[QUOTE=ewmayer;479681] the blast-ashes-of-a-bunch-of-people-and-pets-into-space fund-raising scheme is immune to all the constraints you mention[/QUOTE]

From a logistical perspective, perhaps, but not necessarily from a human perspective, the customers and PR. If they sell those slots in 2014, the ashes themselves are of course not going to "go bad" or anything, but the people paying might get angry over repeated delays and pull out (despite the logistical non-problem).

Sure it all could have been done, but to what purpose? Lots of hassle, relatively little gain. The car was much less hassle.

SpaceX launched the Paz satellite to SSO this morning -- in other news, they made the first attempted fairing recovery with their giant-net-on-a-boat and just missed (few hundred meters), while also deploying their prototype Starlink satellites Tintin A & B.

I watched the livestream, beautifull launch!

[QUOTE=Dubslow;480642]they made the first attempted fairing recovery with their giant-net-on-a-boat and just missed (few hundred meters),[/QUOTE]This was a quicker than normal fairing sep (IIRC). The launch took the craft from the dark up into the sunlight altitudes. All 4 pieces (both stages and both halves of the faring) were visible with a bare eye from the ground at the same time.

Typically on the order of 45-60s between staging and fairing sep. I didn't immediately notice anything unusual, though I wasn't really looking for such either

[QUOTE=Dubslow;480691]Typically on the order of 45-60s between staging and fairing sep. I didn't immediately notice anything unusual, though I wasn't really looking for such either[/QUOTE]Looking at the webcast 19:34 for staging, 19:56 for faring.

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;480693]Looking at the webcast 19:34 for staging, 19:56 for faring.[/QUOTE]

Ah, I bet it's because of the different flight profile. Being a direct insertion to a 500km orbit, as opposed to a 200km parking orbit for e.g. GTO launches, the trajectory was probably somewhat more vertical. So, at staging, less velocity and more altitude -- and altitude is what controls fairing sep.

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;480693]Looking at the webcast 19:34 for staging, 19:56 for faring.[/QUOTE]
Hhrrmmm... any link?
(for us mortals who do not follow every step Mr. Musk takes...)

Edit: found it, we only had to go to main page and click "replay"....

Edit2: Ha! The guy said so many times that everything is wonderful and the weather is looking fantastic, that, even if I am watching a replay, and I know that the mission was a success, I am still a bit afraid that he will jinx it... :razz:

[URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-43211192/moon-to-get-4g-mobile-network"]Moon to get 4G network
[/URL]

Ironic, because I can barely get a signal at home even though I live in one of the most geek-infested regions on Earth.

[QUOTE=xilman;481080][URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-43211192/moon-to-get-4g-mobile-network"]Moon to get 4G network
[/URL]

Ironic, because I can barely get a signal at home even though I live in one of the most geek-infested regions on Earth.[/QUOTE]
[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBgeMohcXOk[/URL]

[QUOTE=xilman;481080]even though I live in one of the most geek-infested regions on Earth.[/QUOTE]maybe that is why...