SpaceX Tuesday...

[RobDickinson]

2nd stage doesn't have that much power /battery it can't stay up and operational for long

[MartG]

But against the cost of Zuma would they not have preferred to leave it in low orbit where it would decay on its own and give more time to diagnose the issue

[Beati Dogu]

Without a shuttle available, there's not a thing they could have done about it anyway. Perhaps the X-37B did a little pick up job on the side.

[Eric Mc]

All very interesting but all 100% speculation. I think we just have to forget about Zuma because the DoD don't seem to want to tell us anything about it.

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Watch this...it's painful btw..

https://youtu.be/6enHmBbq-NQ


Then read this

https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/co...

And the top contributor is..

Note edited to de conflict..

Edited by Kccv23highliftcam on Sunday 21st January 11:20

[Eric Mc]

Haven't got a clue what you are on about.

[Beati Dogu]

Wrong link I guess. Probably meant this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juZVCbnnZB8

Also implying that getting a measly $28,000 in donations from Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman means Representative Brian Babin is in their pocket.

Because of course SpaceX & Elon Musk are as pure as the driven snow and don't make political contribution, or hire lobbyists is Washington too

[MartG]

[Eric Mc]

I was half expecting that. Well done Donald.

[Einion Yrth]

Eric Mc said:

I was half expecting that. Well done Donald.

No doubt it was his fault in 2013 too? You have an unhealthy obsession with Trump, you should probably let it go.

[Eric Mc]

Einion Yrth said:

Eric Mc said:

I was half expecting that. Well done Donald.

No doubt it was his fault in 2013 too? You have an unhealthy obsession with Trump, you should probably let it go.

No, it wasn't his fault in 2013. It is this time.

I have a very HEALTHY interest in the unfathomable damage Trump is doing - but there is a separate thread for that elsewhere so lets not discuss it here.

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Beati Dogu said:

Wrong link I guess. Probably meant this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juZVCbnnZB8

Also implying that getting a measly $28,000 in donations from Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman means Representative Brian Babin is in their pocket.

Because of course SpaceX & Elon Musk are as pure as the driven snow and don't make political contribution, or hire lobbyists is Washington too

bugah.

Btw "every little bit helps"..

[Beati Dogu]

Well the US government shutdown is over for another 3 weeks at least, so hopefully everyone will be back to work in a day or two.

As well as the Falcon Heavy, SpaceX also have to static fire the regular Falcon 9 that's due to launch GovSat-1 (SES-16) on the 30th.

[RobDickinson]

US airforce have also come out with a positive message around spacex and Zuma.

It's hardly comprehensive but does seem to exonerate spacex well enough.

[Beati Dogu]

That's good.

It's in the Air Force's interest to help SpaceX if they can. They've been taken for a ride in more ways than one by ULA over the years.


In other news, it seem that "Spider Boat" AKA fairing catcher Mr Steven has left the port of Los Angeles, headed for the Panama Canal.


Piccies:

https://twitter.com/AngryPackOMeese/status/9464314...

[MartG]

[p1stonhead]

Someone please explain why static fire keeps being delayed? Is it down to weather etc?

[anonymous-user]

p1stonhead said:

Someone please explain why static fire keeps being delayed? Is it down to weather etc?

Technical issues.

[RobDickinson]

It's not a falcon 9, it's a new rocket, even though they know a lot about it they'll go very cautiously through the process

[MartG]

They are understandably being very cautious indeed in proceeding. Imagine the cost to SpaceX if it blew up on the pad through something avoidable - not only the $ for the booster and pad repairs, but also in prestige and lost time