That's more like it!

[KSK]

Successful launch of the AsiaSat 8 satellite aboard a Falcon 9 booster. From the Spaceflight Now update page:

"Second stage shutdown! Falcon 9 has achieved a preliminary parking orbit with a high point of 200 kilometers and a low point of 176 kilometers, with an orbital inclination of 27.7 degrees to the equator. SpaceX officials say that is close to prelaunch predictions."

Fingers crossed for the second stage re-light and boost to GTO. Good to see SpaceX launch this one on schedule too, albeit at the second attempt this morning. I know this is rocket science and that SpaceX need to build a reputation for reliability (which probably takes second place to timeliness right now), but this armchair quarterback is happy to see this launch go a lot more smoothly than the last one!

[Tiberion]

Man I forgot that was even tonight. I was awake and eveything.

Payload separation was confirmed, so chalk another successful launch up for the Falcon9.

Also, night launches are really cool:

[R0cketC0der]

Second stage relight and payload separation successful! Sadly I missed this launch, because it was like 7:30am for me and I didn't want to stand up this early.

[KSK]

I was hoping to catch the launch before driving to work but had to settle for quickly checking the Spaceflight Now commentary later on. Thanks for the update on the second stage relight (go SpaceX!) and yeah, night launches make for some sweet, sweet pictures!

[Sky_walker]

ekhm... sorry to interrupt, but: what's so important about this launch that it deserves it's own topic?

or are we going to make a new topic about every single launch that happened?

Cause if so than we missed quite a few this and previous month.

[Ralathon]

ekhm... sorry to interrupt, but: what's so important about this launch that it deserves it's own topic?

or are we going to make a new topic about every single launch that happened?

Cause if so than we missed quite a few this and previous month.

Well, space X is quite a popular company on these forums and due to numerous delays on their last launch they have issues keeping up with the schedule for this year. This is relevant because Space X needs to build up its reputation and funds to continue the development of their reusable launch system, something that is obviously a topic of interest for the forum.

[Sky_walker]

Well, space X is quite a popular company on these forums and due to numerous delays on their last launch they have issues keeping up with the schedule for this year. This is relevant because Space X needs to build up its reputation and funds to continue the development of their reusable launch system, something that is obviously a topic of interest for the forum.

o_O If anything - it's in the interest of Space X itself. It should be obvious that it's a commercial company, not some charity organization helping humanity.

As for whatever there's a group of SpaceX fanboys here or not - I won't dispute that, cause I'm too new on this forum, but.... IMHO: It'd be good to report on a launches that are at least marginally important in a grand scheme of things - as in: testing new technologies, solutions, anything that pushes space flight further - and this one most certainly is not.

[Mazon Del]

One of my friends was saying that this represents a world record turnaround time for a given launch pad at 22 days. For SpaceX that is certainly true, does anybody know about the 'world' part?

[Karriz]

This particular launch may not have done anything new with the reusability development, but there's nothing wrong with opening a thread about it anyways. I doesn't matter if it's SpaceX or ULA or any other launch provider out there.

[Streetwind]

ekhm... sorry to interrupt, but: what's so important about this launch that it deserves it's own topic?

or are we going to make a new topic about every single launch that happened?

Cause if so than we missed quite a few this and previous month.

Well, there were a few small nuggets of interest:

For starters, we learned that

. That kind of footage was never shown by them before.

Additionally, even though there was not enough fuel for a soft landing, they still went for a first stage reentry burn. The booster performed this successfully and did not burn up during descent, giving another data point for the developers of the reusability systems.

If there are similar cool bits about other launches, then I encourage the making of threads for them, regardless of who the launch provider is

Edited August 5, 2014 by Streetwind

[KSK]

Well, space X is quite a popular company on these forums and due to numerous delays on their last launch they have issues keeping up with the schedule for this year. This is relevant because Space X needs to build up its reputation and funds to continue the development of their reusable launch system, something that is obviously a topic of interest for the forum.

This basically. I hoped the thread title would be the clue.

[Sky_walker]

KSK - I already replied to that post, so won't repeat myself, but as for the title - that's like... the most generic title you could possibly put there. No idea what kind of "clue" is it suppose to be.

[Firov]

o_O If anything - it's in the interest of Space X itself. It should be obvious that it's a commercial company, not some charity organization helping humanity.

While SpaceX is a commercial company, I think it's important to remember that SpaceX was formed for one very specific purpose, that purpose being the manned exploration and colonization of Mars. Think about it, there's a reason SpaceX isn't publicly owned like Tesla. Musk wants direct control over the company to ensure that it achieves his goal of landing humans to Mars within his lifetime. A board of directors would be more concerned about the bottom line than they would be in furthering the goal of space exploration and colonization.

So yes, SpaceX isn't a charity, but to say it lacks the potential to help humanity ignores the very reasons for its creation.

Edited August 5, 2014 by Firov

[KSK]

KSK - I already replied to that post, so won't repeat myself, but as for the title - that's like... the most generic title you could possibly put there. No idea what kind of "clue" is it suppose to be.

OK, fair point. The first post still makes it fairly obvious why I thought the launch was newsworthy though and if it wasn't obvious, Ralathon's post nailed the reason in any case. Anyhow - we're going round in circles here - lets stop.

Cheers,

KSK.

[SuperFastJellyfish]

-snip-

Are you just being negative to be negative? It's his thread and it's legit. Who are you to say what he should or shouldn't do?

For starters, we learned that they have cameras in the fuel tanks of the first stage. That kind of footage was never shown by them before.

This happened last month as well. I only know because I caught it live from randomly being on this forum at the right time.

Edited August 5, 2014 by SuperFastJellyfish

[Streetwind]

I only know because I caught it live from randomly being on this forum at the right time.

Huh, really? ...Where in the video is that? I skimmed through it but didn't find any shots inside the fuel tank. the video also ends halfway into the second stage burn, so maybe they showed it live but it wasn't recorded.

[SuperFastJellyfish]

Huh, really? ...Where in the video is that? I skimmed through it but didn't find any shots inside the fuel tank. the video also ends halfway into the second stage burn, so maybe they showed it live but it wasn't recorded.

Ahh, I misread the IN the fuel tank, and just assumed you meant on the fuel tank showing the engine nozzle. My bad. I didn't even notice that shot when I watched that launch. Very cool.