SpaceX Inspiration4 flight lands

[Jan]

First all-civilian SpaceX flight returns to Earth

The first all-civilian crew to orbit the Earth splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday, culminating a three-day journey aboard a SpaceX capsule that inaugurated a new era of privately financed space travel for non-professional astronauts.

The SpaceX Dragon fired thrusters to begin its entry into the atmosphere, a journey in which the vehicle experiences temperatures as high as 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,927 degrees Celsius). It operates with six parachutes to slow descent, including four main parachutes.

 

[dabbler]

I still cannot comprehend how they can fire thrusters while orbiting above 500km, doing thousands of km/h and land within a designated area.

 

[Gordon_R]

I still cannot comprehend how they can fire thrusters while orbiting above 500km, doing thousands of km/h and land within a designated area.

The same way that an intercontinental ballistic missile can land in the middle of a target. /s

Years of research and computers...

 

[hj2k_x]

Was really amazing to follow this whole flight in real-time. What an achievement

 

[Grubscrew]

The same way that an intercontinental ballistic missile can land in the middle of a target. /s

Years of research and computers...

Actually it is very easy to do because the earth is flat.

 

[RandomGeek]

Actually it is very easy to do because the earth is flat.

You are incorrect. The Earth is like me, i.e. round

 

[Gordon_R]

Actually it is very easy to do because the earth is flat.

Flatness has nothing to do with it. The biggest uncertainty in reentry is the density of the atmosphere with height. This is very difficult to determine, and has been a subject of intense study. See:

Earth Atmosphere Density Approximations

Despite the changing scale height, a simple isothermal model with a fixed scale height can represent the atmosphere up to 100 km with an error less than 50%, and up to 130 km with an error no larger than a factor of 2. These errors are quite comparable to the variation that the real atmosphere shows from day to day from the mean 'standard' model. This model is quite suitable for demonstrating the physics of meteor flight and space debris reentries. High velocity meteoroids (~60 km/s) start ablating around 130 km altitude, but space debris reentries, with the much lower velocity of ~ 8 km/s only start to show significant atmospheric interaction below 90 km.

And:

Atmospheric entry - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[wingnut771]

Are there any pics from space over the 3 days?

 

[Crusader]

Are there any pics from space over the 3 days?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1439236535086288899

https://twitter.com/x/status/1438716982564696065

 

[ponder]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1439236535086288899

Basically the view from the toilet...

 

[wingnut771]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1439236535086288899

https://twitter.com/x/status/1438716982564696065

Yeah, I was hoping for ones that don't have a giant dome in the middle.

 

[Crusader]

Yeah, I was hoping for ones that don't have a giant dome in the middle.

There are bound to be some released as time goes by. They had limited connectivity windows and doubt that downlinks for pretty pictures were a priority.

 

[Crusader]

Isaacman confirmed on Twitter that downlink was definitely the problem.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1439867393266929666

 

[Happy Days]

I find it interesting that Elon has shown no inclination so far to use a company ride into space, unlike his other billionaire competitors.

 

[ForceFate]

I find it interesting that Elon has shown no inclination so far to use a company ride into space, unlike his other billionaire competitors.

Maybe he's acrophobic.

 

[B-1]

I find it interesting that Elon has shown no inclination so far to use a company ride into space, unlike his other billionaire competitors.

He frequently goes to his lair on mars so space travel isnt fun for him anymore.

 

[TedLasso]

I find it interesting that Elon has shown no inclination so far to use a company ride into space, unlike his other billionaire competitors.

I think he will be on the mars one

 

[Happy Days]

Maybe he's acrophobic.

Now wouldn't that be the ultimate irony?

He frequently goes to his lair on mars so space travel isnt fun for him anymore.

Let's see if Curiosity and the other rovers can find it. Maybe it's under the "Face" on Mars.

I think he will be on the mars one

Guaranteed, unless medical reasons prevents him.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

I find it interesting that Elon has shown no inclination so far to use a company ride into space, unlike his other billionaire competitors.

He is clever, that one. He is young compared to others I think, still got life to live and not taking chances.

 

[WollieVerstege]

I think he will be on the mars one

Hmmmm, will Elon be the first human to light a joint on Mars?
Wonder if dagga can grow in Martian soil.