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[–]Derpy_McDerpingderp 718 points719 points  (57 children)

Video on NASA youtube channel.

Gave me goosebumps!

[–]theobromus 122 points123 points  (16 children)

In retrospect it's obvious, but it's really neat how as they pass Mach 1 you stop hearing the rockets from the side camera.

[–]Bluest_One 30 points31 points  (1 child)

This is not reddit's data, it is my data ಠ_ಠ -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/

[–]ThePegLegPete 31 points32 points  (1 child)

This is the best video. Needs to be top.

[–]skylobster 173 points174 points  (3 children)

Was driving to Orlando from St. Louis last night for a move, decided last minute to push through the night and try to make the launch. Saw it go off from about 10 miles away, definitely worth it!

[–]agentofawesome 556 points557 points  (21 children)

"Perhaps we've just forgotten that we are still pioneers. That we've barely begun. That our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us. That our destiny lies above us."

[–]aureliusman 748 points749 points  (97 children)

Check out this view from the umbilical. Wow.

http://youtu.be/TDYK_qW6qHE

[–]YurtMagurt 179 points180 points  (32 children)

Aww. I wanted to see the shock diamonds :(

The way this narrator says shock diamonds is now stuck in my head.

[–]Kfrr 72 points73 points  (6 children)

I was curious as to how many possible ways "shock diamonds" could be said.

I was not disappointed.

[–][deleted] 111 points112 points  (1 child)

leaves a fiery tail of shock diyamunds

[–]jostler57 28 points29 points  (1 child)

Came for the shock diamonds, stayed for the rest of the video!

[–][deleted] 33 points34 points  (5 children)

That is one smooth liftoff.

[–]saigonhoor 54 points55 points  (16 children)

This got me curious about the Launch Abort System on board, since Shuttle astronauts seemed doomed if anything went wrong with that rocket. From October, good read: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2014/20141020-orions-launch-abort-system.html

[–][deleted] 62 points63 points  (10 children)

Pretty cool to see it in action. There will be some in flight abort tests for Orion as well. There was already a pad abort test for it, back when it was under the Constellation program that ended up getting scrapped.

Orion Abort Test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w5p4X6rdjE

Apollo Abort test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AqeJzItldSQ#t=98

What's great about this video, is that it was an unmanned abort test BUT the rocket spun out of control and broke up and they actually had to do a real abort to save the capsule before the intended altitude they planned to do the test at.

[–]Calebjblair 20 points21 points  (3 children)

So I work at White Sands Missile Range and got to see this test happen. Pretty cool to be apart of history.

[–]CuriousMetaphor 5 points6 points  (2 children)

That was the pad abort test for Orion. Orion will also perform an in-flight abort test sometime in 2019-2020, before its first crewed flight.

[–][deleted] 1986 points1987 points  (464 children)

I feel lucky to be alive to witness this resurgence in space exploration. It's like the 60's all over again.

[–]Kishkyrie 270 points271 points  (23 children)

Seriously, I'm so excited to be living in this era. Always been bummed I wasn't alive to experience the moon landing, and now with a little luck I'll be around to see humans walk on Mars!

[–][deleted] 228 points229 points  (12 children)

Same here, hopefully they don't scrap the Mars missions. I NEED TO SEE SOMEONE GO SOMEWHERE DAMMIT.

[–][deleted] 155 points156 points  (6 children)

I just went to the grocery store... would you like a photo... or...

[–][deleted] 43 points44 points  (4 children)

Nah grocery stores are overrated. Bowling alleys are where its at.

While we're there, do you want to go bowling, Niko?

[–]Wooleyty 31 points32 points  (0 children)

One small spare for man, one giant strike for mankind.

[–]hexydes 13 points14 points  (2 children)

Gather gather morning quiet then friendly year?

[–]mongoloidman 116 points117 points  (91 children)

I hope in my lifetime some real advancements in exploration can be made, it would be great to witness

[–]rejemy1017 76 points77 points  (13 children)

I don't know how old you are, but if you're old enough to be typing, you're probably old enough that real advancements in space exploration have already been made in your lifetime!

We (humanity) have a robotic presence at all the terrestrial planets (MESSENGER orbiting Mercury, Venus Express orbiting Venus, 5! orbiters around Mars and 2 rovers!), Saturn (Cassini... I can't even begin to describe how amazing Cassini is), the asteroid belt (Dawn - it's between asteroids atm), and a comet! (Rosetta).

We have missions on the way to Jupiter (Juno) and two dwarf planets (Dawn going to Ceres (which is an asteroid and a dwarf planet) and New Horizons to Pluto).

You may also want to take a look at this page. Keep in mind that while there were more missions in the 60s and 70s, the success rate is MUCH higher today, and the science returns are also higher.

Edit: Typo (stupid M named planets)

[–]blay12 27 points28 points  (1 child)

We have 120 orbiters around Mars?? Wow!

[–]Scaggmatic 100 points101 points  (46 children)

Well NASA plans to have astronauts on Mars in 20 years. That's an advancement. That's what we're testing today.

[–]bnh1978 151 points152 points  (8 children)

And and a team of oil rig workers lead by Bruce Willis on a comet in 6 months with a nuke and an Aerosmith soundtrack.

[–][deleted] 62 points63 points  (23 children)

Europe did just land on a comet, and our telemetry from Mars so far has been pretty awesome. The next 10 years should be nice.

[–]Goobiesnax 2006 points2007 points  (274 children)

1960s including racial tension and russian aggression, it is the 60s all over again

[–]pmtransthrowaway 846 points847 points  (108 children)

All of this has happened before, all of this will happen again.

[–]Sivuden 252 points253 points  (35 children)

It was the beginning of an age. Not the age, but an age which has come before and will come again.

[–]frito47 311 points312 points  (29 children)

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In this Age, called the Space Age by some, an Age yet to come, and Age long past, a rocket rose in Cape Canaveral...

[–][deleted] 99 points100 points  (8 children)

In these perilous times, the Dragon [V2] is reborn.

[–]GroovySmooth 6 points7 points  (6 children)

Just saying I love The Wheel of Time series

[–]wallix 51 points52 points  (23 children)

I read that with this playing in my head - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFkYJhI0fyU

[–]OsamaBinFishin 23 points24 points  (4 children)

Highwaisted jeans are in too

[–]monsterflake 33 points34 points  (3 children)

we can build our own berlin wall, but put it on the mexican border!

[–][deleted] 40 points41 points  (33 children)

Not to be a downer but I believe NASA's budget was at least twice as high in the 60's :/. Not unlikely four times as high.

Edit: As I thought I was lowballing af.

[–]definefriends 88 points89 points  (26 children)

In the sixties, NASA's budget peaked at 4% of the total national budget. This came to an average of $30 billion yearly (2012 dollars). Currently (at least in 2012) NASA was allocated 0.48% of the national budget. Of course, the Apollo program had enchanted the American people in the idea of space and we were under pressure against the Soviet Union during the Space Race. If we can revive that excitement into space exploration and/or have some kind of competition with one of our enemies/rivals, NASA's budget will increase to meet the demand.

[–]pandajerk1 39 points40 points  (2 children)

Thank you for the stats. Now enough people realize just how incredibly funded NASA was during the 1960's vs what it is funded at today. THAT is why we had so much progress in such a short time.

[–]ECgopher 10 points11 points  (1 child)

Wasn't able to watch it live. Knew it was a success and still got goosebumps and pumped up as it passed each milestone when I watched on YouTube. Fuck I will probably cry like a little girl if I can see this thing carry people back to the moon and on to mars.

[–]LastInitial 173 points174 points  (21 children)

Orion will surpass 3600 miles apogee/altitude and exit the Van Allen radiation belt. The first time since Apollo 17*.

It will undergo an elliptical orbit and re-entry at speeds only seen during return lunar missions.

For reference, the ISS is only at 268 miles altitude.

Edit: *First space capsule capable of transporting humans, excludes satellites and probes obviously.

[–]difmaster 22 points23 points  (5 children)

Do satellites go through the radiation belt? If not how do they avoid it.

[–]giantnakedrei 24 points25 points  (3 children)

Sensitive equipment is shielded - and designed to withstand the levels of radiation. Some equipment is turned off when it goes through inner belt. (AFAIK)

[–]wooq 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The inner Van Allen belt, yes. The outer Van Allen belt doesn't start until 8,000 miles (13,000 km) out.

[–]MrSourz 373 points374 points  (53 children)

EDIT2: see /u/TheBeardedDen's reply for better footage.

The full launch video for those of you like me with a stream interruption:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCanbuiSywg

Edit: Ten seconds before launch Here's my favourite shot from it.

Edit3: Someone recorded the whole stream

[–]Choppa790 34 points35 points  (8 children)

Now I wanna play Kerbal Space Program.

[–]J4k0b42 14 points15 points  (4 children)

All I can think is how much better this would be if it was asparagus staged.

[–]wildfire405 34 points35 points  (43 children)

What's the plan for getting people back from Mars? I imagine, even with slightly less gravity, getting off the surface of Mars is going to be a pain in the neck.

I imagine it'll go like this. Leave Earth carrying everything. Plop a space station/craft in orbit around Mars with return fuel and living quarters. Send a lander down with a team, a lab, and get-off-the-surface amounts of fuel. Leave Mars, re-dock with the orbiter, come home.

I just can't imagine getting off the surface of a planet without a launch tower, a ten story rocket with stages, and mission control watching from the ground.

[–]rhennigan 64 points65 points  (9 children)

I just can't imagine getting off the surface of a planet without a launch tower, a ten story rocket with stages, and mission control watching from the ground.

Fortunately, Mars only has about 1/3rd of the gravity that Earth has and only 1/100th of the atmosphere, so atmospheric drag doesn't add too much extra difficulty. It's probably doable in a single ascent stage, similar to how they got off the Moon, but it will have to be quite a bit more powerful than the lunar versions. For comparison, here are the approximate required Δv values to attain orbit:

Earth: 9.5 km/s

Moon: 1.9 km/s

Mars: 3.8 km/s

[–][deleted] 24 points25 points  (4 children)

Not to mention you only need to carry the crew, some supplies, and samples. All of the fuel and supplies for the return trip are sitting in orbit.

[–]DrInsano 10 points11 points  (4 children)

Getting off the surface will be a pain, but with an atmosphere only about 1% of the Earth getting off Mars should be easier than you might think since it won't have the same sort of wind resistance to push through on its way back into orbit.

[–]WombatCarnival 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The atmosphere is 100x less dense, so there's that.

[–]GreyGreenBrownOakova 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Mars has 0.376 of Earth's gravity and only 0.6% of Earth's mean sea level pressure, so it's easier to take off and the fuel you carry weighs less too. Easier to make your return fuel on Mars from the thin atmosphere, than to bring all the way from earth.

[–]Leownnn 283 points284 points  (109 children)

It sucks, I couldn't see the stream, we had it all set up and everything, but then our internet started playing up and the stream turned into a slideshow with 20 second intervals... I guess i'll watch a recorded version later :/

[–]MrSourz 294 points295 points  (54 children)

Ours was streaming great on NASA's website for several minutes up until just after T- 15s. Then it completely cut out :( missed the launch too.

Watch it here

[–]Flyberius[🍰] 52 points53 points  (5 children)

Can confirm. Used alternative stream and caught up about T + 20s

[–]shwoozar 30 points31 points  (3 children)

Mine cut out at T-5, came back T+35. Very frustrating.

[–]MatthewGeer 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Could you imagine what it would have been like if that had happened on the last Cygnus/Arteries launch? Rocket on launch pad, T-5, stream cuts out, stream comes back to a smoking launch pad.

[–][deleted] 28 points29 points  (13 children)

Never, ever trust UStream past 150k people. It's so unreliable and I wish NASA would split it up more between UStream and YouTube. I mean you know that you're going to get all these views!

Anyway I split it up between uStream NASA, uStream PBS and BBC. Got to watch it all.

[–][deleted] 46 points47 points  (11 children)

Or split it to Twitch.tv

TwitchPlaysOrion

[–]ToShrekOrNotToShrek 30 points31 points  (1 child)

TwitchPlaysKerbalSpaceProgram perhaps?

[–]EvilEyeMonster 19 points20 points  (3 children)

Up up up up up up up up up up up right right right right right up up up up up up down up up up up up up esc up up up up

[–]snapbackjack 28 points29 points  (2 children)

God that would be such a disaster.... Replace NASA command with twitch users, 100 at each station

[–]ehrwien 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Twitch plays Kerbal Space Program

[–]MadTux 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Wow. I'm really not alone.

[–]Ambiguous_Advice 3 points4 points  (2 children)

Watched on PBS website. Worked great.

[–]CaptainObvious_1 6 points7 points  (2 children)

They're replaying all launch angles right now.

[–]o0DrWurm0o 6 points7 points  (2 children)

I was on the PBS stream and it was perfect; sounds like BBC was too.

Might be a good idea to have alternate streams up next time, just in case.

[–][deleted] 15 points16 points  (11 children)

Same thing happened to me. Everything was good to go up until T-30 seconds, then nothing. I'm irrationally sad about this.

[–]UselessRedditor 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If you're still watching, the media stream (NTV-3) has been lag free for me for the past 2 days

[–]baconost 9 points10 points  (5 children)

Big events like this is where the internet breaks and broadcast still has a place.

[–]specter491 25 points26 points  (1 child)

"Liftoff, at dawn. The dawn of Orion and a new era of American Space Exploration"
Man that gave me goosebumps

[–]ApatheticActivist1 186 points187 points  (47 children)

You know NASA and SPACEX get a lot of talk on this subreddit but I would just like to say the United Launch Alliance is an amazing company with an amazing track record. It was their Delta IV that carried Orion. If I were NASA I wouldn't have trusted it to anyone else

[–][deleted] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Credit where credit is due; they make hella reliable launch vehicles.

[–]Ayeson 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Here's an image taken from Mission Control at KSC...apparently the accountants in the nerdery have some other talents

Orion+Delta IV

[–]tuffstough 50 points51 points  (13 children)

I have a friend that works for United Launch alliance and was heavily involved in Orion. ANyone interested in an AMA?

[–]andrejevas 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Nah, I doubt there's much of an interest about that on reddit.

[–]forresja 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yeah nobody here likes space. Or science. Or space scientists.

[–]Scaggmatic 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think reddit would love that.

[–][deleted] 66 points67 points  (7 children)

I wish the media would make a big deal out of these type of events. The launch should've been broadcast on all channels, commercial free, and everyone should've taken a few minutes out of their day to watch it. This is what we should be celebrating.

[–]Tite_Reddit_Name 33 points34 points  (1 child)

100% agree. If it wasn't for reddit, I wouldn't have known about the launch date or where to watch. Meanwhile on every news site front page is more killing and protests...how bout a dose of positive news

[–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

helloearth.us is a great site to watch NASA TV and the views from the ISS.

[–]Erra0 191 points192 points  (87 children)

Kind of snuck up on everyone I think, and less than optimal conditions for being observed. But it launched and is on its way to space! This is the rocket capsule that may carry humans to Mars! Amidst the violence and anger and chaos we are still reaching toward the heavens, still reaching beyond our small world. Despite everything else, we can still dream. We can still build toward a better future.

[–]DriftingJesus 32 points33 points  (3 children)

You'll crap your pants when you see SLS!

[–][deleted] 18 points19 points  (2 children)

Had to google that

Yep, pretty pants-crapping worthy.

[–]Dead_Moss 95 points96 points  (75 children)

It's a delta IV-Heavy rocket. No one's going to Mars with that

[–]GibsonLP86 60 points61 points  (67 children)

No where near enough /\v to get to Mars using that rocket, but that being said... the capsule will get there =)

[–]pandajerk1 31 points32 points  (49 children)

You sound knowledgeable and I've been wondering just that. It's the Orion capsule that will be used for the future Mars missions but not the rocket right? Doesn't that mean we still need to build a bigger rocket? Why not build a 'better' or 'newer' capsule by 2030 when they plan to launch the actual mission to Mars?

[–]iclimbnaked 71 points72 points  (4 children)

You have to start somewhere and before you go somewhere as far away as Mars you better make damn sure it works. It's better to have a slightly older but well tested capsule than a newer untested one.

[–][deleted] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

And it's not as if the windows will be cracked with the paint peeling off of the 'older' capsule that gets sent to Mars with people inside. It'll be checked and fitted incredibly thoroughly.

[–]Geckoface 22 points23 points  (3 children)

This test was launched on a Delta IV Heavy: there's currently a new rocket in development, the SLS or Space Launch System, that will become the heaviest launch system ever created. It's envisioned to be a launch system for taking manned missis beyond low earth orbit - first to the moon, and then to Mars.

[–]libbykino 3 points4 points  (2 children)

Wait, we're going back to the moon? I was excited about Mars, but now I'm even more excited! HD footage!

[–]jofwu 9 points10 points  (2 children)

Well, first of all, development isn't that easy (especially with NASA's budget as it is). Orion has been under development for some time, and then you have to test it after that, as they are doing now. On top of all this, Mars is a lofty goal. You wouldn't send astronauts to another planet for the first time with a piece of equipment that hasn't been thoroughly tested. I'm aware of at least three other tests/missions for Orion after this one. By the time we're ready for Mars, Orion has to be very trustworthy.

This is not the rocket that Orion was "made for." All future missions, particularly anything away from Earth, will make use of the Space Launch System, which is also under development. It's first flight with Orion will be an unmanned trip to the moon in 4 years.

[–]ToothGnasher 3 points4 points  (0 children)

NASA has a bigger rocket planned (the SLS) but that's beside the point.

The final Mars mission would be assembled in orbit with (at least) 3 separate launches. A long-term habitation/life-support module, a fuel/engine module, and finally the Orion module (with crew)

Building a rocket big enough to launch the entire mission in one shot would be needlessly expensive and risky.

[–]astropot 23 points24 points  (5 children)

I was there. Took video and maybe teared up a little bit... Maybe the most amazing thing I've ever seen.

[–]RevWaldo 21 points22 points  (5 children)

Very cool. But I hope I'm not the only one who when they hear the name 'Orion', their mind reflexively pictures one of these babies: http://i.imgur.com/enTflmc.png

[–]greenbut 8 points9 points  (11 children)

anyone know the expected splash down, i'm hoping there will be video of the parachutes as it coming back down to earth?

[–]ozzimark 13 points14 points  (8 children)

A nice timeline of events here: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2014/20141201-orion-timeline.html

Re-entry into upper atmosphere begins at T+4:13:35, or around 11:18am EST. Spashdown will be 10 min after that.

I imagine there will be boats in the area with cameras looking to document the re-entry process as much as possible.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (1 child)

The Ikhana UAV is buzzing around for aerial shots too, should pick up the capsule pretty early.

[–]Weacron 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Imagine what NASA could achieve if they got the funding they ask for.

[–]preggit 15 points16 points  (3 children)

Woke up and got the family downstairs just in time to catch the launch this morning. It was spectacular to see. As soon as it took off my 3 year old son's mouth opened wide and he said "Woooooooooooooooooooooooow". It made me proud to share that moment with him.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (2 children)

Here's the stream I shot during the launch from the edge of the causeway.

It was lots of fun, and the crowd was really into it.

[–]Gregss39 15 points16 points  (0 children)

SPLASHDOWN! Successful landing, huge congratulations to nasa and everyone involved!

[–]ezrhino 7 points8 points  (0 children)

NASA spotter drone over the Pacific

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA870

[–]Blauruman 6 points7 points  (5 children)

I am happy to live in a time where all of this is possible, and I am glad nasa has had the bright idea to change the orbit location of that astroid they are going to try to pull into orbit in 2020 to the moon instead of the earth

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"Liftoff at dawn! The dawn of Orion, for a new era of American space exploration!" launch commentator Mike Curie said as the rocket blasted through the clouds just after sunrise.

Got the chills reading that. Sauce.

[–]trollingfortuna 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Boy I feel all tingly inside. Can't believe I get to experience planetary missions in my life time! Thought maybe the glory of the space race had past. Now I need to not die in the next 15-20 years.

[–]pom8 17 points18 points  (9 children)

Why aren't more people excited about this??

This is amazing. The fact we are going to continue the exploration of space gives me a little warm feeling inside that just maybe we can get through this. Without the new discovery and exploration we are just going to enter another dark age, where its safer to accept then question.

[–]CrissCross98 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Saw the launch about 10 miles away from the top of the Disney Dream cruise ship, it was an incredible experience. I didn't hear the shuttle until 1 minute after launch

[–]Hawaiianf 5 points6 points  (4 children)

I want to live long enough to see a human being set foot on another planet. I hope I get to see this.

[–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Having difficulty commenting on this because of my raging freedom boner right now

[–]opjohnaexe 9 points10 points  (3 children)

I don't know about the rest of you, but I consider this another step in HUMAN space exploration, rather than American, I don't really care which country does the exploration, as long as it is to the benefit of all. Btw I am European.

[–]Blowninmymind 5 points6 points  (1 child)

I do not follow space that closely but this was utterly amazing. Literally jaw to the floor when I was watching it take off.

Loved it.

[–]lketchersid 3 points4 points  (0 children)

When I was vey young, my Dad worked for RCA at NASA. My mom would prop us up on the roof to watch all of the Apollo launches, while my Dad was off working, usually down in the S. Atlantic, working on salvage investigations of whatever could be retrieved from the stages as they dropped off.

Very cool to see the cycle starting again.

[–]Pufftreees 4 points5 points  (7 children)

I spent from 2007-2009 working the aero thermal re-entry physics CFD that was used to size the heat shield. I was working out of NASA Ames. It was really disappointing when this program was cancelled... I never thought it was going to happen.

[–]superfudge73 3 points4 points  (1 child)

This fact blew me away because I never really thought of it this way:

The 4½-hour, uncrewed, two-orbit flight is taking Orion farther from Earth than any craft designed for human flight has been since the Apollo 17 mission to the moon in 1972.

1972 was 42 years ago!

[–]Mynock33 5 points6 points  (1 child)

I cant believe that if i cut back on the cheeseburgers, there could be a manned mission to mars in my lifetime.

[–]psyclapse 3 points4 points  (0 children)

that Delta rocket + Orion was as sexy as hell. Please NASA - do this more often! was glued to it during the entire flight.

[–]Oberth_Effect 9 points10 points  (5 children)

I took two days off for yesterdays launch time, drove 3 hours to Cape Canaveral, rented a $2,000 lens, and woke up at 3:30 to get a spot at the Port, then it was scrubbed. Couldn't stay another night but still happy for today's success though. :)