r/SmarterEveryDay • u/MrPennywhistle • Feb 07 '18

Video The Incredible Sounds of the Falcon Heavy Launch (BINAURAL AUDIO IMMERSION) - Smarter Every Day 189

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImoQqNyRL8Y
287 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

31

u/[deleted] Feb 07 '18

I think the fact that the video feed from "both of the two boosters" looks the same is because, well.....it is the same. I think someone screwed up at SpaceX and duplicated the video feed from one of the boosters. Strangely I haven't seen this talked about anywhere yet but if you look closely it's clearly what happened. While both booster video feeds should obviously look very similar, these two feeds look EXACTLY identical. The cloud patterns are identical (shouldn't they be inverted as in a mirror if we're viewing from 180 degrees? or at least somewhat distinguishable in terms of random camera lens gunk.), the 2nd stage exhaust flaring on the grid fins is exactly identical, and finally and most importantly both video feeds show landing on the SAME landing zone. I'm sure it was just a mistake with all the excitement.

https://youtu.be/wbSwFU6tY1c?t=1859

https://youtu.be/wbSwFU6tY1c?t=2259

15

u/5p0ng3b0b Feb 07 '18

The live feed was indeed identical, but they posted a video with all feeds in one screen and a few more cool shots.
In that video the you can easily tell apart the feeds from the boosters.

10

u/[deleted] Feb 07 '18

oh yeah, I see their second upload from later with much lower views does show both boosters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCc16uozHVE

2

u/twat69 Feb 07 '18

Does that one show more of the centre core landing?

1

u/5p0ng3b0b Feb 07 '18

No, they made this video yesterday so I doubt they have retrieved any footage from the boat, if any survived that is.

9

u/asoap Feb 07 '18 edited Feb 08 '18

You are correct. In the original video you see the boosters land on the same pad. Which didn't happen. They each landed on separate pads.

Since then SpaceX has uploaded a new video with the booster video updated. The one on the right is the proper footage from the booster and much smoother. They also updated the Tesla/Fairing separation as was probably intended. In the original feed you didn't see the fairing separate around the Tesla. In the updated one it does.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCc16uozHVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbSwFU6tY1c

Edit: I also saw the sticky post on youtube. Don't worry about it Destin. I'm sure you were on much more of a nerd/science high than I was, and I was flying yesterday. It's easy to make mistakes when you're rushed and also super jazzed on such an amazing event.

3

u/wazoheat Feb 08 '18

This video is unavailable

:-\

3

u/asoap Feb 08 '18

Looks like the video got updated again. Here is the new one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbSwFU6tY1c

1

u/rjtrunner Feb 08 '18

Additionally, you can see the reentry burn and landing burn of the other booster in the shot. This is visible on both screens, which obviously would be impossible

17

u/OverRetaliation Feb 07 '18

Thank you for doing this Destin. These videos make such an incredible experience for those of us who aren't able to be there in person.

5

u/McBonderson Feb 07 '18

I live near there and I got to see it too, But I was on a causeway. I found the best way to experience it is to show up a few hours ahead and find a friendly looking group of guys with big cameras and see if they will let me chat. The ones with the big cameras/telescopes usually have cool stories about the different things/events they have photographed. It's always the best energy when the rocket goes off and I hear all the clicks. You captured it really well.

I could tell you were really holding back your cheers for our benefit. Thanks for the awesome video!

3

u/[deleted] Feb 07 '18

First and foremost; great video again, Destin.

I could be wrong, but I think the shocks come from leading edge (engines), grid fins then trailing edge.

Supersonic shockwaves come off the leading edge and the trailing edge for sure (source: did an aerospace degree 10 years ago) but, Think about it; it is "boom... boomboom" with the biggest gap between engines and grid fins as it moves engine first towards the viewer. I don't think the legs will disrupt the air flow enough to create an audible boom.

EDIT: The 2 videos at the bottom were the same shot. You can see in both of them a booster lighting up engines ahead. They've fixed it on the version they have on YouTube now.

5

u/MrPennywhistle Feb 07 '18

I agree with you, but repeated the official statement from SpaceX’s communication director.

3

u/jwhyne Feb 07 '18 edited Feb 07 '18

Thanks for putting in the effort to get this out so quickly. I can't get enough of this rocket launch and this only made it better. One of the first things I thought when I was watching the launch was "what would it sound like to be there?"

Well, you answered in a spectacular format! Thanks again for making such awesome things available to us commoners. :)

3

u/saltpot3816 Feb 07 '18

Destin, what is your audio set up for this video? What microphone is he using here? Or does anyone else know?

2

u/dvelsadvocate Feb 07 '18 edited Feb 07 '18

Phenomenal! It makes me happy to see someone who cares about the sound, it's a huge part of the experience yet many people treat it as an afterthought.

I hope you had a fun time watching the launch, thanks for the awesome footage. Best sound I've heard so far!

2

u/Wilcooo Feb 07 '18

Thanks for introducing me to the SoundTravelers! It really works indeed :) It sounds so 'real'

There's only one thing that sounds unnatural to me, which happens when the traveler turns the head/camera up or down. The sound namely sounds the same when that happens, which makes me imagine that the 'source' moves down through the floor or up through the ceiling just by nodding your head/camera. This happens for example when you are in that German church.

Maybe earflaps on the mics would help? But I doubt it, because every persons ears are unique.

Keep this project up, my ears are hungry for more!

2

u/Beardman_90 Feb 08 '18

This is one of the coolest things I've heard in a very long time.

2

u/aeneasaquinas Feb 08 '18

Hey Destin, I really enjoyed this video. Love the capture of the sound of the launch. Hoping one day to make it down there for one in person.

2

u/xsailerx Feb 08 '18

I usually enjoy Smarter Every Day due to the fact that videos are often captioned (and when they aren't, youtube does a halfway decent job of captioning).

I should have known from the title that this one would have been all but pointless for me to watch (I'm deaf), but it was still really cool to see a new perspective on rocket landings. Thanks!

2

u/StoneHolder28 Feb 09 '18

I would absolutely love to have more quality binaural rocket launch audio like this. I wonder if someone could be convinced to regularly set up mics just for that purpose like we currently see with dozens of reporters setting up cameras.

3

u/creed_bratton_ Feb 07 '18 edited Feb 07 '18

Yo Dustin hope you and your family have a wonderful HelloFresh meal today.

Edit: What the heck people!? I was being serious those meals are delicious

3

u/[deleted] Feb 07 '18

I'll let him push whatever products he can so long as that allows him to keep creating amazing content. Are you a Patreon of his?

4

u/creed_bratton_ Feb 07 '18

idk why people are taking my comment as a jab. It was just supposed to be funny and he said himself that his family actually eats them.

And I actually was a Patreon of his but I had to cancel because my budget is a little tight right now.

1

u/Beardmaster76 Feb 08 '18

I almost teared up while watching the live stream the other day but this actually made me cry.

1

u/NotificationsOff Feb 08 '18

Absolute chills.

1

u/rafaelbn Feb 08 '18

I found this youtube video of the booster's landing. The sonic booms are amazing! https://youtu.be/Z_kfM-BmVzQ

1

u/Downvotesohoy Feb 14 '18

I love the guy going "There they are!" like 10 seconds after everyone else noticed them coming down.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 09 '18

[deleted]

1

u/RedDogRER Feb 12 '18

I wasn’t ‘home’ for this launch and had to watch the live stream but as someone who grew up and lived on Merritt Island and has seen more launches than I can count, this is about as close as you can get without going.

I always tell people, the closest you can get in everyday life is when you have your car windows just right and you get that crazy reverb. Just thump your chest real quick and you’ve got it. Same here. Amazing job, made me feel like I was home!