SpaceX News

Point out news stories, on the net or in mainstream media, related to polywell fusion.

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hanelyp
Posts: 2261
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:50 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by hanelyp »

When you're operating on a Cost Plus basis, the expense of all those layers of subcontractors and intensive testing is just a cost for the customer to cover.
The daylight is uncomfortably bright for eyes so long in the dark.

GIThruster
Posts: 4686
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 8:17 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by GIThruster »

"Courage is not just a virtue, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." C. S. Lewis

jcoady
Posts: 141
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:36 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by jcoady »

Here is video of the Antares launch.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1539 ... est-launch

jcoady
Posts: 141
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:36 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by jcoady »

So after the Antares launch, SpaceX launches their Grasshopper rocket to new heights.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-575 ... w-heights/

Maui
Posts: 586
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:10 am
Location: Madison, WI

Re: SpaceX News

Post by Maui »

Seems like the legs are smoldering pretty good there. I'll assume they've designed it so they don't eventually outright melt?

DeltaV
Posts: 2245
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:05 am

Re: SpaceX News

Post by DeltaV »

Mmmm... BBQed grasshopper leg.

Looks like the fuel pump turbine's exhaust velocity is low enough to be seriously shifted by the prevailing wind. Possible problem in hover, not a problem for ascent to orbit.

KitemanSA
Posts: 6179
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:05 pm
Location: OlyPen WA

Re: SpaceX News

Post by KitemanSA »

Awe-f'ing-some!

jcoady
Posts: 141
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:36 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by jcoady »

Here is a video of the old DCXA doing what the Grasshopper does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzXcTFfV ... e=youtu.be

Skipjack
Posts: 6805
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:29 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by Skipjack »

jcoady wrote:Here is a video of the old DCXA doing what the Grasshopper does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzXcTFfV ... e=youtu.be
Yeah, only that the Grasshopper is several times the size and will lead to an actual LV...
I loved the DC-X, dont get me wrong, was heartbroken when they cancelled it.

KitemanSA
Posts: 6179
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:05 pm
Location: OlyPen WA

Re: SpaceX News

Post by KitemanSA »

jcoady wrote:Here is a video of the old DCXA doing what the Grasshopper does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzXcTFfV ... e=youtu.be
Let us hope that the Grasshopper doesn't do what the DCXA did there at the end.

CaptainBeowulf
Posts: 498
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:35 am

Re: SpaceX News

Post by CaptainBeowulf »

Honestly, if you're going to do a long-term R&D program leading to an operational vehicle in the end, you've got to account for losing a couple of prototypes to unexpected issues/accidents at the outset. If SpaceX isn't prepared to continue the program even if a Grasshopper topples over and explodes, then they'll probably fail as much as NASA did with the DCXA.

Netmaker
Posts: 78
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:17 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by Netmaker »

SpaceX has already shown their willingness to persevere in the face of adversity. The first three flights of the Falcon 1 were failures. The 4th and 5th flights were successes and paved the way for the Falcon 9.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_1

Look under Launch History.

Skipjack
Posts: 6805
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:29 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by Skipjack »

Yeah, Elon Musk even said on several occasions that they expect to leave a few smoking craters in the Texas soil. So far they have done a really great job at avoiding that. Grasshopper 1 will soon retire though (to be replaced with GH2, which will be closer to the final first stage). I would not be surprised if they did a last, final flight that will take it beyond its limits. You can learn something from going beyond the limits of your test craft.

jcoady
Posts: 141
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:36 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by jcoady »


93143
Posts: 1142
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:51 pm

Re: SpaceX News

Post by 93143 »

fuel-inefficient surplus Russian rocket engines
[*facepalm*]

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