Ever seen a rocket land? This is beautiful, the successful re-landing of a first-stage space rocket, landing it on a small platform floating in the ocean. I can hardly imagine the number of calculations to be done to do this, and the number of things which have to go right. But if you like science and space, or just a graceful engineering feat, this is a good one. (The video starts at the time point with this landing, but there is much more in it.)
By the way, I think it's so kewl that the landing platform is called "Of Course I Still Love You". Why? Because it's an obvious homage to the late SF author (one of my top faves) Iain M Banks. The name was one of the first and best of the many cheeky and inventive names he gave to his intelligent (and often collosal) spaceships in his space opera Culture novels.
If you like science fiction, especially on a very big canvas (huge), and haven't tried Iain M. Banks, then you are in for a treat.
I love the way the landing legs unfold at the last possible minute. Computers are very good now, I don't think a human pilot could have made that landing.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was one of my first thoughts; computers have already surpassed us in so many ways. I am positive a human pilot could not have done this landing. For one thing the deceleration was horrendous.
ReplyDeleteYes, we're on the wild ride of the accelerating tech curve. What's more impressive, the landing rocket or Google's Go computer that beat a top professional human? The software required for each is just amazing to fathom.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm reading The Singularity Is Near. It's a fantastic read, and convincing. Also rather scary; cuz like the author says, the explosion of machine expansion and intelligence has the potential to enhance both out good side and the destructive one.
ReplyDeleteThe reason it is so beautiful to me is that SpaceX no longer has to throw away the whole vehicle after a single flight. It may not mean tickets as cheap as on airliners, but I might afford one in my lifetime. :^)
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