gets within the sphere of influence of Mars? If yes, is that a sports package you can get at the dealership?

 

[TXHokie]

Dang it....no test fire now because of the govt shutdown. Can't seem to catch a break.

 

[PottedMeat]

Can't seem to catch a break.

oh this is definitely a break, 2+ weeks of people watching constantly waiting for stuff to happen. now they can say "NOT OUR FAULT" lol

 

[Darwin333]

And we wait no sooner than monday... In the meantime New Zealand's private rocket company Rocket Lab Electron rocket successfully reached orbit and deployed its customers payload for the first time. Great place to fire of a rocket and enjoy the scenery. Good shots of the booster and fairing falling to earth.

Fast forward to 13:30ish to get to actual launch.

Is it just me or do they seem to have much less of a "tower" and support structures?

 

[cbrunny]

so the gov shutdown has pushed the static fire or the actual launch? I guess both.. right? and the static launch is just firing of engines without actually moving anywhere?

 

[Thebobo]

Is it just me or do they seem to have much less of a "tower" and support structures?

The Electron is a lot smaller than the Falcon 9. But there are plenty of business opportunities for smaller satellites launched to LEO where the Electron should be a lot cheaper. RocketLab Is a tiny outfit compared to SpaceX and ULA. And there are no big gov contracts to help. Pretty cool that smaller companies are wetting their feet in space launches. Interesting that they use 9 engines like spaceX although a lot smaller.

 

[Thebobo]

so the gov shutdown has pushed the static fire or the actual launch? I guess both.. right? and the static launch is just firing of engines without actually moving anywhere?

Explains it pretty good.

SpaceX Says Gov't Shutdown Will Impact Falcon Heavy, ISS Resupply Missions and Others
http://www.americaspace.com/2018/01...alcon-heavy-iss-resupply-missions-and-others/

 

[Thebobo]

Update today! maybe....

 

[Thebobo]

Test Fire finally! I missed it live oh well, was stuck at work not sure if it was live but there is this but no audio - yet

 

[K1052]

Didn't explode sitting on the pad. A good first step.

 

[IronWing]

That's one pissed off heron.

 

[Humpy]

Good job, but the people want explosions.

I think Elon understands this though and will properly build the drama with some solid accomplishment, then a massive failure, then a spectacular success that we can all feel good about and cheer. Kinda like Rocky III but with rockets.

 

[Ns1]

that's a whole lotta smoke.

 

[Thebobo]

Says a week or so for launch, well see.

"Elon Musk‏Verified account @elonmusk 5h5 hours ago
Falcon Heavy hold-down firing this morning was good. Generated quite a thunderhead of steam. Launching in a week or so."

 

[Darwin333]

I can't wait to see this thing fly! Exploding in an insanely massive fireball would suck in a very very cool way.

 

[PottedMeat]

Official SpaceX Falcon Heavy Static Fire video:

 

[Darwin333]

Official SpaceX Falcon Heavy Static Fire video:

Just listen to that thing, I have a chub thinking about the actual launch.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Good job, but the people want explosions.

I think Elon understands this though and will properly build the drama with some solid accomplishment, then a massive failure, then a spectacular success that we can all feel good about and cheer. Kinda like Rocky III but with rockets.

Maybe arrange for one of the landings to fail, there's 3 of them, may as well have one go boom.

 

[Thebobo]

Official SpaceX Falcon Heavy Static Fire video:

Ahh the money shot, cool. That was short hopefully all was well,

 

[Humpy]

Putting your car on a rocket to Mars instead of something lame like feeding skinny children is admirable.

If you are going to be rich, at least be entertaining. Don't be an old fucktard who lives in a crappy ranch house in Nebraska and ramble on about making reasonable decisions.