Falcon Heavy Launch

[wdfifteen]

^^
You are assuming it is intended to last any significant time. I don't think it is.

[Scott Douglas]

Bob - The thing I wonder about is, how did the Tesla survive the vibes of launch. I've seen the vibe tests satellites are put thru to prove they can withstand launch. I fully expected to see parts coming off it once the fairings were jettisoned.
I think we can pretty much assume that it is a specially built mass simulator that LOOKS a lot like a Tesla, but really isn't a real one.
I heard on the news this morning that the main engine ran out of fuel on its decent and crashed into the ocean. Landing the other two boosters is quite a feat though, and they'd been used before from what I heard.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

^^
You are assuming it is intended to last any significant time. I don't think it is.

To hear Elon talk about it, he expects it to last a long long long time.

[GO DAWG GO]

Scott, I believe the clam shells would have to be jettisoned in outer space just like they did in the Apollo program before they extracted the LEM (CSM separation). Also I wouldn't have a camera live streaming on my car that rapidly deteriorating in front of your eyes. I think the car is a little inside secret made to survive the hostilities of space exposure. My buddy here at work owns a Tesla and stated that was not the correct steering wheel for that Roadster.

[island911]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Jim thanks.

Yeah, i think just about anything could happen with this launch. Most likely a series of delays.

Not much of a fan of Musk/Tesla/etc., but this payload is hilarious. Supposedly, there is some scientific value to putting it in orbit, but primarily just a cool stunt.

Originally Posted by red-beard

Just, why? Seems both stupid and dangerous. We have enough floating orbital debris without adding a car

Well, you have to understand that by payload being an expensive electric car the rocket gets to offset it's carbon footprint.

[Scott Douglas]

No doubt the fairings were jettisoned once out of the atmosphere. I think they usually let them go about 30 secs to 2 mins after max Q has passed.
The really cool thing about all this is the guys that built it got to share it with the rest of us.

[RKDinOKC]

So when will they post the video of the Tesla pulling up to the space station then send a text, "Your Uber is here"?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by GO DAWG GO

........... My buddy here at work owns a Tesla and stated that was not the correct steering wheel for that Roadster.

I just hope they sprayed the inside and outside with Protectant 303, the UV rays in space have got to be killer.

https://www.bigskyinflatables.com/product/303-uv-protectant-cleaner/

Use this on your Water Master and it might last forever. Provides additional UV protection on any PVC inflatable. 8oz spray bottle

[Sunroof]

The last great photo from space was the Apollo moon mission photograph named "Earth Rise", that showed the Earth rising up over the Moon's horizon. Images of this Tesla (?) with the Earth in the background for me, is no less then FANTASTIC.............

When it becomes a poster, its going up in my office, Tesla or no Tesla!

[Rickysa]

Damn, had no idea that watching that would be so emotional...

Landing those side boosters was something right out of a sci-fi movie...just wow.

[DonDavis]

I love the nod to Douglas Adams, too.
I'd gladly have that as a poster!

[dad911]

Wonder what the flat-earthers have to say about those pics.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by kach22i

i just hope they sprayed the inside and outside with protectant 303, the uv rays in space have got to be killer.

https://www.bigskyinflatables.com/product/303-uv-protectant-cleaner/

ha!!!!!:d

[tadd]

Its just shame that is what was put up (the car).

I would rather have seen Musk offer free spots to space for university or high school satellites. Some sort of contest. Maybe with cost matching to build.

That would have been cool.

As for spaceX, they are at the spot in time where everything can come together. Private companies do that well. The raw science and innovation... not so much.

SpaceX hasn't invented what has got them to here. Just the glue (software) to hold it all together. Somebody else has done the engineering on the pieces in the past.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by tadd

Its just shame that is what was put up (the car).

I would rather have seen Musk offer free spots to space for university or high school satellites. Some sort of contest. Maybe with cost matching to build.

That would have been cool.

As for spaceX, they are at the spot in time where everything can come together. Private companies do that well. The raw science and innovation... not so much.

SpaceX hasn't invented what has got them to here. Just the glue (software) to hold it all together. Somebody else has done the engineering on the pieces in the past.

Imagine, 1 ton of scientific equipment orbiting between Earth and Mars. Instead, we have a publicity stunt. With Elon Musk, I am not surprised.

[RKDinOKC]

So, If you want a ride in the car, you would call Lyft?

[GO DAWG GO]

Quote:


Originally Posted by tadd View Post

Its just shame that is what was put up (the car).

I would rather have seen Musk offer free spots to space for university or high school satellites. Some sort of contest. Maybe with cost matching to build.

That would have been cool.

As for spaceX, they are at the spot in time where everything can come together. Private companies do that well. The raw science and innovation... not so much.

SpaceX hasn't invented what has got them to here. Just the glue (software) to hold it all together. Somebody else has done the engineering on the pieces in the past.

Wow! Not to be disrespectful! But really? That's like telling Kelly Johnson that his Blackbird was a stretch of the Wilbur Wrights Kittyhawk technology. I agree that the physics hasn't changed but these craft and made very differently. The isogrid and monocoque carbon fiber technology has made these structures stronger and lighter. These aerostructures are getting progressively better. The guidance, telemetry and instrumentation is obviously had a macro technological jump. I'm proud of Space X for what they have accomplished and I'm glad to see some young engineering blood in the game. Tell me who has ever landed a spent booster like that before. You're Listening to Obama too much.

[sand_man]

INCREDIBLE!!!! Thanks for posting all the links! Got a little emotional watching all of that unfold! Can't believe how those boosters returned like that!!! WOW!

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by tadd

Its just shame that is what was put up (the car).

I would rather have seen Musk offer free spots to space for university or high school satellites. Some sort of contest. Maybe with cost matching to build.

That would have been cool.

As for spaceX, they are at the spot in time where everything can come together. Private companies do that well. The raw science and innovation... not so much.

SpaceX hasn't invented what has got them to here. Just the glue (software) to hold it all together. Somebody else has done the engineering on the pieces in the past.

But, but, if not the car, what will the colonists drive?

[aschen]

Originally Posted by NotaBRG

The 'official' response:


"Perhaps unsurprisingly, we've received many questions about the recent SpaceX launch, and the resultant "live stream" of a pretty red car floating about in space.

It certainly is interesting to see the shift of focus in space programs from official government organisations to privately-run organisations. Whether or not that's a good thing will, of course, vary with your political views, but the ultimate outcome isn't much different. After all, corporations are driven by profit, not the pursuit of knowledge or truth.

What is surprising, however, is the new generation of people shouting "It's true, I saw it on TV!" Except this time, it's the Internet. We have already witnessed the shortfalls of this blind belief in online materials; just consider recent US elections, the political Facebook campaigns in the UK, or the many fake-news sites run from countries like Macedonia.

I would like to appeal to everyone, Round Earther and Flat Earther alike, to exercise more caution when approaching online content. Exercise critical thinking. Seeing something on the Internet does not automatically render it true. Even Steve Wozniak has remarked that ‘[he doesn't] believe anything [Musk] says’. Make of that what you will.

Then again, it was a good car ad."

damn these guys really do suck in the worst way

Ironically anybody who had a single neuron's worth of critical thinking left in their brain couldn't possibly accept the earth being flat. 51% of me thinks the whole flat earth thing is an elaborate troll on the internet.