I'll party if they stream the (water) landing :-)
They will be webcasting the launch as far as I know. I think people are getting confused about streaming the WDR....which they are not.
Unless there's been a change since my SpaceX tour, they're streaming this launch.. and if there has been a change in that, I expect I would have heard about it.
Quote from: Space OurSoul on 08/28/2013 11:50 pmI'll party if they stream the (water) landing :-)The expectations on this launch are sky-high..It's not enough that SpaceX manage to clear the pad with a brand new rocket, manufactured using new techniques on a new assembly line, launched from a new pad, powered by brand new engines and operated following new processes. It also not enough to stage successfully or that the payload reaches it's orbit.. NO! We also expect a successful re-light of the first stage, a soft descent through the atmosphere (lots of unknown risk here), as well as a soft "landing" in the ocean, ideally with some hoover and huge clouds of steam. With a video of all that!! Streaming, live!!!11The expectations are going exponential; Personally I would only feel satisfied if they, besides all these things, also managed to do something really cool with the upper stage, like a TMI burn. Anything less than Mars on this mission, and SpaceX have failed!
The waiting was getting too much for me, so I bit the bullet and joined L2 for the first time. Reading some of those extra updates in L2 has calmed down my cravings somewhat This communications "blackout" is probably a whole big conspiracy between Chris and SpaceX to tempt folks to join L2. ***curses and shakes fist in the air***
With all the high expectations maybe this party thread should be called California Dreamin'.
Quote from: mr. mark on 08/29/2013 02:41 pmWith all the high expectations maybe this party thread should be called California Dreamin'.That was a suggestion and I almost used it, but given everyone was shouting "where's the bloody pictures of this bloody rocket" and then the Jason article, secrets seemed funnier.Plus the next door Delta IV-H yesterday was called Victoria....Victoria's Secrets....OK, I was over-thinking this
People keep pointing out that putting the payload in orbit is the main goal, and the water landing is just a bonus.----Imagine for a second that in a different reality Musk had Bezos-scale money, and was going to develop SpaceX while ignoring the commercial orbital market - solely for the purpose of going to Mars.His first goal would have been an F9R-like rocket. And a reasonable approach (quite the opposite of how too many newspace companies have going at it) would have been to develop the "up" capability first, (without commercial aspirations), and in parallel, GH and Dragon.It would still be the most exciting space development in the entire industry - but without all the resources spent on NASA missions and the commercial aspect.----However, if in a yet different reality SpaceX was just doing EELV development - it would be cool, but hardly mind-blowingly exciting.----So in the long run - I'm watching this for exactly one reason: Reentry and water landing. The payload is important, since in this reality commercial launch will fund the rest of the effort, but the EXCITING part is all the happens after the payload separates.
Quote from: meekGee on 08/29/2013 04:04 pmPeople keep pointing out that putting the payload in orbit is the main goal, and the water landing is just a bonus.----Imagine for a second that in a different reality Musk had Bezos-scale money, and was going to develop SpaceX while ignoring the commercial orbital market - solely for the purpose of going to Mars.His first goal would have been an F9R-like rocket. And a reasonable approach (quite the opposite of how too many newspace companies have going at it) would have been to develop the "up" capability first, (without commercial aspirations), and in parallel, GH and Dragon.It would still be the most exciting space development in the entire industry - but without all the resources spent on NASA missions and the commercial aspect.----However, if in a yet different reality SpaceX was just doing EELV development - it would be cool, but hardly mind-blowingly exciting.----So in the long run - I'm watching this for exactly one reason: Reentry and water landing. The payload is important, since in this reality commercial launch will fund the rest of the effort, but the EXCITING part is all the happens after the payload separates.I think succeeding in commercial space first is actually a very wise strategy, regardless of Musk's personal fortune. It's great to build a fantastic launch machine, but to have it survive the rigors of frequent commercial launch, and shake down all possible design flaws while producing a profit will in the long run not only lead to a higher-quality rocket, but to safer Mars missions. When that ultimate mission does begin, the vehicle or at least much of its legacy will have been tested and refined to a much greater degree than had it been designed and built strictly for that single purpose.
People keep pointing out that putting the payload in orbit is the main goal, and the water landing is just a bonus.
