Good morning fellow geeks, time to wake up...

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There is such a thing as going to far... ;)

Ship is finally back in port. There are tons of pics out there in the usual places (and a whole time series being updated here), but here are a few good ones:

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https://i.imgur.com/BI6utIL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CxPnfmY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/V2k8J9B.jpg

Also, live video from the Port Canaveral Webcam here:

http://www.portcanaveralwebcam.com/

Lots of cool shots of the landing up on the SpaceX Flickr page.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacex/

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1633/...b3a09ef2_k.jpg

I don't think so. Even the pictures back at port show a lean. I bet one of the landing "feet" was damaged during the landing.

This shot isn't anything new really, but I love having the workers in there for scale. It looks so small when it's all alone on the launch pad, but not so much.

http://i.imgur.com/67GQjpf.jpg

Tilt shifted

https://zippy.gfycat.com/UntriedExcitableDartfrog.webm

Is that a rocket between your legs...?

http://i.imgur.com/mgmN4pf.jpg

Full video of it coming down here:

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The exciting part is all in the first 5 minutes or so. After that it's been hours of lowering it down and clamping it in the cradle.

Also, next launch is a late night (12:22 a.m. Central), so I may have to catch the replays in the morning.

Traffic at Cape Canaveral

https://i.imgur.com/yvkTkiI.jpg

sorry man been more of a lurker than poster. Great job with the thread. I'm up to speed on this because my son is studying Astrophysics. Still learn something new every time I look in the thread.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">By land and sea <a href="https://t.co/C5QWfNy99r">pic.twitter.com/C5QWfNy99r</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/722598287396605953">April 20, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Interesting that they took a bunch of engines off of the other one. I know they never intended to re-fly it, but still.

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Adding to prevent a bump...here's a cool new Android app to keep track of launches (not just SpaceX). Schedules, notifications, etc. Pretty sweet.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...spacelaunchnow

Whoa - aiming for Mars (unmanned) in 2018!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Planning to send Dragon to Mars as soon as 2018. Red Dragons will inform overall Mars architecture, details to come <a href="https://t.co/u4nbVUNCpA">pic.twitter.com/u4nbVUNCpA</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/725351354537906176">April 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Recently tested Dragon 2’s SuperDraco propulsive landing system at our McGregor, TX facility. Key for Mars landing <a href="https://t.co/dV1nhKDMhr">pic.twitter.com/dV1nhKDMhr</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/725395026583285761">April 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dragon 2 is designed to be able to land anywhere in the solar system. Red Dragon Mars mission is the first test flight.</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/725364699303301120">April 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">But wouldn&#39;t recommend transporting astronauts beyond Earth-moon region. Wouldn&#39;t be fun for longer journeys. Internal volume ~size of SUV.</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/725365200098988032">April 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Road trips are fun!

Man, stuff is happening fast. Love it.

Anywhere in the solar system? Okay, show me Jupiter.

I'm sure they could land it there, but I'm less optimistic about it ever taking off again...

One way? At least you would want out to stretch your legs after the cramped trip.:)

Exciting times man!

The U.S. Air Force on Wednesday awarded billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX an $83 million contract to launch a GPS satellite, breaking the monopoly that Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and Boeing Co (BA.N) have held on military space launches for more than a decade.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-sp...source=twitter

Good...

Not particularly exciting in terms of science, but a big step to ensuring long-term financial stability. :thumb:

I think it suggests a bright future for space exploration. What was left of the old mold has officially been broken.

It it OK that I watched that looping GIF for 3 minutes wondering when MECO was? Or in this case would that be PLSCO?

360(ish) view of the landing from the barge. (You can click and move your mouse around, or if you're on a phone, move it around.) It's much calmer than I would have guessed.

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Looks like we're on for an attempt tomorrow late night. Another water landing, but the difficulty level is a bit higher than the last one, so no guarantees of another success.

I'll probably try and stay up just for fun, but if they have to delay for any reason, that'll be it for me.

there is so much debris in 120 miles of our atmosphere, that space flight to moon is impossible?

Scrubbed already due to expected weather. Now aiming for tomorrow night.

Barring setbacks, we're on for late tonight.

https://i.imgur.com/gYvv8L5.jpg

:thumb:

Three-engine burn on the landing attempt tonight. It'll be a hell of a sight if they can get it to work. The deceleration has to be insane.

Should be a pretty crash at night.

I'm pretty disappointed they never released any video of the last one. I know it must not've been pretty, but it'd still be fun to see.

Staying up for this one. Have watched "I'm on a Boat" a dozen times to get psyched. :)

Although I heard we won't have a chase plane for the landing footage this time? Apparently the last one was provided by NASA.

I'm thinking about taking a week off this winter to go see the first FH flight.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rocket reentry is a lot faster and hotter than last time, so odds of making it are maybe even, but we should learn a lot either way</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/728444313248489472">May 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So my dad and <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX">@SpaceX</a> say I probably won&#39;t catch the rocket tonight. Nothing like a vote of confidence to get your rudders going. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JCSAT14?src=hash">#JCSAT14</a></p>&mdash; Drone Ship (@TheDroneShip) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDroneShip/status/728443820849795072">May 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Streams live.

That'd be a great time! I've been tempted to do the same, but I worry a bit that I'd plan the whole trip and it would end up getting delayed so long that I wouldn't see it. :)

I've got 4 weeks of use or lose this year and plans to spend only 1. I'm sure I could do some fishing for most of that time. :D

It's always so intense. Don't blow it up!

Nice!

Got it again!!!!

Just insane. SpaceX is pure awesome. Can't wait for some HD video of that landing.

Whoever is posting these has got a great sense of humor...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh man! We launched on time? Crap, I don&#39;t even have any pants on. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JCSAT14?src=hash">#JCSAT14</a></p>&mdash; Drone Ship (@TheDroneShip) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDroneShip/status/728455363339509761">May 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JCSAT14?src=hash">#JCSAT14</a></p>&mdash; Drone Ship (@TheDroneShip) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDroneShip/status/728456929345835008">May 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Man...perfect landing too. Right dead in the center.

Hopefully it doesn't take TOO long to get some high quality video. The burn has to be incredible.

Yeah, the only thing I could really see was a fireball until it was on the deck.

Fantastic! Getting the hang of this. Wonder how much difficulty(if any) the dark adds to the landing.

Btw, downloaded a new app called "Space Launch Now".

Allows me to set up notifications based on launch company, provides details on each launch, and gives you multiple live stream links.

Cool, thanks for the rec!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">May need to increase size of rocket storage hangar</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/728459808270000128">May 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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He's about to have the largest fleet of privately owned space vehicles. (actually, probably already does) Wonder if they are going to launch used rockets for the Mars mission in '18? Would make it a hell of a cheap demonstrator, using equipment that's already been paid for.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yeah, this was a three engine landing burn, so triple deceleration of last flight. That&#39;s important to minimize gravity losses.</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/728462267893698561">May 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Good orbit, good deploy. And with that, I think I can say good night.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Falcon 9 second stage delivered JCSAT-14 to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit <a href="https://t.co/GA5x9GMlgW">pic.twitter.com/GA5x9GMlgW</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/728463382194454528">May 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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It was pretty exciting to watch it live. As in past launches, the camera kind of cut out due to interference, so it was pretty much black (pause) glow (pause) bright light (pause) black (pause) slow fade in to the Falcon sitting there and just hanging out. No big.

That was cool though. Man, I love these things. Lower probability of success than last time and....... bullseye.

I can't imagine that it matters. It's all math in the end. And mechanics aligning with that.

I may make it into space before I die afterall.

Got the app thanks

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Considering changing my name to Droney McDroneface. Thoughts?</p>&mdash; Drone Ship (@TheDroneShip) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDroneShip/status/724746409711427584">April 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Very very very very cool.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

It's simultaneously exciting and sad that this is fairly mundane, but here ya go. Shots of yet another landed rocket.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First landed booster from a GTO-class mission (final spacecraft altitude will be about 36,000 km) <a href="https://t.co/31BhSZMJwm">pic.twitter.com/31BhSZMJwm</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/728644718054121473">May 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I am so stoked that private companies are finally pushing this boundary. This is our future folks and we are getting to watch it unfold!

I have always heard that "May you live in interesting times" was supposed to be a curse but man, we sure do live in interesting times!

Updated OP for the next launch. Currently scheduled for May 26th. Thankfully, I won't have to set an alarm to wake up for that one.

I like exciting and mundane with space exploration. Blowing up is bad.:rolleyes:<iframe style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; display: none; width: 0px; height: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none;" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" id="rufous-sandbox" frameborder="0"></iframe>

If anyone's feeling REALLY bored tonight, the landed stage on the barge is floating into port right now. You can see it here:

http://www.portcanaveralwebcam.com/

Shot from earlier today:

http://i.imgur.com/3pNO1tH.jpg

They must've gotten back close enough to get a good data transfer done. Three angles of the landing. ****ing cool.

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Those are sweet. Thanks DaFace.

Those landing videos are awesome.

sxstats is reporting May 27. I know a lot of people have been questioning the May 26 date, as the range is supposedly closed for maintenance. Haven't found a reference for the range dates.

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comm...ussion_thread/

I'll stick with SFN's date for now since they know about as well as anyone, but it wouldn't surprise me to see it slip.

The latest booster is now safely stored at KSC.

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GP T6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAA AElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BFZljabl8TZ/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Moving recently landed rocket to hangar at Kennedy Space Center</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A video posted by SpaceX (@spacex) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-05-14T19:42:22+00:00">May 14, 2016 at 12:42pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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The bottom of it looks a little beat up though from the aggressive landing. Compare this photo to this photo and this photo. I'll be curious to see if the damage is "looks bad but no big deal" or "we'll never re-fly this one."

And then there were three. They're gonna have to start re-launching these things soon, or they're gonna run out of room!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7687/...4fc1bf38_k.jpg
Landed rockets in hangar 39A by SpaceX, on Flickr

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A guy accidentally captured the 2nd stage streaking over the horizon and the first stage landing (brief flash behind the tree). Nice shot of the Milky Way as well.

https://media.giphy.com/media/3o7qEc...mCzK/giphy.gif

Full story here:

http://petapixel.com/2016/05/18/capt...ont-milky-way/

It's on for Thursday.

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What time my space launch app doesn't have the time.

Liftoff currently scheduled for: 26 May at 9:40PM UTC (5:40PM EDT)

Core: F9-025

Destination orbit: Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) to 78.5° East Longitude

Landing attempt: Yes - Downrange of Cape on ASDS Of Course I Still Love You

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, Florida

Mission success criteria: Successful separation of Thaicom 8 into the target orbit

Payload mass: 3,100 kg

Payload: Thaicom 8 comsat for Thaicom PLC

Static fire currently scheduled for: 24 May - Complete

Vehicle component locations: [S1: Cape Canaveral] [S2: Cape Canaveral] [Satellite: Cape Canaveral] [Fairings: Cape Canaveral]

Vehicle: Falcon 9 v1.2 (25th launch of F9, 5th of F9 v1.2)

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comm...ussion_thread/

I keep the OP updated with next launch info.

sorry man bad habit of not looking at the OP for mega threads.

Thanks for keeping track of this.

Looks like it's on. I won't get to watch, but hope it goes well.

Update: SpaceX says its launch team is still "finalizing review of vehicle data and check outs," so the Falcon 9 will not launch tonight at the opening of the launch window, at 5:40pm ET. A new launch time has not yet been set during the two-hour window to get the rocket off the pad tonight. The webcast below is not expected to begin until about 20 minutes before the rocket actually launches.

Looks like it's a scratch tonight and will attempt launch again tomorrow.

Hey, I'll get to watch it at least. :)