Today, for the first time a private company's rocket launched men into space. The SpaceX launch from Florida went off pretty much w/o a hitch and the rocket also returned to Earth (on a drone ship in the Atlantic) successfully to be reused in a later launch. The two NASA astronauts on board, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, will rendezvous w the International Space Station tomorrow.
This is a big deal. First of all, it's so great to have something very positive to happen in 2020 and also something for the US to be very proud of these days. But more importantly, this is a big step forward for space travel. Using SpaceX rockets, which are reusable, cuts the cost of launching into space by 75%. NASA plans to return humans to the moon in the next 4 years, and presumably in the mid-term future to Mars for the first time. Glad to hear it.
Before the launch, Elon Musk (head of SpaceX) said that if the launch was successful it's to the credit of his engineers but if it fails then it's his fault. If only our political leaders (notably our Emperor, I mean USA CEO, I mean our President) would take this attitude at least on occasion. I dont know about you, but to me, in spite of his shortcomings, Elon Musk is a hero.
The launch time of mid-afternoon was very unusual. I've never heard of any rocket being launched into space at that time. It's always been in the morning around sunrise. This is because the rocket gets the most boost from the Earth's momentum thru space at sunrise. Launching in the afternoon is almost the worst time because then the rocket has to do all the work.
Also, in the near future it is planned that Tom Cruise will star in a movie filmed from the International Space Station, meaning that he will be launched into space. I am looking forward to this! Maybe it will inspire the next Elon Musk!
This is a big deal. First of all, it's so great to have something very positive to happen in 2020 and also something for the US to be very proud of these days. But more importantly, this is a big step forward for space travel. Using SpaceX rockets, which are reusable, cuts the cost of launching into space by 75%. NASA plans to return humans to the moon in the next 4 years, and presumably in the mid-term future to Mars for the first time. Glad to hear it.
Before the launch, Elon Musk (head of SpaceX) said that if the launch was successful it's to the credit of his engineers but if it fails then it's his fault. If only our political leaders (notably our Emperor, I mean USA CEO, I mean our President) would take this attitude at least on occasion. I dont know about you, but to me, in spite of his shortcomings, Elon Musk is a hero.
The launch time of mid-afternoon was very unusual. I've never heard of any rocket being launched into space at that time. It's always been in the morning around sunrise. This is because the rocket gets the most boost from the Earth's momentum thru space at sunrise. Launching in the afternoon is almost the worst time because then the rocket has to do all the work.
Also, in the near future it is planned that Tom Cruise will star in a movie filmed from the International Space Station, meaning that he will be launched into space. I am looking forward to this! Maybe it will inspire the next Elon Musk!
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