On Sun, 31 May 2020 01:14:07 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

wrote:
On Sat, 30 May 2020 16:26:15 -0400,
wrote:

On Sat, 30 May 2020 16:05:35 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:



...was spectacular.

This "new" era of the USA's space program is
mind-boggling for those of us who remember
Alan Shepard's first suborbital flight
in "Freedom 7" 59 years ago.

Even more unique is that America's private
industry has taken over the role of designing
and building this next generation spacecraft.

Still blows my mind that they can land the
first stage back on a small, floating barge
to be re-used.

Congrats to SpaceX, NASA and to Elon Musk,
a true technical visionary.

Should also mention that there are at least
three other private companies developing
spacecraft and rockets for future use.

===

Absolutely right, a spectacular achievement and all concerned should
be very proud.

I'm looking forward to their next night launch since we've discovered
that we can see them from here, starting a minute or two after lift
off. We can easily see main engine cutoff and second stage ignition.

I went out to look but a cloud bank along I-75 blocked my view. We
used to get a great look at the shuttle launches if the weather
cooperated.


Best launch I ever witnessed was a Vandenburg launch. We were in Yosemite
at the Ranger campfire and near sunset. Looking west out of the valley
the rocket staged exactly opposite the entrance. Looked like the 2nd
stage firing was miles wide.


When working for the Coast and Geodetic survey on the Cape in '65, our office
was an old house about three miles south of Pad 37B. We would climb up on the
roof which was slanted just the right way, lie down and watch the launches. Saw
two Saturn 1 launches, one daytime the other at night. The night launch was into
a cloud cover and when the flame hit the clouds the whole sky lit up. Beautiful.
--

Freedom Isn't Free!