LADEE-NASA Moon Mission, Sep. 6/7

[rpayne88]

Damit. Missed it due to the tree in my back yard.

Edit: Its also annoying not being able to time warp to 5th stage ignition IRL.

[nettcod]

Coasting to apogee.

[Payload]

OMG was that the fastest rocket to orbit or what? That thing was really moving. Holy kerbal!

[GrimJim]

6k per second at one point...

[lajoswinkler]

Holy **** that was intense!

I wonder how much acceleration was there in the first 15 seconds.

[Kerbal01]

Wow! In to orbit in 10 minutes! That's quite fast although I got a Soyuz up in 8.5 min. Quite a different ascent profile from KSP launches I noticed, lots of coasting. I'd like to second Latcarf in asking what that Blue graph was, maybe a visual representation of the spin up pogo?. I Didn't really like the computer simulation as it Didn't show the spacecraft just a dot on a map.Cooly589: the entire rocket is SRB, in case you Didn't know.

Edited September 7, 2013 by DarthVader

[PakledHostage]

That's because of all the SRB stages.

[lajoswinkler]

Did anyone think there was something wrong right after ignition? Like it got tilted too fast, and the flame wasn't all symmetrical. I thought it was going to fail.

[Kerbal01]

It did start its gravity turn with five seconds of lifting off.in KSP we usually wait about 2 min.

[nettcod]

Orbit and payload separation!

[Latcarf]

What is the travel time to the moon? How long until it's in orbit?

[Motokid600]

Wow. Just ****ing wow. I saw this thing launch from my backyard. Brilliant. Far better then id thought.

[Kerbal01]

I stopped watching as soon as it started decelerating over Africa.

[nettcod]

What is the travel time to the moon? How long until it's in orbit?

It usually takes 3-4 days to get to the moon, but for this one I think they said it will take 60 days.

Edited September 7, 2013 by nettcod

[Jodo42]

Good separation from stage 5, everything looking great. Hats off to the folks at Wallops, Ames, Bermuda, Goddard, and everyone else involved for a spectacular launch. Godspeed.

[lajoswinkler]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brownpau/9688310411/

[Sma]

Wow! In to orbit in 10 minutes! That's quite fast although I got a Soyuz up in 8.5 min. Quite a different ascent profile from KSP launches I noticed, lots of coasting. I'd like to second Latcarf in asking what that Blue graph was, maybe a visual representation of the spin up pogo?. I Didn't really like the computer simulation as it Didn't show the spacecraft just a dot on a map.Cooly589: the entire rocket is SRB, in case you Didn't know.

The shuttle usually got to orbit in roughly the same time, 8.5mins that is. Though they had a high and low Apogee and perigee respectively, so then about 45 mins or so into the orbit they'd circularize. It all depends on the mission profile though I guess.

[robogungt8]

And to think that when its done, it will just crash into the surface and be destroyed...

All they would have to do is add a small extra tank at the bottom of the craft, and they would be able to de-orbit the craft safely on the moon. Then, the next time humans went to the moon, they could bring parts back and maybe repurpose it. Or even have it still run its instruments while landed on the surface. Thats what all those solar panels are for right?!?

I understand the astronomical costs of sending just a pound of extra stuff into space, but it just seems like a waste to have it crash after the tests are complete.

Edited September 7, 2013 by robogungt8
grammatical errors

[The Destroyer]

My my it was really fast acceleration.

[Sma]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brownpau/9688310411/

Nice! Was hoping someone would post a long exposure/tripod mounted shot.

[astropapi1]

Had a mini heart attack when I didn't listen "5th stage ignition". My entire family was sitting in front of the computer, O.O

Dayum, Godspeed LADEE!

[AlternNocturn]

I got to see the launch from the roof of my house here in Fayetteville, NC. It was super bright at first, then it faded out completely, and then faded back in. That was the first stage burning out and the second stage igniting.

[PakledHostage]

LADEE's position is already being updated in Eyes On The Solar System. Keeners like us can follow its progress there.

[Specialist290]

Add me to the list of people who were pleasantly surprised at how quickly the launch went.

Something that piqued my interest was the description of the Modular Common Spacecraft Bus. The whole idea seems to be very kerbal (in a good, non-explosion-y sense).

[Captain Sierra]

Suddenly I feel obligated to build a replica of this.