SpaceX Ready for Historic Flight

The pre-launch briefing of CRS-1, the first of twelve missions by the SpaceX/Dragon spacecraft to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract.

[HansVanIngelgom]

The question that wasn't asked: who gets the final say about the go/no go if weather is bad?

[Maleblade]

The Earth's gravational pull falls off rapidly with distance.
The cargoes would be flown up (supported by air) to the airships,
then from there pulled up by "Skyhooks."

[Graviton]

I'm really not seeing a significant distinction between "public" vs "private" spaceflight when it comes to ISS operations. The Cargo Resupply Services Program is a Government program so this whole "private space" thing is in service of the Public spaceflight program.

In addition, SpaceX would still be several years from their first launch if NASA hadn't stepped in and given them a huge boost. So exactly how "private" SpaceX is to begin with is also in question in my mind.

[TheHypeEngine]

Brownsville, Texas mentioned at 26:10 min mark.

[Maleblade]

I just watched the movie 2012 where arks were built in China to survive global tsunamis.
It would seem to me that also building hige airships to stay aloft 24/7 would have been another means of survival.
Unlike orbiting space stations, they could quickly relocate to the other side of the Earth to avoid meteors.
They would be large enough to have landing platforms for VTOL craft.
Skyhooks could also lift cargo from the airships to space platforms.
The desigh requirements would be less demanding.

[Maleblade]

"Gravitational" :)

These rings of airships would also serve a communications nodes that would be more
robust than satellites.
People could vacation on these airships and go from ship to ship (high above the Earth)
in VTOL type crafts.
In the even of a large meteor strike, the resulting tsunami(s) would not be a problem.

[EmyllSomar]

You don't say... What other insights about this fine video might you have, Horatio?

[Maleblade]

Of course the envelopes of the airships could be charged (negatively) to repell the Earth
and be attracted to the positively charged ionossphere (think of the Millikan Oil Drop Experiment).
This should help with lift.

[StereoIWantItAll]

dude the fact that there are now corporations competing for profit, instead of countries spending tax dollars, will start a new space race that will take us way farther than it could have ever gone previously.

[alexbeausire]

I agree with you that private companies should run low earth orbit operations its relatively easy and cheap. However, I believe its foolish to shift the emphasis on who has to provide the drive for deep space exploration to private companies. While there is money to be made the moon landings a significantly less complex operation cost $329 billion in todays money. There is no number of product indorsement that could cover that, especially combined with the risk of failure.

[GalenChock]

Thanks to Elon Musk, and his talented team at SpaceX, the US is getting back to domestic based space flights faster than previously anticipated.

[louielouie]

Yes, it's a general rule that a private company wouldn't bother with Mars, not the case with Elon Musk.

[OrionFarrScience]

ice cream guy didnt get laughs on the second time

[alexbeausire]

I would argue that the vast amount of RnD and great risks involved in sending a man to mars makes it almost impossible for a private company to lead the way in achieving it. While private companies can work in conjunction with NASA to aide them they will never lead the way in great exploration. The risks and expenses simply too great. Great exploration requires the backing and leadership of the government and NASA. this comment might not make any sense im very tired

[albersonik]

I think what I wrote is a very clear message and easy to understand.

[EmyllSomar]

11:56, even NASA computers get BSODs... LMAO!

[badaboomrock]

as long as your not the one crew member that always gets killed lol I agree it would be :) Nicole

[albersonik]

as said, the entrepreneur that is just the beginning of a new era, in which the interests of corporations, are interfering with the wishes and aspirations of humanity, to sell our own dreams....

[johnmaniapoto]

The worlds hangs on Gywnns every word her truth

[Mastastudios]

Woooow dolar's will flow now! Bravo you will finally become independent after loong time :) But state will now lose control under space program. All this now was privately independent.