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SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket soars in debut test launch from Florida
Yahoo News ^ | Joey Roulette

Posted on 02/06/2018 8:42:54 PM PST by WMarshal

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - The world's most powerful rocket, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, roared into space through clear blue skies in its debut test flight on Tuesday from a Florida launch site where moon missions once began, in another milestone for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's private rocket service. ..... Then, capitalizing on cost-cutting reusable rocket technology pioneered by SpaceX, the two boosters flew themselves back to Earth for safe simultaneous touchdowns on twin landing pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, about eight minutes after launch. Each rocket unleashed a double sonic boom as it neared the landing zone.

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Business/Economy; Science
KEYWORDS: defence; rocket; satellite; space
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To: Ronaldus Magnus III

While I used to object to Musk getting gov $$$,

Do you similarly object to NASA getting even more government money to do the same thing, except taking years longer while producing an even more expensive system?


81 posted on 02/07/2018 4:11:40 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: JoSixChip

Look what aviation did in 50 years. From the Wright Bros to the SR-71. And we know a lot more stuff now.

Except now we are into a period of massive failure of political will when in comes to manned space exploration - a period which began in 1964, with partial and lame exception of the Apollo years 1969-1972.

Perhaps Musk can break us out of it, but I would not hold your breath, especially if the Dems retake control of the government in a few years.


82 posted on 02/07/2018 4:17:56 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: JoSixChip

There is still a place for NASA. It’s not muslem outreach, it’s to keep our military the best in the world.

NASA is a military organization under DOD.


83 posted on 02/07/2018 4:19:08 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: longfellowsmuse
That’s correct, however the two boosters landing together in perfect synchronicity is pretty awesome, and now there’s a red sports car orbiting the sun!

Yep - science fiction continues to become reality - it was almost surreal to watch it.

84 posted on 02/07/2018 4:22:43 AM PST by trebb (I stopped picking on the mentally ill hypocrites who pose as conservatives...;-})
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To: Moonman62

Musk’s Tesla is going out beyond Mars to the asteroid belt.

Can’t you just imagine that some large astroid attracts the vehicle and the car lands perfectly? What a shock that would be for some putative astroid miner!


85 posted on 02/07/2018 4:23:06 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: caww

Musk’s BFR aka “big f*cking rocket, will be the one to go to Mars, Falcon Heavy is too small and would be used to ferry crew and cargo to LEO. The BFR is not just a singe vehicle but a system.

Musk is done with design of the Falcons, He is now moving on to the BFR.

Falcon heavy
Payload to LEO 63,800 kg (140,700 lb)

BFR
Payload to LEO 150,000 kg (330,000 lb) reusable


86 posted on 02/07/2018 4:32:31 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: longfellowsmuse

I think it’s headed to Mars soon.


87 posted on 02/07/2018 4:51:02 AM PST by SJSAMPLE
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To: caww
I would add only one word to that sentence...."this IS the 'World's Most Powerful OPERATIONAL Rocket"'.

The Saturn V was more powerful. Just sayin'.

88 posted on 02/07/2018 9:09:14 AM PST by hoagy62 (America Supreme!)
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To: PIF

Both NASA and SpaceX should have our fullest support. Yes NASA should get way more funding! Absolutely. USA should be the absolute undisputed leader in space.


89 posted on 02/07/2018 10:51:34 AM PST by GoldenState_Rose
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To: GoldenState_Rose

Interesting. That is how Boeing got started too. He wanted to buy a plane and decided he could build a better one.


90 posted on 02/07/2018 2:21:50 PM PST by TalonDJ
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To: PIF

“Perhaps Musk can break us out of it, but I would not hold your breath, especially if the Dems retake control of the government in a few years.”

And Musk is donating millions to them to make that happen.


91 posted on 02/07/2018 2:24:12 PM PST by TalonDJ
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To: PIF

“It overshot Mars and is currently headed to the Astroid Belt; no orbit yet established.”

Eh... yeah no. It is not past Mar yet, and the instant the burn was complete the orbit is what it is.


92 posted on 02/07/2018 2:26:05 PM PST by TalonDJ
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To: equaviator

“It was after all, a major malfunction resulting in catastrophic failure. “

In the realm of Aerospace safety “catastrophic” has a specific technical meaning. That does not quality. The primary mission was complete.


93 posted on 02/07/2018 2:28:54 PM PST by TalonDJ
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To: caww

I wish I knew it was happening beforehand, used to be able watch the shuttle take off all the way from Miami.


94 posted on 02/07/2018 2:39:05 PM PST by Rome2000 (OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO WIN THE WAR)
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To: TalonDJ

Eh... yeah no. It is not past Mar yet, and the instant the burn was complete the orbit is what it is.


How about it overshot the trajectory needed for Mars insertion. Happy?


95 posted on 02/07/2018 3:12:49 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: TalonDJ

I wasn’t referring to a catastrophic failure of the mission itself; only a part of it.


96 posted on 02/07/2018 4:15:49 PM PST by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: WMarshal

A few days late. It was pretty awesome that America has the most powerful rocket again.

Twofer it’s “private” and watching those two rockets land was soooo cool. I have to hand it to Elon Musk.

Question. Why did it take the US and the world to come up with a rocket almost as powerful as a rocket we had 50 years ago?

Either progress is not linear or generic fail.


97 posted on 02/09/2018 10:06:39 PM PST by mindburglar (I have an above average brain stem)
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