SpaceX (Vol. 2)

[GTO-3R]

dukeboy749r said:

My point wasn't abou the cost of LOX, more its current availability and predilection for going boom, if not handled correctly. His plans may be technically feasible but that assumes that no company on earth can compete at a far lower cost.

And, we have the logistics of failure rates (so replacements) and cooling.

I genuinely admire that he is getting the space game moving and am equally fearful it is him doing it.

Who would you prefer to do it? Altman? Gates? Zuckerberg? Bezos? I’d trust Elon 100 times more than any of them imo.

It’s an extremely exciting time for space

[Talksteer]

GTO-3R said:

dukeboy749r said:

My point wasn't abou the cost of LOX, more its current availability and predilection for going boom, if not handled correctly. His plans may be technically feasible but that assumes that no company on earth can compete at a far lower cost.

And, we have the logistics of failure rates (so replacements) and cooling.

I genuinely admire that he is getting the space game moving and am equally fearful it is him doing it.

Who would you prefer to do it? Altman? Gates? Zuckerberg? Bezos? I d trust Elon 100 times more than any of them imo.

It s an extremely exciting time for space

Of course the annoying thing for Elon Musk is that in the early days basically people would laugh at what he proposed, now the CCP direct the whole state/industrial complex of China to copy anything that the Muskverse companies are working on and compete the profit out of the sector.

[SpudLink]

Live coverage of the Roman Space Telescope launch is currently live on the NASA YouTube channel.

[lost in espace]

SpudLink said:

Live coverage of the Roman Space Telescope launch is currently live on the NASA YouTube channel.

Amazing launch video here https://x.com/FelixSchlang/status/2094097614274806...

[RoadToad84]

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-tells-the-fcc-tha...

Permission requested to attempt deployment of Starlink terminals in flight 14 - hoping to make orbit

[Hill92]

Flight 14 now NET 22 September. 75 minute launch window opens 07:15 CT (13:15 BST).

https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-14

All being well the ship will make 6 orbits over 10 hours. It'll deliver 26 Starlink V3 satellites to orbit (10x bandwidth of a Falcon 9 launching Starlink Mini V2 satellites). Ship splashdown in the Pacific, west of Chile.

Booster has modifications to address issues seen on Flight 13 (details of the issues in the link). It'll redo the water landing test.

The ship has upgrades incorporated from the analysis of the Flight 13 ship floating in the Pacific. Two tiles recovered from Ship 40 are planned to be reflown on Ship 41.

https://www.spacex.com/updates#orbital-starship

[MiniMan64]

So still no return and catch?

[Hill92]

MiniMan64 said:

So still no return and catch?

No, V3 booster hasn't had successful water landing yet. Needs to demonstrate that first.

Ship could be catch tower related (not wanting to risk it until the refurbished Pad 1 or the first tower at the Cape is ready) and/or regulatory (do a post-orbit water landing first before attempting a catch).

Flight 15 and possibly even 16 should happen before year end as well so still a chance of an attempt this year.

[louiechevy]

The flight profile to start is sub orbital as all the rest and without any further action will end up in the Indian ocean, they will make sure the ship is good for orbit and as long as everything is good it will do an orbit insertion burn and deploy the satellites. They have the choice of de orbiting it early and landing off Hawaii if needed and if not after six orbits go for a landing of the coast of Chile. I think as the re entry is higher speed they want to make sure its OK before they have one re enter over the USA with the risk of one braking up. And the booster needs to do at least one good soft landing in the gulf before they try a tower catch.

[Hill92]

SpaceX have published their third Starship video, this time looking at landing and reuse from the early days of Grasshopper through to Ship 40 at Christmas Island. Some absolutely stunning new footage as you'd expect from SpaceX

https://www.spacex.com/content/starship/holy-grail...

Youtube mirror:



On a PH note, one of the engineers featured in the video, Lars Blackmore, did his Meng thesis with McLaren on control and estimation in Formula 1. He also previously did a project with the Jaguar team (now Red Bull Racing). http://www.larsblackmore.com/

[Caruso]

Starship Flight 14 now rescheduled to 28th Sept 13:15 UK time.

[louiechevy]

They've just got approval from the FAA for Mondays flight, so hopefully we get to see one in orbit very soon.

[Eric Mc]

Due off in under 2 hours.

Should be good fun - whatever the outcome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gDxG-pm1Zo

[Peterpetrole]

Eric Mc said:

Due off in under 2 hours.

Should be good fun - whatever the outcome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gDxG-pm1Zo

Cheers will be watching

(Is that a hint of optimism from Eric???)

[Eric Mc]

I'm always optimistic.

I certainly don't wish ill on the project.

[Eric Mc]

A couple of engine failures on the 1st stage and an apparent failure of one of the Starship engines.

Currently debating whether they will go for orbital insertion or not.

Just under 15 minutes to go.

Update - not going for orbit.

I'm saying nothing.

[gotoPzero]

What is that?

[MartG]

Still deciding whether to go for orbit or not

[welshjon81]

gotoPzero said:

What is that?

I noticed this too....

[davidexige]

Eric Mc said:

A couple of engine failures on the 1st stage and an apparent failure of one of the Starship engines.

Currently debating whether they will go for orbital insertion or not.

Just under 15 minutes to go.

Update - not going for orbit.

I'm saying nothing.

Hopefully you might just be a bit premature with that.