Author Topic: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion  (Read 204043 times)

Offline Michael Baylor

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Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« on: 12/02/2017 01:24 am »
NSF Threads for Falcon Heavy Demo : Updates (non-payload) / Discussion (non-payload) / FH Demo Mission Payload Discussion / FH Demo Discussion and Speculation / FH Demo Payload Speculation / L2 Coverage November-December - January-February / ASDS / Party




Elon Musk on Twitter:

Quote
Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn’t blow up on ascent.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/936782477502246912
« Last Edit: 12/06/2017 03:51 pm by gongora »

Offline Craig_VG

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #1 on: 12/02/2017 01:25 am »
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn’t blow up on ascent.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/936782477502246912

Offline rockets4life97

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #2 on: 12/02/2017 01:28 am »
Mars orbit!!! Awesome.

Offline shooter6947

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #3 on: 12/02/2017 01:31 am »
That I should just so awesome I'm having trouble containing my giggles!!!  I hope that he's not kidding ;)

Offline enzo

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #4 on: 12/02/2017 01:32 am »
Elon Musk on Twitter:

Quote
Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn’t blow up on ascent.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/936782477502246912
I am genuinely interested in the payload adapter and whether it is a likely mode of failure.   ;D

Offline Herb Schaltegger

Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #5 on: 12/02/2017 01:35 am »
Elon Musk on Twitter:

Quote
Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn’t blow up on ascent.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/936782477502246912

Is he trolling us all or is he serious? Guess we'll find out in 5 - 8 weeks.
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Offline gongora

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #6 on: 12/02/2017 01:36 am »
Elon Musk on Twitter:

Quote
Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn’t blow up on ascent.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/936782477502246912

Is he trolling us all or is he serious? Guess we'll find out in 5 - 8 weeks.

The sad part is I can't be sure.  I think he's trolling?

Offline Michael Baylor

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #7 on: 12/02/2017 01:40 am »
Joy Dunn confirms cameras! CAMERAS ON THE ROADSTER!!! WOOOOO

Quote
@beeberunner @nextspaceflight oh this is legit and of course there will be cameras!

https://twitter.com/RocketJoy/status/936786839268032513
« Last Edit: 12/02/2017 01:42 am by Michael Baylor »

Offline Craig_VG

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #8 on: 12/02/2017 01:42 am »
Joy is a SpaceX employee

Offline IanThePineapple

Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #9 on: 12/02/2017 01:43 am »
I am so happy.

I'm on the verge of tears.

Offline mlow

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #10 on: 12/02/2017 01:45 am »
So is S2 capable of that longevity wise, or some kind of kicker stage to get Mars orbit? Never mind the special one-off adapter, space-rating the car, wrong time of year to launch to Mars and I'm sure a plethora of other issues. As cool-factor of a launch it is, one where they don't want to risk a customer on and need to find a payload to test with. I was going to be disappointed if it was a hunk of concrete, because it would be a missed opportunity for either something "cool" or something of some value such as a test of something.

So what value does launching an electric car have over say, a hunk of 'crete. And how the eff are they getting it to Mars ORBIT.

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #11 on: 12/02/2017 01:45 am »
Elon Musk on Twitter:

Quote
Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn’t blow up on ascent.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/936782477502246912
I am genuinely interested in the payload adapter and whether it is a likely mode of failure.   ;D

I literally clicked on this thread to ask a similar question. Will require some interesting integration between the adaptor and the car and keeping the thing stable going uphill.......
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Offline Michael Baylor

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #12 on: 12/02/2017 01:48 am »
So is S2 capable of that longevity wise, or some kind of kicker stage to get Mars orbit? Never mind the special one-off adapter, space-rating the car, wrong time of year to launch to Mars and I'm sure a plethora of other issues. As cool-factor of a launch it is, one where they don't want to risk a customer on and need to find a payload to test with. I was going to be disappointed if it was a hunk of concrete, because it would be a missed opportunity for either something "cool" or something of some value such as a test of something.

So what value does launching an electric car have over say, a hunk of 'crete. And how the eff are they getting it to Mars ORBIT.
The big implication of the Mars orbit is that it almost certainly rules out a second stage recovery attempt.

Offline IanThePineapple

Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #13 on: 12/02/2017 01:53 am »
The big implication of the Mars orbit is that it almost certainly rules out a second stage recovery attempt.

I'd rather have a Mars Car than S2 recovery, to be honest.

Also, did anyone else think this will be GLORIOUS PR for Tesla?

"Fastest car ever", "First commercial car in space", "First car in Mars orbit"

Offline gongora

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #14 on: 12/02/2017 01:54 am »
Wouldn't Mars orbit require a power and propulsion bus for orbital insertion?

Offline Marine_Mustang

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #15 on: 12/02/2017 01:56 am »
Anyone else thinking of Heavy Metal?


Offline IanThePineapple

Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #16 on: 12/02/2017 02:00 am »
Wouldn't Mars orbit require a power and propulsion bus for orbital insertion?

Just use a few Starlink buses, no instruments, just engines, control and solar panels. Then decouple once in orbit and you're golden (Or Martian ;D )

Offline Orbiter

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #17 on: 12/02/2017 02:04 am »
And here we were expecting some boring mass simulator :)
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Offline lrk

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #18 on: 12/02/2017 02:08 am »
So is S2 capable of that longevity wise, or some kind of kicker stage to get Mars orbit? Never mind the special one-off adapter, space-rating the car, wrong time of year to launch to Mars and I'm sure a plethora of other issues. As cool-factor of a launch it is, one where they don't want to risk a customer on and need to find a payload to test with. I was going to be disappointed if it was a hunk of concrete, because it would be a missed opportunity for either something "cool" or something of some value such as a test of something.

So what value does launching an electric car have over say, a hunk of 'crete. And how the eff are they getting it to Mars ORBIT.
The big implication of the Mars orbit is that it almost certainly rules out a second stage recovery attempt.

But it was already mentioned that the upper stage for this flight is some sort of 'Frankenstein' stage.  And if it is going to be going to mars orbit, then that seems to imply it would have some significant form of propulsion capable of boosting it from an eccentric earth orbit - so I wouldn't completely rule it out just yet. 

Also, assuming this isn't a joke, there would be significant value in practicing deep-space navigation to Mars in lieu of Red Dragon. 
« Last Edit: 12/02/2017 02:10 am by lrk »

Offline Eagandale4114

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Re: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Discussion
« Reply #19 on: 12/02/2017 02:11 am »
Quote from: Elon Musk
Quote from: J.C.‏
Just to reiterate, the payload for the first Falcon Heavy rocket will be a Tesla electric car, playing Space Oditty, heading for Mars.
Yes

https://twitter.com/JC_Channel/status/936793484303859712

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