SpaceX

[Nicolas]

Looks like SN10 may go shortly. Currently they're venting methane and the next step is engine chill followed by launch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOQkk3ojNfM

ETA: Launch apparently scheduled for 03:18 EST, barring holds.

They estimate T-10 minutes as we speak!

[schlaugh]

They estimate T-10 minutes as we speak!

OK, i was extrapolating from the countdown timer.

[docmordrid]

If I remember correctly not all the engines have the ability to restart. They start the Merlin engines with a shot of TEA-TEB. At launch all of the 1st stage engines are started using ground equipment. From what I recall they've designed the restart system as a separate add on "module" that can be added, or not, to any engine. Whatever the case, apparently only 3 of the 9 engines have the ability to restart. They could change that presumably, but no doubt there are constraints, for example mass.

Correct. 3 engines are needed for the entry burn, and either 1 or a 1-3-1 sequence can be used for the landing. 1-3-1 is the so called Super Slam landing - high thrust until just before touchdown for high energy launches.

[docmordrid]

Building StarLink hardware in Texas, not CA or WA.

https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/...jid=5111363002

AUTOMATION & CONTROLS ENGINEER (STARLINK)

Remote - Austin, TX

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of*enabling human life on Mars.

AUTOMATION & CONTROLS ENGINEER (STARLINK)

SpaceX is developing a low latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers across the globe. Enabled by a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to populations with little or no connectivity, including those in rural communities and places where existing services are too expensive or unreliable. Starlink is now delivering initial beta service and accepting pre-orders both domestically and internationally, and will continue expansion to near global coverage of the populated world in 2021.

To keep up with global demand, SpaceX is breaking ground on a new, state of the art manufacturing facility in Austin, TX. The Automation & Controls Engineer will play a key role as we strive to manufacture millions of consumer facing devices that we ship directly to customers (Starlink dishes, Wi-Fi routers, mounting hardware, etc). Specifically, they will design and develop control systems and software for production line machinery – ultimately tackling the toughest mechanical, software, and electrical challenges that come with high volume manufacturing, all while maintaining a focus on flexibility, reliability, maintainability, and ease*of use.
>

[Nicolas]

Abort right after engine ignition (unless this was a static fire, but I doubt it). Nasaspaceflight apparently has info from SpaceX, as their countdown timer was exact.

I have no idea how long it takes to retry, if possible at all today.

[docmordrid]

SN-10

They're checking to see if they can fix it before the window expires at 1900 Eastern.

[docmordrid]

Another try in ~2 hours.

[schlaugh]

From Elon Musk:

Launch abort on slightly conservative high thrust limit. Increasing thrust limit & recycling propellant for another flight attempt today.

[Swift]

T minus 4 minutes

[Swift]

Ignition and immediate abort

[Swift]

Not yet scrubbed for the day, at least according to the public announcer from SpaceX.

[docmordrid]

Elon Musk ✓ @elonmusk
Launch abort on slightly conservative high thrust limit. Increasing thrust limit & recycling propellant for another flight attempt today.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1367213114228318209

[Swift]

Looks like they are trying for about 5:30 pm Eastern (4:30 Central)

[Roger E. Moore]

Starship lunar mission by 2023: SpaceX will fly its deep-space rocket Starship in orbit "many, many times before 2023" and will take 12 people around the moon that year, the company's founder and CEO Elon Musk announced on Tuesday. "It will be safe enough for human transport by 2023 -- it's looking very promising," Musk said in a video announcement with Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa.

https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/M..._2023_999.html

More details on the invitation for eight untrained civilians to go to the Moon, courtesy of a Japanese billionaire who bought the tickets. Sounds more like a party bus than a space mission. I have grave misgivings about their fate. This whole thing sounds stupid.

Japanese Billionaire Who Bought Tickets on SpaceX's Starship Announces 8 Seats Are Up for Grabs. Yusaku Maezawa, the billionaire Japanese fashion CEO who paid big bucks to Elon Musk’s SpaceX for the first seats on its Starship spacecraft for a trip round the Moon in 2023, recently teased a big announcement regarding the journey. Mystery solved: Maezawa proclaimed on Tuesday he is offering anyone interested a shot at joining his crew. The mission, known as dearMoon, will involve 10-12 crew members, with eight slots available for the general public to apply for via the mission’s website. Maezawa appears to be aiming for a swift timeline: Pre-registration is scheduled to be due by March 14, 2021, with initial screenings being conducted by March 21. The website claims that the more successful applicants will receive final interviews and medical checkups by the end of May 2021. Between then and the launch date will be focused on mission training. The only two qualifications required of the applicants is that they “push the envelope” toward improving society and that they will support other crew members who do the same. The remaining crew members will hopefully consist of individuals qualified in some kind of scientific or engineering discipline related to the operation of a spacecraft.

https://gizmodo.com/japanese-billion...tar-1846393541

[Roger E. Moore]

New countdown for SN10 expected to begin shortly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOQkk3ojNfM

[Nicolas]

Is that attempt 2 or 3 for today? A little confused by the order of posts here.

[Nicolas]

T-10 minutes

[Roger E. Moore]

go go GO

[Roger E. Moore]

in hover mode

[Roger E. Moore]

coming down flat

[Roger E. Moore]

Did it, did it

[Roger E. Moore]

firefighters there, leaning slightly, unsure if landing legs deployed, minor fire at base not out

correction, automated fire suppression system is on, fighting flames

[Swift]

It sounds like legs did not deploy. It is leaning, but it is on the ground.

[Nicolas]

Success! ...ish. It didn't explode, it is a tiny bit on fire, it landed but crushed its feet or its feet didn't deploy correctly. In loving memory of her big example SN9 "Eileen", SN10 is leaning over now.

[Swift]

It just went boom!

[Roger E. Moore]

OH NO IT EXPLODED, oh no blew main fuselage straight up and down, huge fire

[selvaarchi]

Congratulations SpaceX

[Roger E. Moore]

commentators joking now that SN10 has "landed twice"

[cjameshuff]

It sounds like legs did not deploy. It is leaning, but it is on the ground.

It looked like a fairly hard landing, I expect the legs were mostly pancaked. There wasn't much to them, just something to absorb the shock.

...apparently not enough of the shock, considering what happened afterward.

[Nicolas]

Eagerly awaiting replay footage of the delayed kaboom...