Blue Origin flight this week

That is awesome, I would love to do that.
 
That was awesome. They'll have to continue testing to ensure they've got it down, but that was really impressive. I'm sure it'll cost a fortune once they're able to take people up.
 
I saw Jeff Bezos on TV talking about it. He said that it would be the first reusable rocket. I guess the Space Shuttle's main engines and solid rocket boosters didn't count in his mind.
 
SkyDog58 said:
I saw Jeff Bezos on TV talking about it. He said that it would be the first reusable rocket. I guess the Space Shuttle's main engines and solid rocket boosters didn't count in his mind.
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I guess what he meant was that he didn't need a huge ship to go out into the ocean and fish out the shells of the solid rocket boosters. His rocket returned home where no doubt it will need overhaul too but the cost savings should be huge. Wonder what just the fuel cost is to go 100 miles downrange and grab the boosters? I think the shuttle stuff would be better considered recoverable rather than reusable. Might not be much of a difference in real life but it looks like it to me.
That shot was pretty impressive other than the CG stuff in the middle.

Frank
 
A TFR -- interesting. That offers a good deal of protection, I'm sure, but I wonder if it is enough. Sometimes pilots don't check for TFRs.
 
BiffJ said:
I guess what he meant was that he didn't need a huge ship to go out into the ocean and fish out the shells of the solid rocket boosters. His rocket returned home where no doubt it will need overhaul too but the cost savings should be huge. Wonder what just the fuel cost is to go 100 miles downrange and grab the boosters? I think the shuttle stuff would be better considered recoverable rather than reusable. Might not be much of a difference in real life but it looks like it to me.
That shot was pretty impressive other than the CG stuff in the middle.

Frank
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Still, the main engines on the shuttle were reused. They were rockets as well. They definitely landed with the vehicle.
 
SkyDog58 said:
I saw Jeff Bezos on TV talking about it. He said that it would be the first reusable rocket. I guess the Space Shuttle's main engines and solid rocket boosters didn't count in his mind.
Click to expand...

He said "rocket" as in the whole enchilada. The shuttle junked the whole tank, which was a big part of the stack.
 
The video cut out immediately after the capsule hit the desert but it looked to me like more than minimal Gs; I have to wonder what it really was. Hopefully they can upgrade the chutes to make it a little smoother.

I was equally impressed with approach speed of the rocket motor, didn't think it could adequately slow down but it not only did so but it found a tiny concrete pad; awesome!

TFRs, they do have them; eg

Issue Date : April 13, 2015 at 1629 UTC
Location : FOR VAN HORN, New Mexico near SALT FLAT VORTAC (SFL)
Beginning Date and Time : April 14, 2015 at 1300 UTC
Ending Date and Time : April 14, 2015 at 1800 UTC
Reason for NOTAM : DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCH ACTIVITY WITHIN A 3 NM RADIUS THE SALT FLAT
Type : Space Operations
Airspace Definition:
Center: On the SALT FLAT VORTAC (SFL) 127 degree radial at 24 nautical miles. (Latitude: 31
 
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