-
#120
by
david1971
on 02 Dec, 2017 16:19
-
I assume he means a mars transfer orbit that does not actually aim at mars. I highly doubt the falcon upper stage can loiter long enough to circularize. or are they going to stick a satellite bus on it?
The Roadster is only 1,235 kg, which is approximately what F9 (not FH) can launch to Mars transfer with a RTLS booster landing.
That's only 7.3% of Falcon Heavy's maximum payload to Mars transfer, so I would expect something more substantial than just the car.
For comparison, MOM had a launch mass of 1340 kg.
This is great PR for Tesla, but unless there are more tricks up the sleeve, it's drastically underselling the capabilities of FH.
-
#121
by
Johnnyhinbos
on 02 Dec, 2017 16:31
-
Fast forward one billion years - the battered, space dust encrusted and tumbling relic speeds through another star system on a hyperbolic arc. The local civilization marvels as it passes through - the first interstellar asteroid to pass through their system...
(This has every actual possibility of happening over the course of a billion years - so those who scoff at 1I potentially being something other than a rock may want to at least keep this in mind!)
-
#122
by
rakaydos
on 02 Dec, 2017 16:31
-
I assume he means a mars transfer orbit that does not actually aim at mars. I highly doubt the falcon upper stage can loiter long enough to circularize. or are they going to stick a satellite bus on it?
The Roadster is only 1,235 kg, which is approximately what F9 (not FH) can launch to Mars transfer with a RTLS booster landing.
That's only 7.3% of Falcon Heavy's maximum payload to Mars transfer, so I would expect something more substantial than just the car.
For comparison, MOM had a launch mass of 1340 kg.
This is great PR for Tesla, but unless there are more tricks up the sleeve, it's drastically underselling the capabilities of FH.
Keep in mind another "joke post"of elon's a while back.
"It's "certainly possible," Musk said. "Just a question of safety. Rocket tech applied to a car opens up revolutionary possibilities.""
So an actual entry burn isnt entirely unreasonable.
-
#123
by
Chris Bergin
on 02 Dec, 2017 16:45
-
Split this from the announcement onwards for a standalone thread, as it's no longer speculation
-
#124
by
Norm38
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:07
-
I like the greenhouse idea, but there's probably no way to keep the glass from blowing out, and thermal management would be a pain. Any way they do it, its unique.
-
#125
by
Norm38
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:13
-
What communications?
Well if SpaceX wants to land on Mars in 5 years, they're going to need a radio. If they have hardware to test, now's the time.
But if there's no attitude control they can only use a low gain antenna. But still, test early, test often.
-
#126
by
cscott
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:23
-
A couple of practical questions:
1. How long (and how far) could communication be maintained with the second stage? The payload cam we see on almost every F9 launch can presumably send pictures back.
2. How long (and how far) could an object the size of a Roadster be tracked by optical or radar astronomy?
There were communications with the S2 during the deep-space DSCOVR mission, so presumably there's comm capability at least that far out.
-
#127
by
Archibald
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:38
-
The way I see it: the car is mostly a ballast thrown in the general direction of Mars (heliocentric orbit), the music in an air tight box (as suggest), and that's it. no need for long range communication: just hear "space oddity" played when the car is still near Earth will be enough. It's not a NASA probe ! It's a stunt, no way it gets too complicated.
-
#128
by
dgates
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:43
-
The Roadsters’ battery is a substantial power source for a little while at least, as long as it holds out under vacuum & space borne conditions (probably not long). If power extraction was low and some electric heaters & insulation were added the batteries might last a little longer? Not like the car ever has to be road-worthy ever again, right?
-
#129
by
Dave G
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:47
-
The man has Panache.
Here's the car:
Have we confirmed that it's the old Roadster?
Tesla already gave test rides for the new Roadster, 0-60 in 1.9 seconds, a.k.a. plaid mode. 200 kWh battery.
Perhaps Elon already has one of these in his favorite color, cherry red.
-
#130
by
nacnud
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:50
-
-
#131
by
ketivab
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:54
-
-
#132
by
nacnud
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:56
-
Came here to say that,
! Hook line and sinker. Well played Mr Musk
-
#133
by
Kosmos2001
on 02 Dec, 2017 17:59
-
-
#134
by
scr00chy
on 02 Dec, 2017 18:00
-
Douche move, to be honest.
One thing would be to tweet the crazy plan, not comment on it and then later say it was a joke. But he and other SpaceXers confirmed it as real and THEN he says he made it up? Uncool.
-
#135
by
Chris Bergin
on 02 Dec, 2017 18:01
-
Oh great, now I have to merge this back into the speculation thread.
-
#136
by
Space Ghost 1962
on 02 Dec, 2017 18:03
-
What I was going to say:
Once again Helodriver predicts the Future in regards to SpaceX. Called the use of the former shuttle carrier for moving landed F9 cores, and now, called the Tesla Roadster, from 5 years ago in a post here from September 2012.
Elon if you want to PM me for more ideas, I'm available. 
You don't have to lurk on my posts here.
Were you also around when he drove away the entire PayPal management team *twice*, almost went bankrupt first time with Tesla (he's now working on the second time), almost failed to pay back the govt loan, went after a starlet who can't stand his looks, decided to do a static fire of an unproven chilled propellant booster with the payload on top, and the other less brilliant choices he's made in his life?
Yes, am quite the wet blanket on this one. Perhaps he should back off the Xanax for a few years, or visit the Betty Ford clinic if its still around.
Nothing so much as convinces me he believes that FH will fail in the first flight as this apparent gesture of decadent foolishness.
Grow up Musk.
-
#137
by
IanThePineapple
on 02 Dec, 2017 18:05
-
Soooo back to square 1.
-
#138
by
nacnud
on 02 Dec, 2017 18:06
-
Well we know one thing it isn't... possibly.
-
#139
by
IanThePineapple
on 02 Dec, 2017 18:17
-
Well we know one thing it isn't... possibly.
I'll list some things I know it won't be:
Humans
Animals
Jeff
Who Bezos
A Falcon 9
! Hook line and sinker. Well played Mr Musk
You don't have to lurk on my posts here.