Launch News SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Mission (1330-1630 EST 6th Feb. 2018)

[Lucy]

Anybody know what happened to the core stage?

 

[Fabri91]

That simultaneous landing. Unbelievable!

First it was :blink:, then :woohoo:

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Anybody know what happened to the core stage?

Either it landed or SpX will begin offering anti-ship missiles.

 

[Urwumpe]

Anybody know what happened to the core stage?

No knowledge yet, live stream is over and no further information on twitter yet.

Judging the sudden fog before camera cut out, I would guess it missed the platform.

 

[kuddel]

Without the boring part:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbSwFU6tY1c&feature=youtu.be&t=7m50s

 

[Pipcard]

Excellent presentation.

 

[RisingFury]

I heard a claim that rocket exhaust scatters radio waves. Can anyone confirm?

What's the exact composition of the exhaust? CO and CO2 along with H2O. Is there anything else? Unburned particles?

Here's the important question: Is the exhaust ionized or partially ionized? Does it contain free or loosely bound charged particles?

 

[Urwumpe]

I heard a claim that rocket exhaust scatters radio waves. Can anyone confirm?

Here's the important question: Is the exhaust ionized or partially ionized? Does it contain free or loosely bound charged particles?

Exactly that, its partially ionized, partially plasma. ANY hot enough flame scatters radio waves. That is why it was rather futile to make the SR-71 stealthy. The biggest radar cross section had been the two exhaust jets of it.

 

[dbeachy1]

 

[4throck]

EPIC views right now

 

[kuddel]

Yeah, very very cool!
I was sceptical at first when I heard about launching this Tesla, but I stand corrected:
It *is* worth it!

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BTW: Any news on the core stage landing (...or splashdown)?

 

[GLS]

It looks like there was no 6h parking orbit, as it looks way higher than LEO.

 

[kuddel]

Don't know, but wasn't the "parking orbit" planned to exceed into the Van Allen belt?
That would definitely be outside "the usual" LEO.

 

[dbeachy1]

What is its current velocity? Is there an orbital tracker site?

 

[rstr]

Hear the enthusiastic crowd's cheers during launch ?!?!! Wow, brought tears to my old eyes while remembering the spirit of the Apollo days I had been so privileged to watch as a kid. What a great show and achievement - almost like SciFi seeing them launch boosters return again to the pad. Congrats, SpaceX.
Cheers - Rob

 

[GLS]

Don't know, but wasn't the "parking orbit" planned to exceed into the Van Allen belt?
That would definitely be outside "the usual" LEO.

That would explain it, as it looks to be at about 10000 Km altitude.

What is its current velocity? Is there an orbital tracker site?

I'd say its over the Pacific now, with Australia visible near the (morning) terminator.

 

[Urwumpe]

That would explain it, as it looks to be at about 10000 Km altitude.

7000 km was planned.

 

[kuddel]

I'd say its over the Pacific now, with Australia visible near the (morning) terminator.

That's a very rough interpretation of "telemetry" :lol:

I hope that the "Live Views of Starman" as it climbs up will be released as BlueRay.
That would definitely replace my usual "Fireplace" screening!

 

[GLS]

That's a very rough interpretation of "telemetry" :lol:

After lots and lots of hours in LEO with Orbiter, one starts to know places. :lol:

 

[4throck]

Still watching Starman!
Best reality TV ever :thumbup:

 

[kuddel]

objects in the rearview mirror may appear closer than they are