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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: polly_mer on May 27, 2020, 07:48:23 AM

Title: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: polly_mer on May 27, 2020, 07:48:23 AM
Watch the preparations for sending astronauts to the International Space Station live at https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive starting at noon Eastern Time today.

Years ago, every launch into space was a big deal.  Relive the excitement this time*.


* or hope with fingers crossed and watch the news later for those of us who had our first experience watching live be Challenger.

Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: mythbuster on May 27, 2020, 01:39:56 PM
Well, see you all on Saturday for try number two!
Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 27, 2020, 02:47:07 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on May 27, 2020, 07:48:23 AM

Years ago, every launch into space was a big deal.  Relive the excitement this time*.


One downside of getting serious about climate change will be even fewer launches. One upside is that each one should be a much bigger deal.

Or: maybe a space elevator.
Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: kaysixteen on May 27, 2020, 11:32:52 PM
Hmmm... how much of this technology Musk is using is new, and how much of it is piggybacked on NASA space tech, much of which is by now decades old?  IOW, just how significant is this launch, and is private space launching a real alternative to doing it publicly?
Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: mamselle on May 28, 2020, 03:30:07 AM
Sorry, but Elon Musk seems to me to just like to waste resources and play at things.

I can't find it in me to take him seriously, except to hope that his insouciant tinkering doesn't get anyone killed.

M.
Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: kaysixteen on May 28, 2020, 09:39:23 AM
BTW,  Musk's 'private' space efforts would be more impressive if he paid for the construction of his own space launch facilities, etc.
Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: polly_mer on May 28, 2020, 01:45:36 PM
Quote from: kaysixteen on May 27, 2020, 11:32:52 PM
Hmmm... how much of this technology Musk is using is new, and how much of it is piggybacked on NASA space tech, much of which is by now decades old?  IOW, just how significant is this launch, and is private space launching a real alternative to doing it publicly?

These are easily answered questions by people who can do a web search.

If you don't know the current state of the art at even the mass media level, then your opinion is worth less than the time I've already spent on this post.
Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: mamselle on May 28, 2020, 03:11:25 PM
Ummm....no.

Techno-shaming is gratuitous....we're not all engineers who know where to start to look.

M.
Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: Anselm on May 28, 2020, 04:50:23 PM
Quote from: kaysixteen on May 27, 2020, 11:32:52 PM
Hmmm... how much of this technology Musk is using is new, and how much of it is piggybacked on NASA space tech, much of which is by now decades old?  IOW, just how significant is this launch, and is private space launching a real alternative to doing it publicly?

I will make an educated guess and say that there is no stunning new tech here.   I likely would have heard about it in the news by now.  Private unmanned launches have been going on for while now.   Globally there are launches into space every week.
Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: nebo113 on May 29, 2020, 04:50:17 AM
And the leader of the free world just packed up his family and scuttled back to DC after the "failure."
Title: Re: First US launch of a private manned space craft
Post by: apl68 on June 03, 2020, 07:24:15 AM
By the way, congratulations for a successful and safe launch!