Meanwhile, why is the US government allowing itself to be held to ransom to a group of large USA companies using RUSSIAN rocket engines to push just one-way launches at greatly greater cost than the home-grown USA SpaceX can do?


Old cronies and corrupt politics and real innovation be damned and grounded?...


Excellent work there from SpaceX!

Only in the USA?
Martin

Because technically SpaceX flights are still "test flights".

Cheers.

Look ma, no parachutes.

SpaceX unveils its new spacecraft to take astronauts to the ISS and back.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/29/us/spacex-new-spacecraft/

The Dragon V2 got its grand reveal Thursday night by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who showed off his company's new spacecraft in a live webcast.

While the California-based company has already made its mark on its industry in its 12 years in business, Dragon V2 marks a major milestone as SpaceX's first spacecraft capable of bringing humans to the International Space Station then back to Earth.

"It's all around I think a big leap forward in technology," Musk said. "It really takes things to the next level."

The storied entrepreneur -- who also founded the Tesla car company and is thought by some to be the inspiration for Tony Stark, or "Iron Man" -- said that "Dragon Version 2," as he called it, can transport as many as seven astronauts for several days.

One big upgrade from earlier models is that Dragon V2 will be reusable, which will cut down on costs and open up opportunities for humans to explore. Thanks to propulsion and other technology to slow its re-entry into Earth's orbit and control its descent, Musk said the spacecraft should be able to land most anywhere much like a helicopter.

Cheers.

Look ma, no parachutes.

SpaceX unveils its new spacecraft to take astronauts to the ISS and back.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/29/us/spacex-new-spacecraft/

The Dragon V2 got its grand reveal Thursday night by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who showed off his company's new spacecraft in a live webcast.

While the California-based company has already made its mark on its industry in its 12 years in business, Dragon V2 marks a major milestone as SpaceX's first spacecraft capable of bringing humans to the International Space Station then back to Earth.

"It's all around I think a big leap forward in technology," Musk said. "It really takes things to the next level."

The storied entrepreneur -- who also founded the Tesla car company and is thought by some to be the inspiration for Tony Stark, or "Iron Man" -- said that "Dragon Version 2," as he called it, can transport as many as seven astronauts for several days.

One big upgrade from earlier models is that Dragon V2 will be reusable, which will cut down on costs and open up opportunities for humans to explore. Thanks to propulsion and other technology to slow its re-entry into Earth's orbit and control its descent, Musk said the spacecraft should be able to land most anywhere much like a helicopter.

Cheers.

It seems now that they're talking about a late 2017/early 2018 for the capsule's first flight with astronauts onboard.

Cheers.

It's cool looking as far as capsules go. I presume it parachutes down to a point then lands with it's rocket motors.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

It's cool looking as far as capsules go. I presume it parachutes down to a point then lands with it's rocket motors.

Not according to the video in the link Bob, though I was waiting for at least 1 to pop out.

Cheers.

It's cool looking as far as capsules go. I presume it parachutes down to a point then lands with it's rocket motors.

Not according to the video in the link Bob, though I was waiting for at least 1 to pop out.

Cheers.

They only went up to a little over 1000ft. To descend from orbit that would require a lot of rocket fuel. At least that is what I'm thinking. From what I read they have a parachute backup system and I'm betting it does it's initial slow down from reentry via a drag chute before engaging it's rocket motors.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

It's cool looking as far as capsules go. I presume it parachutes down to a point then lands with it's rocket motors.

Not according to the video in the link Bob, though I was waiting for at least 1 to pop out.

Cheers.

They only went up to a little over 1000ft. To descend from orbit that would require a lot of rocket fuel. At least that is what I'm thinking. From what I read they have a parachute backup system and I'm betting it does it's initial slow down from reentry via a drag chute before engaging it's rocket motors.

Ah now I see were the confusion is, you're talking about the older Falcon 9-R rocket link Bob where as it's the latest link that I'm referring to and it's is for the Dragon V2 capsule, but higher test flights are also scheduled for the Falcon 9-R rocket.

Cheers.

It's cool looking as far as capsules go. I presume it parachutes down to a point then lands with it's rocket motors.

Not according to the video in the link Bob, though I was waiting for at least 1 to pop out.

Cheers.

They only went up to a little over 1000ft. To descend from orbit that would require a lot of rocket fuel. At least that is what I'm thinking. From what I read they have a parachute backup system and I'm betting it does it's initial slow down from reentry via a drag chute before engaging it's rocket motors.

Ah now I see were the confusion is, you're talking about the older Falcon 9-R rocket link Bob where as it's the latest link that I'm referring to and it's is for the Dragon V2 capsule, but higher test flights are also scheduled for the Falcon 9-R rocket.

Cheers.

No, I was reading about the new Dragon V2 and although he mentions a parachute backup system you are right that he doesn't mention their use for a normal landing. I am skeptical about the ability to slow a capsule down enough for a soft landing on rocket power alone. I just doesn't look like there is enough room to carry enough fuel. I will be interested to see if it can accomplish this with 7 astronauts aboard. The shuttle had to do a lot of aerodynamic maneuvering to slow down from high mach to landing speed.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

I will be very happy if proven wrong but I think it is still impossible to bring down a loaded capsule from orbit with rockets alone. It defies the laws of physics in that there is no way to carry that much fuel in that small of a vehicle. Even if they throw any kind of structural safety into the trash can. I don't care if his rocket motors are 200 time more powerful than anything that has gone before. They still burn fuel and the more powerful the motor the faster it gets used up. Unless SpaceX has discovered unobtainium.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Thunderbird 1 managed it Ok I seem to recall .....

Yeah, right. So can the X-wing fighter from Star Wars. Maybe George Lucas designed the Dragon V2.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Thunderbird 1 managed it Ok I seem to recall .....

Yeah, right. So can the X-wing fighter from Star Wars. Maybe George Lucas designed the Dragon V2.

Orbiting refueling stations.

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Seeing is believing, but going up to and landing from 3,000ft is a lot different than coming down from orbit. I think Musk is leaving something out and hopes that within three years a way will be found. My college professors taught that it takes a lot of fuel to counter the force of gravity and I will be watching eagerly when they do a complete de-orbit burn and land with just the use of rocket motors. You can only get so much energy from a given quantity of fuel.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

I would like to see some calculations showing that the Dragon V2 capsule can carry enough fuel for a powered descent from orbit with a full load of astronauts and their gear. And a description of the fuel.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

I can't find it now but someone mentioned that a rocket descending only needs to overcome a terminal velocity of 120 mph. That speed is only roughly true for a human being. The acceleration of gravity increases until the drag of the falling object matches the pull of gravity and mass and that is terminal velocity. I am sure the terminal velocity of the dragon space craft is much higher than 120 mph.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

The latest SpaceX news is that they will build their 1st commercial launchpad in Texas.

http://www.dailytech.com/Texas+Chosen+as+Site+for+SpaceXs+First+Commercial+Launchpad/article36340.htm

According to Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas), the state of Texas is paying $2.3 million USD from the Texas Enterprise Fund to bring SpaceX's launchpad -- which is the world's first commercial launchpad -- to the state.

Texas will reportedly pay another $13 million USD from the SpacePort Trust Fund to support infrastructure development.

The Brownsville Economic Development Council is awarding about $5 million USD of incentives and local tax breaks.

“Texas has been on the forefront of our nation’s space exploration efforts for decades, so it is fitting that SpaceX has chosen our state as they expand the frontiers of commercial space flight,” said Perry.

The new launchpad, which is set to be located in Brownsville, Texas, is expected to bring about 300 jobs to the site.

“We appreciate the support of Governor Perry and numerous other federal, state and local officials who have partnered with us to make this vision a reality,” said Musk.

Cheers.

The latest SpaceX news is that they will build their 1st commercial launchpad in Texas.

http://www.dailytech.com/Texas+Chosen+as+Site+for+SpaceXs+First+Commercial+Launchpad/article36340.htm

According to Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas), the state of Texas is paying $2.3 million USD from the Texas Enterprise Fund to bring SpaceX's launchpad -- which is the world's first commercial launchpad -- to the state.

Texas will reportedly pay another $13 million USD from the SpacePort Trust Fund to support infrastructure development.

The Brownsville Economic Development Council is awarding about $5 million USD of incentives and local tax breaks.

“Texas has been on the forefront of our nation’s space exploration efforts for decades, so it is fitting that SpaceX has chosen our state as they expand the frontiers of commercial space flight,” said Perry.

The new launchpad, which is set to be located in Brownsville, Texas, is expected to bring about 300 jobs to the site.

“We appreciate the support of Governor Perry and numerous other federal, state and local officials who have partnered with us to make this vision a reality,” said Musk.

Cheers.

\\Oh good, that means that if they have a launch failure Florida will be in the fallout area.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

\\Oh good, that means that if they have a launch failure Florida will be in the fallout area.

Good 1 Bob :)

It is private enterprise so a good chance of it happening .......the mighty dollars rules

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Bob i think you will find they wont need to fire the engines for long and things like Parachutes and it's own drag will slow it down enough before it has to use the engines only thing to care full about is the -G's

!7,000 mph is not as fast as a comet or meteorite so depending on how they can control the descent Space - X should be able to do .

Lockheed Martin have experimented with it N.A.S.A has to

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Bob i think you will find they wont need to fire the engines for long and things like Parachutes and it's own drag will slow it down enough before it has to use the engines only thing to care full about is the -G's

!7,000 mph is not as fast as a comet or meteorite so depending on how they can control the descent Space - X should be able to do .

Lockheed Martin have experimented with it N.A.S.A has to

What I'd be afraid of is a massive launch failure. The crew compartment would detach but the booster would fall on a parabolic arc. That's why the built the NASA launch facility on the east coast of Florida. In case of a failure debris falls in the ocean.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

When i read it was Texas i was wondering isan't that the wrong place myself but for different reason.

Isn't Florida AKA the "Cape" closer to the equator ?

The closer you are the less fuel you use , something to do with the earths rotation giving you a boost ...?

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