One for all of us to watch!
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/nasa-clears-spacex-cargo-run-space-station-230835402.html (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/nasa-clears-spacex-cargo-run-space-station-230835402.html)
They did it! Launched this morning. :)
Great news.
One small step for our continued presence in space, one giant step for private industry eh? :)
Yes!
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/120522-spacex-launch-falcon-9-international-space-station-science/ (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/120522-spacex-launch-falcon-9-international-space-station-science/)
http://youtu.be/tQUvVtXYvqE (http://youtu.be/tQUvVtXYvqE)
This is so awesome!
They should write this into Big Bang Theory next year.
Z
And Scotty's ashes are on board!
so awesome.
Quote from: davekill on May 22, 2012, 06:28:03 AM
Great news.
One small step for our continued presence in space, one giant step for private industry eh? :)
It was pointed out on the radio over here that private industry has built everything that's gone into space from the US. The only difference this time is that they don't have NASA peering over their shoulder all the time, adding to (and then paying) the bills.
That is true enough. NASA would handle overall project management and operations. SpaceX has some pretty exciting stuff on the drawing board as well.
Quote from: Feathers on May 23, 2012, 05:01:31 AM
It was pointed out on the radio over here that private industry has built everything that's gone into space from the US. The only difference this time is that they don't have NASA peering over their shoulder all the time, adding to (and then paying) the bills.
"When reporters asked Shepard what he thought about as he sat atop the Redstone rocket, waiting for liftoff, he had replied, 'The fact that every part of this ship was built by the low bidder.'
Quote from: davekill on May 23, 2012, 09:48:51 AM
Quote from: Feathers on May 23, 2012, 05:01:31 AM
It was pointed out on the radio over here that private industry has built everything that's gone into space from the US. The only difference this time is that they don't have NASA peering over their shoulder all the time, adding to (and then paying) the bills.
"When reporters asked Shepard what he thought about as he sat atop the Redstone rocket, waiting for liftoff, he had replied, 'The fact that every part of this ship was built by the low bidder.'
Hah! That is great! I had never heard that one.
Yes, that's always been a favourite of mine (unfortunately, my company never bids low enough).
The ISS has captured the Space X dragon capsule.
Gizmodo has the live feed here.
http://gizmodo.com/5913298/watch-space-x-dragon-make-its-historic-iss-dock-live-updating (http://gizmodo.com/5913298/watch-space-x-dragon-make-its-historic-iss-dock-live-updating)
Now we all have to hold our breath for the return next week...if that goes off well, we'll be back in business sending things & people into orbit.
Wow, it's cool-looking inside Dragon.
QuoteAndré Kuipers, a Dutch physician and astronaut with the European Space Agency, was on board the ISS when the SpaceX Dragon vehicle berthed. He took this photograph, and wrote,
QuoteInside of the Dragon module. Beautiful. Spacious, Modern. Blue LEDs. Feels a bit like a sci-fi filmset. Of course it is from Los Angeles.
http://boingboing.net/2012/05/28/iss-astronaut-upon-seeing-ins.html (http://boingboing.net/2012/05/28/iss-astronaut-upon-seeing-ins.html)
Quote from: Bromptonboy on May 25, 2012, 10:00:19 AM
Now we all have to hold our breath for the return next week...if that goes off well, we'll be back in business sending things & people into orbit.
Things yes but unfortunately people is still a ways off. The safety requirements NASA will demand to take people to the ISS will be way more involved then cargo.
I am fascinated by the new space race and will continue to follow it. I used to watch all the shuttle launches and dreamed of seeing one live. I live in Japan now, so I follow some of the updates on the Japan's Space Program (JAXA) when it's on TV. I want to take a family trip go see one of their rocket launches in Kagoshima Prefecture and I am trying to co-ordinate my family trips (US) stateside to see one there also. I am thrilled with the private sector entry into space. I hope it takes off, I really do.
Woot! SpaceX chosen by NASA to bring our crews back into space!
http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20120803 (http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20120803)