Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 (Flight 2) - COTS-1 - Launch Updates - December 8, 2010 (Read 546779 times)

spacetraveler · « **Reply #860 on:** 12/08/2010 08:33 pm »

Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 12/08/2010 08:31 pm

Quote from: Almurray1958 on 12/08/2010 08:28 pm
anything orion can do, Dragon can do (better)

There is only one thing I can say to that: This will cause a fire-storm.

I was just thinking that. If Elon wants NASA to grant them favors like altering the requirements for remaining COTS, is it really wise to be attacking their systems?

SpacexULA · « **Reply #861 on:** 12/08/2010 08:34 pm »

Please ops, close this thread now that mission is done. We are getting ready to have a flame war over that conference.

Any responses to that press conference would likely be better for the discussion threads.

Kabloona · « **Reply #862 on:** 12/08/2010 08:34 pm »

Quote from: racshot65 on 12/08/2010 08:31 pm

Allan

Great day for NASA Space X and commercial space

It is a test flight and he came expecting to talk about the things they learned from problems and is happy not to have to talk about that

Checked off all the mission objectives, looks like it was 100% successful

Only 1/3 new vehicles have 2 successful flights in a row

Space X demonstrated skill in identifying the root cause of the problem found on Monday

NASA kept asking Space X about the nozzle and they kept coming back with answers

And let's not forget the money quote: "And maybe there are some things NASA can learn from SpaceX"

Oh no...someone else has drunk the Kool Aid!

PahTo · « **Reply #863 on:** 12/08/2010 08:34 pm »

Again, huge congrats to SpaceX--an historic day and a great accomplishment to orbit and recover the spacecraft.

joshcryer · « **Reply #864 on:** 12/08/2010 08:34 pm »

spacetraveler, NASA was going to do that, before SpaceX was even proven. (See the administrations first proposal, which gave >$6 billion to COTS/CCDev.)

It's the politicians that Musk is taking aim at. He probably knows that nothing really changes here.

Kabloona, haha.

Gene DiGennaro · « **Reply #865 on:** 12/08/2010 08:35 pm »

Quote from: SpacexULA on 12/08/2010 08:34 pm

Please ops, close this thread now that mission is done. We are getting ready to have a flame war over that conference.

Any responses to that press conference would likely be better for the discussion threads.

Good point. I'll hush.

spacetraveler · « **Reply #866 on:** 12/08/2010 08:36 pm »

Quote from: joshcryer on 12/08/2010 08:34 pm

spacetraveler, NASA was going to do that, before SpaceX was even proven.

AFAIK, no final decision has been made yet. The COTS official was even asked that question and he said NASA would consider it, which is the same thing they have been saying.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #867 on:** 12/08/2010 08:36 pm »

That had the potential to be fluffy, but Elon came out with some really key stuff there, and I'm not really talking about today's events.

Amazing smackdown on Orion, without being rude.

Knowing the engineer who dealt with the nozzle, and that he was scared to fly, but got on a plane for this.

About being small and mobile to get things down.

About wanting to take humanity to other planets and do the things in the sci fi movies.

About not being about maximizing profitability, and that he told his investors that.

And a side note, there are examples where a guy fixing the GUCP will be known by a top end manager, and internally they do "speak like that", but NASA sometimes does a poor job at showing that side of itself. Heck, we've even gone out of our way to note some really great, inspirational comments from a manager on a Standup, and what does it get? Snide remarks from a PAO guy on his personal twitter.

Makes you wonder, it really does. Thought some of Elon's answers were nothing short of amazing, even if he was a bit "headblown", and a nice guy too, who's once e-mailed me out of the blue asking if I wanted to interview him.

Nuff said.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #868 on:** 12/08/2010 08:37 pm »

Quote from: spacetraveler on 12/08/2010 08:33 pm

Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 12/08/2010 08:31 pm
Quote from: Almurray1958 on 12/08/2010 08:28 pm
anything orion can do, Dragon can do (better)

There is only one thing I can say to that: This will cause a fire-storm.

I was just thinking that. If Elon wants NASA to grant them favors like altering the requirements for remaining COTS, is it really wise to be attacking their systems?

It's a risk, certainly. That said, this could be striking when the iron is hot. America is facing a serious budget deficit. Is there enough money to finish Orion development? Is that even a necessary cost when Dragon is arguably further along in the development cycle? Those are the questions that incoming members of Congress will doubtless be asking themselves when the FY2012 budget comes up for debate.

Yes, this could backfire in a big way. However, you don't get to make millions the way Musk has by taking a low-risk route. He could easily also win in a big way.

mmeijeri · « **Reply #869 on:** 12/08/2010 08:39 pm »

Well, I think today has shown that SpaceX really does have the right stuff.

joshcryer · « **Reply #870 on:** 12/08/2010 08:40 pm »

Who knew that a blind squirrel could accomplish so much.

Kabloona · « **Reply #871 on:** 12/08/2010 08:42 pm »

Elon: "My mind is so blown (in a good way) that I forgot your original question by the time I got to the end of my answer!"

(PS--not actual Elon quote)

SpaceX_MS · « **Reply #872 on:** 12/08/2010 08:43 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/08/2010 08:36 pm

That had the potential to be fluffy, but Elon came out with some really key stuff there, and I'm not really talking about today's events.

Amazing smackdown on Orion, without being rude.

Knowing the engineer who dealt with the nozzle, and that he was scared to fly, but got on a plane for this.

About being small and mobile to get things down.

About wanting to take humanity to other planets and do the things in the sci fi movies.

About not being about maximizing profitability, and that he told his investors that.

And a side note, there are examples where a guy fixing the GUCP will be known by a top end manager, and internally they do "speak like that", but NASA sometimes does a poor job at showing that side of itself. Heck, we've even gone out of our way to note some really great, inspirational comments from a manager on a Standup, and what does it get? Snide remarks from a PAO guy on his personal twitter.

Makes you wonder, it really does. Thought some of Elon's answers were nothing short of amazing, even if he was a bit "headblown", and a nice guy too, who's once e-mailed me out of the blue asking if I wanted to interview him.

Nuff said.

Really like that. Thanks for giving us coverage. Has been great to see a Shuttle/NASA stronghold take to us as an equal and you do a great job running this site and covering us from day 1, which I don't think a lot of people realize. Very good journalist.

I'll stop there as I'm on the champers

Silmfeanor · « **Reply #873 on:** 12/08/2010 08:45 pm »

To continue with a bit on the joke-
http://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/12619956025819136

Quote

Has to be spam in a can, no? Yeager must be chuckling.

I think this fits.

thanks for the excellent, excellent coverage here. I nearly spend the whole day on the site, thanks a lot Chris!

and I'll give my congratulations to SpaceX aswell. Go!

Robotbeat · « **Reply #874 on:** 12/08/2010 08:45 pm »

Quote from: SpaceX_MS on 12/08/2010 08:43 pm

...
I'll stop there as I'm on the champers

Bravo, SpaceX!

You deserve the champagne.

tankmodeler · « **Reply #875 on:** 12/08/2010 08:46 pm »

Quote from: SpaceX_MS on 12/08/2010 08:43 pm

I'll stop there as I'm on the champers

Have one for us. You all deserve it.

spacetraveler · « **Reply #876 on:** 12/08/2010 08:46 pm »

Quote from: SpaceX_MS on 12/08/2010 08:43 pm

Really like that. Thanks for giving us coverage. Has been great to see a Shuttle/NASA stronghold take to us as an equal and you do a great job running this site and covering us from day 1, which I don't think a lot of people realize. Very good journalist.

I'll stop there as I'm on the champers

Congrats on your incredible success today!

mmeijeri · « **Reply #877 on:** 12/08/2010 08:47 pm »

Quote from: SpaceX_MS on 12/08/2010 08:43 pm

I'll stop there as I'm on the champers

You guys rock!

JimO · « **Reply #878 on:** 12/08/2010 08:49 pm »

Talk about bare bones operations! That recovery photo made it look like SpaceX had subcontracted the recovery to some Somali pirates.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #879 on:** 12/08/2010 08:50 pm »

RELEASE: 10-327

NASA ADMINISTRATOR BOLDEN'S STATEMENT ON FALCON 9 LAUNCH

WASHINGTON -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden issued the following
statement about SpaceX's launch of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon
capsule:

"While rocket launches from the Cape are considered a common
occurrence, the historic significance of today's achievement by
SpaceX should not be lost.

"This is the first in a new generation of commercial launch systems
that will help provide vital support to the International Space
Station and may one day carry astronauts into orbit. This successful
demonstration flight is an important milestone in meeting the
objectives outlined by President Obama and Congress, and shows how
government and industry can leverage expertise and resources to
foster a new and vibrant space economy.

"These new explorers are to spaceflight what Lindbergh was to
commercial aviation."

The Falcon 9 launch is part of NASA's Commercial Orbital
Transportation Services program. For more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/cots