IPB

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

35 Pages V  < 1 2 3 4 5 > »   
Reply to this topicStart new topic
Falcon 1, The World's Lowest Cost Rocket to Orbit
Guest_Myran_*
post Mar 8 2006, 09:02 PM
Post #31





Guests






Its not one exact carbon copy, but I cant help thinking its like a rebirth of the Gemini program.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Bob Shaw
post Mar 8 2006, 10:22 PM
Post #32


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2488
Joined: 17-April 05
From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Member No.: 239



QUOTE (Myran @ Mar 8 2006, 09:02 PM) *
Its not one exact carbon copy, but I cant help thinking its like a rebirth of the Gemini program.


In capability, more like 'Big G' perhaps - and nowt wrong with that! Only a few illustrations, and no technical details, have leaked out so far, so it may actually be quite unlike Gemini. The forebody shape is much like the Discoverer re-entry vehicle, so it may come into the atmosphere pointy-end first. The 'Service Module' might not be jettisoned, but could serve as the storage for parachutes or whatever it might take to bring the thing down - remember, these guys are stressing the reuseable aspect above much else.

Bob Shaw


--------------------
Remember: Time Flies like the wind - but Fruit Flies like bananas!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
edstrick
post Mar 9 2006, 09:56 AM
Post #33


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 1870
Joined: 20-February 05
Member No.: 174



A case could be made for a design with a "service module" equivalent compartment inside the re-entry body behind the pressurized crew compartment (which is what I think SpaceX is doing here) ...

AND

with external "ports" that could connect to propellent, fuel-cell supplies, etc. to provide extend-mission capabilities. An "external service" module could be little more than an adaptor with throwaway tanks and almost nothing else. All the high-value reusable stuff and short-duration, low-delta-v mission consumables could be inside the entry-shell
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
crabbsaline
post Mar 16 2006, 02:54 AM
Post #34


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 51
Joined: 16-March 05
From: Clay County, Indiana, USA
Member No.: 199



March 15th update available:

QUOTE
Falcon 1 has been removed from its hangar and erected on the launch pad. All systems are currently go for a static fire on March 17 or 18, followed by a launch between March 20 and 25.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Comga
post Mar 16 2006, 05:30 AM
Post #35


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 87
Joined: 19-June 05
Member No.: 415



QUOTE (crabbsaline @ Mar 15 2006, 07:54 PM) *
March 15th available:



Thanks for the notice. Good pictures.
How did you find out? I did not get an e-mail, and have signed up for their list at least twice.

Hoping for the best....
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
crabbsaline
post Mar 16 2006, 06:14 AM
Post #36


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 51
Joined: 16-March 05
From: Clay County, Indiana, USA
Member No.: 199



I just check the site frequently. I signed up, too, but have never received an email from them. It might be a good idea to send them an email to check their mailing list sender.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Comga
post Mar 18 2006, 06:00 PM
Post #37


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 87
Joined: 19-June 05
Member No.: 415



It is now close to sundown on the 18th on Kwajalein. There was supposed to be a static firing yesterday or today. I can find no news more recent than Musk's 3/15 update. That update implied that they had accumulated enough LOX on the island and said again that the launch would be beteen the 20th and the 25th but....? His brother (http://kwajrockets.blogspot.com/) is off-line since 2/10. I do see on Space News that SpaceX has recruited another industry vet:

http://www.space.com/spacenews/ Sea Launch President Joining SpaceX

PARIS —- Sea Launch LLC President Jim Maser is resigning his post at the end of this month and will become a manager at launcher startup company Space Exploration Technologies, known as SpaceX, according to industry officials.

This looks to me like quite an endorsement. A veteran of an incrimental plan to reduce launch costs jumping ship to a radical plan to lower launch costs. However, it is still not the news I was looking for.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
crabbsaline
post Mar 20 2006, 06:55 AM
Post #38


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 51
Joined: 16-March 05
From: Clay County, Indiana, USA
Member No.: 199



QUOTE (Comga @ Mar 18 2006, 01:00 PM) *
...Jim Maser is resigning his post at the end of this month and will become a manager at launcher startup company Space Exploration Technologies, known as SpaceX...

Another site has him as "...President and Chief Operating Officer": Freshnews.com article
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
edstrick
post Mar 20 2006, 08:33 AM
Post #39


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 1870
Joined: 20-February 05
Member No.: 174



My take on the total lack of news from Kwaj... (no news atoll)... is that they're up to their (anatomical reference deleted) in fiddly stuff and too busy to take a breather and chat at us.

But of course, no news is no news. And that Jim Maser info is most interesting, as is the fact that Kistler's operation has been bought... was it the Rocketplane people, with... was it some French funding... (my brain's going.. I can't remember what I read yesterday)
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
odave
post Mar 20 2006, 02:42 PM
Post #40


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 510
Joined: 17-March 05
From: Southeast Michigan
Member No.: 209



QUOTE (edstrick @ Mar 20 2006, 03:33 AM) *
Kwaj... (no news atoll)...


Groaaaaan. Way too early on a Monday morning for that!

biggrin.gif


--------------------
--O'Dave
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
dvandorn
post Mar 20 2006, 02:47 PM
Post #41


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3419
Joined: 9-February 04
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Member No.: 15



QUOTE (edstrick @ Mar 20 2006, 02:33 AM) *
... (my brain's going.. I can't remember what I read yesterday)

Ah -- you're showing the early signs of a disability known as CRS. I, myself, have suffered from CRS for many years, and unfortunately in my case, it's progressing on to the more serious condition, CRAFT.

There's really no treatment available at present, either.

Oh, BTW -- CRS = Can't Remember S**t. CRAFT = Can't Remember a F***ing Thing.

Isn't it impressive how someone with such a serious condition as mine can actually use such technical, medical terms with such alacrity?

biggrin.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif

-the other... um, hold on, I'll get it...


--------------------
“The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
argv
post Mar 20 2006, 08:49 PM
Post #42


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 6
Joined: 28-February 05
Member No.: 178



from nasawatch.com...

"SpaceX Update
Editor's note: According to SpaceX sources, the test firing countdown and static fire went fine except that they had a ground helium supply disconnect prematurely during engine startup. One of their flight video cameras also stop working. Neither event is seen as being a big issue, but these things will take a few days to correct. SpaceX is still working toward a launch in the next few days."
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
crabbsaline
post Mar 21 2006, 01:00 AM
Post #43


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 51
Joined: 16-March 05
From: Clay County, Indiana, USA
Member No.: 199



Thanks argv,

I've not used nasawatch as a resource before. Some interesting stuff there.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
edstrick
post Mar 21 2006, 08:28 AM
Post #44


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 1870
Joined: 20-February 05
Member No.: 174



Beside NASA Watch, you want to monitor Cowing's companion site, SpaceRef.
http://www.spaceref.com/news/press.html is the link I usually use. From there, also go to the "Mission Status Reports" link near the top of the page.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
crabbsaline
post Mar 21 2006, 11:26 PM
Post #45


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 51
Joined: 16-March 05
From: Clay County, Indiana, USA
Member No.: 199



Thanks Ed,

I found a strangely worded March 21 Space.com article. It mentions "...tests will determine whether the firm shoots for a launch sometime between Monday and March 25. The launch window opens at 4:00 p.m. EST (2100 GMT)...". But later it states, "SpaceX is making its launch service debut with today's Falcon 1 launch." I wonder if the last two sentences were copied from a previous article.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

35 Pages V  < 1 2 3 4 5 > » 
Reply to this topicStart new topic

 



RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 19th March 2024 - 06:19 AM
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT
Images posted on UnmannedSpaceflight.com may be copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission. Read here for further information on space images and copyright.

OPINIONS AND MODERATION
Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators.
SUPPORT THE FORUM
Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member.