SpaceX (Vol. 2)

[Beati Dogu]

Yes, seeing these things launch will be impressive enough, but the recovery sequences will be even more incredible.

"Starship will be ready to fly next month. I was in the high bay & mega bay late last night reviewing progress." - Elon

[Arnold Cunningham]

Remember the first time I saw the current boosters land - in unison, decelerating from bloody fast to stationary in just a few seconds. Really did look like the aliens were invading.

[Smiljan]

Beati Dogu said:

They seem intent on launching a few Starlink 2 satellites as part of the test flight now, so presumably that means a higher orbit than originally talked about. As far as I know the sea landing off Hawaii is still the plan. There's a missile test tracking facility on one of the islands (Kauai) that would prove useful. Don't know if it comes down on it's first, partial orbit, or does a few orbits and lords it around for a bit up there first.

The Booster it to boost back towards the launch site after separation and do a sea landing about 20 miles off the coast.

So it's booster splashdown and ship landing back at base?

I'd imagine the booster would sink pretty quick with those gazillions of engines attached if it does splashdown in one piece though!

I'm really pleased were getting close to some more spectacular footage of something new and exciting from SpaceX, much as it sounds daft the Falcon 9 launches and landings have all become a little routine now.

[Flooble]

I think the original flight plan indicated the ship would come down around Hawaii (ish, very ish) with the booster being 20 miles offshore from the base.

[Arnold Cunningham]

Smiljan said:

I'm really pleased were getting close to some more spectacular footage of something new and exciting from SpaceX, much as it sounds daft the Falcon 9 launches and landings have all become a little routine now.

Which just goes to show the amazing job they’ve done.

[xeny]

Smiljan said:

I'd imagine the booster would sink pretty quick with those gazillions of engines attached if it does splashdown in one piece though!

Doubt it - there's so much volume that if it doesn't explode I'd expect it to float.

[Dog Star]

xeny said:

Smiljan said:

I'd imagine the booster would sink pretty quick with those gazillions of engines attached if it does splashdown in one piece though!

Doubt it - there's so much volume that if it doesn't explode I'd expect it to float.

Elon was saying that when empty the booster has about the density of an empty beer can.

[Beati Dogu]

As long as the fuselage isn't damaged on contact or by pitching over, it'll float. As seen with the Falcon 9 that had hydraulic problems and ditched itself in the sea:

[Smiljan]

Apparently it’ll land, break up and sink at the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range north of Hawaii

https://www.govtech.com/products/orbital-spacex-st...

[Beati Dogu]

We'll have to run a sweepstake about the launch and landings nearer the time.

[Smiljan]

Beati Dogu said:

We'll have to run a sweepstake about the launch and landings nearer the time.

Yes! Whatever the end result of the first flight is, it'll be spectacular.

[GTO-3R]

I'm just hoping that it doesn't blow up on lift off and destroy the tower and launch pad....

[Beati Dogu]

Yes, if it clears the tower, everything else is a bonus. The Apollo engineers fretted about Saturn V impacting the tower as well.

There's talk of adding an astronaut loading gantry to Pad 40, SpaceX's other pad in Florida, just in case, for whatever reason, Pad 39a gets messed up.

They're also building a replica of the tower at Boca Chica over at Pad 39a now too.

[xeny]

Smiljan said:

Apparently it’ll land, break up and sink at the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range north of Hawaii

https://www.govtech.com/products/orbital-spacex-st...

Isn't that Starship rather than Super Heavy ?

[Smiljan]

xeny said:

Isn't that Starship rather than Super Heavy ?

Yup, that’s what we’re talking about.

[Beati Dogu]

The Super Heavy booster won't leave the Gulf of Mexico area. After separation, it'll backflip and fire some of the engines to head it back towards the launch site.



This time at least, they'll bring it down offshore.

[Beati Dogu]

The next Falcon 9 launch is set for Friday at 5.08 pm UK time.

It’s a Starlink launch and this will be booster B1060’s 13th flight. A new record.

I believe it’s also the 100th time a reflown booster has been used as well.

[xeny]

Smiljan said:

xeny said:

Isn't that Starship rather than Super Heavy ?

Yup, that’s what we’re talking about.

Is it?

Smiljan said:

I'd imagine the booster would sink pretty quick with those gazillions of engines attached if it does splashdown in one piece though!

[Smiljan]

Yup, you are most correct. Have some internet points.

Edit - I in no way mean that sarcastically like I’ve just realised it sounds. You are right I mixed them up!

Edited by Smiljan on Friday 17th June 17:41

[Beati Dogu]

Beati Dogu said:

The next Falcon 9 launch is set for Friday at 5.08 pm UK time.

It’s a Starlink launch and this will be booster B1060’s 13th flight. A new record.

I believe it’s also the 100th time a reflown booster has been used as well.

Well it launched and landed for a record 13th time.

It's also the first of three missions from today to Sunday. Next up:


1) SARah 1 - A radar survey satellite for the German military.

Launch time: 1419 3.19 pm UK time (10.19 am EDT / 7.19 am PDT)
From SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Landing back at the launch site.


2) Globalstar FM15 - A comms satellite for Globalstar Communications Corporation

Launch time: 5.27 am UK time (12.27 a.m. EDT)
From SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Booster landing on a drone ship downrange.