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Falcon 1 Ready to Launch

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the third-time's-a-charm dept.

DarkNemesis618 writes "SpaceX's new rocket, the Falcon 1 is set to launch February 8. Twice now it has been delayed for technological problems and then for structural. It's payload is set to be the FalconSat-2 satellite. What's interesting is that this satellite was built by the cadets at the USAF Academy. The satellite is going to be studying the effects of space plasma. It appears NASA & the shuttle are not the only ways for the government to launch satellites anymore."

7 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. No more satellite jockeys by garrett714 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It is good to see the cost of deploying satellites dropping. Maybe this will free the astronauts to do what they were meant to do, explore space.

    1. Re:No more satellite jockeys by susano_otter · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I thought astronauts were meant to gather valuable research data about humans living and working in space.

      Space exploration is a job for probots, not people.

      --

      Any sufficiently well-organized community is indistinguishable from Government.

    2. Re:No more satellite jockeys by susano_otter · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Actually, I'm of the opinion that, to the extent that humans were "meant" to do anything, we're certainly meant to fly in space. You and I share the same dream.

      But I differentiate between "exploration"--something best done by probots--and "adventure"--something best done by humans.

      --

      Any sufficiently well-organized community is indistinguishable from Government.

  2. Other Alternatives by cyclone96 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It appears NASA & the shuttle are not the only ways for the government to launch satellites anymore

    Ever hear of Lockheed Martin, Boeing, or Orbital Sciences? The government hasn't launched any major satellite besides ISS on the Shuttle for a decade. Satellite launches are contracted out.

    --
    Worst...sig...ever!
  3. Re:Military by susano_otter · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Anyone else worried about militaries getting even more involved in space?

    No more worried than I am about the military getting involved in any other area of human endeavor.

    Might as well ask if I'm worried about people getting involved in space.

    --

    Any sufficiently well-organized community is indistinguishable from Government.

  4. Re:Military by Brett+Buck · · Score: 2, Insightful

    >Anyone else worried about militaries getting even more involved in space?

      Wow. Clearly, you don't understand the space business - at all. Military and other related agencies are *the primary users* of space resources, and have been from the beginning. NASA, commercial, and other civilian users are very minor players in aerospace. Only during the mid-60's with Apollo was it even comparable in any terms.

        Point being, military/related users ARE the space business. Cadets tossing together a satellite is "in the noise" of the existing military uses.

            Brett

  5. Re:Military by stlhawkeye · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Anyone else worried about militaries getting even more involved in space?

    No, not really. I'd rather have our military involved than somebody else's.

    --
    "I have never won a debate with an ignorant person." -Ali ibn Abi Talib