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On Fourth Launch Attempt, SpaceX Falcon 1 Reaches Orbit
xp65 writes with the just-announced success of Elon Musk's SpaceX's long efforts to reach orbit with a privately-developed launching craft: "T+0:08:21 Falcon 1 reached orbital velocity, 5200 m/s Nominal Second stage cut off (SECO) — Falcon 1 has made history as the first privately developed liquid fueled launch vehicle to achieve earth orbit!"
dbullard adds "This was a completely new vehicle — it's not using any previously developed hardware. All developed from scratch. No government supplied hardware, Russian engines, or old ICBM motors. My hat's off to the employees of Space X — all 550 of them. (Note — no 'cast of thousands,' just 550).
They've got video of the entire launch."
Looking what the Big Nasty State of China just did, private enterprise is looking positively lame. Even with this launch, Musk's rocket still has only a 25% success rate and can only launch a few kilos into orbit.
All you Ayn Rand fanboys seeking proof of the supremacy of the private sector, this is not it. If you want to really put your beliefs to the test, I suggest you look at the banking sector.
Why am I being so rough? Slashdotters seem more than willing to jump on Elon Musk's "entrepreneurial" cock but at the same time make racist statements when the Chinese government achieves a far more significant space milestone. Don't expect everyone to fall at the feet of this guy simply because he fits in with your ideological predispositions; he is quite far behind.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
Just because there is a Wikipedia article about it, doesn't mean it will even become a reality.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
Falcon 1: $7 million/165kg = $42,424/kg
Russian Proton: $85 million/21,600kg = $4,302/kg
The retards saying that Falcon 1 is some revolution in price need to shut the fuck up and check their facts.
Falcon 9 might beat (well, equal) Proton for price/kg if, repeat IF, it ever flies. This joker has got the simplest possible liquid fueled rocket flying after blowing up three of them, it will at least take him a while to figure out how to cluster engines.
But after all this work he will only be able to equal the price of the old Russia stalwart, whats the fucking point? Nobody in their right mind will buy a launch from a billionaire with too much time on his hands when they can choose a far more proven launcher.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
It wouldn't be the first think NASA has thrown money at that didn't work out, would it?
And it would of course depend on Musk being able to make Falcon 9 work; far from certain.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
Why do you think either will make it?
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
They had the Merlin engine firing on a stand and flight 3 still fucked up, didn't it? Don't pretend to understand such things.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
What a wonderful coincidence!
This must certainly be God's hand at work.
That'll show those heathen commie pagans the supremacy of U.S. Hollywood/pulpSF-style Small-Town Capitalism.
See, who needs German engineers anymore?
Now F*x Kneews can more easily avoid talking about that (ha!) "space" "walk"(Dr.Evil quote-mime. Er, DEQM?)
( And, no. Of course I didn't RTFA, that sort of thing is for weak of faith - or worse - you bunch of snickering heathen pagans!@). ;-)
If you are seriously asserting that banks in the United States have anything to do with "private companies" or "free markets", then you're either lying, confused, or uneducated.
-- The act of censorship is always worse than whatever is being censored. Always.
Don't be an idiot.
What the fuck is it with this company and idiots like you desperately trying turn this fiasco of a company into some sort of 'triumph of teh private sector'?
These clowns have only managed to get 25 percent of their ships to sub orbit and you are babbling about that being some sort of 'accomplishment'??? After decades of prior work by NASA and the Soviets these bozos have only managed to get one fucking ship to sub-orbit?
And you are running your mouth off about them actually being used to service the Space Station?
Here's some homework Einstein, go look up the launch and return success rate of the Russian ships.
And let me add that the car was not invented in America.
-- Cheers!
Which is why you've been on my "foes" list for a long time now and relates directly to my signature. On the other hand, facts not withstanding, it was actually a good rant. I applaud the program and wish that there was more that I could do to help but, alas, that's... You know... Rocket science. I'm usually lucky if I can tie my shoes.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."