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global1

(25,166 posts)
Wed Feb 7, 2018, 10:42 AM Feb 2018

In The Falcon Heavy Launch - I Saw Two Of The Booster Rockets Return To Earth.....

and land. I thought there were supposed to be three rockets returning to earth and I've not seen nor heard of the third rocket successfully landing. Did it? Any pics?

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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marble falls

(56,357 posts)
3. The boosters landing were the most impressive aspects of the whole thing. The Tesla in space....
Wed Feb 7, 2018, 10:51 AM
Feb 2018

is a vulgar example of bread and circuses.

I've watched the landings repeatedly, they're better than science fiction. The car: meh.

NightWatcher

(39,343 posts)
4. The car was Musk putting his Roadster where his mouth is and it was a great human interest piece
Wed Feb 7, 2018, 10:52 AM
Feb 2018

I don't understand the people who are mad that in lieu of concrete ballast, a guy sent his car with a mannequin and made it fun.

global1

(25,166 posts)
6. So Musk Is Being Criticized For His Marketing Acumen.....
Wed Feb 7, 2018, 10:57 AM
Feb 2018

he got people interested in his launch and the future of space travel by including some fun marketing activities surrounding this launch.

Trump - does outlandish things every day - and he is applauded for his marketing genius.

Not fair.

marble falls

(56,357 posts)
8. Or put a weather satellite collecting global warming data or placed a satellite package...
Wed Feb 7, 2018, 11:02 AM
Feb 2018

or science package for a small nation or university too poor to put one up and made it meaningful instead. Yes, I know the Tesla is headed to Mars, but science needs to get to Mars, too.

NightWatcher

(39,343 posts)
10. This was a test flight. What would you say if he blew up some poor school's satellite?
Wed Feb 7, 2018, 11:08 AM
Feb 2018

This was a test flight. Why are you so mad that he made it fun?

Every other rocket that takes a test flight typically uses concrete ballast to simulate the weight of an actual multimillion dollar satellite without risking it should something go wrong.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,146 posts)
11. Except it won't go to Mars. Its solar orbit was designed to reach at least as far as Mars' orbit
Wed Feb 7, 2018, 11:27 AM
Feb 2018

(though, in the event, it's going to get well beyond - it seems like they allowed for a partial failure that didn't happen), but it was not aimed as Mars itself - you'd have to wait for just the right time of year to launch from Earth and get to Mars with a similar trajectory.

Since it was their first test of this configuration - with 2 booster rockets - there was a good chance it would go wrong - either at launch, or at shut-off and separation of the boosters. So there would be a high chance of losing whatever payload you take up.

Liberal In Texas

(13,453 posts)
9. It ran out of propellant, missed the barge and hit the ocean at 300 mph. Ouch.
Wed Feb 7, 2018, 11:05 AM
Feb 2018
Musk says that the core ran out of propellant, which kept the core from being able to slow down as much as it needed for landing. Because of that, the core apparently hit the water at 300MPH, and it was about 100 meters from the ship. "It was enough to take out two thrusters and shower the deck with shrapnel," Musk said. That should be worth seeing on video: "We have the video," Musk confirmed, "it sounds like some pretty fun footage... if the cameras didn't get blown up as well."

https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/06/spacex-falcon-heavy-center-core-lost/

At least Musk has a good attitude about it. But it seems they have some issues to work on for future launches.

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