Ace-Garageguy Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 https://www.wthr.com/article/spacexs-rocket-blasted-off-tuesday-on-its-first-test-flight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Was the car mounted to the outside of the rocket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) 21 hours ago, Ben said: Was the car mounted to the outside of the rocket? Inside. I'm amazed the boosters back come to the cape for a landing, and upright. Just like the sci-fi rockets in the 1950's! Edited February 9, 2018 by unclescott58 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) 3 minutes ago, unclescott58 said: Inside. I'm amazed the boosters back come to the cape for a landing, and upright. Just like in the sci-fi rockets in the 1950's! Yup. Pretty significant accomplishment. Elon Musk's engineers seem to be worth what they're getting paid. Edited February 8, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Why did we put a car in space? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 2 minutes ago, slusher said: Why did we put a car in space? It wasn't "we", as in the government or NASA. It was Elon Musk's company SpaceX, using one of his own cars as a publicity stunt, but also as the dummy weight for the test of the largest rocket booster on Earth at the present time. Musk is serious about taking humanity on towards its next great adventure...the colonization of Mars...and this is one of the first major steps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 29 minutes ago, unclescott58 said: Inside. I'm amazed the boosters back come to the cape for a landing, and upright. Just like in the sci-fi rockets in the 1950's! Yeah, that’s what I was thinking watching them landing. Looked like an old science fiction movie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bartrop Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 6 minutes ago, Ben said: Yeah, that’s what I was thinking watching them landing. Looked like an old science fiction movie! Very much, but it was the real deal, which is what made it so exciting. And I have no problem with a little hype and pubilicity if it gets people excited about space travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Counterpoint: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 By the way, the car was exposed to space once it got there. I think it's pretty cool that a private company can put a car and dummy in space. And land major peices of it's rocket back near were they started from. This to me miraculous. The future is getting closer. I turned 60 years old yesterday, when this was all happening. Maybe I'll get to see humans on Mars before I die. Thank you Elon Musk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseldawg142 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) ........... Edited May 9, 2018 by dieseldawg142 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 1 minute ago, dieseldawg142 said: ...I thought spacex already had contracts signed and lined up with private and gov business's... Yes, but this was a test of a new heavy-lift booster lashup, kinda like the old Saturn 5. The test of the booster retrieval system where the things land under power and can be reused is new too...though they did it with one earlier. One of the things that made the NASA space program so expensive was the use-once-and-throw-away concept of the old booster engines. Musk is really trying to contain cost by eliminating as much waste as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony N Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 It looks like the 60 Corvette from the animated movie Heavy Metal. When the corvette come in from outer space and lands with astronaut at the wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony N Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Bacon Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 It was pretty amazing to see... much more so the boosters landing than the car in space, IMHO. Falcon Heavy is a big declaration of intent: the trend in satellites and commercial space is small-sats and clustering, so no one really needs the throw weight of this bird, never mind the next gen "BFR". This can only be about the Moon and then Mars, with people... That said, that plucky little Curiosity rover is still doing a great job, and flying the flag for robots in space... best, M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamsuperdan Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 9 hours ago, Casey said: Counterpoint: True, the Tesla isn't the first car in space. However, it is a the first real street legal car in space. Pretty cool publicitiy stunt. More importantly, as a 4000lb object, it successfully did the job of testing cargo capacity of the Falcon Heavy rockets. SpaceX have proved they can send serious payloads in to space, and more importantly, safely land most of the equipment used to do it, so that it can be reused in future flights. Talk about a cost savings! How much of the equipment that got the lunar rover to the moon was reused? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 7 hours ago, Tony N said: It looks like the 60 Corvette from the animated movie Heavy Metal. When the corvette come in from outer space and lands with astronaut at the wheel. Wondered if anyone else was old enough to remember the Vette in space from the film. That was my first thought!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 8 hours ago, Tony N said: Exactly my reaction too. I heard "Radar Rider" in my head the instant I saw those pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 1 hour ago, iamsuperdan said: True, the Tesla isn't the first car in space. However, it is a the first real street legal car in space. Who is concerned with street legality IN SPACE? The lunar rover was operated, driven, and had a practical, intended use-- it wasn't just a publicity stunt. Lunar Landing Hoaxers in 3....2....1.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamsuperdan Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 52 minutes ago, Casey said: Who is concerned with street legality IN SPACE? The lunar rover was operated, driven, and had a practical, intended use-- it wasn't just a publicity stunt. Lunar Landing Hoaxers in 3....2....1.... JI know, I know...where they're going they don't need roads... Technically, the Tesla totally serves a purpose! Normally, when testing rockets, generic weights are used to test ballast and load ability and whatnot. In this case, why not do something more fun? They needed weight, that Roadster fits the bill, and does it in a fun way that brings attention to the project. Look at how this story is everywhere! Mission accomplished! There was a movie in the 70s about the lunar landing hoax. Can't remember what it was called, but I liked it. Conspiracy theories fascinate me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Anyone notice this is a Used Car ... 2008 ... ? There have to be billions and billions of jokes out there ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 9 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said: There was a movie in the 70s about the lunar landing hoax. Can't remember what it was called, but I liked it. Conspiracy theories fascinate me. I think that was Capricorn One. Starring some guy named Orenthal Simpson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bainford Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 I'll be really impressed if he goes back up to retrieve his 2 tons of space junk and bring it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xingu Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 5 minutes ago, Bainford said: I'll be really impressed if he goes back up to retrieve his 2 tons of space junk and bring it back. I believe it was sent on a trajectory that would take it past Mars. I think there is/was a live feed from the car as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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