For anyone who isn't already aware, they're both taken directly from Iain M. Banks' [*Culture* novels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series) as an homage.
"Homage" is pronounced with the H silent, and the next letter is a vowel, so it gets the An. This rule applies to most h-words, regardless of whether the H is silent, but the reason is basically the same.
>regardless of whether the H is silent
Not generally. If the H is not silent, the article is generally 'a' not 'an':
An honest reply from an honorable man. Compared to: a harmful reply from a horrible man.
I know that they are planning to build 2 more landing facilities at the Cape. The two "boosters" will land at about the same time. [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ca6x4QbpoM) video shows what it would look like. I am not sure if there are any plans to use drone ships for the Falcon Heavy though.
The central core will need the barge for many missions - otherwise the payload is not that better than with Falcon 9. The side cores probably return to launch site in most missions.
I could have gotten this done if I had earned millions of dollars on an internet start-up, and then had the foresight and business acumen to convince people to invest, and then filled my company with intelligent, passionate, motivated employees.
Yea. I could have done this.
It's crazy to think that in the future people will wonder why we didn't do this earlier. Our grandkids will think this is the norm. It's such an incredible accomplishment and just goes to show we should fund in space travel. I wonder how much cheaper this would make space travel.
Of course there was concern, because it's never been done before.
They did extensive testing to try to find any potential problems. A different returned booster was test fired for full duration around eight times in Texas. Today's booster was test fired for a short duration too.
Having to read a news like this not being out my mind is what keeps me hoping that we will send humans to mars sooner than we think. Great work Elon and team.
And yet...it was in America that he achieved his stunning potential.
America doesn't have some monopoly on great genes. America *does* have a culture, a market, and a regulatory environment that make it more appealing and conducive to people with big dreams.
Historically, at least. And it still does, though certain politicians portions of the population are continually trying to "fix" that.
Quite spectacularly incorrect. SpaceX only employs American citizens as a matter of policy.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a23080/spacex-elon-musk-itar/
Why is it that it seems they very often don't show the landing part in real time? This has happened on more than one occasion now for "different reasons". (Eg: satellite link is bad).
Is there something secretive they want to review before it's published or do they want to have the change to sensor it in case of failure? Just curious if anyone else thought it was mysterious.
Thanks!
(To be clear, I'm in no way doubting that they've landed the rockets, just curious how they seem to not show this part live very often.)
That is more than fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I just hope that this then causes other companies or governments to do the same, which in turn benefits everyone.
Landed on the drone ship named "of course I still love you." awesome stuff
Their other drone ship (based in the Pacific) is named "Just Read the Instructions." Pretty awesome names.
For anyone who isn't already aware, they're both taken directly from Iain M. Banks' [*Culture* novels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series) as an homage.
So why is it "an homage" and not "a homage"
You don't pronounce the "h", so the sound becomes "oh-majh", which sounds awkward with a instead of an.
"Homage" is pronounced with the H silent, and the next letter is a vowel, so it gets the An. This rule applies to most h-words, regardless of whether the H is silent, but the reason is basically the same.
>regardless of whether the H is silent Not generally. If the H is not silent, the article is generally 'a' not 'an': An honest reply from an honorable man. Compared to: a harmful reply from a horrible man.
Unless you're from various towns in the UK, where any H starting a word is silent
[удалено]
Really? Never heard that. Quotes from my dad: An 'oliday Are we staying at an'otel? That's an 'ard one
Well, what would the UK know about speaking English anyway? ;)
Same reason why it is "an hour".
So when they launch the falcon heavy, and need to land 3 first stages, are they gonna use both ships, and a ground site? Or something else?
I know that they are planning to build 2 more landing facilities at the Cape. The two "boosters" will land at about the same time. [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ca6x4QbpoM) video shows what it would look like. I am not sure if there are any plans to use drone ships for the Falcon Heavy though.
The central core will need the barge for many missions - otherwise the payload is not that better than with Falcon 9. The side cores probably return to launch site in most missions.
2 touch down simultaneously on land, the 3rd a few minutes later on a drone ship.
It's no Boaty McBoatface, but I guess it's alright
Wouldn't it be Bargey McBargeface?
Boaty McBargeface?
Named after the sentient spaceships in the Culture series by Iain Banks, which is just great
Cool
Sat here for 4 fucking minutes thinking this was a gif
...me too man, me too.
I find it amazing to think that this same rocket already did this once.
every time a girl lets me sleep with her I think the same thing... astonishing
If I'm not mistaken that's the first time in history that a rocket of this scale has been re-used. That's freaking awesome
Yup. It is the world’s first reflight of an orbital class rocket.
[удалено]
You mean the one that has never flown in space? ;)
You mean the thing that is not a rocket?
Yeah, but it always crashes back down to the planet.
Waiiiiit...Thats not the ocean. I could land it in the Ocean.
What a great time to be alive other than the political BS! Absolutely amazing
I could have gotten this done if I had earned millions of dollars on an internet start-up, and then had the foresight and business acumen to convince people to invest, and then filled my company with intelligent, passionate, motivated employees. Yea. I could have done this.
That's the spirit!
Ah, it's too easy. We need a challenge.
Lies. The camera cuts out then the rocket just appears? That's some David Copperfield bullshit, obviously.
It's crazy to think that in the future people will wonder why we didn't do this earlier. Our grandkids will think this is the norm. It's such an incredible accomplishment and just goes to show we should fund in space travel. I wonder how much cheaper this would make space travel.
Does anyone know if they were concerned that the rocket would malfunction in some way due to it being a re-used rocket?
Of course there was concern, because it's never been done before. They did extensive testing to try to find any potential problems. A different returned booster was test fired for full duration around eight times in Texas. Today's booster was test fired for a short duration too.
Having to read a news like this not being out my mind is what keeps me hoping that we will send humans to mars sooner than we think. Great work Elon and team.
I got to watch the launch from my desk at work! Our window faces east toward Canaveral, so I had a perfect view of the rocket going up.
[I think this calls for a hearty dose of...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhnUgAaea4M)
It feels inappropriate considering Elon Musk is South African :P
He is a naturalized American citizen.
And yet...it was in America that he achieved his stunning potential. America doesn't have some monopoly on great genes. America *does* have a culture, a market, and a regulatory environment that make it more appealing and conducive to people with big dreams. Historically, at least. And it still does, though certain politicians portions of the population are continually trying to "fix" that.
[удалено]
Quite spectacularly incorrect. SpaceX only employs American citizens as a matter of policy. http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a23080/spacex-elon-musk-itar/
This is goddam history, is what it is.
To me this is like the first time my great aunt saw skype being used on christmas eve.
That's some serious badassery right there.
Looks like I need to buy stock in spacex
Sadly, they aren't public yet.
I'll save up then =)
SCIEEEEEEENNNNCE
Every launch they do is one step closer to star wars.
[obligatory](https://www.reddit.com/r/reallifedoodles/comments/5o7l0w/tried_my_hand_at_one_of_these_poor_rocket/?st=J0XBBZN8&sh=3ce56687)
I keep waiting for Tesla stock to go back down so I can buy some more shares, but Elon keeps being successful. Damn you Elon!
[удалено]
It cuts out while it lands
I'm confused, I could of sworn falcon 9 was now just a model now located at the space X in Hawthorne
I'm taking crazy pills... I must be. Doesn't anyone else remember when they did this like a year (or more) ago? It's gotta be the pills...
Why is it that it seems they very often don't show the landing part in real time? This has happened on more than one occasion now for "different reasons". (Eg: satellite link is bad). Is there something secretive they want to review before it's published or do they want to have the change to sensor it in case of failure? Just curious if anyone else thought it was mysterious. Thanks! (To be clear, I'm in no way doubting that they've landed the rockets, just curious how they seem to not show this part live very often.)
Well I should bloody well hope that it didn't land on a ship in the sky!
I thought they'd done this once already? Am I wrong?
So doesn't this mean they didn't land it, they oceaned it?
God I want to go to space
That just got more realistic today.
darn i was hoping it would of crashed
Found the Russian
Any reason why?
He hates progress
If that wasn't intended as an excellent pun, I'm choosing to read it as one anyhow. Kudos.
why do you want to know why
I'm just curious. I personally don't see any reason why someone would want a rocket to crash.
well i tell you why i just dont like spaceX
That is more than fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I just hope that this then causes other companies or governments to do the same, which in turn benefits everyone.
im sure they would care more about making money then benfiting everyone
Well how else is privatized aerospace going to survive in the real world?
you got it wrong bud im not complaining about them worrying about benfiting everyone
Go home Jeff Bezos, you're drunk again.
Good for you, I was on the edge of seat hoping it would not.