.50calBMG

Wow, I just realized something. SpaceX is so good at landing rockets now that they can do it by accident.

I really hope so, but all the animations have showed it horizontally aligned on its way up. Not really too surprising, not with how tough SpaceX builds their rockets.

The Space Between Us was so scientifically bad that even my girlfriend was pointing out stuff that didn't make any logical sense, and her knowledge of space can pretty much be summed up as Earth is spherical, and Venus is pretty. That's not great for the movie. Same can be said about Passengers, but at least they had good actors for that, and a halfway interesting plot.

My neighbors think they are so cool with a firetruck in their front yard... just you wait, neighbors, just you wait.

I work there, I'll start taking orders

Theoretically, if SpaceX had it finished and decided to test FH at Boca Chica, could they test it from there in spite of the shutdown because its a private launch site, or would it still be a no-go because they are testing orbit class boosters that the government can and has used or will use?

Is it just me or does she sits on the pad for a while after the engines light? I just watched it in slow more about 10 times and to me it looks like those engines spool up almost instantly. I understand that they probably do gimbal checks and check battery and fuel flow, but I can't imagine that takes more than a second or so, and yet she sits on the pad for a good 3 seconds after ignition. Also, holy crap that twr. Makes the Atlas's without boosters like like they are half asleep at liftoff.

I dont think N1 had as many control thrusters as Saturn V, It didnt need ullage control because of hot-staging and nothing on it is used more than once except the service module and lander, and because they had multiple main engines for roll control on the third stage, which negates the need for RCS thrusters on it, unlike the S-IVb. Getting back to FH, are we sure that the static fire is going on today? I got a tweet from spaceflight now I think saying it was getting pushed to Feb., or was that just the launch?

I'm fully aware of the fact you need to be cautious when testing new things, and I understand the delays for SpaceX. I'm talking about Still Testing, specifically that Murphy's seems to be especially strong around them, ie. that boat... flarp that guy.

We just cant have anything new anymore, can we? All the experimental stuff that could bring us into the future just keeps getting pushed back... and yet Atlas can launch all it wants, what with its fancy track record and asymmetry and such.

Whats the delay from? Edit: weather, always check twitter before asking questions, kiddies

I ask because the titanium boosters had the curved edge, but yet if you look at them, specifically the one on the right side of the right booster, it seems like it has a flat edge. maybe they have a cover on them, but I don't think I've seen that on any of the other first stages they've had pictures of in the hangar

Forgive me for going back in time, but is it just me or do those grid fins on the side boosters look like the titanium batman fins to anyone else? Coming back to today's launch, there was a cool shot of sooty coming back in just after reentering the atmosphere where you could see bits of paint flaking off the grid fins.

Getting back to FH, I heard that they were going to light the engines in pairs, is that only for the static fire or are they doing that for the launch as well?

No, see that was the problem, they didn't have Stig in it. that's why it failed.

So thats why Red Dragon was cancelled, they are replacing the dragon with a tesla. I guess that makes sense.

Weird to think that there's only one more delta 2 launch left. gonna miss that cool little rocket

"friendly, familiar shape"... well, rectangles have been around a while I guess, but it doesn't look too friendly to me.

Got 24ish hours left until Zuma launches. Does anyone know if it will be a full length webcast or will they cut it at fairing sep like a DoD launch?

Thanks, that's been bothering me for a while now.

Could I get the G capitalized, please, so its .50calBMG?

Since they are switching to three sea level Raptors on the BFS, would they also go to three vac Raptors to keep it symmetric or would they stay with four?

Testing stage 2 landing?

Does anyone know when they will go back to the titanium grid fins? I know they wanted to use up their stockpile of aluminum ones before they made the switch, but the one landing they did with them was crystal clear, which makes me think that it was burning paint flaking off onto the camera instead of engine soot.

Yeah, I know that's why it came about having the different diameter tanks, that makes sense. What doesnt make sense, however, was the Delta IV small, which had the Delta IV core and Delta II upper stage. Would also like to point out that the LOX tank is placed below the LH tank in that pic...