Comments on: Space X makes it to space! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:17:18 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: XMM_Spacon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/comment-page-1/#comment-122612 XMM_Spacon Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:31:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/#comment-122612 Hi all, regarding the orbital information Phil could not find, I found this in the launch notification send out by AGI: "The rocket initially reached an orbit stretching from a low point of 205 miles [330 km] to a high point of 404 miles [650 km]. The orbital inclination was 9.3 degrees. SpaceX released information before the launch indicating that the rocket would target an orbit with an apogee, or high point, of 426 miles [686 km]. But Musk said the rocket hit an orbit very close to prelaunch predictions." As source of their information they state "Spacflight Now" giving the following link: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon/004/index.html Hi all,

regarding the orbital information Phil could not find, I found this in the launch notification send out by AGI:

“The rocket initially reached an orbit stretching from a low point of 205 miles [330 km] to a high point of 404 miles [650 km]. The orbital inclination was 9.3 degrees.

SpaceX released information before the launch indicating that the rocket would target an orbit with an apogee, or high point, of 426 miles [686 km]. But Musk said the rocket hit an orbit very close to prelaunch predictions.”

As source of their information they state “Spacflight Now” giving the following link: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon/004/index.html

]]> By: Scott http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/comment-page-1/#comment-121992 Scott Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:26:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/#comment-121992 "...they launched what’s called a "mass simulator"; a hexagonal chunk of metal that simulates an actual payload." Wait, so they sent up a Companion Cube????? “…they launched what’s called a “mass simulator”; a hexagonal chunk of metal that simulates an actual payload.”

Wait, so they sent up a Companion Cube?????

]]> By: John Baxter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/comment-page-1/#comment-121982 John Baxter Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:25:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/#comment-121982 Luke, insurance doesn't affect the public safety implications of a hypothetical launch accident. It does affect the way the aftermath plays out, however. Luke, insurance doesn’t affect the public safety implications of a hypothetical launch accident. It does affect the way the aftermath plays out, however.

]]> By: changcho http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/comment-page-1/#comment-121923 changcho Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:22:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/#comment-121923 Nice, but I have this nagging feeling that they'll use it to launch (moslty) military paylods... Nice, but I have this nagging feeling that they’ll use it to launch (moslty) military paylods…

]]> By: LukeL http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/comment-page-1/#comment-121918 LukeL Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:08:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/#comment-121918 I understand the odds of it crashing into another satellite are fairly low or close zero. My issue is that rockets do explode and crash every now and then. There have been NASA rockets containing radioactive isotopes exploding in the lower atmosphere. If private companies aren't carrying heft insurance policies we could have a major public safety issue at hand. Like I said, I am all for government competition, but when dealing with issue like this it is best to allow a government monopoly, or at least government over site. I understand the odds of it crashing into another satellite are fairly low or close zero. My issue is that rockets do explode and crash every now and then. There have been NASA rockets containing radioactive isotopes exploding in the lower atmosphere. If private companies aren’t carrying heft insurance policies we could have a major public safety issue at hand.

Like I said, I am all for government competition, but when dealing with issue like this it is best to allow a government monopoly, or at least government over site.

]]> By: Kevin S. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/comment-page-1/#comment-121914 Kevin S. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:55:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/#comment-121914 Sweet! I love the Space X endeavors! It means there's hope yet for space :). And it seems to me that all this is happening at exactly the right time, what with the shuttle being retired and NASA still years away from launch of the Orion. So excited about this news! Sweet! I love the Space X endeavors! It means there’s hope yet for space :) . And it seems to me that all this is happening at exactly the right time, what with the shuttle being retired and NASA still years away from launch of the Orion.

So excited about this news!

]]> By: madge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/comment-page-1/#comment-121872 madge Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:46:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/28/space-x-makes-it-to-space/#comment-121872 Congratulations Space X! Awesome job! :) Congratulations Space X! Awesome job!
:)

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