NASA/Space X Demo-2 Mission Launch

[Jumper_Dad]

First launch in almost a decade. I’m downright giddy right now.

 

Me too...it's awesome to see these advances in every aspect.

[Jumper_Dad]

Will dock with ISS at 10:29 a.m. Sunday.

[Jumper_Dad]

The Falcon project is amazing. I can only imagine how much money is saved being able to reuse the entire first stage rocket.

 

Additionally, quality components procured...not bought from cheapest bidding vendor.

[Jumper_Dad]

The advent of 3D printing has also driven down the cost of many major components.

[Bluegrasscard]

Almost nine years since the last shuttle mission.

 

STS-135 - Wikipedia

[Jumper_Dad]

This is the first major step in our return to the Moon and on to Mars.

[The Professor]

I’m happy to see the US launching astronauts again. I was 6 years old when they first launched a man into space and 15 when they first landed and walked on the moon. Then NASA switched to the Shuttle program in the 1970’s and in my opinion stayed with that system far too long, around 30 years. The shuttle was too big, too expensive and too dangerous. One exploded on launch and another exploded on re-entry. Killed 14 astronauts total. It seemed protective tiles were lost on many of the launches. There was just too much weight in those spacecraft and required two enormous fuel tanks to enable it to escape earth’s gravity. There were too many risks.

I liked the new look today.

[TheDeuce]

Within 10 minutes they launch and the rocket lands safely on a drone ship in the ocean. A lot of big brains working on these projects.

 

This is by far the coolest part of the whole thing.

[Bluto]

Quick! While Bob & Doug are in orbit, everyone put on your ape costumes!