Comments on: Grasshopper hops ever higher

By: Grasshopper flies againâ€”but what about the next Falcon 9 launch? « NewSpace Journal

Sat, 06 Jul 2013 19:55:43 +0000

[…] (The video’s release is more evidence of the company’s often unconventional media strategy. The video was released three weeks after the test, on a Friday night of what, for many Americans, is part of a long holiday weekend because of the Independence Day holiday Thursday. Also, the video was announced on Twitter by Elon Musk Friday night, but not by SpaceX’s own Twitter account; nor was there a formal press release or other announcement by the company. Recall that, back in December, they announced another Grasshopper test late on a Sunday evening the day before Christmas Eve.) […]

By: More on Grasshopper’s “Johnny Cash hover slam” test « NewSpace Journal

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 21:34:16 +0000

[…] released by SpaceX while Musk was speaking, and was airborne for 34 seconds. By comparison, on its previous flight, in mid-December, Grasshopper flew to 40 meters and was aloft for 29 seconds. The landing was “its most […]

By: NFTF » SpaceXâ€™s Grasshopper flies again

NFTF » SpaceXâ€™s Grasshopper flies again — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 02:27:45 +0000

[…] 9. The vehicle is a Falcon 9 first stage with a single Merlin engine and fitted with landing legs. The vehicle last flew in December, flying to an altitude of 40 meters and staying airborne for 29 seconds. SpaceX previously flew […]

By: SpaceX’s Grasshopper flies again « NewSpace Journal

SpaceX’s Grasshopper flies again « NewSpace Journal — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 02:12:23 +0000

By: PB

PB — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:14:38 +0000

I’m pretty sure nearly everyone at SpaceX is well aware that they are working towards the same goal as the SSX/DC-X programme, a fully reusable rocket. Certainly their plans do not include fully powered landing from orbit but their next capsule design will use rockets instead of parachutes for hard-field landing so they do aim for significant down mass capability. This is critical for Musk’s final goal of a Mars colony.

By: Neil Shipley

Neil Shipley — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 14:37:53 +0000

Grasshopper isn’t being designed as an ssto vehicle but as a reusable first stage testbed. Elon has specific goals in mind and ssto isn’t one of them. Reusable stages are. Blue Origin is the nearest current vehicle to DC-X and that’s only designed for sub-orbital at this point AFAIK.

By: Robert Clark

Robert Clark — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:43:34 +0000

With reduced weight of the Merlin 1D engine while at increased
efficiency, the Falcon 9 v1.1 first stage will have SSTO capability.
Then ironically Elon is emulating the original purpose of the DC-X
program in testing the Grasshopper VTVL stage, without realizing it.
Bob Clark

By: DocM

DocM — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 17:51:04 +0000

Outstanding!

I like the little wind correction it did. Hopefully the envelope dxpansion to the FAA limits go smoothly. After that the real fun starts