Flyover of the Boca Chica facilities, this time including the new methane farm...
https://youtu.be/iEwaKeTwZ5M
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Flyover of the Boca Chica facilities, this time including the new methane farm...
https://youtu.be/iEwaKeTwZ5M
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StarLink 12
Perfect launch, dead-effing-center landing (#3 for this stage). 1 fairing caught & 1 in the drink & being recovered. Waiting for StarLink deploy.
Cool launch at sunrise from Michael Seeley @WeReportSpace
IMG_20201006_081528.jpg
https://twitter.com/Mike_Seeley/stat...46189820342273
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Also saw that this was the third flight for that fairing they caught.Originally Posted by docmordrid
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Is the reason that two aren't caught, they are too close together for the boats to catch both??
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One or two ships missing is just luck and the uncertainties of low altitude winds.
The fairings use GPS steerable parafoils, so they can program in a sufficient separation to prevent inter-ship interference. High up, both halves use a cold gas reaction control system for maneuvering.
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A small leak after last night's SN-08 nitrogen cryotest...
Elon Musk ✓ @elonmusk
Cryo pressure test succeeded, but a small leak opened up near the engine mounts, possibly due to differential shrinking
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7 bar absolute, which is fine for flight. This was a proof test, rather than a burst test. We’ll hopefully fix the leak today & retest.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1313844207757537281
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The remote Hoh Tribe in WA had little to no connectivity, now they have StarLink.
https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/...43517429891073
https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/...44224937783297
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Yeah that's the really important thing about Starlink, that it will allow people who've been denied access the chance to connect, hugely important for things like medical diagnosis and remote learning.
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Starman makes hisclosest approach to Mars.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/08/c...rnd/index.html
The roadster, "driven" by a mannequin dubbed "Starman" wearing a spacesuit, was part of a dummy payload attached to the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket that launched in 2018.
SpaceX tweeted yesterday that the vehicle made its first close approach with Mars, coming within 5 million miles of the planet.
I am because we are
(African saying)
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Locals say the Falcon Heavy debut drew more people to the area than they'd seen since the 1960's.
SN-08 passed it's cryogenic tests. On to the first static fire...
SN-08 cryoproof-3-1024.jpg
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1314462047304847360
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Test next year, 80 tonnes of payload
https://www.c4isrnet.com/space/2020/...ome-next-year/
Pentagon wants SpaceX delivering cargo around the globe — and a live test could come next year
WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Command is taking the potential for cargo delivery via orbit seriously enough that it hopes to test the concept with SpaceX as soon as next year, the command’s head said Wednesday.
In what he called a “provocative thought,” Gen. Stephen Lyons said: “I’m really excited about the team that’s working with SpaceX on an opportunity, even perhaps in as early as ’21, to conduct a joint proof of principle” for space-based delivery.
The dream, Lyons told the National Defense Transportation Association, is to be able to move 80 tons of cargo - the equivalent of a C-17 transport - via a space-based vehicle anywhere on the globe within one hour.
>
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Occasional military cargo (and possibly troop) transport seems more likely to me than regular civilian suborbital passenger travel. I could see that happening. Of course, there would need to be care sending one near a nuclear capable opponent under tense conditions.
"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is hard to verify their authenticity." — Abraham Lincoln
I say there is an invisible elf in my backyard. How do you prove that I am wrong?
The Leif Ericson Cruiser
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I’m surprised - I would have thought the first launch of the Space Shuttle would have been at least as well attended.
"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is hard to verify their authenticity." — Abraham Lincoln
I say there is an invisible elf in my backyard. How do you prove that I am wrong?
The Leif Ericson Cruiser
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After Apollo interest waned, then came back for the first and last series of Shuttle launches. In the middle I travelled to launches which were poorly attended.
Last edited by docmordrid; 2020-Oct-10 at 01:56 AM.
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I'm sure it would be a nice revenue for SpaceX if the Pentagon wanted them to keep one or two Spaceships at the ready 24/7. Especially if it would include extra launch sites at military bases.
With sufficient thrust, water towers fly just fine.
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I was working all through both the Apollo manned launches and the Shuttle and didn't get an opportunity to watch any in person but watched all I could on TV.
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ITAR = International Traffic in Arms Regulations
Elon Musk @elonmusk
Replying to @Neopork85 @Caspar_Stanley and 6 others
Tiles will be on hot side of flaps too. A very tough problem is sealing the moving flap to body joint without melting or shredding the seal.
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Viv @flcnhvy
Replying to @elonmusk @Neopork85 and 7 others
Are you still considering transpiration cooling for most vulnerable hotspots or are the heat shield tiles tough enough?
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Elon Musk @elonmusk
It might be used in some areas. ITAR laws prevent us from being too specific about solutions
Thread
https://twitter.com/Neopork85/status...87511042322432
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Crew Dragon Crew-1 is delayed to mid-November to finish a review of the GPS-3 abort.
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Sounds like the SN-08 fun's starting; 3 Raptor engines headed to the pad.
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Starship SN-08 engine integration underway, starting with Raptor SN-39
IMG_20201011_144254.jpg
https://twitter.com/austinbarnard45/...60940641136641
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Austin Barnard🚀 @austinbarnard45
SpaceX's Starship SN8 now has all three Raptors mounted into the aft compartment. We are only a mere few days away from the Static Fire test campaign, as the 15km flight inches closer by each passing day.
IMG_20201012_161659.jpg
https://twitter.com/austinbarnard45/...14592815841282
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The nosecone for SN8 (aka Snate) is being prepped, with the forward wing mounts now attached. It will only be installed onto the stack after static fire completes (in case of RUD).
With sufficient thrust, water towers fly just fine.
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I think they want to fly before Musk's Starship update later this month.
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What's likely the SN-08 nose cone w/LIX header tank and drag fin mounts has moved into the low bay. Looks like it's time to integrate it with the 5-ring barrel section and drag fins.
This is it in the production building
IMG_20201013_151542.jpg
https://twitter.com/MarcusHouseGame/...85985474228224
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The FCC has announced qualified bidders for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction (RDOF). The fund will spend up to $20.4 billion to get broadband service into underserved areas of the US. Satellite service selectees
Hughes Network Systems (HughesNet - OneWeb proxy?)
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX Starlink)
ViaSat
https://spacenews.com/fcc-rural-broa...-bidders-2020/
Last edited by docmordrid; 2020-Oct-13 at 11:23 PM.
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Got marshmallows?
IMG_20201014_105740.jpg
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Given the FCC's rather strict latency requirements the advantage seems to be with SpaceX.
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It seems a bit odd that they initially weren't going to let SpaceX bid at all, based on the high latency of high-orbit satellite connections. Now Hughes and ViaSat can bid because Hughes invested in OneWeb and ViaSat says GEO satellites are the only thing they're interested in, but they'll consider a relatively small LEO constellation if you give them the money to build it?
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I believe its called the Boeing principle.
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Yes, let's not forget that underneath that simplistic looking, built-in-days watertank exterior hides a complex next-gen interplanetary spacecraft. Looking good!
With sufficient thrust, water towers fly just fine.
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