LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 (Flight 2) - COTS-1 - Launch Updates - December 8, 2010

[Halidon]

I'd put my vote on a can of spam or a stuffed parrot.

How about a parrot stuffed into a spam can?

[ChrisC]

Does anyone have the video of the post-mission press conference?

Looks like John44 has posted it here, although it'll probably appear on Youtube soon enough.

EDIT:  It was posted to Youtube here.

[A_M_Swallow]

I'd put my vote on a can of spam or a stuffed parrot.

1.  Well done SpaceX.

2.  Monty Python - a picture of the Spanish Inquisition. 

[Robotbeat]

I'd put my vote on a can of spam or a stuffed parrot.

1.  Well done SpaceX.

2.  Monty Python - a picture of the Spanish Inquisition. 

Were YOU in the SpaceX capsule this whole time? (Your name being A_M_Swallow)

[iamlucky13]

Landed within 10km of estimated landing point!

Huh, actually, I may have misunderstood that. I think 10km was the initial estimate, but it actually may have been as little as 800m. (did anyone hear this better during the press conference)

Gwynne said in the conference she had seen a memo or email that she thought said 800 meters, but did not have time to confirm it before the conference started.

The speed with which they reported installing the floats and the existence of picture of the capsule descending are good pieces of evidence in support of this.

[Space Pete]

NASA TV Video: NASA's Bolden Congratulates SpaceX on Successful Launch.

[nickyp]

Nobody ever expects the Spanish Inquisition!

[landofgrey]

Here's one of the two videos I shot of the Falcon 9 launch with Dragon today. The other one didn't turn out as "interesting". We were stationed on NASA Causeway, roughly 4-ish miles from the launch pad toward the south.

[arnezami]

I've been thinking about what just happened today.

And I'm not talking about the flight alone. Which apparently is a 100% success.

The more I ponder, the more I start to realize this day is going to be marked as one of the biggest shifts in the way we humans accept the limit of 'space' as being impenetrable.

This is not about cutting a piece of metal, or a small fireball on the pad. This is not even about this single successful flight.

This is about being realistic about what we can do if we put our minds to it seriously. It's spacex that shows nasa (and their partners) that our mindset has suffered from a long period of "staleness" and when we revive it we can accomplish things we (as engineers) know to be possible, but thought to be unachievable due to restrictions in our mind which have grown in the face of stagnation to make progress in our ability of having the balls to think there are better and smarter ways of doing things.

To use a quote "it's difficult to be articulate when your mind is blown". I am not sure how to express myself well here.

But I think we need to take a step back at what the hell is going on here, and look at ourselves, because something bigger than we thought just happened here.

Just my thoughts.

[Retired Downrange]

The first 12 Minutes of the post flight press conference question period are on youtube



This is part 2 of 4 of the post Falcon 9 launch press conference.
more at
youtube.com/user/SpaceRefOnOrbit 

[Pheogh]

I've been thinking about what just happened today.

And I'm not talking about the flight alone. Which apparently is a 100% success.

The more I ponder, the more I start to realize this day is going to be marked as one of the biggest shifts in the way we humans accept the limit of 'space' as being impenetrable.

This is not about cutting a piece of metal, or a small fireball on the pad. This is not even about this single successful flight.

This is about being realistic about what we can do if we put our minds to it seriously. It's spacex that shows nasa (and their partners) that our mindset has suffered from a long period of "staleness" and when we revive it we can accomplish things we (as engineers) know to be possible, but thought to be unachievable due to restrictions in our mind which have grown in the face of stagnation to make progress in our ability of having the balls to think there are better and smarter ways of doing things.

To use a quote "it's difficult to be articulate when your mind is blown". I am not sure how to express myself well here.

But I think we need to take a step back at what the hell is going on here, and look at ourselves, because something bigger than we thought just happened here.

Just my thoughts.

Before we go completely nutz and not meaning to pour cold water here. Would someone with some real hard cost data care to comment on some of the bravado that Elon is espousing here (meritted of course I am just trying to gauge by how much)

The real question is though. If you are ULA, Boeing, Lockheed etc... and this is a new competitor in the market. Based on published information as it relates directly to cost, how worried would you be right now.

For all intent and purpose, did the resounding success of this flight make them worried?, look like fools, dare I say liars (cost, time and what it takes to accomplish such things, referencing comments directly about Orion)

In short what are the launch market implications of what happened today???

[Cog_in_the_machine]

In short what are the launch market implications of what happened today???

This is all from memory and not a direct answer to your question, so take it with a grain of salt, but I think Jim has mentioned before that SpaceX doesn't have the equipment to handle certain payloads, unlike ULA. Again, this is from memory so I may be reproducing it wrong, but if true it seems that they'd need to upgrade their facilities and ultimately it would bring them in the cost ballpark ULA is in. Jim's probably going to show up and correct me if needed later, but I just thought I'd mention this since it's what's stuck in my mind.

[hop]

Late to the party but congratulations to SpaceX and everyone else involved. A very impressive achievement.

There's still a long hard road ahead, but you couldn't ask for a much better start than this.

[Robotbeat]

I REALLY want to see reentry videos! Good job, Chris Bergin, in providing us with updates!

[Retired Downrange]

Marty Anderson is the name of the tech who hand cut the second stage nozzle.

(I copied his name from the video audio, so I could be wrong on how he spells "Marty").

[go4mars]

I doubt they would get away with a live cargo unless it was a volunteer.

If I was terminally ill, I sure hope that the make a wish foundation would try to pull some strings for me!

[Pheogh]

Seems to me that the posted still from SpaceX facebook page from inside the capsule are video stills so there is hope for full video?

[joshcryer]

Cog_in_the_machine, I'd like some cites for that, if you or anyone has them. I don't doubt that SpaceX can't handle a lot of configurations for the simple fact that currently they are configured for Dragon and small satellites. However, I do not see why the vast majority of potential candidates cannot work with Falcon 9.

I'd like some cites before I'd believe otherwise. Can't blame me for not taking the word of someone on a forum, even if they have "good rep."

[Robotbeat]

Seems to me that the posted still from SpaceX facebook page from inside the capsule are video stills so there is hope for full video?

Posted before:

[Cog_in_the_machine]

Cog_in_the_machine, I'd like some cites for that...

I really can't remember which thread I read it in or how long ago, but it wasn't so much the size of the payload, rather the conditions when handling it. As I said, it's just something that was kicking in my head and for the life of me I can't recall why I have such a memory. I posted it because I'm hoping that Jim will come around and set me straight. Nothing beats going to the source.

Can't blame me for not taking the word of someone on a forum, even if they have "good rep."

These may not be his words, but my bad recollection.