SpaceX Does it Again - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Atlascore;32546867]Alright, I understand now I guess. Cool though that NASA is giving SpaceX money.[/QUOTE] Yeah that's really awesome. It's nice to know that the people at NASA knows that private space companies are needed. [QUOTE]"On April 22, 2008, NASA announced that it had awarded an IDIQ Launch Services contract to SpaceX for Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launches. The contract will be worth up to $1 billion, depending on the number of missions awarded. The contract covers launch services ordered by June 30, 2010, for launches through December 2012." On December 23, 2008, SpaceX announced that it had won a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract, for at least 12 missions for US$1.6 billion to carry supplies and cargo to and from the International Space Station, after the Space Shuttle retires. [/QUOTE] If you count with additional rewards and such it reaches almost 3 billion USD. Of course you have to remove operation costs and such, but should leave quite a hefty amount of money to research and develop technology like in the OP.

[quote]Reusability is key to the dramatic cost savings that will enable advancements in human exploration of space. The Dragon spacecraft is fully reusable and SpaceX is working toward the goal of delivering the world’s first fully reusable launch vehicle. [/quote] That's what they said about the shuttle. The key term, I believe, is reliability. If the equipment is reliable it is reusable. After each mission the shuttle was deconstructed and hand-inspected for damaged parts. This inspection costs a TON of money. If commercial airliners were to adopt such a policy they would be taking apart planes after each flight; that would be impractical. The future of space flight depends on the fact that a technician can just glance over the modules and give the OK for lift off. Simple and practical is the way to go.

[QUOTE=sami-elite;32544790]No way! You have the coolest dad. [editline]29th September 2011[/editline] I think it's the safest way of doing it without risking damage by impact from using a parachute.[/QUOTE] As a janitor most likely.

[QUOTE=Atlascore;325417] NASA [b]bigger budget [/b] Anyway, this thing looks great.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=doonbugie2;32547900]As a janitor most likely.[/QUOTE] Don't be dissing janitors.

[QUOTE=sami-elite;32553062]Don't be dissing janitors.[/QUOTE] Janitor fails to properly sanitize work area around probe. Probe launches to Mars carrying small amounts of Earth bacteria. Probe lands on Mars, scans for life, finds Earth bacteria, returns false results. Don't diss janitors, they do an important job.

I cannot be the only one who pressed that play button.

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;32553221]Janitor fails to properly sanitize work area around probe. Probe launches to Mars carrying small amounts of Earth bacteria. Probe lands on Mars, scans for life, finds Earth bacteria, returns false results. Don't diss janitors, they do an important job.[/QUOTE] My ass a janitor can come even near the actual rocket.

[QUOTE=sami-elite;32553308]My ass a janitor can come even near the actual rocket.[/QUOTE] Actually SpaceX uses very normal people in their programs quite often to do some handywork or heavy cleaning. No harm in using non-rocket-scientist people in those sort of jobs, frees up more time for the thinkers and the guys having to get it launch-ready to do more check ups to ensure this new technology doesn't go Columbia.

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;32553221]Janitor fails to properly sanitize work area around probe. Probe launches to Mars carrying small amounts of Earth bacteria. Probe lands on Mars, scans for life, finds Earth bacteria, returns false results. Don't diss janitors, they do an important job.[/QUOTE] Right, all that bacteria just clings on as the ship goes through the atmosphere, withstanding thousands of degrees Fahrenheit.

[QUOTE=Aetna;32553891]Right, all that bacteria just clings on as the ship goes through the atmosphere, withstanding thousands of degrees Fahrenheit.[/QUOTE] Yes.

[QUOTE=Aetna;32553891]Right, all that bacteria just clings on as the ship goes through the atmosphere, withstanding thousands of degrees Fahrenheit.[/QUOTE] its not rocket science well, kinda

Reusable? Wow, I thought they'd never get anywhere for a bunch of time. Good job, lets hope they keep it up!

[QUOTE=Aetna;32553891]Right, all that bacteria just clings on as the ship goes through the atmosphere, withstanding thousands of degrees Fahrenheit.[/QUOTE]Well the probe's hidden beneath a heat-resistant cover, so yes :v:

Well shit SpaceX seems to be doing more the NASA has done.

[QUOTE=TheSporeGA;32554378]Well shit SpaceX seems to be doing more the NASA has done.[/QUOTE] They're not.

[QUOTE=TheSporeGA;32554378]Well shit SpaceX seems to be doing more the NASA has done.[/QUOTE] Good job neglecting ground work and past achievements that lead up to these actions. SpaceX didn't do that, nor is it totally funding itself.

[QUOTE=Miskav;32554736]Good job neglecting ground work and past achievements that lead up to these actions. SpaceX didn't do that, nor is it totally funding itself.[/QUOTE] Or scientific research missions. NASA launched Juno not long ago and is going to launch a huge Mars Rover soon.

[QUOTE=LarparNar;32554758]Or scientific research missions. NASA launched Juno not long ago and is going to launch a huge Mars Rover soon.[/QUOTE] Don't forget New Horizons. First spacecraft expected to fly by Pluto and perhaps give us some great pictures instead of all the shitty ones we got now.

I laughed at how the lyrics and their logo synced together at the end

That reusable rocket design is awesome...and [I]highly[/I] ambitious. I hope they can pull it off.

Vertical landings - just like the old SiFi! Andre Norton and Heinlein! I have been waiting for reuseability of thrusters and not just the space shuttle. Absolutely right: a dramatic reduction in cost = less NASA $ spent and maybe more players in the Let's get out of this gravity well before it's too late "game." Who is funding spacex? I'll check out the website. Watch out for China though; their reverse engineering may be sloppy at first; but they keep at it. Something about having billions of Chinese to deal with... Another track: can you upload files to these discussions (like an excel .xls)?