Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Privately-funded rocket reaches orbit!

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 6
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 template Next
  • #1

    Privately-funded rocket reaches orbit!

    As some of you might remember, I've mentioned that there have been no successful privately-funded orbital rocket developments. All orbital launch vehicles to date has been government funded.

    Until now. SpaceX, in Los Angeles, has become the first privately-funded success story with the launch of the Falcon 1. This was SpaceX's fourth attempt. The first attempt ended in the Pacific ocean not far from the pad. The second attempt ended in the second-stage burn not making orbital velocity. The third attempt ended with the first stage running into the second stage.

    Video to come soon!
    I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891
    Tags: None
  • #2

    Comment

    • #3
      Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. - Ben Franklin
      Iain Banks missed deadline due to Civ | The eyes are the groin of the head. - Dwight Schrute.
      One more turn .... One more turn .... | WWTSD

      Comment

      • #4
        Private space exploration
        Unbelievable!

        Comment

        • #5
          Good news - now they have to do something about that nasty 1-4 succes rate
          With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.

          Steven Weinberg

          Comment

          • #6
            Long time member @ Apolyton
            Civilization player since the dawn of time

            Comment

            • #7
              FYI, the price of launches from SpaceX undercut even the Russians.
              I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

              Comment

              • #8
                Having trouble finding the news release on this. Can you give a link please Dan?
                Long time member @ Apolyton
                Civilization player since the dawn of time

                Comment

                • #9
                  Excellent news Dan.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Lancer
                    Having trouble finding the news release on this. Can you give a link please Dan?
                    Sure. Here's AP's story...

                    Error 404 (Not Found)!!1
                    http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iF-6npNsKa0n_7aLm8tJvuHWt4JgD93G1LC00


                    Here's the Slashdot post that was just issued...

                    On Fourth Launch Attempt, SpaceX Falcon 1 Reaches Orbit - Slashdot
                    http://science.slashdot.org/science/08/09/28/2348205.shtml
                    xp65 writes with the just-announced success of Elon Musk's SpaceX's long efforts to reach orbit with a privately-developed launching craft: "T+0:08:21 Falcon 1 reached orbital velocity, 5200 m/s Nominal Second stage cut off (SECO) — Falcon 1 has made history as the first privately developed li...
                    I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Thanks
                      Long time member @ Apolyton
                      Civilization player since the dawn of time

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        This is Ground Control to Major Tong...

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          "Besides the Falcon 1, SpaceX is developing for NASA a larger launch vehicle, Falcon 9, capable of flying to the international space station when the current space shuttle fleet retires in 2010. "

                          Seems we won't need the Russians after all.
                          Long time member @ Apolyton
                          Civilization player since the dawn of time

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            BOOOOO YAAAA!

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Sorry, but I serious doubt many companies will entrust their horrifically expensive satelites to a private company that has only shown it can get 25% of its rockets into space. They are going to have to do a lot more testing and build up a serious success record.

                              I also wonder how this plays into international rocket proliferation regulations and rules.
                              If you don't like reality, change it! me
                              "Oh no! I am bested!" Drake
                              "it is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong" Voltaire
                              "Patriotism is a pernecious, psychopathic form of idiocy" George Bernard Shaw

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 template Next
                              Working...
                              X