Commerical spaceflight now fact

[Red Devil]

From space.com:

The chief executive of SpaceX had plenty to celebrate today (Dec. 8), after the milestone first test flight of the private spaceflight company’s unmanned Dragon space capsule. ...

See http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...ht-101208.html for the full article.

[ElectricFetus]

Yeeeaaaaahhh

New hope after our government unofficially gave up on manned space travel with its ever shrinking NASA budget and inability to pay for programs and goals since Apollo.

[NMSquirrel]

so the goal is to shuttle cargo into space then once that is proven they can start doing tourists?

I though spaceX could land? why splashdown?

this is the one that new mexico has a space port for right?

[cosmictraveler]

Why doesn't Boieng start using their own Delta rocket to put people into space? All they need do is attach another type of moduel to the top of the Delta rocket and send it up, break away and return to Earth. Simple, already proven and ready to use.

[birch]

i can just see it now. an amusement park in earth's orbit will be next as well as restaurants, shopping and shows, possibly even short vacation accomodations for the uber rich.

[ElectricFetus]

so the goal is to shuttle cargo into space then once that is proven they can start doing tourists?

Not really their next goal after cargo to ISS is to ferry NASA astronauts to ISS, but NASA is just a costumer (a costumer who they are already in contracts with and with billions of proven paying power) and so potentially anyone with the money can pay for a flight.

I though spaceX could land? why splashdown?

Splash downs are easier, they plan to incrementally improve the capsule design for many more features such as land landings, which will require retro-rockets or airbags to fire a split second before touchdown, with a water landing those aren't needed.

this is the one that new mexico has a space port for right?

No that SpaceShipTwo

Why doesn't Boieng start using their own Delta rocket to put people into space? All they need do is attach another type of moduel to the top of the Delta rocket and send it up, break away and return to Earth. Simple, already proven and ready to use.

United Launch Alliance is already working on man rating the Delta IV and Atlas V.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human-rating_certification

[Red Devil]

Hello? This is the ISS, can we have hamburgers to go!

[ElectricFetus]

SpaceX has some very interesting dreams, possibly a rocket engine that will put the Old Saturn V Rocketdyne F-1 (the most powerful and largest single nozzle liquid rocket engine ever made) to shame! As well as a Heavy and Super Heavy Boosters of Saturn and Ares class. Check it out.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/ind...;attach=241178
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/ind...;attach=241179

[Blindman]

Just to quibble. Space craft have been commercialized for a long time. Most communication satellites are privately owned.

From Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_spaceflight
"On March 26, 1980, the European Space Agency created Arianespace, the world's first commercial space transportation company. "

It may be government sponsored but many private industries are. Commercial spaceflight has been a fact for 30 years now.

BTW SpaceX launched from a NASA operated and owned facility, used NASA funded systems to track and control its flight, and SpaceX is a long way from making a profit.. Building a rocket does not make a space industry.

[jmpet]

We are children who just learned that C-A-T means that furry thing- space travel will be a novelty for the next couple of decades- heck- I even suggested to my dad to become an astronaut within his lifetime.

I am looking for more science and less tourism.

[Red Devil]

From space.com:

The chief executive of SpaceX had plenty to celebrate today (Dec. 8), after the milestone first test flight of the private spaceflight company’s unmanned Dragon space capsule. ...

See http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...ht-101208.html for the full article.

When I originally posted this, I got stung for 'trolling' whatever that is. So now that dragon has successfully completed its first mission to the ISS, am I still trolling??

[Exoscientist]

Congratulations to SpaceX. They performed an admirable feat in successfully launching their Dragon spacecraft, docking it with the ISS, and now recovering it from space:

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Splashes Down in Pacific, Ending Historic Test Flight.
by Clara Moskowitz, SPACE.com Assistant Managing EditorDate: 31 May 2012 Time: 11:44 AM ET
http://www.space.com/15939-spacex-dr...g-pacific.html

It is quite important to note though that there is nothing particularly innovative about the SpaceX designs. Their engines are no more efficient than the engines on the original Atlas rocket of the 60's that first launched Alan Shepard. And their structures use the same weight saving techniques known since the 1970's. What's innovative about them is that they applied good business practices to cut the development costs of their launchers and spacecraft by 90%(!)
That is what the lasting importance of SpaceX will be: that they showed any of the large aerospace companies in the world can do the same thing by following good business practice in privately developing their launchers and spacecraft.
Thus because the development costs can be cut to such drastic terms, finally we can see a path towards routine space flight.


Bob Clark
Blog: http://exoscientist.blogspot.com

[Tero]

I can't get a lot of the links to show pictures. This was more useful
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(spacecraft)

[Red Devil]

www.nasa.gov has some, but not many. Are they jealous haha!!! I am looking forward to the British spacecraft taking off, produced by Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Media) its will be ready in the next couple of years. It uses the feathering wing technology, I think, that Mike Melville (age 62) flew successfully into sub orbit (twice) winning a $10m first prize. I am no aeronautical engineer so cannot detail the tech.

edit: just checked, theres a couple of images here: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/comm...cex_index.html