What's Next for SpaceX in 2018: Exploring the Limits of Space and Physics?

In summary, 2018 will be an exciting year for space and physics enthusiasts, with numerous missions and milestones planned. The Falcon Heavy rocket will make its maiden flight, with the potential to launch more than one rocket per week. Other notable events include the launch of the BepiColombo spacecraft towards Mercury, the successful launch of the Electron rocket, and the failure of Angola's first satellite. SpaceX also plans to launch about half of their planned 30 missions with reused boosters. The launch of the Falcon Heavy also included a nod to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" with a book and towel on board.
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mfb
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All the Wild **** We're Going to Do in Space and Physics in 2018 (forum censors the original title)
Featuring all the interplanetary probes and various missions and milestones closer to Earth, the Event Horizon Telescope, Gaia, and a couple of things not directly related to space or spaceflight.Falcon Heavy is vertical on its pad.
ltezFzB.jpg

Angola's first satellite failed quickly after launch, by the way.
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
mfb said:
All the Wild **** We're Going to Do in Space and Physics in 2018

"A joint effort between the European and Japanese space agencies, called BepiColombo, will see a spacecraft launched towards Mercury in November.

upload_2017-12-29_12-4-38.gif

Artist’s impression of BepiColombo in orbit around Mercury. (Image: ESA)

After it arrives in late 2025, the craft will deploy a pair of orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetosphere Orbiter (MMO)."

Will it really take that long (~8 ys)?!
 

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  • #3
Reaching the Mercury orbit is hard, you have to get rid of a lot of angular momentum. Wikipedia has a timeline.
 
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  • #4
mfb said:
Reaching the Mercury orbit is hard, you have to get rid of a lot of angular momentum. Wikipedia has a timeline.
"after a flyby of Earth, two flybys of Venus, and six flybys of Mercury."
That explains it. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense.
 
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The maiden flight of Falcon Heavy has a launch date: February 6th, 18:30-21:30 UTC (this post is made Jan 28, 11:11 UTC)

Its payload, up to 63,800 kg, is more than twice the payload of the most powerful rocket in operation, the Delta IV Heavy.

There will be a livestream. I don't know what exactly they will show because there will be so many things going on: The two side boosters will return to the launch site and land nearly simultaneously, the core will land on a barge in the ocean a bit later, meanwhile the second stage will push Musk's car on an interplanetary trajectory.
 
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  • #6
mfb said:
the second stage will push Musk's car on an interplanetary trajectory
I can't help but be reminded of the opening scene of the movie Heavy Metal.

 
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  • #7
mfb said:
The Electron rocket had ignition already, but the attempt was aborted, and after a few more delays the launch was shifted to the first quarter of 2018. We still get the second attempt to get SS-520 in orbit after the failure in January, unless that is shifted as well.
Both launched and reached orbit in the meantime, SS-520 today.

Electron is the first rocket with an electric turbopump to reach orbit, and the first orbital launch from the southern hemisphere in several decades. RocketLab claims they can launch more than one rocket per week, targeting the small satellite and cubesat market with the payload of up to 200 kg. The Electron rocket has a mass of 10.5 tonnes.

SS-520 is the smallest and lightest rocket to ever reach orbit, with a total mass of just 2.6 tonnes, a height of 9.5 meters and a diameter of just 52 cm. You might be able to reach fully around it with your arms (163 cm circumference). It can deliver just 4 kg to orbit - still enough for a cubesat that doesn't find a launch opportunity elsewhere.SpaceX plans to do about half of the planned 30 launches in 2018 with reused boosters.

The planned FH launch is just 3 days 2 hours away.
 
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  • #9
Spinnor said:
Link to watch live at, https://www.space.com/39594-spacex-falcon-heavy-maiden-launch-preview.html
That link so far is just animations (maybe it will switch to live coverage closer to the launch).

Here is another link:
https://www.space.com/39604-spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-test-flight-webcast.html
https://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html
The launch window stretches from 1:30 to 4 p.m. EDT (1830 to 2100 GMT). You can watch the launch live here on Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX, beginning at 1:10 p.m. EST (1810 GMT). Weather conditions are currently at 80 percent "go" for today, and 70 percent for a backup launch time tomorrow, according to the 45th Space Wing's Weather Squadron, which monitors weather for air and space operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Center.
 
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  • #10
  • #11
Borg said:
Launch is now scheduled for 2:50 EST.

Cause for the delay?
Via Twitter:

Elon Musk 30 minutes ago
Upper atmosphere winds currently 20% above max allowable load. Holding for an hour to allow winds to diminish. ...​
 
  • #13
Has not blown up yet,

upload_2018-2-6_15-38-59.png
 

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  • #14
5 minutes to launch !

live here

 
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  • #15
upload_2018-2-6_15-45-26.png
 

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  • #16
upload_2018-2-6_15-49-40.png
 

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  • #17
WOW outstanding launch ! :smile:
 
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upload_2018-2-6_15-53-23.png


Think this might be a simulation?
 

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  • #20
Greg Bernhardt said:
Looks like a success! Amazing footage!

the 2 boosters landed together perfectly timed
 
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  • #21
upload_2018-2-6_15-57-26.png
 

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  • #22
The shots of the car above Earth is hilarious and stunning!
 
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  • #23
The simultaneous landing of the two boosters was amazing.

The mission is not fully done yet, the second stage will fire again in about six hours. It is still an important step: It demonstrates that the second stage now survives long enough to do direct insertion to geostationary orbit if the customer wants that.
 
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  • #24
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  • #25
davenn said:
NO ... it was live
Apparently, we are still live:

 
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  • #26
davenn said:
NO ... it was live

I stand corrected, quite an amazing feat to land boosters upright for another days use.
 
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  • #27
It seems they lost the core stage.

SpaceX right now, probably:


Edit: I tried to have the video start at 1m 44s for the relevant part but that doesn't work with embedding.
 
  • #28
who else noticed the reference to " The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy" ? :biggrin:

upload_2018-2-7_10-10-8.png
 

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  • #29
"the reference"?
The glovebox has the book - and a towel, of course.
 
  • #30
This is great news. It's good to see this type of thing back in the mainstream news. Talk about the launch being at the same pad as Apollo 11 brings back memories. I was there in person back in 69 to watch it. I still have vivid memories of the sights and sounds.
 
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  • #31
mfb said:
"the reference"?
The glovebox has the book - and a towel, of course.

but it's more obvious than that, you don't have to open the glovebox ...
"DON"T PANIC"
Don't Panic[edit]
Towels in Innsbruck with the words "DON'T PANIC" on Towel Day
In the series, Don't Panic is a phrase on the cover of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.[1] The novel explains that this was partly because the device "looked insanely complicated" to operate, and partly to keep intergalactic travellers from panicking.[38] "It is said that despite its many glaring (and occasionally fatal) inaccuracies, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy itself has outsold the Encyclopedia Galactica because it is slightly cheaper, and because it has the words 'DON'T PANIC' in large, friendly letters on the cover."[1]

Arthur C. Clarke said Douglas Adams' use of "don't panic" was perhaps the best advice that could be given to humanity.[39]

On February 6th, 2018 SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy rocket, carrying Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster which had "Don't Panic!" written on the screen on the dash.
Dave
 
  • #33



Landing sonic booms.
 
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  • #34
Did the roadster have its lithium batteries and electric motors? I'm guessing it's little more than a shell (lightweight plastic?)...
 
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  • #35
Probably lightweight metal. They need some power for the cameras but that might come from the second stage.

The core booster didn’t make it - failed to reignite two of the planned three engines and hit the water close to the drone ship at high speed.
 
<h2>1. What are SpaceX's plans for 2018 in terms of space exploration?</h2><p>In 2018, SpaceX plans to continue launching its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, as well as developing its next generation rocket, the BFR. They also have plans to launch their first crewed mission to the International Space Station and potentially send a cargo mission to Mars.</p><h2>2. How will SpaceX push the limits of space and physics in 2018?</h2><p>SpaceX will push the limits of space and physics in 2018 by launching more powerful rockets, conducting more advanced missions, and potentially making progress towards their goal of colonizing Mars. They will also continue to test and improve upon their reusable rocket technology, which has already revolutionized the space industry.</p><h2>3. What advancements in rocket technology can we expect from SpaceX in 2018?</h2><p>In 2018, SpaceX plans to continue testing and perfecting their reusable rocket technology, which allows for more cost-effective and sustainable space travel. They also have plans to develop the BFR, a massive rocket capable of carrying humans to Mars and potentially beyond.</p><h2>4. Will SpaceX continue to collaborate with other organizations in 2018?</h2><p>Yes, SpaceX will continue to collaborate with other organizations in 2018. They have partnerships with NASA and other private companies, and also work closely with government agencies to obtain necessary permits and approvals for their missions.</p><h2>5. How will SpaceX's advancements in space exploration benefit society in 2018 and beyond?</h2><p>SpaceX's advancements in space exploration have the potential to benefit society in numerous ways. They can lead to new technologies, scientific discoveries, and potentially even the colonization of other planets. Additionally, SpaceX's efforts to make space travel more affordable and sustainable could open up opportunities for commercial space ventures and expand our understanding of the universe.</p>

1. What are SpaceX's plans for 2018 in terms of space exploration?

In 2018, SpaceX plans to continue launching its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, as well as developing its next generation rocket, the BFR. They also have plans to launch their first crewed mission to the International Space Station and potentially send a cargo mission to Mars.

2. How will SpaceX push the limits of space and physics in 2018?

SpaceX will push the limits of space and physics in 2018 by launching more powerful rockets, conducting more advanced missions, and potentially making progress towards their goal of colonizing Mars. They will also continue to test and improve upon their reusable rocket technology, which has already revolutionized the space industry.

3. What advancements in rocket technology can we expect from SpaceX in 2018?

In 2018, SpaceX plans to continue testing and perfecting their reusable rocket technology, which allows for more cost-effective and sustainable space travel. They also have plans to develop the BFR, a massive rocket capable of carrying humans to Mars and potentially beyond.

4. Will SpaceX continue to collaborate with other organizations in 2018?

Yes, SpaceX will continue to collaborate with other organizations in 2018. They have partnerships with NASA and other private companies, and also work closely with government agencies to obtain necessary permits and approvals for their missions.

5. How will SpaceX's advancements in space exploration benefit society in 2018 and beyond?

SpaceX's advancements in space exploration have the potential to benefit society in numerous ways. They can lead to new technologies, scientific discoveries, and potentially even the colonization of other planets. Additionally, SpaceX's efforts to make space travel more affordable and sustainable could open up opportunities for commercial space ventures and expand our understanding of the universe.

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