Made of Stars wrote:SpaceX fly commercial missions as well as the NASA stuff, and are R&Ding as they go. If we ever get to reusable low cost spacecraft, and the democratisation of space, it'll be because of what SpaceX do. No-one else is even in that game. Boeing have started talking about, and even ESA are discussing a new Ariane launcher, but they're only doing so because they see that the model has to change, and SpaceX is the goad to those fat old cats. So cut the nonsense about 'rich kids' and 'amateurs'. SpaceX are showing them how it should be done.

DarthHelmet86 wrote:SpaceX has already been sending ISS supplies. That learning curve is done.

DavidMcC wrote:

DarthHelmet86 wrote:SpaceX has already been sending ISS supplies. That learning curve is done.

Then there's no excuse for the recent explosion.

EDIT: Perhaps a few flights don't make a complete learning curve. It didn't for NASA.

Scot Dutchy wrote:

DavidMcC wrote:

DarthHelmet86 wrote:SpaceX has already been sending ISS supplies. That learning curve is done.

Then there's no excuse for the recent explosion.

EDIT: Perhaps a few flights don't make a complete learning curve. It didn't for NASA.

Which is why it should be carried out by a private company.

Scot Dutchy wrote:Who is throwing it away. ...

laklak wrote:Hardly. NASA has lost more astronauts than anyone else, and most of them occurred after the Apollo program. Rocket explosions happen. It's a hellishly complex piece of machinery, and even the best efforts can fail. SpaceX has a good record, of 19 commercial launches there have been 2 failures, the recent explosion and a partial failure on their 4th launch, when the secondary payload was placed in too low an orbit. The primary payload was successfully delivered.

DavidMcC wrote:

Made of Stars wrote:SpaceX fly commercial missions as well as the NASA stuff, and are R&Ding as they go. If we ever get to reusable low cost spacecraft, and the democratisation of space, it'll be because of what SpaceX do. No-one else is even in that game. Boeing have started talking about, and even ESA are discussing a new Ariane launcher, but they're only doing so because they see that the model has to change, and SpaceX is the goad to those fat old cats. So cut the nonsense about 'rich kids' and 'amateurs'. SpaceX are showing them how it should be done.

The real problem is that the US government WANTS private business to take over from NASA. This could be unfortunate for the ISS crew, who may have to rely once more on the Russians for vital supplies, as SpaceX goes through the learning curve that NASA and the Russians have already been through.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla — On Thursday, July 9, NASA announced the first four U.S. astronauts that have been tapped to conduct the first flights of commercial spacecraft under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP). Under this initiative, SpaceX and Boeing must conduct a crewed test flight with at least one NASA astronaut on board. SpaceX has confirmed a report that appeared on the social media website Facebook that it has opted to go with an all-NASA crew (2 astronauts) on this important test flight.

The SpaceX explosion on June 28th was caused by a failed strut in the rocket's upper stage liquid oxygen tank, SpaceX chief executive officer Elon Musk said today. The strut was one of several hundred used to hold together the helium pressure vessels in the tank, which help to pressurize and maintain the buoyancy of the rocket. According to Musk, the strut was designed to handle 10,000 pounds of force, but failed at just 2,000 pounds of force.

Musk didn’t name the strut's supplier, but did say it may be that one strut of thousands wasn’t up to code.

Made of Stars wrote:

Musk didn’t name the strut's supplier, but did say it may be that one strut of thousands wasn’t up to code.

The article's also been updated to say they're changing struts.

Scot Dutchy wrote:There was last night on the BBC television a Horizon documentary over the flight to Mars which NASA is planning in 2033.
I wish I could get a link to it but being the BBC its iPlayer is only accessible to UK viewers.
The project is massive. The problems huge. The director of the project stated it was too big for one country or company and the only way to achieve it was through global cooperation.
The only parts made are the first of the fuel tanks and the motor burners which have not been fully tested. In the case of the fuel tanks only one ring exists. SLS (Space Launch System) rocket has still to be fully developed. The Orion capsule has been tested.
The idea is to launch into Earth orbit and assemble the craft for the flight to Mars. It will take 8 months. While getting there is within present technology no one has a clue how to get back.

Here is the NASA site containing the details: http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasas-orion-flight-test-and-the-journey-to-mars

Weaver wrote:

Scot Dutchy wrote:There was last night on the BBC television a Horizon documentary over the flight to Mars which NASA is planning in 2033.
I wish I could get a link to it but being the BBC its iPlayer is only accessible to UK viewers.
The project is massive. The problems huge. The director of the project stated it was too big for one country or company and the only way to achieve it was through global cooperation.
The only parts made are the first of the fuel tanks and the motor burners which have not been fully tested. In the case of the fuel tanks only one ring exists. SLS (Space Launch System) rocket has still to be fully developed. The Orion capsule has been tested.
The idea is to launch into Earth orbit and assemble the craft for the flight to Mars. It will take 8 months. While getting there is within present technology no one has a clue how to get back.

Here is the NASA site containing the details: http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasas-orion-flight-test-and-the-journey-to-mars

The Orion capsule has been through one flight test. One. It is very, very far from fully tested.

But don't worry, those amateurs at Space-X can still learn a thing or two from professionals like you.