Author Topic: The Ultimate Model Rocket  (Read 774 times)

RadioFreeSeaLab

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The Ultimate Model Rocket
« on: March 20, 2007, 02:16:22 PM »
SpaceX is launching their Falcon 1 today at 5:05 Pacific time.
Webcast: http://www.spacex.com/webcast.php
Text updates: http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon/f2/status.html
Wikipedia article on Falcon 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_1
Wikipedia article on SpaceX: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX

AJ Dual

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Re: The Ultimate Model Rocket
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2007, 02:44:38 PM »
Schweet! Thanks!
I promise not to duck.

RadioFreeSeaLab

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Re: The Ultimate Model Rocket
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2007, 05:33:55 AM »
Well, it flew, and made it so space.  Ignition, first stage engine, separation, second stage engine, all clean.
But...


Quote
Falcon flew far beyond the "edge" of space, typically thought of as around 60 miles.  Our altitude was approximately 200 miles, which is just 50 miles below the International Space Station.  The second stage didn't achieve full orbital velocity, due to a roll excitation late in the burn, but that should be a comparatively easy fix once we examine the flight data.  Since it is impossible to ground test the second stage under the same conditions it would see in spaceflight, this anomaly was also something that would have been very hard to determine without a test launch.

Here's a launch gallery: http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon/f2/launchgallery/

Headless Thompson Gunner

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Re: The Ultimate Model Rocket
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2007, 05:59:53 AM »
Well, at least they're making progress.