Today's Spacex launch...

[Trainfish]

But what exactly are we, is he, trying to improve? Sorry, I just don't get it, never have but I still have to pay a congestion and ULEZ charge. I understand that charge more and I'm no Greta Thumbnail or whatever she's called either.

[Bealman]

I'm gonna build a launch pad on my layout. @Trainfish has an airfield, after all

[Trainfish]

I'm gonna build a launch pad on my layout. @Trainfish has an airfield, after all

Ah but you're wrong. I have a flying museum not an airfield, nothing moves so no emissions. So there 

[jpendle]

But what exactly are we, is he, trying to improve? Sorry, I just don't get it, never have but I still have to pay a congestion and ULEZ charge. I understand that charge more and I'm no Greta Thumbnail or whatever she's called either.

He's trying to get to Mars.

And as long as he doesn't try to get back again, I'll be happy.

John P

[TeeCee]

He's trying to get to Mars.

And as long as he doesn't try to get back again, I'll be happy.

John P

Just hope he doesn't upset too many Martians in the process. Can you imagine them responding in a likely manner?

[Newportnobby]

The Clangers will beat him to it, and are arming up

[chrism]

The Clangers will beat him to it, and are arming up

He could use a (Soup) Dragon capsule 

[Malc-c]

Flight 5 of Starship was indeed an amazing achievement, more so when you consider the timeframe from when they first tested the concept of landing the launch hardware a few years back. 

With regards to the "green" aspect that has been mentioned, I think the point has been missed.  Yes the "footprint" each launch impacts on pollution as 33 Raptors combust methane and oxygen push this ship into space is large, but this is offset by the fact that both the booster and starship will be recyclable in the same way a bulk of the Falcon 9 rocket is today.  Its that recycling and reuse that makes it "greener" than other "competitors", especially as they are not contributing to the amount of space junk orbiting the planet.

Like others, I personally don't like Musk, but SpaceX and the management of the company they have revolutionised commercial spaceflight.  Sadly the have also exposed the bias power authorities have whilst seeking the launch licence.  The FAA has issued a statement that end of November would be the soonest flight 5 would happen, and yet issued the licence at the 11th hour.  Whilst all this was going on, Boeing launched a crew in a crafts second flight which proved near fatal.  The craft returned unmanned which was a good call as otherwise the two crew would not have survived... yet the FAA are not investigating Boeing to the same degree as they did SpaceX.

One member posted that he's seen everything from the start with Sputnik, and I'm sure given the speed at which SpaceX are progressing they will also see humans return to the Moon, and possibly set foot on Mars. I seriously feel that the next decade will be an exciting point in history.   

[Beach Halt]

For an old space freak who can remember Sputnik at the age of 5, this is bloody great amazing stuff.

We were living near to Goonhilly Downs when the Tornadoes released Telstar.

Such excitement for a small boy. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxyN3b1bs-w

[emjaybee]

For an old space freak who can remember Sputnik at the age of 5, this is bloody great amazing stuff.

We were living near to Goonhilly Downs when the Tornadoes released Telstar.

Such excitement for a small boy. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxyN3b1bs-w

Great tune!

[Southerngooner]

The first song I ever really loved, at age 5. It's still great, with a wonderful pulsing bass line, great solos and that clavioline sound, really modern then and now.
I was always a space kid, and followed the Gemini and Apollo missions avidly via whatever you got on TV, "Look and Learn" or radio.  My scrapbook was full of bits of news......and I was only 12 when we landed on the Moon. No wonder I did well at modern history at school!

Dave

[Beach Halt]

I was 8 years old when it was released and it was also my first ever pop favourite.
I drove my parents mad humming it. 

[emjaybee]

Ah yes, I remember my Grandfather playing for me...

...just kiddin'...

...my Dad.

I was -6.

Good tune though!

[martyn]

'Telstar' was, a favourite of mine, too, for many years, and I still have it in a greatest hits CD.

When at college in 1982, a couple of us were discussing music, and I said have you ever heard of Telstar by the Tornadoes.

The reply was 'yes-the drummer is my brother in law'...

Martyn

[Trainfish]

I of course had to google Telstar due to my age and found that I was minus 2 when it was produced