# 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:** 24
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/461 "2018-02-06T20:56:45Z")
Gorgeous! And seeing the boosters land so prettily! Thrilling! ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/462 "2018-02-06T20:57:59Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Watching the two boosters land simultaneously was pretty damn cool. I realized how advanced this technology is becoming when I wasn’t surprised to see both booster cores standing upright and stable on the ground. I would have been surprised to see anything else. I’d still like to have seen the main core touch down; the feed cut away from _OCISLY_. I haven’t got the audio up on the livecast so if there was any explanation or status I haven’t heard it. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/463 "2018-02-06T20:59:35Z")
The office went outside today to watch it take off. It’s so cool to see that little orange streak in the sky go up and up 'til it disappears. Living in Orlando is pretty cool sometimes ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/464 "2018-02-06T20:59:58Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > I’d still like to have seen the main core touch down; the feed cut away from _OCISLY_. I haven’t got the audio up on the livecast so if there was any explanation or status I haven’t heard it. Vibrations causing the antenna to go out of alignment is what they said. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/465 "2018-02-06T21:00:04Z")
No word on center core, but even if that didn’t land correctly still a cool achievement. Nice that the roadster screen had “DON"T PANIC” on it 🙂 Brian ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/466 "2018-02-06T21:00:25Z")
That was way cool seeing both side boosters landing at the same time. I also loved the “Don’t Panic” on the GPS ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/467 "2018-02-06T21:01:42Z")
Wow. Any idea of when they’ll do another burn to leave earth orbit? ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/468 "2018-02-06T21:02:12Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > No word on center core, but even if that didn’t land correctly still a cool achievement. > > Brian If you watched the video screens behind the presenters, the OCISLY feed eventually came back, but no rocket on it. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/469 "2018-02-06T21:03:47Z")
That was badass. I don’t think the center core made it. That was always going to be a tough one; it’s going much faster at that point than previous attempts. They’ll figure it out, though. Given the general lack of explosions, they’ll have a ton of data to sift though. There’s still another part of the mission coming up–another burn in ~6 hours. They haven’t waited this long before for a second stage restart, but they want to demo this for “direct insertion geostationary” missions. Normally it’s the job of the satellite to circularize the orbit when it gets to geostationary, but if there’s propellant left and you can handle the delay, you can have the rocket do that portion as well. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/470 "2018-02-06T21:14:21Z")
> [@Scoobysnax](#): > > That was way cool seeing both side boosters landing at the same time. I also loved the “Don’t Panic” on the GPS > [@N9IWP](#): > > No word on center core, but even if that didn’t land correctly still a cool achievement. > > Nice that the roadster screen had “DON"T PANIC” on it > > Brian Yes. That’s the sort of touch you have to appreciate. 🆒 Oh, and … follow THAT, Super Bowl car ads… ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/471 "2018-02-06T21:20:14Z")
Steven Tyler becoming younger in a Kia is WAY cooler than some dumb old rocket. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/472 "2018-02-06T21:42:41Z")
The center core did not make it. You could hear it on the controllers net just at the end of the webcast. If you listen you’ll hear “We lost the center core” just before they announce the second stage has reached a nominal parking orbit. I thought there was a shot of the center core doing a three engine landing burn. And why not? This whole mission was a big experiment and they’ll take the data they have and make it work next time. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/473 "2018-02-06T21:58:01Z")
It is a measure of how far we’ve come when we’re disappointed that only two out of three boosters returned from orbit and landed tail down on a landing pad. That synchronised dual landing was wonderful, don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing it. (and I loved the HHGTTG “don’t panic!” reference…Musk is such a geek.) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/474 "2018-02-06T22:01:35Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > It is a measure of how far we’ve come when we’re disappointed that only two out of three boosters returned from orbit and landed tail down on a landing pad. > > That synchronised dual landing was wonderful, don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing it. (and I loved the HHGTTG “don’t panic!” reference…Musk is such a geek.) What’s even cooler (to me)… the side boosters that made it are [del]gently used pre-owned refurbished[/del] pre-flown. Now THAT’s value. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/475 "2018-02-06T22:05:39Z")
There’s a live feed from the Tesla Roadster that is currently orbiting the Earth, and soon to be on it’s way much further. Hahaha. DONT PANIC ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/476 "2018-02-06T22:07:17Z")
There’s a continuing live stream of Starman flying away from earth in his little red sports car: [Live Views of Starman - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBr2kKAHN6M) eta: Ninja’d from space! ---
**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:** [February 6, 2018, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/477 "2018-02-06T22:07:18Z")
[Live view of Starman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBr2kKAHN6M) I also thought the DON’T PANIC! was a fantastic touch. Apparently, there’s also a copy of HHGTTG and a towel in the glovebox. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/478 "2018-02-06T22:07:50Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > I thought there was a shot of the center core doing a three engine landing burn. And why not? This whole mission was a big experiment and they’ll take the data they have and make it work next time. Assuming that the upper-right frame (telescopic view) was the center core, yeah, it does look like they ignited three Merlins (at [10:13 in the launch video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E2So00le7I&t=10m10s)). Experiments on top of experiments. I really look forward to the full press brief. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/479 "2018-02-06T22:19:59Z")
I’ve always liked the way SpaceX always packs as much testing into a launch as possible. Use the whole cow, so to speak. I wonder if Starman himself is an experiment? That’s one of their prototype crew flight suits. They might have loaded it up with sensors to see how it actually performs in space. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/480 "2018-02-06T22:26:57Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I’ve always liked the way SpaceX always packs as much testing into a launch as possible. Use the whole cow, so to speak. > > I wonder if Starman himself is an experiment? That’s one of their prototype crew flight suits. They might have loaded it up with sensors to see how it actually performs in space. Well, they’re not getting him back (for a good long time), so if they have him instrumented I hope they jacked him into a spare telemetry channel or two. Sometimes playful PR is merely playful PR. Elon isn’t always srs bzns. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048.md?page=25)