Images from India's First Space Shuttle Launch | Hacker News Reader

Images from India's First Space Shuttle Launch

gizmodo.com

65 pointsMKais25 comments

While very interesting, and I'm sure I'm not the only one that wishes India (and all of humanity, really) success in its space program, this is a very long way from launching a crew-rated vehicle. Nor is the design particularly astonishing or a real technical advance (for that, the private space firms seem to be the ones moving forward). Yet another country trying to get humans to LEO, which we pretty much figured out a half-century ago, and then inexplicably stopped doing, just makes me sad. How about a real, concerted effort for crew-rated heavy lift that can escape Earth? That can escape Earth/Moon? That can provide crew life support for multi-month missions? You know, the stuff I was promised as a kid in the 60s?

"Astonishing"?

I cannot stand click bait titles. Is there a browser plug in that replaces bait words with more bland words instead?

I'll bet there are "Ten things you won't believe about the ISRO" in that article.

Elon Musk hates them!

India erected their shuttle program with this weird trick.

I propose replacing all superlatives like "Astonishing, Amazing, Incredible" with words/phrases like "Kinda Okay, Somewhat Bearable, Will Entertain for 30 Seconds"

Even better, follow the scheme outlined here: http://xkcd.com/1679/

We debaited it.

And Scott Manley will upload to YouTube a Kerbal Space Program simulation in 5...4...3...2...1...

Space junkies: what is the intended purpose of the shuttle given its size? It's not clear from the article.

It's a test bed. Likely a simpler/cheaper solution to the infrastructure for simulation, bench testing, aerodynamic testing, etc. that isn't as available in India as in the US. Clearly some marketing/PR value, as well. Edit - It also gives them an opportunity for all-up testing of mission communications, ground control, pad operations, etc. The US and USSR already had ample real experience with that by the time the Shuttle and ISS programs came around, but other countries do not.

Ahh, I suspect what you're saying about launch operations is much more valuable to them then testing of that vehicle. I'm guessing that a full sized model can only be truly tested in situ.

Go ISRO.

It's a toy.

It's a trap.

Can you elaborate? As the article says it may be small but it's still a huge milestone.

No concern for recovery. No concern for life support. It's a toy.

Better redaction: "The title is misleading. They are testing a scale model."

Yes, a toy.

http://paulgraham.com/startupideas.html

http://www.paulgraham.com/organic.html

It's slightly shorter than the X-37. That's a toy too, right?

Yes. The Space Shuttle was huge compared to both of those. It could carry them to orbit in the payload bay.

> The Space Shuttle was huge compared to both of those

The Shuttle Orbiter was huge due to the DoD meddling in the design, but in all the wrong parameters. Certianly it could lift bulky payloads, but maximum inhabited on-orbit endurance was just 12 days.

In contrast the X-37 returned after 470 days on-orbit.

It is a TD. Of course it is a toy (for the scientists to toy with design choices)

The commenter's name should alert you to obvious biases.

Expecting to see people trying hitching a ride on the rocket. Was not disappointed.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com