SpaceX Falcon 9 "go for launch"

[Moonwalker]

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket finally got the "go" from the Air Force and FAA. The rocket is about to launch this friday. Depending on the weather, there is a 60% chance for launch attempt currently.

From SpaceX:

Friday 4 June 2010

Launch Window Opens: 11:00 AM Eastern / 8:00 AM Pacific / 1500 UTC
Launch window lasts 4 hours. SpaceX has also reserved a second launch day on Saturday 5 June, with the same hours.

As always, weather will play a significant role in our overall launch schedule. The weather experts at the Cape are giving us a 40% chance of “no go” conditions for both days of our window, citing the potential for cumulus clouds and anvil clouds from thunderstorms.

http://www.spacex.com/updates.php

[Moonwalker]

Falcon 9, i.e. Dragon, has made it into low earth orbit sucessfully. The launch and ascent was just picture-perfect after one launch delay (abort) due to early engine cutoff. We now have a company that has significant access to space. I didn't expect that the launch would be that successful. SpaceX has passed its own screening test and proven that they're no less capable in launching rockets into orbit than NASA.

Next flight: I guess the Dragon entry and recovery test...

http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/status.html

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/06/live-spacex-attempt1-maiden-launch-falcon-9/

What a nice working launch vehicle:

http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/launch/

That company got knowhow.

[bradleyjs]

The only anomoly that I think they have is a roll to port when they fired-up the 2nd stage engine...


And here's the comment from the owner:

"Musk says the roll oscillation observed during the second stage burn was not expected, but the rocket still reached a near-perfect orbit. Engineers will study the issue before the next flight, which is scheduled for later this summer."

[schmidtrock]

Awesome sauce!

[schmidtrock]

Musk reports near perfect orbit despite the oscillation anomaly.

[Moonwalker]

The roll was something that didn't look normal indeed. I was a little bit worried when I watched it. But the ascent was just awesome. Fixing that roll issue is not a big deal I think.

We have to keep in mind that this is a completely new vehicle that flew for the very first time. I think what all the people from SpaceX have achieved is awesome. I mean it's not a big space agency. It's a company. It shows that space flight is not necessarily related to big bloated bureaucracies anymore

[Moonwalker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhoX5XcqnfA&feature=player_embedded

[bradleyjs]

Yeah, the roll issue (IMHO) could have been related to an "RCS" type test that I think I heard the commentator(s) saying they were testing -- but not sure if a valve got stuck or not..or something to that effect. Anyway, it was a great success overall!!!

Wanted to see if live from work (Orlando) but the clouds were too expansive and I chose to watch it via spaceflightnow.com and spacex.com -- which were very sluggish -- thinking that too many "viewer" were watching at the same time.

[IceManHG]

This is great stuff. Anyone know if SpaceX stock is going to be available anytime soon? I think this is a company to watch.

[Admin]

This is great stuff. Anyone know if SpaceX stock is going to be available anytime soon? I think this is a company to watch.

Is this a "BUY" suggestion? LOL!

/Admin

[IceManHG]

This is great stuff. Anyone know if SpaceX stock is going to be available anytime soon? I think this is a company to watch.

Is this a "BUY" suggestion? LOL!

/Admin

Actually its me seeking a "Buy" suggestion. I am not affiliated with SpaceX in any form. I just want to know when their stock is going to be available because I am going to buy some.

[bradleyjs]

Here's some good pics of the 2nd stage -- notice how it glows as it goes.... LOL

http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/stills/

[Moonwalker]

By the way: about one hour after launch of Falcon 9 there was an UFO sighting over Australia that got some attention. The UFO was "spiraling". Too obvious that this was the rotating upper stage of Falcon 9 (and so not an UFO anymore).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N74l1XHVOTc&feature=player_embedded

[IceManHG]

Its hilarious to read the comments for that video.


"Earthquake Has Just Struck Australia....4.7.....Something Is Going On??

"I agree with you that it's not a rocket! HAARP? Don't know...just a WTF is that? NOT NORMAL!!!"

"uh oh its like the Norway Spiral. This is a HAARP military operation obviously practising again. This time in Australia. They will be a part of a world wide deception using mobile towner, satelites and mobile phone technology to beam a fake aparition around the world attempting to convince people that all the Gods are now one. BE AWARE. research it yourself!"

"A rocket -??!! yea right - geez that must be one magical rocket that passes between canberra, NSW coast then over to outback QLD before racing out to sea? are ppl that s****d to beleive what the govt and so called astronomers are feeding us with lies? its an insult to ones intelligence. y the hell is it so hard to beleive that UFO's exist. the media and us govt still unfortunately involved in coverups and lies. whats really scary is ppl actually believe its a rocket??!!"

[Moonwalker]

Its hilarious to read the comments for that video.

It really worries me. Because it shows that huge parts of the world pupulation still seems to be ignorant, including parts of western "modern" socities. But obviously this it nothing new if we just look how much humans are prone to belief for thousands of years, like religions for example, rather than to knowledge and smartness. I tend to call those UFO and hoax believers highly religious.