SpaceX to try a revolutionary rocket landing this Sunday — how to watch

[Buster's Uncle]

SpaceX is going to try a revolutionary rocket landing this Sunday — here's how to watch
Business Insider
By Jessica Orwig  6 hours ago



An artistic view of what the rocket will look like if it successfully lands on the floating platform. The arrows points to fins that help steer the rocket as it falls back to Earth.  (Joh Ross on Twitter @zlsadesign)



Get ready: SpaceX will try another historic rocket landing on Sunday, June 28.

The landing attempt will happen minutes after SpaceX launches one of their Falcon 9 rockets out of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at exactly 10:21 am ET.

NASA will begin streaming the event live at 9 am ET and will offer real-time coverage of the launch. The live feed is provided at the end of this post.

For news and video of whether the landing was a success, stay tuned for updates following the launch.

The rocket will be carrying a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft loaded with over 4,000 pounds of supplies, including food, water, and science experiments, for the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. One of the science experiments includes instruments that will allow astronauts to observe meteors penetrating Earth's atmosphere. It will be the first time anyone in space has ever studied meteors like this before.

After the Falcon 9 has transported Dragon to space, it will detach from the spacecraft and navigate its way back — using GPS tracking — to a football-field-sized platform, shown below, floating miles offshore in the Atlantic.



The Dragon spacecraft will continue on to dock with the ISS.  (SpaceX Photos on Flickr)


All eyes will be on this rocket

If SpaceX is successful on Sunday they will have marked a revolutionary breaking point in history: If the rocket safely lands on the platform, it should be in good condition to be reused for a second launch — the first time any rocket will have been fully recovered for reuse.

(NASA used to reuse some of the rocket parts that launched their space shuttles in the '70s, '80s, and '90s. However, these parts were retrieved after parachuting into the ocean and were water logged and needed time for repairs. With SpaceX's version, the rocket would remain completely dry and should, in theory, be reusable within 24 hours after it's retrieved.)

This idea of fully-reusable rockets could usher in a new age of future, affordable, commercial spaceflight. The key to this development centers on rockets that can be launched and re-launched — eventually even within the same day — similar to how planes are operated today.



Burn marks on the platform after the first attempt rocket landing last January.  (Courtesy of Stephen Clark and Spaceflight Now)


Sunday's attempt will be the third time that SpaceX has tried to retrieve one of their Falcon 9 rockets after a supply mission to the ISS. So, on June 28, we'll see if the third time really is a charm.

SpaceX's first two landing attempts took place in January and April of this year. Although both ended with a fiery explosion, April's attempted landing was a significant improvement on the first: The rocket actually hovered over the platform before touching down.

The only problem was the rocket fell on its side after landing and exploded upon impact. January's landing attempt basically ended with the rocket crashing into the platform without any hovering or soft touchdown. These explosions take a toll on the platform, but after some scrubbing and sweeping, the platform is ready for another go.

Right now, SpaceX is one of two companies in the world who has launched a rocket designed for reuse. The other company is Blue Origin — established by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Neither SpaceX or Blue Origin have yet to succeed in their endeavor, but if SpaceX manages it this Sunday, it'll truly be a game-changer.

NASA will start livestreaming the launch at 9 am ET, Sunday, June 28. Here's the live feed:

(Java video that won't let me copy the URL, but here's the site:) http://www.ustream.tv/


http://news.yahoo.com/spacex-going-try-revolutionary-rocket-191223866.html

[Metaliturtle]

I was actually glad for this post because my daughter is really interested in space and spacecraft, also going to see about getting a model rocket for us to launch.

[Buster's Uncle]

There is a bit more that stuff in this folder...

[Metaliturtle]

another reason I've been sticking around.  I put that excel thing I made up too btw, and could adapt it into a forum game fairly easily with a bit of time...

[Unorthodox]

I was actually glad for this post because my daughter is really interested in space and spacecraft, also going to see about getting a model rocket for us to launch.

Start REALLY simple on that, work your way to staged ones. 

Also, 2 toys I LOVED:

https://www.vat19.com/item/aquapod-bottle-launcher-water-rocket?adid=gbase&gclid=CJjcr9_LscYCFYU5aQodL94KFg

http://www.storeforknowledge.com/Water-Rocket-Toy-Hydrotech-Aquazone-P6760.aspx?gclid=CLvI5vPLscYCFQqSaQodBPAH1g  (I got way too good at getting the right mixture on both these, and would either break(second one) them or run the risk of collateral damage)


I own a pure pneumatic one that runs on a bike pump with a burst disk and goes shockingly high, but don't know if they are still for sell. 

[Unorthodox]

Here's the pneumatic one.  (think mine was among the prototypes)

http://www.scientificsonline.com/product/air-burst-rockets?gclid=CIvjoZrNscYCFQiQaQodVG0BTA

put streamers on the rocket if you get this one, you lose a bit of height but it's easier to follow and you can hear it coming if when you lose it. 

[Metaliturtle]

We got some toy ones yesterday that she can stomp on and the rocket goes 1-20 feet.  When I stomp on it, it goes a lot higher.  It came with 6 rockets, we stopped playing when I got one stuck in a tree.

[Unorthodox]

We got some toy ones yesterday that she can stomp on and the rocket goes 1-20 feet.  When I stomp on it, it goes a lot higher.  It came with 6 rockets, we stopped playing when I got one stuck in a tree.

This one (rather an early model, again) provided my boys with endless summer fun. 

http://www.hearthsong.com/splash-blaster-hydro-rocket.htm?aff=10051&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PLA&utm_campaign=PLA&utm_source=Splash+Blaster+Hydro+Rocket&gclid=CObx-MK2ssYCFY-HaQoduN8A4w

edit: here's our model.  not for this price though.  The throttle control is nifty, and allows you to attempt a vertical take off/landing.  We've got ours to 30ft, hose pressure dependent. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IX6LXHW/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687702&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0000899OI&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1R09D21BH74PTBDZR594

[Metaliturtle]

Well the rocket blew up, that was kinda unexpected She was really excited to see it go up.

[Buster's Uncle]

Oh well.  These things happen.  It was a test flight, and I hate that too much is sure to be made of it.

[Metaliturtle]

I don't think that will be the case, but that's a lot of money on a bottle rocket.

[Unorthodox]

Oh well.  These things happen.  It was a test flight, and I hate that too much is sure to be made of it.

Wasn't just a test flight, it had one of their iss shipments.  Had the landing just failed it wouldn't matter, but this was on ascent.  That means all shipments are now on hold pending investigation.  Possibly all Falcon 9 launches.  And they can't proclaim the spotless record anymore. 

Looks like second stage started too soon or separation failed and blew that fuel tank they have up top for first stage return.  Possibly something funny with those fins up top too, that portion is entirely foreign to me. 

[Buster's Uncle]

They're still doing R&D with giant bombs, and these things do happen.

[Unorthodox]

If you really want a detailed post from me, it'll have to wait till tomorrow.  Yes, they do happen, but this was at least partially preventable. 

[Buster's Uncle]

I cannot lie about having some interest in a detailed post.