# Continuing discussion of SpaceX launches \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 22, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048 "2015-12-22T00:37:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/221 "2016-05-28T01:54:38Z")
I got wrapped up in something and forgot to obsessively watch the launch, and was mildly confused when I checked in and saw the landed stage. (But… it hasn’t launched yet!?!) This time, SpaceX released some fucking magnificent [video from the rocket’s perspective](https://www.instagram.com/p/BF7sxM9QES7/?hl=en), all the way from stage separation to landing. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/222 "2016-05-28T02:48:43Z")
Awesome. Better quality YouTube version [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jEz03Z8azc). Reminiscent of NASA’s [videos of the Shuttle booster descent](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aCOyOvOw5c). Real-time and sound would be nice… ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/223 "2016-05-28T03:03:51Z")
No live stream VR from a 4k camera array? Might as well be in the dark ages of the early 21st century! (Hopefully we’ll get the full res video as soon as they get the booster back in port and can upload the original.) Another thought, prompted by that glorious Shuttle SRB video: even if there isn’t a high quality recording in audio frequencies for the Falcon booster reentry, I bet you could convert the vibration data from other frequency domains into some pretty amazing audio… ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/224 "2016-05-28T04:48:40Z")
Yeah, I’ll bet you’re right. We know from the CRS-7 investigation that they have audio-frequency accelerometers onboard (not for main guidance, but for structural telemetry). They were able to pinpoint the structural failure by triangulation of the pressure wave. They must then have data at multi-kilohertz rates; that should make for some pretty nice sounds. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/225 "2016-05-28T18:39:38Z")
I don’t know if this is embarrassing or just sublime: I didn’t even know there was to be a launch. Either Elon is getting incredibly good at this or incredibly bad at promotion. How many more launches until the Gigafactory is complete? ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/226 "2016-05-28T22:33:27Z")
Soon, it will be notable when SpaceX launches a rocket and doesn’t successfully land the first stage afterwards. Though if they keep launching and recovering them at this rate, and don’t start re-flying them, they’re going to run out of places to store them. Too many rockets, what a problem to have. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/227 "2016-05-28T22:52:13Z")
Given that they’ve returned cores for two very difficult GTO missions, I’d have to agree. LEO missions and lighter GTO missions should be easy in comparison. I imagine they’re still exploring the flight envelope to some extent, and so taking some risks, but I’d be surprised if they RUD more than about two cores in the rest of the year. [Here](http://i.imgur.com/o2vOtyp.jpg) is their warehouse containing the first three landed cores. They’ll have to start stacking them fairly soon now… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/228 "2016-05-29T01:26:47Z")
Perhaps re-entry structurally damaged them so that they cannot fly again. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/229 "2016-06-15T15:05:35Z")
Two out of three ain’t bad. Details are sketchy, but the latest Falcon 9 first stage was lost The video cut out, but it appeared to me that more flames than usual were there. > **[SpaceX tries to land again—and increase its launch cadence \[Updated\]](https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/06/watch-live-spacex-tries-to-land-again-and-increase-its-launch-cadence/)** > > Another launch to GTO, so another high-energy, high-risk return. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gLNmtUEvI5A/maxresdefault.jpg "Eutelsat/ABS Mission Hosted Webcast") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLNmtUEvI5A) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/230 "2016-06-15T15:30:22Z")
Elon confirmed first stage loss. It appears one of the landing boosters was not performing at max which caused a RUD on the drone ship. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2016, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/231 "2016-06-17T13:21:04Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Perhaps re-entry structurally damaged them so that they cannot fly again. If so that’s great for SpaceX too. Now they have data on what broke and in what way and they can work to fix it. Those first stages coming back intact, even if unsuitable for reuse, are win-win. > [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > Elon confirmed first stage loss. It appears one of the landing boosters was not performing at max which caused a RUD on the drone ship. I love RUD(Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly) as a term. It’s like “surprise adoption” or “sneakernet”. They are so evocative. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/232 "2016-07-17T22:50:09Z")
Bump for the next launch! This one is scheduled to take off late tonight (12:45 AM EDT on Monday). It’ll be a launch of the Dragon to the ISS, followed by a landing attempt back at the launch site, rather than the barge landings we’ve seen recently. As usual, you can find all the relevant details on the [/r/spacex launch thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/4t2umd/rspacex_spacex_crs9_official_launch_discussion/). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/233 "2016-07-18T04:54:10Z")
Yes! Another successful landing. Too bad it’s nighttime again with the land landing… still waiting for a daytime shot of the rocket touching down at LZ1. But it still looked great! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/234 "2016-07-18T04:56:15Z")
Oh, and Dragon is successfully in orbit. Ho-hum :). ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/235 "2016-07-18T05:20:07Z")
Check out the Technical Webcast. The landing has better camera angles than the Hosted Webcast. Also if you watch carefully as the 2nd stage lit off you can see the 1st stage burning away for the boost back burn fade off in the distance. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2016, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/236 "2016-07-30T13:21:43Z")
SpaceX has been doing a series of tests on the stage they launched and recovered on May 6. This was the booster that survived the harshest re-entry and landing conditions so far. Musk has stated that this stage will be extensively tested on the ground, as the “life leader” for the growing fleet of landed boosters. They just released [video of the first full-duration burn](http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/07/burn-baby-burn-spacex-test-fires-a-rocket-previously-flown-in-may/) (150 seconds, same as what it does during a normal flight), and people near the testing site have reported hearing an additional ~150 sec burn the very next day. Not quite as flashy as another launch and landing, but it shows how much testing and engineering is being done in preparation for the first launch of a re-used stage which might be later this year. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/237 "2016-07-30T17:59:00Z")
Since they have (5?) “only used by a little old lady on Sundays…” boosters, and not a bunch of market for same: How about bolting three of them together and getting the “Falcon Heavy” flying? (and, not to put too fine a point on it or anything, but: Sticking out your tongue at ULA and saying "Nyaa, Nyaa, I’m Better Than YOU! AND Your Russian Engines!) ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/238 "2016-07-30T18:49:30Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Since they have (5?) “only used by a little old lady on Sundays…” boosters, and not a bunch of market for same: > How about bolting three of them together and getting the “Falcon Heavy” flying? Because Kerbal Space Program is not real life? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/239 "2016-07-30T22:00:41Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > and not a bunch of market for same: SpaceX [already has a customer](https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/757694415506812929) for a reused F9. I expect they’ll get a lot more once they actually fly one. > [@lazybratsche](#): > > They just released [video of the first full-duration burn](http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/07/burn-baby-burn-spacex-test-fires-a-rocket-previously-flown-in-may/) (150 seconds, same as what it does during a normal flight), and people near the testing site have reported hearing an additional ~150 sec burn the very next day. They’re up to [three full-duration burns](https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/4vdtjd/3rd_mcgregor_fullduration_test_fire_of_landed/) at this point. I think they were shooting for 10. Pretty impressive durability, and it seems like it should give potential customers high confidence if their max-damage booster operates like new after a landing. These burns are also close enough together that they obviously aren’t doing much refurbishment between them. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/240 "2016-07-30T22:06:25Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Because Kerbal Space Program is not real life? 😛 Yeah, no way can they strap together three existing boosters. However, my understanding is that SpaceX ultimately hopes to have just two core variants total–a center core and a booster core. The center needs more reinforcement to handle side loads and the payload. The boosters can be more minimalistic. So it may ultimately be that a landed F9 core can be used as the center for a FH with just some bolt-on modifications. They aren’t there yet, though. I still want them to launch a core to orbit with no payload or second stage. The math says it should just make it to LEO. First SSTO :). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048.md?page=13)