SpaceX Falcon 9 FT launch - CRS 8 - SLC-40

[glhs272]

The incoming angle + the landing + the size of the waves - that was a true feat of engineering.

If this rocket is technically operational, could they just refill and send it to space without any precious cargo to test the reusability?

Hans Koenigsmann said in the pre-launch press conference that a Falcon 9 that lands on the barge would need to be washed down (due to sea spray), cleaned up, and inspected before reflight. With land landings, they hope to skip the clean-up part and just a quick inspection, refuel, and relaunch. I hope they get there.

Also, he mentioned that they expect about 30% of missions to be land landings and all the rest to be barge landings.

 

[Ulmo]

Post-launch conference on now live:

 

[dhanson865]

The first stage is usually ~80% the cost of the rocket, often more.

SpaceX recently said they'd drop the price of a launch about $30 million if reusing a first stage. I'm sure they aren't passing all the savings on to the customer so the actual cost is higher than $30M but it's a number to illustrator your point for those that don't realize the costs.

 

[Zaxxon]

Post-launch conference on now live:

Thanks for the link; that was great to watch.

 

[Skotty]

Congrats to SpaceX on the successful launch and landing. I'm flying my SpaceX flag today.

 

[robertvg]

Thanks for the link; that was great to watch.

It was. Is that also available to watch at a later moment?

 

[Zaxxon]

It was. Is that also available to watch at a later moment?

I imagine it will be once they finish processing the live video.

 

[Electroman]

If someone gets hold of the link for the recording of the post launch conference please post it here. I missed a few questions in the beginning.

 

[ggnykk]

What a week for Elon!! Incredible!

 

[GoTslaGo]

Wow!

 

[AudubonB]

Of
Course
I'll
Still
Stick
You

 

[dhanson865]

SpaceX recently said they'd drop the price of a launch about $30 million if reusing a first stage. I'm sure they aren't passing all the savings on to the customer so the actual cost is higher than $30M but it's a number to illustrator your point for those that don't realize the costs.

Elon said in the post telecast QA that the first stage was about $60M and coupled with the prior quote about giving a $30M discount to the client willing to use it, that means SpaceX is willing to share the cost reduction approximately 50/50 with a client.

 

[GoTslaGo]

^^^

Now THAT will bring in more customers! 50% OFF, too bad I'm not in the satellite making business...

 

[robertvg]

If someone gets hold of the link for the recording of the post launch conference please post it here. I missed a few questions in the beginning.

NASA Public
From about 01:29:00

 

[robertvg]

^^^

Now THAT will bring in more customers! 50% OFF, too bad I'm not in the satellite making business...

50% off electric cars, 50% off satellite launches....
The man is a discounter !

 

[RubberToe]

From the L.A. Times today:

SpaceX already offers a much cheaper price for launches, Caceres said. The next milestone would be to re-use the first stage as part of a plan to be able to launch payloads every few week. SpaceX has not re-used a stage yet.

“If he takes it to the next level, pretty much everybody will be eating his dust.”

Same could be said for Tesla too

RT

 

[Electroman]

Given the hit pieces they have done in the past, how come LA times didn't use this occasion to highlight how SpaceX is sucking tax payers teats and is a scam

 

[Oil4AsphaultOnly]

Given the hit pieces they have done in the past, how come LA times didn't use this occasion to highlight how SpaceX is sucking tax payers teats and is a scam

Right?!?! Maybe they've been wrong so many times that they've realized they've been betting on the wrong horse. That or they think Hawthorne is "home team" and Fremont isn't (somehow forgetting where the design team is located)?

 

[Grendal]

Hans Koenigsmann said in the pre-launch press conference that a Falcon 9 that lands on the barge would need to be washed down (due to sea spray), cleaned up, and inspected before reflight. With land landings, they hope to skip the clean-up part and just a quick inspection, refuel, and relaunch. I hope they get there.

Also, he mentioned that they expect about 30% of missions to be land landings and all the rest to be barge landings.

At post mortem conference, Elon said that they intend to take this booster to MacGregor Texas for massive testing. That testing includes 10 static fire tests. If everything works as planned this booster will be reused and re-launched for an orbital launch.

10 static fire tests! That is SpaceX, pushing the envelope to the breaking point.

Appropriate for what occurred:

Elon also mentioned that he would like to eventually get the mix to 50% barge and 50% land landings.

 

[aronth5]

Here is the link to just the press conference