Saturday, October 19, 2013

Grasshopper retired

Because it taught SpaceX the things they wanted to know...
The October 7 flight by the company’s Grasshopper test vehicle ... was the last planned flight of that vehicle...
However, that certainly isn't the end of things...
Falcon 9-R (“Falcon Niner”) first stage equipped with flight-weight, retractable landing legs [will have] test flights at Spaceport America in New Mexico starting in late December.
They're like the terminator... "it will not stop..." until they've figured out reusability.

Could Bezos slip past the finish line first?

Dark horse Branson ... springs a surprise, “We do have another idea, which we’re going to announce in about four months’ time [around next January.]"

Did those old movies get this right?...

From SpaceX...
That relight also went well, however we exceeded the roll control authority of the attitude control thrusters. This particular stage was not equipped with landing gear which could have helped stabilize the stage like fins would on an aircraft [or old movie rocket.]

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