SpaceX caught the rocket on the first attempt! If you look at the history of the space race, there were many failures with rockets exploding before they had a successful launch. After launch, rockets were either discarded into the ocean or were brought down with parachutes to be recovered later. SpaceX completely changed the game with having their rockets land themselves.
No joke, amazing technology. I had the opportunity to visit SpaceX Hawthorne back in 2015. Very impressive facility & no doubt seemed a great place to work. We were presenting the idea of a fiber optic link that used a high output 830nm laser to power a sensor via an LPC (laser power converter), the sensor data would come back the other direction using a different wavelength. This way, no electrical connection to the sensor was required. So going into an explosive atmosphere was less dangerous. Unfortunately, the day before our visit one of the original rockets blew up so they were most definitely focused on other things. Even still they listened to our presentation. Someday this fiberoptic link idea might become reality.
The brilliance of Elon Musk. He'd make a pretty decent president, I think.
I believe the key here is Musk employs brilliant people. No doubt he's the force behind such endeavors but, I honestly doubt he ever saw a blueprint or took any part in the design of such a wonderful machine. Reference a "President Musk" can't happen.
------------------ Rams Learning most of life's lessons the hard way. . You are only young once but, you can be immature indefinitely.
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 10-16-2024).]
Sort of a 'bump' but things are progressing so fast nowadays, it's hard to fathom, much less keep up with.
SpaceX plans to launch their next Starship from S. Texas mid-November, around the 18th. That's just over a month after they caught the last one. Different boosters and vehicle for sure but the fact they can have the pad ready again so soon is impressive, and the next one after this is nearing completion in the tall assembly bay. The 2nd launch facility (near the one currently being used) will be ready around Feb of next year if things go according to plan. Their workhorse launch vehicle Falcon 9, just launched it's 31st mission to resupply ISS. 1st stage booster returned to launch site, or nearby at Canaveral, which makes 46 SpaceX boosters that have returned to Canaveral. If the return landings elsewhere are included, it's the 362nd SpaceX booster landings to date. The launch was also a benchmark for SpaceX’s Falcon program. It marked the 400th Falcon rocket launched to date, which consisted of 389 Falcon 9 rockets and 11 Falcon Heavy rockets. This was also the 104th Falcon 9 rocket launched just in 2024.
This launch pace is truly something I never dreamed I would see, much less see so many boosters return to Earth and be ready to launch again in just a few short months, sometimes even weeks.
This launch pace is truly something I never dreamed I would see, much less see so many boosters return to Earth and be ready to launch again in just a few short months, sometimes even weeks.
It is really cool, and I'm hopeful that the next few years, there will be a shift away from war and nihilism and more towards the advancement of "worthy endeavors". People (especially the youngins) need a purpose,or at least a positive direction to aim towards... xoxo
