SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 2 NASA TV HD Coverage

[ttwilkable]

brilliant video

[Lenangreal]

ah, the good ol' race into space begins again

[deathrooster14]

They got another launch planned in March, so stay tuned!

[vidgami46]

Can't wait to see the Falcon 9 heavy launch. 2nd most powerful launch vehicle in history, next only to the Saturn V.

[CharmingLordSausage]

Go SpaceX! Cheaper than even China! This means American civilization is heading for Mars! Cometh the frontier, cometh Captain Kirk!

[beatlefriend]

The reason the shuttle and Ares I-X produces more smoke is because they both use solid rocket boosters. On the shuttle the two SRB's are solid and on the Ares I-X test vehicle the first stage was also a solid booster based on the shuttle SRB. Falcon 9 uses 9 liquid fueled Merlin engines which are generally cleaner burning than solid fuel rockets.

[Alexfor2002]

@beatlefriend Thank you for taking the time to explain that really do appreciate it! Makes sense now :) .. I have to say I think the smoke makes for a great visual display of the launch, But I suppose cleaner rockets are the way forward :)

Alex

[ti994apc]

@Alexfor2002 Also SRB's (solid rocket boosters) have been responsible for most big major malfunctions in the last 25 years. Just look at at Delta II explosion, Challenger explosion, Titan IV explosion, and recent India rocket explosions. SRB's cannot be turned off once started and should NEVER be used in manned missions. Falcon9 can turn off up to 3 of its 9 engines and still reach orbit.

[Alexfor2002]

Why does the Falcon 9 make so much less smoke then the Shuttle or Ares? Different fuel?

[jamcrane3]

@Alexfor2002

Highly refined kerosene fuel, and no solid boosters.

[Scia52]

AMERICA FUCK YEAH!!

[50cobra302]

clean burning engines..

[TemplarOfNight]

This was so nominal.

[gucker07]

Can we hand over manned spaceflight to spacex already? these guys are performing, nasa and the established aerospace companies are not.

[TalksWithDirt]

That my friends is a perfect example of Soviet design techniques, married to American electronics, controls, and manufacturing. Very very nice. Look at that rocket, look at that pad, look how it is serviced on the ground, look how it is transported to the pad. That is an American copy of the old Soviet/(now Ukranian) Zenit. I for one welcome this development we should have done this 40 years ago.

[srstacy]

The NASA manned rockets had very visible crew escape modules, will the Dragon capsule have a crew escape system?

[docmordrid]

@srstacy

Yes.

Dragon Crew will have 4 abort engines built into the equipment bay, centered in the Draco thruster arrays. If not used for an abort these engines, along with deplorable landing gear, will be used to touch down on land like the Apollo era lunar lander did - tail first. These engines will use the same hypergolic fuel supply as the Draco maneuvering thrusters (it carries 1290 kg).

[madcio]

@srstacy

Yes, Musk said that they will have it 3 years after signing contract with NASA for it. If NASA will not pay for it, they still want it, but years later. :(

[ti994apc]

Thank you SpaceX ! Falcon9 is the safest and most practical way for people to get to space.

[VNSki]

@ti994apc It would be the Soyuz.

[ti994apc]

@VNSki The Soyuz capsule cannot abort at any time like Falcon9 will be able to with Dragon. The Dragon capsule has the highest rated heat shield of any manned module. Although Soyuz has an excellent reputation with no fatalities since 1971, I think Falcon9/Dragon will be safer.

[arubaga]

I am sure they will want to fix that burning gantry on the next flight.

[omega4chimp]

You will never see a hotel on the moon or in space,thou.

[SenorD34652]

@omega4chimp

Except for the one that Robert Bigelow is launching in 2012? Learn from history: people who say that things can't be done are usually wrong.

[manyworlds123456789]

Notice the leak at t+2...

[dumbestname]

Wow! As cruel and silly as the world is (especially these days)...You still have a handful of people on this planet willing to reach for the stars. That really makes up for all the sick, twisted, selfish, apathetic and evil people on this planet. Next time I here about some unspeakably evil act, I'll watch this vid.

[mobius1234]

@dumbestname "That really makes up for all the sick, twisted, selfish, apathetic and evil people on this planet."

There really is not as many as you think. It only looks like there is because they bad ones get most of the attention.

[edwardkarl]

Fantastic! One more step to reducing costs for entry to space. The long term implications are good for space, technology, and humanity.

[DarthSchwartz]

cool

[nilbud]

It's like the Muppet show, mmnominal da dode doo do mmnominal da do do do

[madcio]

@nilbud

And in space bussines, you want it this way, all way up.

[nilbud]

@madcio Just once they could do it surfer style. Gnarly burn. Bra. Dude thrust is sweet, smooth and strong.

[spacevidcast]

We will have the press conference aired live. I'm sure it will come up.

[moneyman10k]

the tower is blackened but maybe it was blackened last time too. ask them about tower maintenance, mr.spacevidcast

[RainHNg]

@moneyman10k ...they painted the lower half of the tower with gray/black paints, FYI

[mrplease66]

what's the explosion along the first stage at 1:22?

[ballcarlos]

@mrplease66 I think it was the fuel line having some fuel left in it, then when it gets separated, it hits the tower, and being close to the exhaust plume, it essentially ignited.

[juggis]

@mrplease66

Fuel hose caught on fire.

[jpourkav]

@mrplease66 Musk explained that explosion as the result of a faulty check valve in the press conference...