April 30th SpaceX Launch!

Bromptonboy · April 17, 2012, 05:59:37 AM

One for all of us to watch!

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/nasa-clears-spacex-cargo-run-space-station-230835402.html

Bromptonboy · May 22, 2012, 02:41:25 AM

They did it! Launched this morning. :)

davekill · 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? :)

Rico · May 22, 2012, 08:30:51 AM

Yes!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/120522-spacex-launch-falcon-9-international-space-station-science/

http://youtu.be/tQUvVtXYvqE

Zarabeth32 · May 22, 2012, 10:09:23 AM

This is so awesome!

They should write this into Big Bang Theory next year.

Z

Bryancd · May 22, 2012, 10:13:51 AM

And Scotty's ashes are on board!

moyer777 · May 22, 2012, 04:24:38 PM

so awesome.

Feathers · May 23, 2012, 05:01:31 AM

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.

Bromptonboy · May 23, 2012, 05:58:41 AM

That is true enough. NASA would handle overall project management and operations. SpaceX has some pretty exciting stuff on the drawing board as well.

davekill · 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.'

Bromptonboy · May 23, 2012, 09:59:31 AM

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.

Feathers · May 23, 2012, 12:55:22 PM

Yes, that's always been a favourite of mine (unfortunately, my company never bids low enough).

davekill · May 25, 2012, 08:05:46 AM

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

Bromptonboy · 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.

billybob476 · May 28, 2012, 10:53:24 AM

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