Space X becomes first private company to launch humans to space

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

I don't blame CNN for that one. I was watching the SpaceX feed, they lost the feed from the droneship when I was watching, once the video was back the rocket was already on the pad.

That happens quite a lot with the feed as the first stage lands.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Well, it's nice to see that given that governments have apparently abandoned space programs as a worthwhile human pursuit, someone is still moving the species forward.

Isn’t this crewed astronaut program essentially 100% funded by NASA so they don’t have to use the Russians to get to space station?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Locke

Uh huh.

I can think of a few people I'd like to fire into space. And I think with 'Jeff Bezos' money I could probably make that happen.

If memory serves, I believe "firing unwanted people into space" was Douglas Adams's explanation for how the human race came to be.

[zamler]

Feed cut out just at the right time for them to replace live footage with prerecorded.


Watched most of it live I teared up a bit at times.

[station]

The Daily had a podcast about the back story on this a few days ago.

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcas...=1000476041696

Crib notes:
- GWB cancelled the space shuttle program effective in 2010 due to safety concerns after the Columbia disaster.
- The goal of privatization is to allow private business to focus on human space travel and allow NASA to re-focus its efforts on large-scale exploratory missions.
- Contracts were given to both Boeing and SpaceX to create competition and SpaceX won. Boeing is still about a year out.
- The NASA budget for this program was $20 billion, SpaceX is delivering it for $2.6 billion.
- Analogies are drawn to the beginning of commercial air travel. It was exclusive and elitist at first but technological innovations ultimately brought it to the level of the common person; the same may happen with space travel.

[Nsd1]

Bit of a local connection:

Calgary-made control room helped SpaceX astronauts reach the stars

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/mobile/ca...tars-1.4961904

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

To claim your boat you have to meet us at the large vertical cylindrical building at 1055 Cape Canaveral way. Please be there at 10am sharp.

I was there and you guys didn’t show.

[STeeLy]

I was there 4 and a half months ago! Nobody showed then either!

[Fuzz]

Successful docking this morning.

[stevinder]

If you have Telus Optik TV, NASA TV is on Channel 718.

[STeeLy]

My one contribution to this thread. This was take on January 18, 2020, Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in preparation for the In-Flight Abort Test on January 19, 2020.

[missdpuck]

At least you took a picture. More than I can say.