I’m tweeting about it, which is a better way of rapid updating than blogging, and it gets a lot more views. So…
[Update a while later]
Meanwhile, SpaceX will be testing elements of BFR next year.
Also, the failed center corefirst stage that they failed to expend from the previous Falcon 9 launch couldn’t be safely recovered, so the Air Force scuttled it with an air strike.
Yes, as per comments, I screwed up in the middle of listening to a talk on launch regulations at the same time.
I think that was the GovSat first stage not the FH Center Core that the AF scuttled. I think the FH core took care of itself.
That wasn’t the “failed center core”; it was the F9 from the last launch that wasn’t supposed to survive its landing after testing the 3-engine terminal burn.
You know it’s the 21st Century when the USAF has to blow up errant floating rockets.
I wonder if the Air Force will send SpaceX a bill? I suppose it could be considered a live-fire training exercise, so it’s not a complete waste of taxpayer money.
(I see so many comments around the internet slamming Elon for sponging off the taxpayers. I’m sure they’ll seize on this as yet another example.)
I was wondering what plane they used and how much the munitions cost. It really wouldn’t be all the surprising to find that the AF charged them for it too.
I certainly hope it was more ad hoc and it made the day for some bored pilot though. Better than some of the sky writing stunts…
“I’m sure they’ll seize on this as yet another example.”
Oh, I’ve already seen it. “Yet another government subsidy for Musk!” Sheesh.
This belongs on the Falcon Heavy thread, but it’s getting old. I haven’t seen this addressed before: Have there been any previous examples of a rocket putting a payload into solar orbit on its first flight? What about the moon?
So a year or so to start testing and five to six for the real deal. If they hit their goal of 40 launches a year, that’s 240 launches, more if there is demand or delays. Wikipedia says each core gets 100 reuses. They don’t need more than a handful F9 Block 5’s to meet that launch rate. How many cores will they end up building?
Also, are they like shoes where you alternate which shoes you wear so they last longer or will they be using just a few at a time and keeping the rest mint in their boxes?
Good tweets Mr Simberg, you should fix your Twitter plug in =p
As I write this, on Amazon the “Heavy Metal” Blu-ray is #1 in Fantasy and #60 in Movies & TV. The CD is #5 in Miscellaneous and #16 in Movie Soundtracks. Whoever owns the rights should send Elon a fruit basket.
I’d love to have been in the crew room when the Boss walked in with the assignment. Pick me! Pick me!
I’m looking at the illustration accompanying the BFR article; Chesley Bonestell would be proud…