Spacex's Falcon Heavy - Launch successful! -

[umbrella39]

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."

Man, that's one f-ing sexy plume...

 

[cbrunny]

Stupid question.... but how do they make it not launch if all engines are firing? Just keep it strapped in? How serious is the strapping on that thing?

 

[IronWing]

Stupid question.... but how do they make it not launch if all engines are firing? Just keep it strapped in? How serious is the strapping on that thing?

Serious threads are serious.

 

[tynopik]

Stupid question.... but how do they make it not launch if all engines are firing? Just keep it strapped in? How serious is the strapping on that thing?

it's own fuel provides most of the force holding it down

with a full load it has barely enough thrust to get off the pad at all

that's also why they can't run the static test for too long, as it burns fuel it becomes lighter and thus harder to hold down

 

[Paratus]

Stupid question.... but how do they make it not launch if all engines are firing? Just keep it strapped in? How serious is the strapping on that thing?

In addition to its own weight most launch vehicles use frangible nuts to literally bolt them to the pad.

Here’s an example of one of the nuts used on the space shuttle:

Pyrotechnic charges blow them in half at launch.

 

[IronWing]

Great, now I have to find ways to slip the term frangible nuts into my conversations.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

In addition to its own weight most launch vehicles use frangible nuts to literally bolt them to the pad.

Here’s an example of one of the nuts used on the space shuttle:

Pyrotechnic charges blow them in half at launch.

This is why I love rocketry. Those crazies find ways to make everything a controlled explosion; even stuff designed to hold things together explode intentionally.

 

[Thebobo]

No time given but;

Elon Musk‏Verified account @elonmusk
Aiming for first flight of Falcon Heavy on Feb 6 from Apollo launch pad 39A at Cape Kennedy. Easy viewing from the public causeway.

 

[Darwin333]

According to this the launch is at 1:30PM.

 

[Red Squirrel]

In addition to its own weight most launch vehicles use frangible nuts to literally bolt them to the pad.

Here’s an example of one of the nuts used on the space shuttle:

Pyrotechnic charges blow them in half at launch.

Those nuts are so big they have their own nuts.

 

[Thebobo]

mp

 

[Thebobo]

duh

 

[Thebobo]

Starman added.

 

[PottedMeat]

 

[DietDrThunder]

In addition to its own weight most launch vehicles use frangible nuts to literally bolt them to the pad.

Here’s an example of one of the nuts used on the space shuttle:

Pyrotechnic charges blow them in half at launch.

Do those frangible nuts go on self sealing stem bolts?

 

[tynopik]

 

[DietDrThunder]

If I die before they launch, I want my body in that suit and blasted to Mars in that Tesla.

 

[Ns1]

jfc is that really what they're trying to do? 3 rocket landings?

 

[Darwin333]

jfc is that really what they're trying to do? 3 rocket landings?

Yup, two back at the pad and one on a barge.

 

[K1052]

Hope they launch in the first half of their window so I can watch it before I get on my plane.

 

[IronWing]

Martians are going to be so confused.

 

[local]

Martians are going to be so confused.

Yeah but this is a much better representation of what to expect once we get cheap access to space so it is better for them in the long run.

 

[K1052]

Yeah but this is a much better representation of what to expect once we get cheap access to space so it is better for them in the long run.

Oh does the suit vape too?

 

[local]

Oh does the suit vape too?

I sure hope so. At least put some cigars in the pockets and some cheap booze in the console.

 

[deadlyapp]

I lolled