Support NeoGAF

[Crispy75]

The EM drive, if it does work as the experiments suggest it does (and suggest is putting it rather strongly) will be no use for getting off the planet's surface. The thrust is incredibly low, and you absolutely must have thrust:weight greater than 1 to get into space.

Once in space, it's a different matter, and it would be revolutionary.

 

[Tuber]

An aside when discussing how to get things into orbit, how thrust works in atmosphere and out, etc.: Despite being obsessed with science my whole life, I never really got orbital mechanics and the logistics of space travel until I played Kerbal Space Program.

Putting time into that game also makes me incredibly appreciative of the task of launching something into orbit and landing the first stage after delivering the payload. Just incredible.

Spoiler

Kerbin is vastly easier to reach a stable orbit from than Earth is too!

 

[mckmas8808]

So did they launch yet?

 

[Mindlog]

Not yet.
Launch window: 2227-0057 GMT (6:27-8:57 p.m. EDT)

An aside when discussing how to get things into orbit, how thrust works in atmosphere and out, etc.: Despite being obsessed with science my whole life, I never really got orbital mechanics and the logistics of space travel until I played Kerbal Space Program.

Putting time into that game also makes me incredibly appreciative of the task of launching something into orbit and landing the first stage after delivering the payload. Just incredible.

Spoiler

Kerbin is vastly easier to reach a stable orbit from than Earth is too!

My favorite piece of Edutainment since the RC-Drone car games. Fantastic 5/5 would recommend and invite it over for a BBQ.

Hope for another successful mission tonight.

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

The EM drive, if it does work as the experiments suggest it does (and suggest is putting it rather strongly) will be no use for getting off the planet's surface. The thrust is incredibly low, and you absolutely must have thrust:weight greater than 1 to get into space.

Once in space, it's a different matter, and it would be revolutionary.

https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/nasa-measures-impossible-em-thrust-how-big-a-deal-is-this

They really haven't proved anything. It's so close to anomaly hunting.

 

[curls]

https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/nasa-measures-impossible-em-thrust-how-big-a-deal-is-this

They really haven't proved anything. It's so close to anomaly hunting.

I just can't get over how needlessly controversial this whole thing is.

It's bordering on denial. My god!

White and his team really need to get around to reproducing the Townsend-Brown cellular gravitator as described in the 1929 eek! paper. The results would blow their fucking minds.

Instead, White’s team suggests the device may work instead by pushing off the “quantum vacuum”, meaning the sea of virtual particles that fill even empty space.

---

OMG we have gone way off topic. So I will shut the fuck up. Best wishes Space X!

 

[Rolodzeo]

Engage!!!!

 

[DBT85]

I doubt the viability of this. Re-using the rockets probably involves some parts being repaired or replaced each time, and the more it's reused the higher the risks and potential costs.

Still think that filling up a tube with fuel and igniting it to lift things in space isn't the right way to do things. We need to find a new way to lift stuff.

Are you a rocket engineer?

 

[nekkid]

The EM drive, if it does work as the experiments suggest it does (and suggest is putting it rather strongly) will be no use for getting off the planet's surface. The thrust is incredibly low, and you absolutely must have thrust:weight greater than 1 to get into space.

Once in space, it's a different matter, and it would be revolutionary.

Yeah, it's more useful for long distances. It accelerates slowly but continually, meaning that in a year you're travelling very fast indeed.

 

[Jezbollah]

OK, this is a new one. SpaceX are going to recover the fairings in this launch too (!!!!)

 

[nekkid]

OK, this is a new one. SpaceX are going to recover the fairings in this launch too (!!!!)

Do they have their own 'chutes?

 

[Jezbollah]

Do they have their own 'chutes?

I have to think they do.

 

[nekkid]

I have to think they do.

Huh. I honestly thought they'd be one of the cheapest expendable launch components, to be honest.

 

[Pagusas]

Huh. I honestly thought they'd be one of the cheapest expendable launch components, to be honest.

cheapest part probably still equals a few million.

 

[nekkid]

cheapest part probably still equals a few million.

You're not wrong.

 

[CyclopsRock]

I have to think they do.

So THATS what his cryptic tweets were about.

 

[andycapps]

The EM drive, if it does work as the experiments suggest it does (and suggest is putting it rather strongly) will be no use for getting off the planet's surface. The thrust is incredibly low, and you absolutely must have thrust:weight greater than 1 to get into space.

Once in space, it's a different matter, and it would be revolutionary.

Exactly, you'll still need rockets to get into a vacuum where something like that would help. That's if it ever exists outside of a lab.

 

[DBT85]

Huh. I honestly thought they'd be one of the cheapest expendable launch components, to be honest.

Still a composite the size of a bus so its not going to be cheap. The question as always is, is it cheaper to keep making new ones or cheaper to spend the fuel required to add chutes or whatever other recovery hardware to them and then recover.

 

[Jezbollah]

80% go for today's window.

 

[Par Score]

OK, this is a new one. SpaceX are going to recover the fairings in this launch too (!!!!)

This is also planned to be the first use of the Xoomba.

(They used to send a bunch of guys out with welders to bolt the legs down, and using a welder near rocket fuel is not the safest profession)

 

[Jezbollah]

This is also planned to be the first use of the Xoomba.

(They used to send a bunch of guys out with welders to bolt the legs down, and using a welder near rocket fuel is not the safest profession)

I forgot about that! Cheers.

All is go for the launch - RP1 load began half an hour ago, LOX starting now.

 

[Jezbollah]

Radio SpaceX on the webcasts - they are live

 

[Par Score]

Radio SpaceX on the webcasts - they are live

New music too, appropriately titled "Re-Flight". Maybe it's new anyway? All this SpaceX musac kinda blends together.

 

[Jezbollah]

Webcasts shows are now live.

 

[Head of Vengarl]

Stream is live! GL HF SpaceX!

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

Let's hope it's successful. Would be another "first" for spaceX and it would be a big step forward towards bringing costs down for shuttle launching.

 

[Par Score]

Wow.

I think that might be the first time SpaceX have confirmed an eventual same-day target for reuseability.

That would be absolutely nuts.

 

[RoKKeR]

God speed, SpaceX!

 

[Lenz44]

Let's do this SpaceX I've been watching since the beginning tests so it's awesome to see how far they have come!

 

[_woLf]

Let's goooooooooooooo SpaceX!

 

[zeshakag]

So fucking nervous. Spaceflight needs this to succeed.

 

[Reven]

This is so awesome, hope everything goes according to plan.

 

[Head of Vengarl]

HERE WE GO!!!

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

This is so awesome, hope everything goes according to plan.

In Elon we trust....maybe.

 

[E-Cat]

It cleared the tower!!

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

Go bitch go.

 

[Par Score]

All nominal so far, go baby go!

 

[Reven]

It's looking great.

 

[RoKKeR]

Beautiful.

 

[zeshakag]

The reused core has done its job

 

[Jezbollah]

STAGE SEPARATION!

REUSABILITY!!

 

[DBT85]

Sweeeeet.

Now land the bugger and we're done.

 

[Wollan]

Biting nails here.

 

[Par Score]

Reuseability proven. Incredible.

 

[Button]

Elon Musk is a fucking god!

 

[Head of Vengarl]

BRING IT HOME BABY!

 

[Zaph]

insane

What a huge step for space travel

 

[Volimar]

So happy. Bring those costs down.

 

[jett]

Ooh just in time.

 

[Just_myles]

That was cool.

It landed too. Holy crap.