Patience grasshopper... About a week before Elon's National Press Club talk, SpaceX filed this draft environmental assessment with the FAA (http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/20110922 SpaceX Grasshopper Draft EA.Final.pdf (pdf)) for permission to test a reusable launch vehicle called the Grasshoppper at a site in Texas. Btw, here's video of the Press Club talk: Future of Human Space Flight - C-SPAN Video Library
But still, don't air brakes make much more sense? At least to complement thrust? At those speeds air brakes are extremely efficient. Anybody here who knows as much about this as I would like to know myself?
Elon said that the animation was slightly inaccurate for two reasons. One reason was because they wanted to have it done in time for the announcement, and they just didn't have time to fix some inaccuracies. The other reason is because they didn't want to give away some of their corporate secrets on how they're actually doing it. Even though they don't show air brakes, they still might use them in the final product.
View from landing leg camera on Falcon rocket test rig (aka Grasshopper Project) - - - Updated - - - Twitter / elonmusk: Launching our Falcon 9 rocket ... SpaceXs First Contract Cargo Mission Set for Next Month | Autopia | Wired.com Orbital Sciences, SpaceX Ready to Launch | Autopia | Wired.com
Nice progress on the Grasshopper. Two story hop was posted here. Now here's a 12 story hop: Single Camera: Grasshopper 12-Story Test Flight 12/17/12 - YouTube Multi-Angle: Grasshopper 12-Story Test Flight 12/17/12 - YouTube
Seems difficult to notice any sign of instability. Probably the kind of thing that looks much easier than it is. The rocket seems pointing to the right (at least when lowering), relative to the horizon. The wind seems to come from the right, but not sure if that could be the reason. Doesn't seem to be strong wind.
Hmm... a bit anti-climatic. I saw Elon's tweet "The Johnny Cash hover slam!" and figured the Johnny Cash tune was Ring of Fire. So ring of fire and hover slam... I was expecting to see the thing smash down with a cool explosion leaving a crater and a ring of fire. But no such luck. Just a lot of smoke. Still cool. Anyone know the significance of this test?
They were expanding the envelope- 200 ft elevation maybe? Elon had mentioned that he worried that this test would end in a big crater. I guess you hoped it would, Doug. I hope they can keep testing Grasshopper without any big craters. It would be a first in VTOL rocketry, IMO. Their control is impressive so far.
I see there was a Johnny Cash doll along for the ride. How wonderfully nerdy! Hugely impressive control system - I love how it hovered there completely motionless.
Actually, the Cowboy was along for the previous ride, too. It's my understanding from following the comments on nasaspaceflight.com that the mannequin is life-size, and was put there to give viewers a sense of the Grasshoppers impressive size. The hat was added just 'cause. I don't know if Johnny Cash was any kind of inspiration for the mannequin.
Here is some interesting information from the FAA that summarizes the testing phases. Looking forward to phase 3. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/20110922%20spacex%20grasshopper%20draft%20ea.final.pdf "Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing an Experimental Permit to SpaceX for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the McGregor Test Site, Texas September 2011"
So this was either a Phase 1 or Phase 2 test? I can't wait to see a Phase 3 test. That will be very exciting. I also wonder how the numbers are looking. They are still testing, so on paper it has look like the numbers are viable. The other question is durtability of the used parts...