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-   -   American Private Enterprise Enters Orbit (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/432893-american-private-enterprise-enters-orbit.html)

kstar 09-28-2008 07:07 PM
American Private Enterprise Enters Orbit
 
While the Chinese govt. enjoyed a state sponsored space walk this weekend, an American private company, SpaceX, created a rocket from scratch and put it into orbit with the help of just over 500 employees. How about that?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222657572.jpg

Quote:
LIVE COVERAGE: SUCCESS SpaceX Falcon 1 Flight 4 (updated 23:31 GMT)

September 28th, 2008

SpaceX wrote history today as the first private financed company to achieve orbit with a rocket. As Elon Musk stated “this really means a lot”, it can be the beginning of significantly lower launch costs and therefore increased number of launches. After three unsuccessful flights, “fourth time’s a charm” Musk said.

The next launch on SpaceX’ launch manifest will be a Falcon 1 carrying RazakSat for Malaysia. This launch if successful will be followed then by the maiden flight of the much larger Falcon 9 rocket in the second quarter of 2009.
http://spacefellowship.com/News/?p=6780

island911 09-28-2008 07:13 PM
Cool

Neilk 09-28-2008 07:16 PM
Awesome!!!

Are they using any new technologies or doing anything really innovative that NASA or ESA hadn't thought of? Quite an accomplishment regardless.

DasBoot 09-28-2008 07:18 PM
No thanks, I'll walk:

The launch company's first undisputed success came after an oh-so-close failure on Aug. 2, when the timing was off on the shutdown of the Falcon 1's first-stage engine. Instead of separating cleanly, the first stage bumped into the second stage and knocked it off course. That led to the loss of three satellites, including a NASA prototype solar sail and small experimental satellites from NASA as well as the Defense Department.

The rocket that failed last month also carried cremated remains from more than 200 people who had paid thousands of dollars to have the ashes sent to the final frontier. Among the dearly departed: Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper as well as James Doohan, who played the engineer Scotty on the original "Star Trek" TV series.

kstar 09-28-2008 07:22 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neilk (Post 4207241)
Awesome!!!

Are they using any new technologies or doing anything really innovative that NASA or ESA hadn't thought of? Quite an accomplishment regardless.
FWIW, SpaceX was founded by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, who is also chairman of Tesla.

Quote:
"This was a completely new vehicle — it's not using any previously developed hardware. All developed from scratch. No government supplied hardware, Russian engines, or old ICBM motors. My hat's off to the employees of Space X — all 550 of them. (Note — no 'cast of thousands,' just 550).
More at /.
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/09/28/2348205&from=rss

kstar 09-28-2008 07:23 PM
Yes, SpaceX had three failures before this success. I think that compares favorably with most government sponsored programs, AFAIK.

gostraight 02-02-2009 10:15 PM
sweet ...That's where I work!!!

rammstein 02-03-2009 06:57 AM
Go go private enterprise!!!!!!

id10t 02-03-2009 07:30 AM
And a couple of students have established radio communication with the ISS via a home built radio...

ruf-porsche 02-03-2009 07:49 AM
Great

More junk floating in outer space.


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