First commercial orbiting spacecraft

Platapus · 12-08-10, 08:36 PM

Most cooleo.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/08/spa...ex.html?hpt=T2

A space-age first: A commercial craft returns from low-Earth orbit

Quote:

The first commercial spacecraft to return from a low-Earth orbit splashed into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday about 500 miles off the coast of Southern California.

The Dragon, a craft developed by the company SpaceX, was concluding a brief but possibly historic flight for the infant commercial space travel industry.

The vehicle hit the water shortly after 2 p.m. ET, a little more than three hours after liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

Before splashing down, the Dragon orbited earth at more than 17,000 mph.

Only six nations or government agencies have recovered a spacecraft from a low orbit: the United States, Russia, China, Japan, India and the European Space Agency.

...

Sounds like it made a little more than two orbits.

Just. plain. cool.

12-08-10, 08:40 PM

Awesome!

Gerald · 12-08-10, 08:46 PM

Excellent,

papa_smurf · 12-09-10, 11:15 AM

Wont be long before spaceports become as common as airports

Jimbuna · 12-09-10, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

Wont be long before spaceports become as common as airports

Too far off for us to witness I should think

SteamWake · 12-09-10, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

Wont be long before spaceports become as common as airports

I am still waiting on a flying car

papa_smurf · 12-09-10, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Too far off for us to witness I should think

Might not be for me, i'm hoping to be still around when the first manned mission to Mars is launched.

Jimbuna · 12-09-10, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

Might not be for me, i'm hoping to be still around when the first manned mission to Mars is launched.

How old are you...6 months?

TLAM Strike · 12-09-10, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

Might not be for me, i'm hoping to be still around when the first manned mission to Mars is launched.

We would be there right now if the Soviet Union didn't fall apart.

What do you think all those long endurance flights on Mir were training for?

papa_smurf · 12-09-10, 02:36 PM

Quote:

How old are you...6 months?

Cheeky monkey

(i'm 29 btw)

TarJak · 12-09-10, 03:20 PM

Meh, I'm waiting for the announcement of the building of the 1st space elevator. Then we don't need your stinking rockets.

razark · 12-09-10, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

Meh, I'm waiting for the announcement of the building of the 1st space elevator. Then we don't need your stinking rockets.

The elevator gets you in orbit. To go anywhere else, you still need the rockets.

TarJak · 12-09-10, 04:02 PM

True, but IIRC this thing was only about getting into orbit. Not going anywhere else.

TLAM Strike · 12-09-10, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

True, but IIRC this thing was only about getting into orbit. Not going anywhere else.

Once your are in orbit you are halfway to anywhere.

razark · 12-09-10, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

True, but IIRC this thing was only about getting into orbit. Not going anywhere else.

Getting into orbit is what we've been doing for years. Since 1972.

It's time to do something different.

12-08-10, 08:46 PM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Excellent, __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

12-09-10, 11:15 AM	#4
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Wont be long before spaceports become as common as airports __________________

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12-08-10, 08:40 PM	#2
Solace Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Awesome!

12-09-10, 03:20 PM	#11
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Meh, I'm waiting for the announcement of the building of the 1st space elevator. Then we don't need your stinking rockets.

12-09-10, 04:02 PM	#13
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	True, but IIRC this thing was only about getting into orbit. Not going anywhere else.