Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 with SES-8, December 3, 2013

[Urwumpe]

A little back on topic: what about the reentry of the 1st stage? Any news?

Dead and gone - no reuse testing on this flight.

 

[Ripley]

Ok, didn't know.

 

[fraxudemspas]

It would ruin the point of it. SpaceX is supposed to be a private and commercial company.

SpaceX is supposed to be Elon Musk's ticket to Mars.

 

[Kyle]

It would ruin the point of it. SpaceX is supposed to be a private and commercial company. There isn't going to be commercial needs for BEO/interplanetary for a looong time... Or maybe if the Chinese build a moonbace in 2020 and ask SpaceX to supply them... I have my doubts... :hmm:

The best SpaceX can do (and it was why it was funded at the beginning) is to relieve NASA of the LEO operational costs (ISS or other future stations), letting the national agency focus on science and exploration of space, which was its first goal, (and that is still actively carried through unmanned probes).

I'm aware of that :lol:, what I meant was SpaceX getting a contract to launch one of NASA's future unmanned planetary missions (the few that are scheduled).

 

[pritchie]

Anyone know what this weird parallel plume is? It obviously didn't interfere with the launch but it followed the rocket up a ways.

 

[Codz]

Some amateur footage from the Bahamas.

Definitely not a plane!:lol:

 

[Kyle]

The UFO reports didn't take long to flood in.

 

[Donamy]

light refraction ?

 

[Traveller]

Anyone know what this weird parallel plume is? It obviously didn't interfere with the launch but it followed the rocket up a ways.

The exhaust flame image on a lens protector. I had a similar effect when I took photos of a shuttle launch with a lens protector attached to my lens. I never did that again.

Meanwhile, here are a few of photos I took from my house. Let's see if I can do this correctly...

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Fantastic!

 

[RGClark]

Its "Thank God its Tuesday" for Orbiter.

For Orbiter?

Bob Clark

 

[Urwumpe]

For Orbiter?

Bob Clark

There is also "Thank God its Tuesday" for the software world, since Tuesday is the traditional release or patch day. But it has a special meaning for Orbiter.

 

[RGClark]

That's certainly a good record to add to SpaceX's resume, versus the other commercial companies. If we can get Thaicom-6 off in the next few weeks, SpaceX may be about to hit the ground running with the schedule.

I'd love for one day for a Falcon 9 to have a BEO/interplanetary mission with NASA.

Not NASA, but some Google X-prize entrants plan to use the Falcon 9 for launch of their lunar rovers.

Bob Clark

 

[N_Molson]

SpaceX is supposed to be Elon Musk's ticket to Mars.

*coughs* don't start me on this... :uhh:

 

[MattBaker]

Not NASA, but some Google X-prize entrants plan to use the Falcon 9 for launch of their lunar rovers.

Not trying to go too much off-topic but with Chang'e 3 going well I fear there won't be any result in the X-prize.

 

[Urwumpe]

*coughs* don't start me on this... :uhh:

Why? Its fine. The return technology is just not ready yet and needs further testing. :lol:

 

[pritchie]

The exhaust flame image on a lens protector. I had a similar effect when I took photos of a shuttle launch with a lens protector attached to my lens. I never did that again.

Ah, that makes sense! Thanks :thumbup:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Ah here it is!