LIVE: Falcon 9 Flight 1 Maiden Flight - June 4, 2010

[Robotbeat]

In talks with NASA for a Super HLV. Notes the Shuttle pads belong to a Super HLV or vehicles like Shuttle, as opposed to a F9.

Wow. SpaceX is STILL incredibly ambitious. Good luck to them!

[heroineworshiper]

When is nasaspaceflight.com going to change to spacexspaceflight.com?

[jabe]

Can;t wait for an analysis of the engines performance.  How much margin do you think have from the conservative mass that they lifted to orbit today.  Going to be fun to watch the upcoming launches!!
Showed the Launch in my physics class today and the kids were intrigued by the process.  Class started with the abort...taught my lesson...and ended with the successful launch!! best class of the year!
jb

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-132

NASA ADMINISTRATOR'S STATEMENT ON FIRST FALCON 9 LAUNCH

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The following is a statement by NASA
Administrator Charles Bolden regarding Friday's launch of Space
Exploration Technologies' Falcon 9 rocket.

"Congratulations to Space X on today's launch of its Falcon 9 launch
vehicle. Space X's accomplishment is an important milestone in the
commercial transportation effort and puts the company a step closer
to providing cargo services to the International Space Station.

"Preparations are proceeding for the first NASA-sponsored test launch
under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services project later
this year. COTS is a vital development and demonstration partnership
to create a commercial space transportation system capable of
providing cargo to the station.

"This launch of the Falcon 9 gives us even more confidence that a
resupply vehicle will be available after the space shuttle fleet is
retired."

For more information about COTS, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/about/c3po.html


-end-

[ugordan]

FOX News video of the launch: http://video.foxnews.com/v/4227395/falcon-9-rocket-lifts-off

[savuporo]

During the teleconference, Elon Musk, in response to a question from Irene Klotz, just noted that there were ~150 SpaceX personnel at the launch site

Im not sure he said that, he said they had 150 people at the site, but he mentioned a lot of outside observers.

[kraisee]

Investment so far in F1 and F9 ~400 mil. 150-200 Mil on Dragon itself. These are expenditure numbers.

Its actually now well above that level.   Roughly double that, for all three projects.

Ross.

[savuporo]

Investment so far in F1 and F9 ~400 mil. 150-200 Mil on Dragon itself. These are expenditure numbers.

Its actually now well above that level.   Roughly double that, for all three projects.

Ross.

These were the numbers that Elon just gave at the press conference. Either you or Elon is wrong.

He explicitly called out all subcomponents and engines that they have developed for that money, several first stage and vacuum engine versions, maneuvering thrusters etc.

[Robotbeat]

When is nasaspaceflight.com going to change to spacexspaceflight.com?

Never. Folks like you are still going to be making amazing spacecraft for NASA. And yes, some of them will probably fly on SpaceX rockets. They will fly for cheaper than they do now (we all hope, and I expect), allowing more money for the actual spacecraft. Thus more spacecraft!

[Chris Bergin]

When is nasaspaceflight.com going to change to spacexspaceflight.com?

We'll always be NASASpaceflight, but you can bet some wisecrack will have rushed off to domain.com or whatever to register that now

[Avron]

When is nasaspaceflight.com going to change to spacexspaceflight.com?

Was thinking the same thing..  maybe not Spacex.. lets go for xspaceflight.com  .. who knows what the future holds...


on an aside..
MSFC - any new vehicles yet.. ?

[kraisee]

These were the numbers that Elon just gave at the press conference.

Expenditure, I'll agree with Elon.

The difference is how much is currently on note.

Ross.

[savuporo]

These were the numbers that Elon just gave at the press conference.

Expenditure, I'll agree with Elon.

The difference is how much is currently on note.

Ross.

Maybe im thick. He explicitly said that the current amount of money spent on all F1 & F9 & Dragon currently combined is "somewhere at around half a billion".

What are you disputing ?

[kraisee]

MSFC - any new vehicles yet.. ?

That's the line of the day, IMHO.

Ross.

[jabe]

I may have missed it but did the second stage refire to raise perigee?

[Robotbeat]

I may have missed it but did the second stage refire to raise perigee?

No. There wasn't supposed to be a second firing on this flight.

[northanger]

We'll always be NASASpaceflight

you better be! thanks for the coverage today.

Congratulations SpaceX on a future.

[Avron]

I may have missed it but did the second stage refire to raise perigee?

No. There wasn't supposed to be a second firing on this flight.

Are we sure ... I heard seco 1... why the 1?... listen to the video

[Chris Bergin]

I may have missed it but did the second stage refire to raise perigee?

No. There wasn't supposed to be a second firing on this flight.

Worth waiting till the dust settles on that

[jongoff]

In talks with NASA for a Super HLV. Notes the Shuttle pads belong to a Super HLV or vehicles like Shuttle, as opposed to a F9.

An important note here is that there was just an HLV RFI a few weeks ago.  "In talks with NASA" could mean little more than "made a pitch to" or submitted an RFI response.  I'm not saying it couldn't happen, just suggesting people be careful about reading too much into this.

~Jon