Cosmos 1 a step closer to launch ...

Private industry creeps towards launch of solar sail technology.

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/050523_cosmos1_delivery.html

DKH

This is a great example for what privately could be achieved and done. Realy very engaged people proving that the Planetary Society is very serious and consists of very engaged members.

They are a third federation explictly to be listed in this message board after this already has been done concerning the Mars Society and AMSAT.

It seems that the Planetary Society will be another private team going ahead of NASA - although this may have merely to do with the difference in the size of the solar sail.

And private doesn't mean private companies only but fedearions of engaged private people too.

I am interested in the result and think that project will be a delighting success.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

As a member of the Planetary Society, some of my money is riding on Cosmos1. I predict success!

These are truly exciting times, good luck to the good people at the Planetary Society.

I bet that a lot of really cool things are learned that you didn’t expect to find out either =)

Looks like they lost it? Problem with one of the two rocket stages.

http://www.planetary.org/solarsail/latest_update.html

DKH

Seems to be a good argument for private development etc. - direct human control of engine shutdown and much more. Computers, electronics etc. alone don't guarantee success and so on. Team work between computers and humans has to be enabled or improved at least to much higher levels - especially to avoid such damages to private organizations and private space flight. Humans have to be given the opportunity and possibility to correct and adjust decisions made by computers - and revers. May mean dialogs and so on - by the way: That would be an interesting new thread here - I am going to think about one.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

What'd you expect from undersized SLBMs never intended for use as launch vehicles?

You buy cheap--you get cheap.

Maybe next time they will launch on a Falcon. Falcon I is plenty big enough and they should be in routine service by then.

Anything is a better choice than Volna.

But not cheaper. SpaceX should change all that. At least I hope!

Ain't that the truth. The whole SLBM spacelauch concept has always seemed dubious at best.

Don't you just love 20-20 hindsight? Where were you spineless rubes and your craven opinions before they attempted the launch?

DKH

Not paying attention, actually.

Of course, they went with what they could afford, consequently it is doubtful that they would have changed their mind in any case. I do recall hearing about the notion of using SLBMs for spacelaunch and thinking it was a trifle off-center, but I actually wasn't sufficiently wrapped up in this particular mission to have been aware of that aspect more than 2 days prior to the actual launch attempt.

Perhaps it is mildly inapproprate to make even slightly derogatory statements after said failure, but if appropriateness is the standard of the day, Doc, I'm sure your glass house is need of some considerable repair after that piece of regolith.

They were forced to use the Russian missile because it was the only thing they could afford. Unfortunately even the "cheap" Falcon I launch is more than the entire Cosmos 1 budget. However, if SpaceX can really get the cost to orbit down to $500 per pound, like they think they can, then the 250 pound Cosmos 1 could launch for only $125,000. They would have to share a ride with another payload since even a Falcon I carries way more than 250 pounds, but it just goes to show that $500 per pound, which is still pretty high, would enable all kinds of missions that just don't get flown now.

So, even though my prediction of success for Cosmos 1 was wrong, I predict that SpaceX will get costs down to $500 per pound within 5 or 10 years and these kind of missions will start flying often. And when they do, great things will happen!

I hope you are right. I had high hopes for Beal--and their launch vehicle was going to be much larger. Then I remember how Orbital was busted. I just hope Musk watches his back.