SpaceX launch - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: IO390
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2015, 08:25:07 pm
content: I must get into the habit of posting these with more notice...SpaceX on Livestream.9 mins to go currently, then it will be attempting to land 9 mins after launch.

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2015, 08:34:27 pm
content: They just scrubbed for weather.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2015, 08:58:27 pm
content: well that explains why the livestream window still says "Please wait for the broadcast to begin".

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2015, 08:58:52 pm
content: Quote from: RickieSalad on April 13, 2015, 08:34:27 pmThat's good, because I totally forgot to watch

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2015, 09:04:50 pm
content: Quote from: RickieSalad on April 13, 2015, 08:34:27 pmTo be fair, the weather turned real bad by the time of planned launch. It was quite fine at the time they've stopped the countdown. The weather can change drastically in 3 minutes.

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 12:21:28 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on April 13, 2015, 08:58:52 pmPlanned for today 21:10 your local time.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 12:37:05 pm
content: Quote from: mrflibble on April 14, 2015, 12:21:28 pm22:10?

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 12:47:47 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on April 14, 2015, 12:37:05 pmUhm, yeah, 22:10. Just checking to see if you were paying attention of course.*cough*

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 08:29:39 pm
content: Launch went off without a hitch, no word on the booster landing attempt yet. Disappointing that they didn't stream from the landing platform.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 08:43:05 pm
content: Elon Musk ?@elonmusk · 12m12 minutes agoAscent successful. Dragon enroute to Space Station. Rocket landed on droneship, but too hard for survival.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 08:44:36 pm
content: Let's wait for the video of "hard" landing.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 10:12:33 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on April 14, 2015, 08:43:05 pmGiven some of his previous tweets, that could mean anything from 'bent a landing leg' to 'sunk the landing ship'. . .That said,Quote from: Elon Musk

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 10:15:51 pm
content: They need some sort of a catcher. Otherwise it will tip over all the time. It is like balancing a pen on the tip of a finger.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 10:22:32 pm
content: Also, I wonder how hard it is to steer the platform itself? They are probably doing something to keep it stable already.

author: HP-ILnerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2015, 03:49:59 am
content: Video of the landing:https://vine.co/v/euEpIVegiIxElon says on Twitter: "Looks like the issue was stiction in the biprop throttle valve, resulting in control system phase lag. Should be easy to fix."Quote from: ataradov on April 14, 2015, 10:15:51 pmIt's landing legs are plenty good to hold it vertical as long as it lands straight. Same as the Grasshopper test vehicle.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2015, 04:15:03 am
content: I really appreciate how open they are with information like this. Not that "we'll investigate and give a full report in 6 months" BS.

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2015, 05:52:15 am
content: Gah, why is that video cut off just at the point of touchdown? Seems to be contrary to the earlier claim that they are super-open. But hopefully a better video will be released soon.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2015, 05:53:40 am
content: 6 second vine limit? I'm pretty sure they will release a full video later. For you it is fun to watch, they've just launched a rocket, they have things to do

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 12:44:43 am
content: And here is a full video

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 12:51:55 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on April 16, 2015, 12:44:43 amThanks, that looks so neat coming in, sad ending.

author: HP-ILnerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 01:22:53 am
content: Wow, they are so close to landing this thing!I would not be inclined to argue against Elon's assessment about stiction in the valve controls. The reactionsdolook laggy.If that's the case, and it's easy to fix as he says, they may well get it down next time.Interesting how the landing gear goes from partially deployed to fully down so late in the sequence.Fun to see that RCS thruster struggling to keep it vertical right at the end!Considering how back in the 80's NASA did their flat-level best to make space travel seem like "business as usual" i.e,boring, it's niceto see it becoming exciting again.Perhaps really slick marketing too. By being so transparent, we can emotionally share in the setbacks, and thus emotionally share in the victories.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 01:29:18 am
content: It's just a cool thing

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 01:55:42 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on April 15, 2015, 04:15:03 amWhile I like open-ness too, at this point they are guessing. Might be a really good guess, but a guess none the less. Would hate to see some valve company go down the tubes and then find next month that after more looking at the data the problem was really ... Much of the country is conditioned to surety in these answers, particularly the finance business, range safety officers, etc. It may take several iterations through Space-X's approach before the rest of the world can respond appropriately.I have been through a lot of flight failure investigations. While the first guess based on telemetry is often right, in my experience it would barely get a gentleman's C in university. Even when it is generally right, it often is not the whole story.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 02:02:09 am
content: My comment was more about visual aspect of it. I really don't care about types of valves they have used, since I don't have enough information about the design of the rocket and how valve malfunction might affect it. I'm pretty sure majority of people will be in the same position. Plus so far their attitude was "oops, our fault, will fix in the next design" rather than "company <X> that made the valve is to blame here".I'm sure they will have much thorough internal investigation, but there is really no point to make that public, even if you have absolutely noting to hide. That information will simply be useless to majority of people.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 04:24:06 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on April 16, 2015, 02:02:09 amMore than likely, they made the valve themselves anyway. . .Quote from: Is SpaceX Changing the Rocket Equation?http://www.airspacemag.com/space/is-spacex-changing-the-rocket-equation-132285884/?all

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2015, 07:23:20 am
content: Another video. Now from landing platform itself

author: HP-ILnerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2015, 06:42:51 am
content: All that's left of the booster after the ADS got back to port:

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2015, 02:18:25 pm
content: I guess most of it fell overboard in the explosion.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2015, 04:20:16 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on April 19, 2015, 02:18:25 pmNot an explosion, uncontrolled disassembly.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2015, 10:29:04 pm
content: "Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly" according to Mr. Musk. A CEO of a rocket company saying this stuff. It's nice that he's not held back on the engineering mantra of "if you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough".https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/555981841476227072

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2015, 06:13:23 am
content: I think they need to turn a football stadium into the world biggest ball pit and just cut the engine when it gets close enough. The rocket can even make gun WEEEEEEE!!!! sounds as it falls in.So close..... Its just right there. I feel the first success is coming soon. Clearly the RCS system is trying really hard. We just don't have enough practical experience to make the system reliable yet.