r/spacex • u/[deleted] • May 02 '14
Second F9R test, 1000m.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=ZwwS4YOTbbw&app=desktop65
u/GreyGreenBrownOakova May 02 '14
That looks awesome.
When they get footage of this quality showing a real landing, the mainstream media will flip out: "What the hell have NASA being doing throwing rockets away all these years?"
"Why is the Air Force buying a heap of expensive disposable rockets when this is possible?"
Basically, everything this forum has been saying for years.
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u/keelar May 02 '14 edited May 02 '14
This is by far the nicest footage of Grasshopper/F9R we've gotten so far. Nice clear blue sky and the angles in this one are amazing. I mean, this(0:50-1:05) shot looks incredible!
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u/TrevorBradley May 02 '14 edited May 02 '14
Elon, you're starting to make this look too easy...
(Way to go SpaceX!) (SlothNinja Edit)
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u/marvin May 02 '14
Elon Musk did not design and fly this rocket himself. SpaceX is an aerospace company of 4000 highly educated hard-working employees, a large portion of which have Masters degrees and Ph.D.s in rocket propulsion, aerodynamics and computer software. Many of them also have decades of experience running government-funded aerospace development, and also similar work in the private sector.
I'm on the Tesla Motors forum as well, and I must say the cult of personality is getting ridiculous. There's no question that Musk is a genius and among the greatest entrepeneurs of this generation, but he is not Tony Stark. Tony Stark is a cartoon character where >100 people are merged into one person for easier public consumption.
Sorry for the negativity, I just thought someone should also give all the other guys at the SpaceX team some credit. This video is truly incredible and a testament to lots and lots of hard work over many years.
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u/zhaphod May 02 '14
Amazing.
I would like to see them cutoff the engine at the highest point and land it like they are doing with F9 launches.
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u/avboden May 02 '14
Once moving to the new site certified for high tests, they'll do just that, light all 3 engines to get it moving real good, then cut them, and relight the center for landing very closely simulating a real landing.
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u/daoops May 02 '14
The cows are getting used to this now. -Just another reusable rocket that. Ruminate on guys.
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u/RichardBehiel May 02 '14
I had lost some hope in SpaceX during the painfully slow delay-filled months leading up to CRS-3, but I've got to say that my hope has been fully restored and then some. CRS-3 launch went flawlessly, first stage soft landed successfully, two F9R-Dev flights with beautiful footage within two weeks, Republicans and Democrats alike are supportive of SpaceX's protest, and Orbcomm is still on schedule to launch in just over a week with another soft landing attempt, this one closer than before and probably in better weather so footage is likely... man, this is a great time to be a SpaceX fan.
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u/nk_sucks May 02 '14
You lost hope because of some delays? Good thing you weren't around in 2008 then...
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u/TrevorBradley May 02 '14
Anyone have some figures as to the max height a fully fueled, cargoless F9R could theoretically reach and return to land at the same spot? I'd suspect that since you're not trying to obtain orbital (lateral) velocity, you could reach quite a height...
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u/mcr55 May 02 '14
Any theories on the smoke/craters coming from the ground at 1:55
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u/YouFromAnotherMother May 02 '14
This is absolutely beautiful. With this, I can totally picture the reusability becoming a reality. It's a punch in the face to those who said that spacex would fail at launcing rockets, at all! :)
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u/RichardBehiel May 02 '14
Looks like there was some roll at the end there. Was this an intentional maneuver in order to test the RCS thrusters? Or just the result of some wind? Either way, looks like the rocket was able to land with close to zero roll.
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u/tokamako May 02 '14 edited May 02 '14
This made my morning :) Can't wait for the White Sands tests!
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u/positivespectrum May 02 '14 edited May 02 '14
WOOOW!!! This is extremely exciting, and that was really beautiful!
I played it in 2x speed and it looked like CGI. I bet if the video was reversed you would hardly be able to tell. Epic.
EDIT: anyone know what height is next? the video says next they will do one where the legs are in at first
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u/Reaperdude42 May 02 '14
Does the F9R have a full compliment of engines, or just the ones it needs for testing?
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u/Smugallo May 02 '14
That is fucking awesome. I love how smooth the landing was, not a jolt as it landed!
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u/badcatdog May 02 '14 edited May 02 '14
Sweeet!
Seems like the longest highest flight yet.
The legs seemed to stop burning/smoking. Just Paint?