kkeenan

Launch photos here: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/press/

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launched from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 10:43 a.m. EST. This is first demonstration flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, which will provide cargo flights to the International Space Station. The Dragon capsule has separated from the second stage and is in orbit at a 34 degree inclination, 187 miles above Earth.. It’s expected to perform two orbits while controllers will put the spacecraft through several maneuvers before it re-enters the atmosphere and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean about 500 miles west of the coast of Mexico. SpaceX is providing updates of the demo flight on its website, www.spacex.com

That's the loudspeaker you use to announce what a turd BR is. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Actually, the F-1 engines in the Saturn V first stage (S-IC) burned RP-1 fuel (Kerosene). The J-2 engines in the S-II second stage burned cryogenic liquid hydrogen fuel. Both used liquid oxygen. I read that the CIA analysts who first saw satellite photos of the launch pad damage from the N-1 explosion thought that they were seeing damage from a nuclear blast. Kevin K.

So, in the (hypothetical) case of finding yourself over terrain unsuitable for your 109, you would cut away and try it with your reserve ?

I agree with Dan. It seems really insane to jump a main - the canopy that one should be most proficient with - and not be able to land it in all possible conditions. Reserves usually work. but to ditch a functioning main and go to reserve due to the emergency of a "Bad Spot", seems to be pushing your chances unnecessarily. If your skills are such that you cannot put your main down in a safe place, then you need to rethink your equipment choices. There have been plenty of test jumps done on mains that are experimental or otherwise known to be unlandable. On these jumps, the standard practice is to cutaway to another main or carry an extra reserve. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

I think that came after the GF watched the video...

I like the new guy already..! He will fit right in here. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Stupid rocket. New launch time is 5:58 pm (EST). Still going to look cool.

Delta 4 fueling is going well. All is still GO for a 6:06 pm (EST) launch. Nice set of rocket photos here: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d351/prelaunch/ _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

This should speed things up in the Spotting training of our tech-savvy youth. Although, it will be hard to beat the current, "Go on Green" training that they currently receive. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

STS-133 launch date is still under review. Work is under way to fix some cracks that were found in the External Tank. Launch has been tentatively set for Dec. 3 at 2:52 am. (EST). More info at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Here is a very well-done video of the last Delta 4-Heavy launch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvYnUbXVY_0 If you like rockets, this one is a real badass.

A Delta 4 is planned for launch this evening at 6:06 pm (EST) from Cape Canaveral. This is the "Heavy Lift" version of the rocket, meaning that it has a triple-body first stage, and is one huge Mofo. This is the most powerful version of the Delta 4, and will be carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload called "NROL-32". The payload is rumored to be a very large communications monitoring satellite, which has been called, "the biggest satellite in the world". Defense and technical aspects aside, this should be a very picturesque launch. It will be just after dark with a big moon coming up. Grab a beer and head down to the river for a great view. It should be very visible from the Titusville, DeLand, or Sebastian DZs For updates, check here: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d351/status.html

Redneck CRW is defined as having at least one goat owner in the formation. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

1/2 hour in the DZ trailer with crazy, hippie gun-toting instructor/jumpmaster, a bunch of PLFs off the platform, and off to the Cessna 180 with no door for a 2800 ft. static line jump. However, that was 1971 in Texas. I hear that current techniques may have improved on that. Kevin K.

No. He's calling you HOT.

The reason we jump is that we get to see, feel, and experience things that most people never will. These views and memories are what make a lifetime of skydiving so rewarding. Thanks for sharing yours with us. I hope you have many more. Kevin K.

Launch delayed until Nov. 30 at the earliest.

Ask Bill Dause. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

I think that every manager of a small GA airport has tried to sell his town on this line of crap. They are all convinced that they've hit the big-time. Very few of them actually make that jump, but don't know that until they have run off their existing tenants. When I was at A&M, there was no local jumping. We had to go to Austin to skydive. For Aggies, that's a real kick in the nads. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

No problem for me. My stuff was in the Payload Bay 3 weeks ago. Its all ready to go. However, there are a bunch of worms and fungus spores planning on a trip to the ISS this afternoon. I wouldn't want to be the one to break the news to them. Unfortunately, today's problem puts us in a bad situation. The current plan is for a 72-hour turnaround. That puts us at a Monday launch. That's the last day of the current launch window. The mission has to be cut by one day, but is still doable. If the Monday launch does not happen, then the next launch window will be around Dec. 4. There are a lot of factors affecting the scheduling of these missions, and any delay just makes things more crazy. Apologies to all who came to Florida this week for a launch. Sometimes it not so smooth running out at the Rocket Ranch. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

No Launch Today. Sorry, folks. Move along now. Nothing to see here... _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

All has been looking good through tanking, however, around 0730, a Hydrogen gas leak was detected and is being looked at. This same type of leak delayed two different missions last year. Troubleshooting is in progress, but this has the potential to scrub today's attempt.

"He landed hard because he didn't pull his stopping ropes soon enough..." _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?