OK we're all but docked!
Vehicle is in place, awaiting lock!

Oh and Niel DeGrasse Tysin is a tool.
I USED to really respect him. Now he's just another socialist mouthpiece.

https://www.theverge.com/2015/...YEFd6J69F4XSd3cXsdmI

This is groundbreaking.
I don’t care if most of Musk’s fortune is Gov’t subsidies. This is the beginning of the next phase of human expansion.

I’d much rather hear about this than savages burning and looting our inner cities.

EDITED

This message has been edited. Last edited by: parabellum,

quote:

Originally posted by ScreamingCockatoo:
Oh and Niel DeGrasse Tysin is a tool.
I USED to really respect him. Now he's just another socialist mouthpiece.

Agreed - DeGrassey used to be all scientific and factual; now it's leftist condescending bullshit flowing out of his mouth 24-7-365.

One thing I like about Elon Musk is he has one goal -> make life multi-planetary. Whenever someone tries to pull Elon into a social argument (as happened in the past as well as at the debriefing on yesterday's launch) he just doesn't engage or respond to it. He talks about exploration being a human drive, the science / work to do it, and leaves it at that.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

One thing I like about Elon Musk is he has one goal -> make life multi-planetary. Whenever someone tries to pull Elon into a social argument (as happened in the past as well as at the debriefing on yesterday's launch) he just doesn't engage or respond to it. He talks about exploration being a human drive, the science / work to do it, and leaves it at that.

I've had criticism for Musk in the past, but I love what he's doing here. The man isn't much older than i am, but instead of playboying around with his billions, he's out there pushing the advancement of the human race. And his desire is truly one of exploration and the human drive as you say.

Just watched the two astronauts from the Dragon capsule enter the space station. Pretty awesome.

ETA: Sen. Ted Cruz is now talking to the crew of the space station.

The technologies needed to live on the Moon and Go to Mars will help all mankind. These are the seed technologies that lead to the marvels we take for granted.

Not a Musk worshipper But Well Done Sir! There was inspiration and pride deep inside watching the Launch, Docking and Astronauts.

It'd be nice to live long enough to see the First Human walk on Mars and the odds just got better.

quote:

Originally posted by braillediver:
It'd be nice to live long enough to see the First Human walk on Mars and the odds just got better.

I doubt I will see it.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by ScreamingCockatoo:
Oh and Niel DeGrasse Tysin is a tool.
I USED to really respect him. Now he's just another socialist mouthpiece.

Some people are just amazing aren't they? The first time in ten years an American build spacecraft, launched with an American crew from American soil successfully delivers astronauts to the space station, yet some people like Tysin have to try and piss on the accomplishment. The mere fact the US is no longer dependant on other countries to get into space (thanks Barry) is enough, for now. Hat's off to both SpaceX and Musk.

Told a buddy of mine, who was a NASA Engineer before getting into aviation, that they should build a prison colony on the moon. Wonder if that would reduce the crime rate? Anyway, he's taking a 1-year leave to go back to NASA and work on the Artemis Project. Freakin' AWESOME for him!! Oh...and Tyson? How 'bout, "...you and the horse on which you rode."

As to the topic at hand, this has been absolutely amazing and a shot in the arm this country needed. I believe President Trump has committed to landing another mission on the moon by 2024??

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by ScreamingCockatoo:
Oh and Niel DeGrasse Tysin is a tool.
I USED to really respect him. Now he's just another socialist mouthpiece.

Some people are just amazing aren't they? The first time in ten years an American build spacecraft, launched with an American crew from American soil successfully delivers astronauts to the space station, yet some people like Tysin have to try and piss on the accomplishment. The mere fact the US is no longer dependant on other countries to get into space (thanks Barry) is enough, for now. Hat's off to both SpaceX and Musk.

Just to clarify, Tysin said that back in 2015. Musk has now finally proven him wrong.

And yeah, he's a douchebag.

My oldest granddaughter is working at NASA on this:

Anybody damn glad we got a big friggin' win? I sure am. Just call me captain obvious.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I'm psyched. I consider it a national DISGRACE that we had to fly US astronauts to OUR space station on Soviet rockets.

Also, I have been saying for years (if not decades) that private industry is the key to the future of manned spaceflight. I consider this stage similar to the dawn of the golden era of aviation. The government provided guidance, legislation, and infrastructure, and let industry build aircraft, airlines, and the businesses that made it all profitable.

One day, I imagine there might be space tourism for real, and NASA certainly won't have anything to do with it. SpaceX, Lockheed, Boeing, etc, might have a chance at it, though.

I'm quite pleased, myself.

Bored completely of most technological innovations and trends lately, but this... this is interesting to me.

I wish I could live long enough to step foot on another celestial body and to travel through space.

I'd give and do just about anything for even one hour alone on the moon, just a spot with a view of home.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
Also, I have been saying for years (if not decades) that private industry is the key to the future of manned spaceflight. I consider this stage similar to the dawn of the golden era of aviation. The government provided guidance, legislation, and infrastructure, and let industry build aircraft, airlines, and the businesses that made it all profitable.

Aside from the efficiencies and economics of having space travel going with private enterprise, NASA's model up to the Space Shuttle program was entirely reliant on a single vehicle. If anything went wrong or, there was a delay, NASA and the other ISS partners had no alternative vehicle it could utilize. While Soyuz is proven, its design is limited and is based around old, but reliable tech.

With Space-X and Boeing, not only is there a competitive market place (the contrasts between the two companies capsule designs is fascinating) but, NASA will soon have options for manned flight into orbit. Should one go down or, be unavailable, the other can be utilized.

We could just make out the rocket flame in the afternoon sun, part of it was blocked by a huge cloud, soon it popped out at 10 o'clock and you could just make out the flame as it wasn't bright like the Shuttle launches.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
With Space-X and Boeing, not only is there a competitive market place (the contrasts between the two companies capsule designs is fascinating) but, NASA will soon have options for manned flight into orbit. Should one go down or, be unavailable, the other can be utilized.

Agreed - I'm glad NASA didn't bow to financial pressure and go with a single provider.

SpaceX definitely used outside the box thinking and expansion for the Crew Dragons use in mind, whereas Boeing looked to fulfill contract requirements - no where is that more clear than the Crew Dragon having 7 days of free flight capability compared to Boeing Starliners 60 hours of total free flight. Which is exactly why the Starliner came down in 2 days after not being able to rendezvous with ISS - initially there was talk of a longer free flight mission, likely until Boeing reps said "Ah, it can't do that"....

Regardless, I'm glad ISS crew has 2 and soon to be 3 options with getting to the space station (Soyuz, Crew Dragon, eventually Starliner). That and Orion / Starship going out to the Moon will be great to see in the coming years.

I couldn't find another thread, is anybody watching the return? Looks like their LZ security was a sh*t show of civilian boats.

Dragon capsule on the recovery vessel and they are opening the hatch now.

Apparently the astronauts are just now exiting the capsule. There had been some delays.
https://youtu.be/H-l6f4wcv2I

flashguy