Shout out to SpaceX for completing a banner 61 launch year

[Safiel]

SpaceX just successfully conducted its 61st and final launch of 2022. The ISI EROS C-3 satellite just successfully separated from the Falcon 9 second stage seconds ago.

All 61 missions were 100% successful. All booster landings attempted were successful, although two boosters were deliberately expended due to the respective missions requiring extra fuel.

SpaceX is planning 100 flights in 2023 and I have zero doubt they can pull it off.

This year was just ■■■■■■■ outstanding.

Among other things, they may have to send a Dragon capsule up to rescue Russian cosmonauts.

[Safiel]

I would note ISI EROS C-3 (an Israeli spy satellite) was sent to an extremely rare 148 degree retrograde orbit.

Launches typically go to the east or to a polar orbit. This launch left from Vandenberg and went west, its initial trajectory taking it directly over Hawaii.

Retrograde launches are few and far between.

[WorldWatcher]

@Safiel

I would note ISI EROS C-3 (an Israeli spy satellite) was sent to an extremely rare 148 degree retrograde orbit.

Launches typically go to the east or to a polar orbit. This launch left from Vandenberg and went west, its initial trajectory taking it directly over Hawaii.

Retrograde launches are few and far between.

Kudos to Space X.

Someday though were are going to have to address this.

WW
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[Safiel]

@WorldWatcher

@Safiel

I would note ISI EROS C-3 (an Israeli spy satellite) was sent to an extremely rare 148 degree retrograde orbit.

Launches typically go to the east or to a polar orbit. This launch left from Vandenberg and went west, its initial trajectory taking it directly over Hawaii.

Retrograde launches are few and far between.

Kudos to Space X.

Someday though were are going to have to address this.

WW
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Funny you should mention that.

The recent Starlink launch was the first launch of the second shell of Starlink satellites.

[Samm]

@Safiel

Retrograde launches are few and far between.

Yep. They give up almost 1000 miles per hour right off the launch pad. That’s a lot of energy lost when trying to put things into orbit.

[Safiel]

@Samm

@Safiel

Retrograde launches are few and far between.

Yep. They give up almost 1000 miles per hour right off the launch pad. That’s a lot of energy lost when trying to put things into orbit.

Not to mention that retrograde satellites pose a greater collision risk, such as that a wrong way driver poses.

[Impenitent]

I wonder if the aliens look at Earth and think about sprinkles on donuts…

[Samm]

@Safiel

@Samm

@Safiel

Retrograde launches are few and far between.

Yep. They give up almost 1000 miles per hour right off the launch pad. That’s a lot of energy lost when trying to put things into orbit.

Not to mention that retrograde satellites pose a greater collision risk, such as that a wrong way driver poses.

Yeah. Just think of the energy if a west bound satellite meets head on with an east bound satellite.

[SixFoot]

@Samm

@Safiel

@Samm

@Safiel

Retrograde launches are few and far between.

Yep. They give up almost 1000 miles per hour right off the launch pad. That’s a lot of energy lost when trying to put things into orbit.

Not to mention that retrograde satellites pose a greater collision risk, such as that a wrong way driver poses.

Yeah. Just think of the energy if a west bound satellite meets head on with an east bound satellite.

Sandra Bullock was hot in that movie.

[Samm]

She’s hot in every movie.

[SixFoot]

She’s just hot all the time. I always tell my wife she’s lucky she looks like my other wife. lol

[Safiel]

I didn’t even realize a movie reference was being made. Popular culture is not my strong suit.

[Samm]

Gravity (2013 film)

[SixFoot]

That’s how commonly people think about colliding satellites as if there’s so many of them up there we can’t see the stars behind them. lol

[WuWei]

Who is John Gault?