# SpaceX makes successful launch to the ISS! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 23, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777 "2012-05-23T01:31:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/1 "2012-05-23T01:31:07Z")
[Yaaaaahooooooo!](http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/spacex-finally-launches-rocket-makes-history/2012/05/22/gIQA414qiU_story.html)🙂 > [@](#): > > The SpaceX company made history as its Falcon 9 rocket rose from its seaside launch pad and pierced the pre-dawn sky, aiming for a rendezvous in a few days with the space station. The unmanned rocket carried into orbit a capsule named Dragon that is packed with 1,000 pounds of space station provisions. > > It is the first time a private company has launched a vessel to the space station. Before, that was something only major governments had done. > > “Falcon flew perfectly!!” SpaceX’s billionaire founder, Elon Musk, said via Twitter. “Dragon in orbit … Feels like a giant weight just came off my back.” > > Musk later told reporters: “I feel very lucky … For us, it’s like winning the Super Bowl.” > > This time, the Falcon’s nine engines kept firing all the way through liftoff. On Saturday, flight computers aborted the launch with a half-second remaining in the countdown; a bad engine valve was replaced. > > The White House quickly offered congratulations. > > “Every launch into space is a thrilling event, but this one is especially exciting,” said John Holdren, President Barack Obama’s chief science adviser. “This expanded role for the private sector will free up more of NASA’s resources to do what NASA does best — tackle the most demanding technological challenges in space, including those of human space flight beyond low Earth orbit.” [SpaceX](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacex) [Falcon 9 rocket](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(spacecraft)) [Dragon capsule](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(spacecraft)) (reusable) ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/2 "2012-05-23T01:41:58Z")
Wahoo… congrats to SpaceX! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/3 "2012-05-23T02:11:21Z")
_Ad Astra!_ ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/4 "2012-05-23T02:32:09Z")
Among other things, the two Secret Celebrities on board were James Doohan and Gordon Cooper. Alright, just some of their ashes, but on the way to the ISS they sent the mortal remains of those two and a few hundred others into the Great Black Yonder. Which is just one more interesting/cool thing on top of everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/5 "2012-05-23T04:57:06Z")
The feed of the announcer from their first attempted launch was priceless (three, two, one, lift-off! uh oh), but I’m glad the second attempt was successful. I guess this is what space stuff is going to look like now, so this is something to celebrate. Is this the company owned by the guy who teared up in a TV interview when he found out the Apollo astronauts disapproved of his plans? That interview broke my heart. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/6 "2012-05-23T14:28:14Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > … they sent the mortal remains of those two and a few hundred others into the Great Black Yonder. I heard the ashes were jettisoned with the booster rocket (perhaps not the right term) - might the ashes end up crashing to Earth or as more space-junk orbiting, only to be hoovered up/lasered at some later date? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/7 "2012-05-23T14:34:34Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > I heard the ashes were jettisoned with the booster rocket (perhaps not the right term) - might the ashes end up crashing to Earth or as more space-junk orbiting, only to be hoovered up/lasered at some later date? Second stage I think. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/8 "2012-05-23T14:38:36Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Second stage I think. > > –Cliffy Okay - so drifting into oblivion like the end of Dark Star then. Much better for all ashes concerned. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/9 "2012-05-23T22:00:26Z")
Hmm . . . [SpaceX has competitors.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/spacex-rockets-ahead-but-several-companies-jockeying-behind-it-in-commercial-space-race/2012/05/23/gJQABmX2kU_story.html) “There are now more companies looking to make money in orbit — at least eight — than major U.S. airlines still flying.” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/10 "2012-05-25T14:38:41Z")
And now comes the interesting part - they’re preparing for docking. Live feed [here](http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/spacex-dragon-now-attempting-docking-with-space-station?ref=fpblg). If they can successfully dock the Dragon to the ISS, then the mission is a success, and a private company will have proved it can do this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/11 "2012-05-25T14:59:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > _Ad Astra!_ Well, not quite. The distance from the Earth to the ISS is about the same as that from New York to Washington DC. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/12 "2012-05-25T15:01:44Z")
The Dragon is in its lair: [NASA - SpaceX Launch](http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html) "The International Space Station Expedition 31 crew successfully captured the SpaceX Dragon capsule with the station’s robotic arm at 9:56 AM EDT. " ---
**Author:** ![misling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@misling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misling)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/13 "2012-05-25T15:04:42Z")
succeeded 🙂 it’s docked ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/14 "2012-05-25T15:06:05Z")
It’s not a coincidence that this company is pronounced “space sex,” is it? I mean, they must have been kicking around dozens of potential names, many of which presumably didn’t have “sex” in the name. So surely they’ve got people working on this, right? How long do I have to save up how much money before I can go on a Space Sex adventure? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/15 "2012-05-25T15:17:36Z")
I love stuff like this. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/16 "2012-05-25T15:26:27Z")
This is a true step forward. The fact that SpaceX has competition is awesome as well. Congratulations to all involved. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/17 "2012-05-25T16:17:16Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > "The International Space Station Expedition 31 crew successfully captured the SpaceX Dragon capsule with the station’s robotic arm at 9:56 AM EDT. " I’m so proud. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/18 "2012-05-25T16:23:00Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m so proud. Me [too](http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/iss/canadarm2/default.asp). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/19 "2012-05-25T18:30:39Z")
Of course, these guys are essentially government contractors – we won’t **really** have private-sector space travel until we have some involving no tax dollars at all. But this at least suggests the possibility. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777/20 "2012-05-31T17:01:53Z")
And now, in an achievement nearly as impressive, [the SpaceX Dragon returns to Earth!](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-31/spacex-vehicle-returns-to-earth-after-leaving-space-station.html) > [@](#): > > The ship parachuted into the Pacific Ocean at 11:42 a.m. New York time, about 560 miles off the coast of southern California. It returned with about 1,400 pounds of cargo. > > “Splashdown successful!!!” Musk tweeted after today’s landing. > > The National Aeronautics and Space Administration retired its shuttle fleet last year and wants the private sector to take over ferrying supplies and eventually astronauts to the station. SpaceX, based in Hawthorne, California, may begin regular resupply missions to the lab in September. > > Astronauts released the so-called Dragon capsule from the station’s 60-foot-long robotic arm at 5:49 a.m., according to NASA. > > “Dragon smoothly undocked, moved out, released and on its way home,” Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers tweeted from the space station. “Job done!” he wrote in another post. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-makes-successful-launch-to-the-iss/622777.md?page=2)