SpaceX Falcon 9x3 - SpacePod 2010.05.11

SpaceX Falcon 9 times three on your SpacePod for May 11th, 2010As one spaceship ends its career, another one is just beginning. The SpaceX Falcon 9 is getting ready for launch. An exact date is not yet set in stone, but the last we have heard was a No Earlier Than May 16th launch date. Rumors say May 23rd, but we'll see how that flight termination system we talked about last week ends up.The Falcon 9 that is getting ready to launch is but one of three that SpaceX has built or is in the process of building. This first flight is to test the basic system, then Falcon 9 flight 2 is designed to be the first flight under the COTS program and the first flight of an operational Dragon spacecraft.Dragon is the cargo capsule that is capable of being man-rated but is not yet there, so cargo only for now. The initial COTS-1 Dragon module will orbit the Earth several times then re-enter and splashdown off the coast of Southern California. This is designed to test the basic functions of Dragon as well as the Draco thrusters. And that's one of the really cool things about SpaceX. Unlike other companies, these engines are all SpaceX designs. The Merlin 1C engines that lift the Falcon 9 are SpaceX engines, not decommissioned ICBMs like on other rockets. The Draco thrusters that allow the Dragon capsule to steer and orient itself in space are also SpaceX designs and not just a part purchased from a defunct Government space program somewhere. It's sorta fun to watch the test of the Draco Thrusters, almost like they are trying to make a song of sorts.And then there's Falcon 9 Flight 3. Heck, flight #1 isn't even off the ground yet and already SpaceX is working on creating their third Falcon 9 rocket! Production for this rocket has already started with completion of several sections. Ten Merlin engines are being worked on now, nine Merlin 1C engines and one Merline Vacuum engine.While we will be sad to see the Space Shuttle leave us, it will also be a fun new beginning for commercial space companies like SpaceX. These companies can't be given a free ride and will need to prove that they have vehicles capable of safe transport of not just cargo but humans as well. But we also can't just throw up our hands and call it 'unproven technology'. All technology is unproven until, well, proven otherwise. It is the 'unproven' technology that changes the world, not the stuff we already know about.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• spacex
• merlin 1c
• dragon
• draco
• sts-132
• spacevidcast

[ceasefire066]

these thing wont affect the space exploration much unless we look ,not just look but make a new propulsion system(rocket science has gone old fellas),we shud stop talking abt free energy or antigravity rather make one,gvt shud fund space science heavily coz we humans are explorers n we have been searching new homes n places since our dawn.

[spacevidcast]

@ceasefire066 There's not much we can afford beyond standard chemical rockets for human exploration. Even that costs 10,000 dollars per pound to go to low earth orbit. People don't have an interest in space, so it isn't getting the funding it should (0.58% of the annual budget-18 billion dollars). There's nothing else we can sustainably afford at present, and won't for several years.

[CarstenOepping]

space x hey? hmm finally you US-Americans got it? the russian Systems running this way for decades! it will take you more than 10 years to establish a system so reliable like the russian is. maybe you ask the russians for some help.

they build Rockets like T34+AK47 in WW2 :-)

you want something that works in all conditions? simple cheap and reliable? buy russian goods!

without the Sojus the ISS is dead. roskosmos and ESA now take care. seems that the US-Century is finally over - in space too

[spacevidcast]

@CarstenOepping Soyuz and the Shuttle program have the same success rate per mission. ~2% of both of their missions have been lost.

[Jimbob8971]

@spacevidcast the shuttle has a higher failure rate.

[spacevidcast]

@Jimbob8971 Both Soyuz and shuttle have similar mission failure rate. About two percent.

[spacevidcast]

@jag9998 Write your congressmen. NASA doesn't get funding unless congress says so. Congress is there as representatives for the people, so speak up! Make your voice heard. Tell your friends and family to do the same. NASA only gets 0.58% (18 billion dollars) of the annual budget. More money in the US was spent on dog food last year! There's nothing stopping you from showing your concerns, so please, for yourself, your future generations, for the sake of humanity, tell your congressman!

[spin1018]

@spacevidcast I don't really think so, while russians can launch docenz of rockets in a year, the usa can launch just a pair of shuttle, it could be the same rate but there is a huge difference.

[usaeagle1776]

this company seems to have its act together.

[usaeagle1776]

this company seems to have its act together.

[MrGordijn]

lol at 1:28  ; )

[NoiDontWantFries]

thumbs up for the musical Draco thrusters

[jcondon11]

Also unproven: the gov't handing out billions to well connected companies instead of doing the job themselves for much less money. Will it be worth it? Probably not. Will certain CEOs get wildly rich? Of course.

[hotrod4you2]

i can not stand this guy ,the jokes is why he's not funny

[Bluedrake42]

1:52 I lol'd xD

[baillou2]

@ohkki123 And don't forget that what happens now in space may (most likely will) create 1,000's of jobs for Americans and expand our economy in ways we probably can't conceive.

It's a little thing called "investing in our future". Remember when the government took that seriously?