SpaceDev's lunar lander test successful

[aphh]

SpaceDev's 1st tethered test of a proposed lunar lander with hybrid engines:<br /><br />http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/071220/0342801.html <br /><br />Edit: it's already discussed on Missions & Launches, but if somebody has more info on this project it would be interesting.

 

[docm]

Already in Missions & Launches. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

But I think that Space Business & Technology is more appropriate as although very, very<br />positive & interesting that it <br />is, it is still a Space related Commerce & Business enterprise than mainstream <br />science missions that M&L is.<br /><br />M&L for NASA, ESA, JAXA, etc. <br /><br />SB&T for Bigelow, SpaceX & SpaceDev, etc.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[thereiwas]

"Mainstream science" missions like trying to get Ares I to work? As opposed to trying to get F9 to work?

 

[docm]

M&L credo: "What's up, what's down, and what's just floating about"<br /><br />Sounds pretty general plus to me this was a "mission" - the engines fired, made tons of smoke and it left the ground. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Swampcat]

<font color="yellow">"M&L for NASA, ESA, JAXA, etc. <br /><br />SB&T for Bigelow, SpaceX & SpaceDev, etc."</font><br /><br />Basically, what you're saying Andrew, is that government space agencies can do missions and launches while private enterprise can't. Have I got that right? <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I agree that this particular story is probably best here in SB&T since it concerns technology development, but not because it is a private business doing it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[aphh]

I opened the topic before having a look at M&L first. <br /><br />My immediate thought was "as soon as they have a lander, they'll have business".<br /><br />A lot of business, because besides the lunar observatory there are quite a lot of sensors etc. waiting for a vehicle to provide a nice soft landing on the moon.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Here's a video.<br /><br /> SpaceDev Lunar Lander Demonstrator Launch <br /><br />It looks like they came pretty close to wrecking it to me. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[3488]

Ho Boris1961.<br /><br />Yes it did look pretty dicey, but they did succeed in landing it safely & I think<br />given time & practice, it will work very well indeed.<br /><br />They have successfully demonstrated that the concept works, but yes, I agree, it did <br />look very scary. <img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /><br /><br />A few more practice flights, they'll get it absolutely spot on for sure. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Happy Christmas everyone. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

As I recall, the first few test flights with the lunar lander we actually used were pretty dicey as well <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[Swampcat]

There was mention of this in the other thread on this subject in M&L.<br /><br />If what some of the "expert" observers say is true, this test would likely have failed had the "tether" been a real tether rather than a guidewire as there was no onboard attitude control.<br /><br />I'd still say that it is impressive to control four hybrid motors as they did and, as a first phase test, they have every right to consider it a successful and useful test. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[aphh]

Payload study contract awarded today by ILO. This is great news for private Moon race: http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080102/0344098.html