View Full Version : SpaceX Falcon 9 Live Landing Attempt
There’s room for up to 7 in the capsule. If the real thing happened I’m sure they’d all be in there, even if sitting on a rubber floor mat.
TURIN
23rd Jun 2020, 23:50
SN7 Test tank goes boom!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu5YKGrZbYw
tdracer
24th Jun 2020, 03:00
There’s room for up to 7 in the capsule. If the real thing happened I’m sure they’d all be in there, even if sitting on a rubber floor mat.
That would be one uncomfortable ride - re-entry forces are rather uncomfortable when sitting in a seat specifically designed for it - without a proper seat it would downright suck.
Still, probably better than the alternative...
TURIN
26th Jun 2020, 14:25
SpaceX latest Starlink mission, postponed from Tuesday is now rescheduled for 20:18z tonight.
The AvgasDinosaur
26th Jun 2020, 19:15
The first Arab space mission to Mars is preparing to lift off within weeks. Fuelling is due to begin next week. It will take seven months to travel the 493 million km (308 million miles) to reach Mars and begin its orbit, sending back ground-breaking new data about its climate and atmosphere.
The probe will remain orbiting Mars for an entire Martian year, 687 days, to gather sufficient data.
A single orbit around Mars will take the probe 55 hours.
In a briefing on Monday, the programme's science lead Sarah Al-Amiri said the project should be a major incentive for young Arab scientists to embark on a career in space engineering
Named Amal, meaning Hope, the robotic craft is due to lift off from a remote Japanese island, Tanegashima, during a narrow launch window on 14 July.
Does anyone know if this is to be shown live on television any channel ?
Thanks David
TURIN
29th Jun 2020, 11:22
Next launch is the US Space Force GPS III Satellite from the Cape. Hopefully tomorrow night. 30th June. Starlink 9 now stood down until further notice.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starlink-delay-launch-order-shuffle/
TURIN
29th Jun 2020, 11:26
Avgasdinosaur, keep an eye on this site. It's usually pretty good.
https://everydayastronaut.com/al-amal-emirates-mars-mission-prelaunch-preview/
If push ever comes to shove and they need to abandon the ISS, I wonder how they determine who the unlucky soul is that's going to be left behind :eek:
Crew dragon has seating for 4, and Soyuz seating for 3, so I make it that there would currently be 2 spare seats if they had to abandon.
The AvgasDinosaur
29th Jun 2020, 15:53
Avgasdinosaur, keep an eye on this site. It's usually pretty good.
https://everydayastronaut.com/al-amal-emirates-mars-mission-prelaunch-preview/
Many many thanks
David
https://www.space.com/spacex-space-force-gps-3-sv03-launch-success.html
SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for US Space Force, sticks rocket landing
https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/19/spacex-going-for-rocket-reuse-record-with-south-korean-satellite-launch/
SpaceX going for rocket reuse record with South Korean satellite launch
SpaceX aims to re-launch the Falcon 9 booster Monday that catapulted astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken toward the International Space Station in May, this time carrying a South Korean military communications satellite while pursuing a record for the quickest turnaround time between flights of an orbital-class rocket stage.
In a tweet Saturday, the California-based launch company confirmed plans to launch the South Korean Anasis 2 military communications satellite Monday from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The mission was previously scheduled to launch Tuesday, July 14, but SpaceX delayed the launch to address a problem on the Falcon 9’s second stage.
The launch window Monday opens at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT) and runs until 8:55 p.m. EDT (0055 GMT). The official launch weather forecast calls for isolated rain showers at Cape Canaveral on Monday evening, but there’s a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions for liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket during the nearly four-hour launch window.
If the Falcon 9 rocket can take off with the Anasis 2 satellite Monday, or some time later this month, SpaceX will break its own record for the shortest turnaround between flights of the same Falcon 9 booster. The shortest span between launches of the same Falcon 9 booster to date has been 62 days, which SpaceX achieved with a Feb. 17 mission.
NASA achieved a 54-day turnaround time between two launches of the space shuttle Atlantis in late 1985, a record never again matched during the 30-year-long shuttle program. The time elapsed between Atlantis’s landing and next launch was 50 days.......
TURIN
30th Jul 2020, 10:35
Lots happening this week.
Proton Launch last night scrubbed, rescheduled for later today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mLDfZVdxjw
Atlas Launch Perseverance 2020 Mars Lander.
Spacex Falcon 9 to launch the next batch of Starlink Satellites July 31st.
Ariane 5 ECA rocket to launch a batch of comms satellites July 31st
Return of the Crew Dragon Demo crew from the ISS Aug 1st/2nd
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-provide-coverage-of-astronauts-return-from-space-station-on-spacex-commercial
Starship prototype SN5 also expected to test engine. Static fire before 150m hop coming soon.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/31/crew-dragon-astronauts-ready-for-re-entry-splashdown/
Crew Dragon astronauts ready for re-entry, splashdown
With Hurricane Isaias threatening Florida’s East Coast, astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken are awaiting a go-ahead on plans to undock from the International Space Station Saturday, setting up a fiery plunge to splashdown Sunday, presumably in the Gulf of Mexico, to close out a 64-day flight.
Given the track of the hurricane, a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean at one of three approved sites off Florida’s east coast is effectively ruled out, focusing landing plans on the Gulf where four sites are available off Panama City, Pensacola, Tallahassee and Tampa.
Assuming NASA and SpaceX press ahead, a final decision on prime and backup landing sites is not expected until Saturday, based on the latest forecasts and assessments of the Crew Dragon’s health. The preferred splashdown zone is just south of Panama City.......
“We look forward to the weather forecasts that are coming out daily at this point, and they’ll even get more frequent as we get closer to the actual splashdown,” Behnken told reporters in an orbital news conference Friday. “We have confidence that the teams on the ground are, of course, watching that much more closely than we are, and we won’t leave the space station without some good splashdown weather in front of us.”
The Crew Dragon spacecraft is certified for around 114 days in space and if the weather or some other problem crops up that might rule out undocking for a Sunday landing, “we know we can stay up here longer,” Behnken said. “There’s more chow, and I know the space station program’s got more work that we can do for the folks that have sent science up here to the space station.”.......
But assuming the weather cooperates and no technical issues crop up, Behnken and Hurley would undock from the station’s forward port around 7:30 p.m. EDT Saturday, spend the night aboard the Crew Dragon and then fire their braking rockets around 1:50 p.m. EDT Sunday for a splashdown in the Gulf around 2:42 p.m. EDT.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x500/image_a0cefc255105f78fb5d26895380cc6f08894524e.jpeg
Just loading up the Dragon now,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13OkD0C_TWU
turbidus
2nd Aug 2020, 14:02
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/897x738/095802_ea0bd71df55ba94da1b79f682e60004afd193d95.png
https://twitter.com/nasa/status/1289996966424907776?s=21
No jumping into the water - and the capsule, Locke the launcher, will be turned round and used again.....
https://twitter.com/raafatelhoseny/status/1290019383704604672?s=21
Possible 150m hop for Starship test article SN5 in the next few hours.
Boca Chica Live
Second attempt at a 150m hop in the next hour or so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QbM7Vsz3kg
No jumping into the water - and the capsule, Locke the launcher, will be turned round and used again.....
As a point of interest/In the "nothing new under the Sun" category....several of the Mercury astronauts didn't jump in the water either and instead stayed inside their spacecraft until it was safely on the deck of the recovery vessel...
https://youtu.be/ugVZ41USN_0
https://youtu.be/s1HA9LlFNM0
Fantastic!
That drone view is something else. Thanks.
Worth reading in full.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-sn8-elon-musk-next-steps/
SpaceX’s next Starship starts to take shape as Elon Musk talks next steps
Less than a day after SpaceX successfully hopped a full-scale Starship prototype for the first time, the company has begun stacking the next rocket and Elon Musk is talking next steps......
As far as basic rocketry goes, SpaceX’s 150m Starship hop has functionally proven that the company’s exotic, rule-of-thumb-breaking, approach to Starship production and assembly can be feasibly refined into something capable of producing extraordinarily cheap orbital-class rockets. While a massive achievement, it doesn’t guarantee that the rockets produced will be reusable – let alone rapidly and easily reusable.
As of now, it can be safely stated that SpaceX has solved all major challenges involved in routinely and reliably landing and reusing orbital-class rocket boosters (first stages). It’s hard and surprises are always a possibility, but the landing records of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy boosters speak for themselves. For the colossal booster Starship needs to reach orbit, the Falcon family’s success means that Super Heavy recovery and reuse is more a question of “when” than “if”.
Starship, on the other hand, is going to offer many different challenges – some unprecedented for SpaceX and others unprecedented in the entire history of spaceflight. For Starship to be able to support a level of reuse compatible with what the Super Heavy booster is likely to achieve, SpaceX will have to create the biggest and most effortlessly reusable orbital-class spacecraft ever built.
Even heavier than NASA’s Space Shuttle orbiter, Starship will also rely almost entirely on the unproven technology of on-orbit cryogenic propellant transfer to reach beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). To survive orbital-velocity reentries while still being rapidly and cheaply reusable, Starship will further have to push the envelope of heat shield technologies. Last but certainly not least, in its current iteration, Starship relies on a truly unprecedented style of recovery to efficiently land back on Earth.
It’s this last bit where CEO Elon Musk’s recent comments and recent activity at SpaceX’s Starship factory come in.
According to Musk, SpaceX intends to perform at least several more smaller hops (a la SN5) “to smooth out [the] launch process.” It’s unclear which prototype(s) will be involved in that series of hops but after SpaceX is satisfied with the state of launch operations, the plan is to “go high altitude with body flaps.” Based on past comments, it’s safe to assume that Musk is referring to a plan to launch a Starship to 20 km (~12 mi).
After reaching 20 km, Starship would orient itself belly down – a bit like a skydiver – and quite literally fall its way to ~1 km altitude before attempting an aggressive Raptor-powered pitch-over maneuver and last-second landing. By using Earth’s atmosphere much like a skydiver trying to slow down, Starship will theoretically be able to dramatically reduce the amount of propellant it needs to land.
That high-altitude launch and landing demonstration will also be the first time a Starship truly needs aerodynamic control surfaces (i.e. “body flaps”) to safely complete a flight test. According to NASASpaceflight.com info, Starship SN8 – also the first full-scale prototype to be built out of a different steel alloy – will be the first ship to receive functional flaps and a nosecone. If initial tests go according to plan, SN8 will also be the first ship to attempt a skydiver-style landing as described above. As far as full-scale aerodynamics goes, such a landing is loosely understood at best. For an orbital-class spacecraft, it’s even more of a wildcard.
Regardless, just hours after Starship SN5’s successful hop debut, SpaceX began stacking the first of several already finished Starship SN8 sections. Based on the assembly of past prototypes, the ship’s tank section could reach its full height just a few weeks from now, while subsequent nosecone and flap installations are uncharted territory........
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x930/image_c1e6379957cecf25797cddf2654b8c571165b518.jpeg
https://youtu.be/egDXR8vSwSY
p.s. SN5 landing.......
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/948x672/image_915ddb2eb541ff97c5a9797e7d04333cef42a4f7.jpeg
Another successful launch and the fifth successful recovery for the same first stage....
https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/08/07/spacex-closes-out-busy-week-with-launch-of-more-starlink-satellites/
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-tenth-starlink-launch-fifth-booster-landing/
WingNut60
9th Aug 2020, 03:12
Has there been any comment about the lick of flame seen around the top of the engine around the 40-45 sec/1:00 mark from the internal camera just before touch-down.
I would presume that was not normal.
Loose rivets
9th Aug 2020, 03:29
I can only assume it's a lesson learned, or that when it gets a move on, the flames will be blown out.
Thinks. Must order fireproof tubing.
Two more launches planned this month, including the first booster to fly 6 times.
Starlink 2 launches away from able to start public satellite internet Beta testing.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-five-flight-booster-return/
TURIN
11th Aug 2020, 21:52
SN5 moved from landing pad to build site.
SN6 moved to launch pad in prep for more hop test flights.
They don't mess about this lot. 😁
https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-prototype-testing-texas-resort.html
SpaceX ramping up Starship prototype tests in Texas (and looking for a resort manager)
.....Starship and Super Heavy will both be fully and rapidly reusable. The duo will therefore be relatively cheap to fly, Musk has said — cheap enough to make crewed Mars missions and a variety of other exploration feats economically feasible, if all goes according to plan.
SpaceX is already starting to flesh out ancillary aspects of this bold vision. For example, the company recently put out a hiring call for offshore operations engineers (https://www.space.com/spacex-mars-starship-offshore-launch-landing.html) to help develop floating spaceports for Starship vehicles.
The company is also looking to hire a resort development manager, who will be in charge of transforming Boca Chica Village into a suitable jumping-off point for Starship passengers.
"Boca Chica Village is our latest launch site dedicated to Starship, our next-generation launch vehicle. SpaceX is committed to developing this town into a 21st-century spaceport," a new SpaceX job notice reads (https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/4816599002?gh_jid=4816599002). "We are looking for a talented Resort Development Manager to oversee the development of SpaceX's first resort from inception to completion."
That resort will likely be lavish, given that Starship trips will be quite expensive. (Musk has said that the cost of a seat aboard a Mars-bound Starship could eventually drop below $100,000 (https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy.html).) Indeed, one of the preferred qualifications for the posted job is "experience working for high-end brand luxury development."......
TURIN
18th Aug 2020, 21:49
Another successful Starlink launch today.
The first stage booster made a perfect landing. The 6th time this particular Falcon 9 first stage has done it.
Launch is about 30 mins into this vid.
Everyday Astronaut
TURIN
30th Aug 2020, 23:15
Live Launch of SpaceX Falcon9 with a booster return to the Cape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMrpOJxqDhY
Another successful week for SpaceX.
Starlink 11, second use of the stage 1 booster and a perfect landing on the drone ship.
https://youtu.be/7I-MWSGmeeM
Then shortly afterwards, Starship test vehicle SN6 makes a successful 150M hop.
https://youtu.be/Nho9HWVPgh4
In addition, New Zealand company, Rocketlab launch their Electron rocket to get them back in the race after a failure last month. The first stage parachutes back in preparation for the planned helicopter capture later on this year.
https://youtu.be/QbKHGqW4ujM
On the down side ULA fail to launch after a post ignition abort. About 1hr 56 m in to this video.
https://youtu.be/qdJf4zr5Eho
Watching Space X boosters land on the drone ships never seems to get old, even though it's now almost routine. Yesterday a new badge arrived that's going on the back of my Tesla, just for the amusement of all the other Space X fans. If the weather stays fine I may get the car cleaned and the badge stuck on:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x214/space_x_e395bedd510734820a43a9ac628a5efe447bf993.jpg
https://phys.org/news/2020-09-spacex-sn8-feet-week.html
SpaceX SN8 to launch and fly to 60,000 feet next week
Elon Musk, head of SpaceX, has announced via Twitter that the company's SN8 rocket will take a test flight sometime next week. The plan is for the rocket is to soar up to 60,000 feet (18,300 meters) and then return to Earth in a controlled landing.
SN8 is one in a line of SpaceX's Starships that are predecessors to vehicles for missions to the moon and Mars.
SN5 and SN6 recently completed tests of 500 feet each, which the company calls short hops, before returning to Earth. They were meant to test the integrity of the steel walls of the rocket (https://phys.org/tags/rocket/). Both were launched at SpaceX's launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, and both had just one Raptor engine (https://phys.org/tags/engine/) pushing them into the air.
SN7 was intentionally destroyed in a test tank to determine the strength limits of the design.
SN8 will launch from the same site and will have three of the Raptor engines to give it the power needed to reach the much higher altitude. The test (https://phys.org/tags/test/) next week will be the first time three of the Raptors will be tested together as a single unit.
Before the rocket can be launched, it must first undergo a few more tests. They are called static fires (in which the rocket is held down as the engines fire) and ground checkouts.
SN8 (unlike its predecessors) will also be fitted with flaps to assist with steering and a nosecone, which will be used in the future to hold cargo or people. The addition of both, Musk notes, will give the rocket a look much like the final design........
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1304836575075819520?s=21
ETOPS
15th Sep 2020, 07:08
This is what it will look like - can't wait to watch it :ok:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbUo8BkNSQM
goofer3
17th Sep 2020, 18:44
SpaceX targeting Friday, September 18th for next Starlink mission.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/index.html#top
TURIN
23rd Sep 2020, 14:00
SN7.1 test article ultimate pressure test.
If you want to see what happens to a 30ft diameter stainless steel cryogenic tank when pressurised beyond its structural load capacity.
About -3.58 into this vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky5l9ZxsG9M
clareprop
28th Sep 2020, 09:52
Next Starlink Launch scheduled for today at 14:22 UTC...
Edit: Scrubbed due to weather.
goofer3
2nd Oct 2020, 20:06
From spacex.com. "SpaceX is targeting Friday, October 2, for a Falcon 9 launch of the GPS III Space Vehicle 04 (https://www.spacex.com/static/images/patches/GPS_III_4_Patch.png) mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The 15-minute launch window opens at 9:43 p.m. EDT, or 01:43 UTC on October 3."
meadowrun
2nd Oct 2020, 20:30
In other launch news, a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket is expected to launch from Wallop's Island, Virginia on Friday to deliver a new toilet to the ISS as part of a cargo run consisting of science equipment, crew supplies and spare parts.
Toilet costs $23 million.
SpaceX aborts launch of advanced GPS satellite for the US Space Force
SpaceX aborted the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying an upgraded Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) for the U.S. Space Force on Friday (Oct. 2).
Launch controllers called off the launch about two seconds before the company's Falcon 9 rocket (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) was supposed to lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The rocket was scheduled to launch the next-generation GPS III SV04 satellite (https://www.space.com/spacex-gps-satellite-sv04-launch-webcast) into orbit at 9:43 p.m. EDT (0143 GMT on Oct. 3).
The next launch opportunity for this mission is on Saturday at 9:39 p.m. EDT (0139 GMT on Oct. 4), SpaceX principal integration engineer John Insprucker said during a launch commentary.
At the time of the abort, it was not clear if SpaceX aborted the launch due to an issue with the rocket or the ground support systems, Insprucker said. Whether SpaceX will be able to try the launch again on Saturday evening will depend on how long it takes the company to identify and solve the problem that led to the abort, he added.....
Friday's launch abort was the second in two days for SpaceX.
A different Falcon 9 rocket suffered a launch abort on Thursday (https://www.space.com/spacex-abort-starlink-12-internet-ground-sensor) while attempting to launch 60 new Starlink internet satellites from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral near the Air Force station. SpaceX has not officially announced a new launch date for that mission......
clareprop
5th Oct 2020, 06:18
SpaceX has not officially announced a new launch date for that mission.....
Next attempt today (Oct-05) 13:50 CET
Live Coverage (https://www.spacex.com/launches/)
Scrub for today due to weather.
24 hour slip to next launch window same time Tuesday morning.
All these scrubs are going to cause a hell of a backlog. Crew Dragon is supposed to launch on 31st.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/london-lockdown-tier-restrictions-coronavirus-new-rules-boris-johnson-sadiq-khan-b1042597.html
SpaceX schedules Starship’s first triple-Raptor static fire test
A photo posted by CEO Elon Musk confirms that SpaceX has successfully installed three functional Raptors on Starship SN8 just hours before road closure notices revealed the company’s first triple-engine static fire schedule.......
Curiously, SpaceX remained quiet for several days after Starship SN8 passed its first big test. Whereas with past Starship prototypes SpaceX has often filed test plans (appearing in the form of road closures) even before the current phase of testing is complete, the company waited until Tuesday, October 14th to file closure notices for “SN8 static fire” testing.
Same as Starships SN4, SN5, and SN6, all of which successfully graduated from cryo proof to static fire testing (and even flight tests for the latter two), SpaceX began Starship SN8’s test campaign with a cryo proof. It took three days and at least as many attempts but SN8 ultimately “passed cryo proof” according to Elon Musk, likely meaning that the ship reached sustained pressures of 7.5 bar (~110 psi) or more.
Cryo proof complete, SpaceX installed Starship SN8’s engines – the first time multiple Raptors have been fully integrated with a rocket or test stand – in preparation for another Raptor first: multi-engine static fires.......
Starship SN8’s triple-Raptor static fire test window opened at 9pm CDT on October 14th and closes at 6am on the 15th, with an identical 9pm-6am backup on the 15th and another window from 8am to 4:30pm on the 16th. LabPadre (below) will continue to offer 24/7 views of Starship, including any static fire testing, while NASASpaceflight.com (https://www.youtube.com/c/NASASpaceflightVideos/videos) will likely provide live coverage once testing begins in earnest.
https://youtu.be/Ky5l9ZxsG9M
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/10/spacex-gets-fcc-approval-to-bid-in-16-billion-rural-broadband-auction/
SpaceX gets FCC approval to bid in $16 billion rural-broadband auction
SpaceX is one of the 386 entities that have qualified to bid in a federal auction for rural-broadband funding.
SpaceX has so far overcome the Federal Communications Commission's doubts about whether Starlink, its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite service, can provide latency of less than 100ms and thus qualify for the auction's low-latency tier. With the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) set to distribute up to $16 billion to ISPs, the FCC initially placed (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/09/spacex-charter-verizon-among-500-isps-competing-for-fcc-broadband-funds/) SpaceX on the "incomplete application" list, which includes ISPs that had not shown they were qualified to bid in their desired performance and latency tiers.
The FCC also said (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/06/fcc-has-serious-doubts-that-spacex-can-deliver-latencies-under-100ms/) that LEO providers "will face a substantial challenge (https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-77A1.pdf)" obtaining approval to bid in the low-latency tier because they must "demonstrat[e] to Commission staff that their networks can deliver real-world performance to consumers below the Commission's 100ms low-latency threshold."
That changed yesterday when the FCC announced the list (https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-announces-386-applicants-qualified-bid-broadband-auction) of bidders that qualified for the auction that is scheduled to begin on October 29.....
SpaceX appears to be the only LEO satellite provider in the approved list of applicants, with a partial exception: Hughes, a traditional satellite provider, is an investor (https://www.hughes.com/resources/press-releases/hughes-join-uk-government-and-bharti-enterprises-new-oneweb-consortium) in OneWeb and has said (https://spacenews.com/hughes-views-oneweb-stake-as-key-to-fcc-broadband-subsidies/) it will use OneWeb's LEO capacity as part of its bid to get RDOF money.
OneWeb, which is in bankruptcy, is not bidding in the auction itself. Viasat is considering (https://spacenews.com/viasat-lured-by-broadband-subsidy-opportunity-eyes-300-satellite-leo-constellation/) a move into LEO satellites but, like Hughes, Viasat today uses geostationary satellites with poor latencies of around 600ms (https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/measuring-broadband-america/measuring-fixed-broadband-eighth-report#_Toc427484593).
SpaceX's Starlink service is in a limited beta and appears to be (https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/08/spacex-starlink-beta-tests-show-speeds-up-to-60mbps-latency-as-low-as-31ms/) providing latencies well under the 100ms threshold.
SpaceX still isn't guaranteed to get FCC funding. After the auction, winning bidders will have to submit (https://www.fcc.gov/auction/904/factsheet) "long-form" applications with more detail on how they will meet deployment requirements in order to get the final approval for funding.....
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-high-altitude-starship-nosecone-flaps/
SpaceX installs flaps on first high-altitude Starship’s nosecone
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x900/image_19ad188f5734d11cd2d6c5ae33f5f25d23c61c60.jpeg
SpaceX (https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/spacex) has successfully launched the latest batch of its Starlink (https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/starlink) satellites.
Sunday’s launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, brings the total number of Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit to more than 800, forming a constellation large enough to beam high-speed internet down to Earth.....
The network is already live in areas of Canada and northern US, where a limited number of users have tested it.
Emergency responders in Washington State set up a free WiFi hotspot using the Starlink network for residents of Malden, which was mostly destroyed by wildfires in September.
A remote Native American tribe (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/elon-musk-space-internet-starlink-native-american-hoh-tribe-b992886.html) has also used Starlink for remote learning and telehealth appointments during the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this month, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that a wider public beta would be possible following launches in October.
“Once these satellites reach their target position, we will be able to roll out a fairly wide public beta in northern US and hopefully southern Canada,” he tweeted (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space-internet-starlink-elon-musk-spacex-b906212.html). “Other countries to follow as soon as we receive regulatory approval.”.....
https://youtu.be/UM8CDDAmp98
TURIN
25th Oct 2020, 15:10
It's been a busy week.
The first flight ready fully stacked Starship prototype (SN8) has been assembled at the pad.
Another successful Starlink launch and recovery of the Falcon9 first stage.
The first sample taken from an asteroid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7jREFAIrsQ
https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/28/21539060/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-merlin-engines-crew-1-nasa-swap
SpaceX is replacing two engines on its Falcon 9 rocket ahead of next crewed mission
SpaceX is replacing two engines on its Falcon 9 rocket that will soon carry four astronauts to the International Space Station.
The change is being made after SpaceX found a substance in the engines that could have caused them to start earlier than planned.
SpaceX found the substance after one of the company’s launches halted just before liftoff in October. One of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, tasked with launching a new GPS satellite for the Space Force, shut itself down just two seconds before takeoff.
“It was a good abort,” Hans Koenigsmann, vice president of build and flight reliability for SpaceX, said during a press conference. “It did exactly what we programmed it to do.”
Today, SpaceX revealed the rocket had automatically stopped its own launch after two of its nine main Merlin engines tried to start too early. Starting up too early could have caused something called a hard start, where the engine’s various propellants and liquids are combined in the wrong order. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 shut itself down before that happened, but such a hard start could have damaged the hardware.
“It’s not necessarily bad, but in most cases, you know, it rattles the engine,” Koenigsmann said. “And it may cause, you know, a little bit of damage on the engine. In extreme cases, it may cause more damage to the engine.”
After the abort, SpaceX inspected the engines and found a reddish lacquer substance blocking a relief valve in each model. The lacquer, analogous to nail polish, is used to treat surfaces, likely leftover from when the engines were being built.
Koenigsmann noted that it came from one of SpaceX’s vendors that works on the engine, though he didn’t name the company. “It could be that person is now more generous with cleaning fluid or anything,” Koenigsmann said. “It’s a little bit hard to figure this out.”
SpaceX says it’s working with the vendor to implement corrective actions and that the company will be inspecting all of the hardware more closely in the short term.
After the abort, SpaceX also examined the engines in its fleet that will be used for upcoming launches. They looked for any exhibiting this early startup behavior and singled out five various engines on three different rockets.
Two were on the Falcon 9 rocket that will launch three NASA astronauts and one Japanese astronaut in November, a mission called Crew-1.
After this testing, SpaceX opened up all of the engines and found the same lacquer inside. SpaceX also noted that the lacquer was found mostly on newer engines that had been built recently, not the engines that have already flown to space and back.
Now, the company is in the process of swapping out the engines ahead of Crew-1, which is tentatively set for November 14th at 7:49PM ET.
“Two, three days is roughly what you need to take it out,” Koenigsmann said regarding the engine swap. “And then another two, three days to put it back in again.”
Ultimately, SpaceX won’t fly Crew-1 until a few days after the company launches a joint European and American satellite called Sentinel-6, which is designed to map the world’s oceans. SpaceX found an affected engine on the Falcon 9 rocket for that flight and had to swap it out, too.
NASA wants to see how that launch goes first before it makes the final decision about flying its astronauts on SpaceX’s Falcon 9. The Sentinel-6 launch is currently slated for November 10th out of California......
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8906811/Early-adopters-SpaceXs-Starlink-internet-say-strealing-4K-videos-zero-buffering.html
Early adopters of SpaceX's Starlink internet say they are able to stream 4K videos 'with zero buffering' as they share unboxing of the 'UFO stick' terminal and WiFi router
SpaceX (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/spacex/index.html) has begun rolling out beta service of its Starlink internet to early adopters who reported internet speeds higher than 95 percent of the leading providers.vOne user found the space broadband is 'streaming 1440p and 4K with zero buffering' and a screen shot from another customer shows latency speed of 38 milliseconds.
An email sent to a handful of consumers last month attempted to lower their expectations for the 'Better Than Nothing' beta service that was said to have data speeds varying from 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s and latency from 20ms to 40ms – and warned there may be 'be brief periods of no connectivity at all.'
However, initial connectivity appears to have surpassed expectations and CEO Elon Musk says it 'will significantly improve soon.'
The email surfaced online about a week, which shows customers are paying nearly $600 upfront to receive access to the Starlink satellite internet. The fee includes the $99 monthly fee, plus an additional $499 for the Starlink kit that includes the 'UFO on a stick' terminal, mounting tripod and WiFi router.
It has been less than a week since the email was sent out and costumers have already been using the service. Twitter user Kenneth Auchenberg shared a post about his experience: 'Results from a Starlink beta tester in Washington state.' 'Streaming 1140p and 4K with zero buffering on YouTube.'
Musk spotted the tweet, which shows an image of the terminal and a screenshot of the Screentest in the companion app. 'Latency will improve significantly soon. Bandwidth too,' the CEO commented.
Auchenberg explained on Reddit that the terminal is atop his roof and has been 'getting steady high speeds.' 'Noticed a couple of interruptions, probably from satellite transitions, but almost 100% steady since initial setup,' reads the post. 'I actually uploaded this post using Starlink.'
Another customer, who lives in Montana, shared a screen shot from the app that shows the service is providing download speeds of 174.21 Mbps and upload speeds of 33.40 Mbps.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/634x496/35162720_8906811_image_a_43_1604349126360_5b389b3fb2585a9547 ef70e3dc61af0563328a3e.jpg
The Starlink Kit has been kept a secret until recently and one Facebook user shared a video of what the black box contains.
https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbilko.gramps%2 Fvideos%2F1731993330298629%2F&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=video
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-next-two-starships-high-altitude-prototype/
SpaceX’s next two Starships close behind first high-altitude rocket
SpaceX is in the midst of preparing Starship serial number 8 (SN8) for the first high-altitude launch of its kind – a test that could easily end in a fireball. To counter that risk, SpaceX is doing what it does best: building a fleet of prototypes as quickly as possible.
Currently sitting at the launch pad in anticipation of its first fully-integrated cryogenic proof and triple-Raptor static fire test(s), Starship SN8 was expected to begin that test campaign on Sunday, November 1st, followed by 9am to 11pm windows on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. With about three hours left in Monday’s window, SpaceX appears to have delayed Starship SN8’s next round of tests for unknown reasons, though new road closures on the 5th and 6th were requested as recently as today.
Given that Starship SN8 is the first full-scale prototype to have three Raptors and a functional (and plumbed) nose section installed, some slack is warranted. Crucially, though, as teams prepare SN8 for what could be an explosive flight debut, SpaceX’s Boca Chica factory continues to churn out replacement prototypes just a few miles down the road.
https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1323364347310006272?s=20
Most recently, Starship SN10’s tank and engine section was fully stacked on November 2nd, completing the cylindrical structure that functions as the rocket’s airframe, propellant tanks, and engine mounts. The only major work that remains is completing minor external and internal plumbing, fully installing avionics, and finally installing the ship’s ‘aero covers’ and flaps. Once completed, a nosecone – also fitted with two flaps – will be stacked on four or five steel rings and then installed on top of the rest of the rocket.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1340x2000/starship_boca_chica_110220_nasaspaceflight_bocachicagal_sn9_ flaps_1_c_1365x2048_a1c55765c3c4fce2959f1c2768a4bdcc7a708222 .jpg
A few weeks ahead of SN10, Starship SN9 is crossing exactly those milestones. On October 31st, SpaceX moved the rocket’s completed tank section into the nearly completed high bay where Super Heavy boosters will soon be built. Large aft flaps were then lifted and installed on the side of the ship, essentially leave just two steps left before Starship SN8 will have a 1:1 replacement ready to go.
Now the only thing missing from SN9 is a nose section (and Raptors, technically). Work on that nose section is already partially complete, with a stack of five steel rings already more or less ready for its nosecone ‘hat’ as of November 1st.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x930/starship_boca_chica_110120_nasaspaceflight_bocachicagal_sn9_ nose_rings_2_crop_c_2048x952_97e6f410e878e7f9cd66cf6e04daaf7 4a095458d.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1170/starship_boca_chica_101320_nasaspaceflight_bocachicagal_sn8_ nose_flaps_4_crop_1_c_2048x1196_2fb4b62dce673ffda19683603fc6 089efccee6ba.jpg
An SN9-specific nosecone has yet to be spotted but may well be hiding – completed – just behind the closed doors of SpaceX’s nose production tent. Ultimately, pass or fail, SpaceX’s consistently hardware-rich and iterative approach to development means that Starship SN8’s launch debut will produce useful data and help point out any pressing upgrades or fixes in need of immediate implementation. At the moment, SN8’s launch date is completely up in the air but will likely solidify as the rocket (hopefully) proceeds through several upcoming tests.
https://youtu.be/vSDaKHAHOWA
Nige321
3rd Nov 2020, 19:57
Sorry, can't resist it...
https://youtu.be/tiD8nGD0Q6w
Sorry, can't resist it...
That is brilliant! Made my night. Thankyou. :D
And the Oscar goes to ...:D
Dan Gerous
4th Nov 2020, 20:07
Outstanding!
:ok::ok::ok:
https://www.space.com/spacex-launches-gps-sv04-navigation-satellite-space-force
Spacex launches Next-Gen GPS Satellite for USAF, Lands Booster
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX (https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html) successfully launched an advanced GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force on Thursday (Nov. 5), marking the first launch in nearly two weeks here on the Space Coast.
One of the company's two-stage Falcon 9 rockets (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) blasted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station here at 6:24 p.m. EST (2324 GMT), carrying the GPS III-SV04 satellite to orbit. Nine minutes later, the rocket's first stage touched down on the deck of "Of Course I Still Love You," one of SpaceX's two drone ships (https://www.space.com/28445-spacex-elon-musk-drone-ships-names.html).
The GPS III-SV04 mission had been set to follow on the heels of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket (https://www.space.com/40250-atlas-v-rocket.html), which was scheduled to loft a U.S. spy satellite from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday (Nov. 3). However, the Atlas V launch was delayed twice due to issues with ground systems equipment. ULA is now targeting Friday (Nov. 6) for that liftoff.
It was a crystal clear night here on the Space Coast, and onlookers were able to follow the rocket through the different phases of launch. A nebula-like cloud, typically visible on clear nights, formed around the rocket as the first and second stages separated. The booster's reentry burn was also visible from a press viewing area......
The 227-foot-tall (70 meters) Falcon 9 is SpaceX's workhorse, and the rocket boasts more than 1.5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. Today's mission featured a fresh-off-the-factory-floor Falcon, its exterior stark white for its first trip to space.
SpaceX has been relying heavily on its fleet of veteran rockets, with many Falcon 9 first stages having racked up five or more flights each. The booster that launched today, known by the SpaceX designation B1062, could be the last brand-new one we see launch a GPS satellite, as the U.S. government has given SpaceX the green light to launch future military missions on flight-proven boosters (https://www.space.com/spacex-reusable-rockets-space-force-gps).
That decision followed on the heels of another recent announcement to allow SpaceX to recover the rocket's first stage during national security missions — something that was previously not allowed. The next two GPS missions, which are already scheduled to fly on SpaceX rockets sometime next year, will now launch atop refurbished rockets.
That announcement is a first for national-security payloads and could result in savings of nearly $53 million for American taxpayers across the two flights, Space Force officials said....
https://youtu.be/kKXaKIYMmf0
https://www.ft.com/content/24cca993-b249-45a5-8c42-b39c0ec30c5b
Europe’s Arianespace struggles for relevance in SpaceX era
Nige321
6th Nov 2020, 13:42
https://www.ft.com/content/24cca993-b249-45a5-8c42-b39c0ec30c5b
Europe’s Arianespace struggles for relevance in SpaceX era
It's a bit pointless posting things like this when it's behind a click-bait paywall...
It's a bit pointless posting things like this when it's behind a click-bait paywall...
?? I read it and don’t have a subscription.....
Europe’s Arianespace struggles for relevance in SpaceX Era
For decades the Ariane rocket has been a symbol of European technological prowess — proof that the EU plays a vital role in the space race even if it may lack the glamour of the US and Russia’s manned missions.
Arianespace, jointly owned by Airbus and Safran, was the world’s first commercial launch company and until recently dominated the business of sending big communications satellites into geostationary orbit, 35,000km above the earth. But the latest delay to its €4bn next-generation Ariane 6, announced last week, has underlined the group’s vulnerability as it struggles to keep pace with disruptive forces unleashed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX in a drastically changed market.
Jan Wörner, director-general of the European Space Agency, is now hoping EU member states will stump up another €230m to put Ariane 6 on the launch pad by spring 2022, almost two years later than planned.
The rocket, along with the smaller Vega-C version, is Europe’s answer to Mr Musk’s pioneering, reusable Falcon 9, which has sent prices plunging in the $5bn-a-year satellite launch market. Although single-use, it will be more than 40 per cent cheaper than its predecessor the Ariane 5, which has been one of the world’s most reliable rockets.
According to Arianespace chief executive Stéphane Israël, it will be able to carry up to 70 small 150kg satellites, and serve not just government customers but the booming private market for “mega-constellations” delivering internet access from low-earth orbit. The problem is, it will still be substantially more costly than the Falcon models. And the longer the delay, the wider the price gap is likely to be.
A longer wait will also make it harder for Arianespace to hold its own in a market changing at great speed.
Bank of America estimates that the global space industry will grow from roughly $400bn in 2019 to $1.4tn by 2030. This is prompting new private sector rivals to emerge, including Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rocket company. Meanwhile, old adversaries such as United Launch Alliance — a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing — are expanding beyond traditional government services to the commercial market.
“When Arianespace, ESA and the national space agencies set out to develop Ariane 6 [in 2014] they underestimated how competitive the commercial space launch market would be by 2020,” said Caleb Henry, analyst at Quilty Analytics, a space industry research group.
Ever since SpaceX’s Falcon 9 took off a decade ago, life has been getting tougher for Arianespace. According to a report for Nasa in 2018, the average launch cost of $18,500 per kg between 1970 and 2000 was cut by a factor of seven with the Falcon 9.
Arianespace lost its crown as the world’s leading commercial launch provider to SpaceX’s lower-priced launches in 2017, when the US company sent more commercial satellites into orbit, according to France’s national auditor, the Cour des Comptes. This year, SpaceX is also expected to beat Arianespace in terms of the value of contracts won for future launches. At the same time, the commercial market in which it has operated for 40 years, and where it generates two-thirds of its €1bn annual income, has shifted.
For more than a decade, Ariane was responsible for launching the majority of the 20 to 30 annual launches of big communications satellites into geostationary orbit. But demand tumbled to fewer than 10 in 2018 and industry experts expect that a brief resurgence this year, the result of a one-off auction of broadcast spectrum, will fade fairly quickly.
“We are seeing fewer broadcast satellites being launched. If you watch Netflix you are no longer a customer of a broadcast provider. You are the customer of someone who gives you internet services and there are bold ambitions to have some of this internet in the sky done at low earth orbit,” said Rainer Horn, managing partner of SpaceTec Partners, which has advised the European Commission on space policy. “What was a strength in previous decades has become less easy to manage,” said Pacôme Revillon, chief executive of Euroconsult, a space industry consultancy.
Instead, the focus is shifting to smaller satellites, which cost far less to launch. Euroconsult estimates that an average of 990 satellites of all sizes will be launched every year for the next decade, more than four times the volume of the previous one. Most will be small satellites of less than 500kg. Arianespace was unable to exploit that market fully until September when it carried out its first “ride-sharing ” launch with a Vega rocket. But costs are still higher than SpaceX, which can offer customers frequent low-priced space on rockets already being deployed for Mr Musk’s own mega-constellation, Starlink.
If Europe wants to maintain independent access to space it will have to stoke government and institutional demand, according to Mr Israël. That is how SpaceX has succeeded, he argues, with its government contracts priced almost twice as high as those in the commercial market. “We are now facing a launcher which is highly supported by institutional demand, which allows [it] to come to market at cut prices,” Mr Israël said. “The question is, how will Europe organise itself?”
Europe’s space industry is pushing for Brussels to launch its own mega-constellation to provide what could be crucial internet services to industry. The UK government is already following the mega-constellation route in a bid to boost its space industry. This month it will become the biggest shareholder in OneWeb, the original mega-constellation rescued from bankruptcy in a deal with India’s Bharti Global telecoms group.
OneWeb is Arianespace’s biggest customer, with a contract worth more than $1bn to put 650 of its first-generation satellites into orbit by the end of 2023. But it might not be able to rely on winning the contract for the second generation if its launch costs remain high. “It could be a Japanese company next launching 300 sats for OneWeb,” said Mr Henry.
So the pressure is on for new European projects that will help to enhance the commercial offer.
European governments and institutions, unlike those in the US, do not generate enough volume to keep the bloc’s rocket production competitive with the new entrants, according to Mr Israël. “To develop non-institutional business, it is mandatory to rely on a . . . strong institutional business: this is the condition for a level playing field on the commercial market,” he said.
The relatively limited number of European launches is also why Europe did not opt for a reusable rocket in 2014, according to Mr Wörner. If there were, for example 10 launches a year, he said, the industrial system might only need to produce one launcher a year for European needs. That would render the production business unviable, he said. “The industrial situation may have to be reorganised and that could take years,” says Mr Wörner. “In 2014, the decision was to go fast as possible.”
That doesn’t mean reorganisation is impossible. ESA and the industrial partners behind Arianespace are already looking to the next generation, and reusable rockets are on the cards. But it will mean Europe’s system of allocating production work according to member states’ financial contributions will have to be re-examined, according to several industry executives.
Ariane rockets involve an industrial network of more than 600 companies in 13 countries “These are complexities that Mr Musk doesn't have as a vertically integrated player,” said Mr Horn. “He is selling the rockets, renting the spaceport, and producing most parts himself. He organises the logistics. There is less workshare and less dependency.”
ESA and Europe’s space industry have begun discussions on how work could be reorganised to eliminate some of the complexities, according to several people with knowledge of the subject. “We need to create the same conditions to propose competitive prices,” said one.
For now, however, the focus is the new rocket. “The priority is to make Ariane 6 a success,” said Mr Israël. “It is to make Ariane 6 fly.”
?? I read it and don’t have a subscription.....
Also throws up a subscription request for me:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x551/ft_subscription_d8e07d88c72ecb0af066e2db1531ee181d024bbe.jpg
Is there a concession for those who subscribe to The Times, perhaps?
If I go via the FT I hit the firewall, if I go via this link, I go to the story....
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geKLuYgqVfnAEAQiFXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZ ANBMDYxNV8xBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1604711192/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww-ft-com.eur.idm.oclc.org%2fcontent%2f24cca993-b249-45a5-8c42-b39c0ec30c5b/RK=2/RS=LeLUPc2kCfHNPme83KYzYLIVcSQ-
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-astronauts-site-spacex-2nd-crew.html
Astronauts head to launch site for SpaceX's 2nd crew flight
Four astronauts headed to Kennedy Space Center on Sunday for SpaceX's second crew launch, coming up next weekend.....
The crew of three Americans and one Japanese are scheduled to rocket away Saturday night. It will be a speedy trip to the space (https://phys.org/tags/space/) station, a six-orbit express lasting under nine hours.....
SpaceX's Benji Reed said the company expects to launch seven Dragons over the next 14 months: three for crew and four for cargo. "Every time there's a Dragon launch, there will be two Dragons in space," said Reed, director of crew mission management.
NASA's other hired taxi service, meanwhile, Boeing, isn't expected to fly its first crew until next summer. The company plans a second unpiloted test flight (https://phys.org/tags/test+flight/) in a couple months; the first one suffered so many software problems that the Starliner capsule failed to reach the space station.......
https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn8-third-static-fire-problem
SpaceX's Starship SN8 prototype fires engines for 3rd time, encounters problem
SpaceX fired the engines on its latest Starship prototype for the third time Thursday night (Nov. 12), but the test was a bumpy one.
The Starship SN8 vehicle performed its third brief "static fire" — a test in which engines are ignited while a rocket remains tethered to the ground — at SpaceX's South Texas facility on Thursday, near the village of Boca Chica.
Shortly after the test, which several outside organizations webcast live, material could be seen apparently dripping from SN8's base. This looked odd, and SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk soon confirmed that something off-nominal had happened.
"We lost vehicle pneumatics. Reason unknown at present. Liquid oxygen header tank pressure is rising. Hopefully triggers burst disk to relieve pressure, otherwise it’s going to pop the cork," Musk said via Twitter on Thursday night. (Burst disks are single-use devices that, like valves, seal off different sections or systems of a vehicle. They relieve pressure when they open, as Musk noted.)
The cause of the problem is unknown at the moment, Musk said in another Thursday tweet: "Maybe melted an engine preburner or fuel hot gas manifold. Whatever it is caused pneumatics loss. We need to design out this problem."
That's the bad news. The good news is that the burst disk did its job, and SN8 is still in one piece. "Burst disk worked, so vehicle appears to be ok. We’ll have to swap out at least one of the engines," Musk said in another tweet.
The SN8 ("Serial No. 8") has three Raptors, SpaceX's powerful next-generation engine that runs on liquid methane and liquid oxygen. No previous Starship prototype had more than one Raptor.
SN8's static fires — the first two occurred on Oct. 20 and Nov 10 — are intended to pave the way for a 9-mile-high (15 kilometers) test flight in the near future. That would be far higher than any of its predecessors have gone. The stubby Starhopper craft and the SN5 and SN6 prototypes reached maximum altitudes of about 500 feet (150 meters) during their flights, which occurred in the summer of 2019 and this past August and September, respectively. (SN8 also sports a nose cone and stabilizing flaps to help it handle the more ambitious coming flight.)
Thursday night's setback will delay SN8's big leap, but by how much we'll have to wait and see.
https://www.space.com/spacex-nasa-delay-crew-1-astronaut-launch
SpaceX, NASA delay Crew-1 astronaut launch to Sunday due to rocket recovery weather
SpaceX's first four-astronaut launch for NASA is going to have to wait at least an extra day to get off the ground.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule were slated to launch the astronauts to the International Space Station on Saturday (Nov. 14) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. That mission, called Crew-1, will now launch no earlier than Sunday at 7:27 p.m. EST (0027 Nov. 16 GMT) due to weather delays from Tropical Storm Eta that affected SpaceX's drone ship rocket recovery operations. The launch itself had a promising 70% chance of good weather.
"Fundamentally, this was an issue of getting the drone ship there in time," Benji Reed, SpaceX's senior director for human spaceflight programs, told reporters in a Friday press conference. "The weather was such because of this tropical storm, that we couldn't get the drone ship to leave in time and get there."
SpaceX uses automated drone ships as floating landing pads in the Atlantic Ocean to recover the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket for later reuse. But good weather is needed for those operations.
Recovering the Crew-1 mission's first stage is vital since the booster will be used on SpaceX's next astronaut flight for NASA, which is due to launch March 30.
"This booster is very important for us," NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stitch said. " We're going to reuse the first stage that we're flying on Crew-1 for the Crew-2 mission coming up in the springtime."
TURIN
16th Nov 2020, 11:44
.Another success.
Launch is about 4;40 into this vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQCWqlHAaL8
Didn’t want to jinx it by saying anything before they successfully dock with the ISS....
VP959
16th Nov 2020, 13:00
Loved the registrations on the fleet of Tesla Model Xs that took them out to the pad. The last one had the reg "L8RERTH" ("later Earth") and that sense of humour seems to run right through everything that SpaceX does. The naming of the drone ships, "Of Course I Still Love You" and "Just Read The Instructions", is another example, and as any Tesla owner knows, the car is full of humorous features, including some hidden "Easter eggs", like tapping the stalk 4 times and having the road display turn into the Mario Kart Rainbow Road, or the "Foot of Cupid" cartoon from Monty Python that can drop across the screen. It wouldn't surprise me to find that they've also added features like this to the Crew Dragon screens.
Drone names in homage to Iain M. Banks Culture novels....
TURIN
17th Nov 2020, 10:51
Didn’t want to jinx it by saying anything before they successfully dock with the ISS....
Good point.
All good now though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hK540tMmvw
Good update on the Starship programme after the ISS mission report.
Damage to Starship 8 during the engine test was due to spalling from a ceramic heat shield on pipes the ground below which couldn’t take the thrust. Now replaced with steel sheathing instead. Build on Starships 9-14 continuing - and first parts for Starship 15 have arrived...
https://youtu.be/AJXGJYl0wJc
TURIN
24th Nov 2020, 09:30
Long March 5 launched the Chang'e moon lander. Object is to return samples from the moon to China.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBtVRlg-nxo
Booster landing on Saturday after successful launch of NASA ocean surveillance satellite Sentinel 6....
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1330201338593095684?s=20
TURIN
24th Nov 2020, 23:51
Starship static fire of the replacement engine. Tweet from Elon Musk claiming all now ready for a 15KM 'hop' next week. :eek:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzoXedrBqpg
Tango and Cash
25th Nov 2020, 00:25
That didn't look like much of a static fire to me, more of a static burp. I seem to remember the space shuttle static firings on the launch pad where significantly longer. Or is my memory getting fuzzy?
https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/11/25/spacex-launches-60-more-starlink-satellites-on-100th-falcon-9-flight/
SpaceX launches 60 more Starlink satellites on 100th Falcon 9 flight
The 100th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket delivered 60 satellites to orbit for SpaceX’s Starlink network Tuesday night, adding another building block to a planned fleet of thousands of solar-powered space-based relay stations to beam broadband connectivity around the world.
The successful mission late Tuesday also set a new record for SpaceX’s rocket reuse program — one that could be broken again within months if SpaceX maintains its feverish launch cadence. For the first time, a reusable Falcon 9 booster completed its seventh trip to space and back on Tuesday night’s flight.
The Falcon 9 rocket fired its nine kerosene-fueled Merlin 1D engines and roared off pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air force Station at 9:13:12 p.m. EST Tuesday (0213:12 GMT Wednesday). The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) launcher darted through a broken cloud layer over the pad and rocketed toward the northeast from Cape Canaveral to line up with the mission’s targeted orbital plane within the Starlink network.
The rocket’s 15-story first stage booster dropped away from the Falcon 9 upper stage about two-and-a-half after liftoff, setting a course for a controlled touchdown on SpaceX’s drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” positioned several hundred miles northeast of Cape Canaveral in the Atlantic Ocean,
The booster — designated B1049 in SpaceX’s rocket inventory — reignited its center engine for a braking maneuver just before touchdown, then extended a landing gear before settling onto the deck of the drone ship. The apparently flawless landing punctuated the seventh mission of the B1049 vehicle, making it SpaceX’s “fleet leader.”
Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO, has said the newest version of the Falcon 9 booster could fly 10 times without any major refurbishment, and perhaps 100 times with periodic overhauls......
Launch is about 30 minutes in to video below and booster landing at about 40m.
https://youtu.be/aIUhaKD_x00
oldchina
25th Nov 2020, 14:02
The Falcon 9 rocket ..... roared off pad 40 at Cape Canaveral. The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) launcher darted through a broken cloud layer and rocketed toward the northeast. .....
I'd like to get paid for writing this stuff !!
and rocketed toward the northeast As it would..... :)
Yeah, same style we see for jury presentations, political ads and news about a crash or other stuff
"routine training mission"
"the troubled new fighter"
"drastic budget cuts"
"unprecedented cost overruns"
"costliest ( insert whatever) in history"
Only problem I see is many folks who just voted in the U.S. and other places/times do not read newsprint and even less read multiple news sources on the 'net. Oh well....
=============
Grandkids here for our holiday got to see the two Space X launches and landings. A great lesson for them about what an entrepreneur can do without the majority of the cost paid by we proles. Not that Elon doesn't get some subsidies, but nowadays, he is getting paid by the customer and not launching a one-time rocket for a big government program. Besides, at 50 to 60 million $$$$ per lurch, nobody on Earth can come close. Hell, they are even offering "ride share" launches for small stuff at a coupla million $$. Takeoff two Starlinks and put the customer's doofers up front.
TURIN
27th Nov 2020, 13:00
That didn't look like much of a static fire to me, more of a static burp. I seem to remember the space shuttle static firings on the launch pad where significantly longer. Or is my memory getting fuzzy?
They were testing the instalation of a new engine as the previous one was damaged during the last static fire after the pad area below the rocket broke up and FOD was ejected up into the emgine bay.
All seems to be ok and the 15KM 'hop' has been scheduled for 30th November from 1300UTC. Back up dates on the 1st and 2nd December . Should be spectaculer one way or another.
meadowrun
28th Nov 2020, 20:11
SpaceX landing from Vandenberg with Epic Sonic Boom. Man jumps... Wait for it... What was that? - YouTube
TURIN
28th Nov 2020, 20:27
Aw, the little dogs! Sonic booms are a bitch right? :ok:
The boom will surprise you if you are not expecting it, and the onlookers were quite a way from the touchdown. Guess nobody briefed the dogs, heh heh.
My grand daughters got to see one of the return to the Cape landings and the boom was well ahead of the landing. Anyone near Cocoa Beach should drive up to the Port Canaveral viewing site by the "Love Boat" docks and the new parking area. It can't be more than a mile from the landing zone that Falcon uses. There's also a park and several eateries on the canal, but they are usually packed solid.
Next Saturday will be first lurch of the new cargo Dragon, and will be coverred by NASA and the normal stuff on "spaceflightnow.com" around 1100 and on EST in the U.S. Normal trajectory is to northeast, so all the way to Jacksonville should get a glimpse.
https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/528894-will-the-biden-administration-slow-elon-musks-spacex-down
Will the Biden administration slow Elon Musk's SpaceX down?
SpaceX (https://www.spacex.com/) has certainly been on a roll recently. The company’s Falcon 9 (https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-9/) has been very busy, launching a probe to measure the rise of the Earth’s oceans, another batch of the Starlink (https://spacenews.com/spacex-sets-new-falcon-9-reuse-milestone-on-starlink-launch/) constellation, and a planned cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS) in less than two weeks. SpaceX became the first private company to launch people into space in 2020, most recently four new crewmembers to the ISS.
SpaceX is creating a great deal of excitement with its development and testing of the Starship rocket in Boca Chica, Texas. A prototype of the Starship, the SN8 (https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/15km-test-flight-approaching-for-starship-sn8/), has been scheduled for a test flight of 15 kilometers. The test of the vehicle, a stainless-steel tower with fins and a nose cone that brings to mind more Buck Rogers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Rogers) than Neil Armstrong (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong), may have already happened by the time this article goes live. Elon Musk (https://thehill.com/people/elon-musk) suggested one in three odds that the SN8 would land intact.
However, according to space journalist Robert Zimmerman (https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/regulators-coming-after-spacexs-boca-chica-facility-and-starship/), not everyone is excited about the prospect of a private company launching giant rocket ships from south Texas. Government regulators both in Texas and on the federal level may want to start slowing SpaceX down.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) originally granted environmental impact approvals for the Boca Chica space port when SpaceX was still planning to launch Falcon 9s and Falcon Heavies from the Texas Gulf Coast. However, since then, SpaceX has turned Boca Chica into a test facility for the Starship/Super Heavy spacecraft. Environmental regulators have raised concerns about how launches and landings of the new SpaceX rocket ship could affect wildlife and nearby ecosystems.
Thus far the FAA, the regulatory agency responsible for overseeing commercial space launches, has suggested that current tests of the Starship have or will meet “all pertinent conditions and requirements of the prior approval.” Apparently, this is not the case for full suborbital and orbital flights with the Starship/Super Heavy system.
The Starship, a reusable rocket that would be capable of taking 100 tons of people and cargo to the moon and Mars, would be launched by the also reusable Super Heavy first stage. The combined flight vehicle would be the largest, most powerful rocket ever built.
The FAA is working with SpaceX to draft an environmental review of its plans to make Boca Chica a space port for the Starship. The FAA has declared that (https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=96139), “The proposed update to Starship/Super Heavy operations falls outside of the scope of the existing final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision for the launch site and requires additional environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).”
President Donald Trump (https://thehill.com/people/donald-trump) has a decidedly business-friendly approach to government regulations. He was, after all, a builder in a previous life. He has long experience in dealing with government bureaucrats to get permission to construct his hotels and golf clubs. Furthermore, the Trump administration has a keen awareness about what sort of a national asset the SpaceX Starship could be.
The incoming Biden administration is likely to have a more traditional view of government regulation. It will regard regulation as a necessary function to keep private business in line, to make sure that it doesn’t take advantage of the environment in pursuit of profit. As a result, under President-elect Joe Biden (https://thehill.com/people/joe-biden), the alliance that the government has with SpaceX is likely to end. Government will assume its accustomed role as an adversary to the commercial sector. SpaceX will likely be required to go through the environmental impact process all over again. The process, as Zimmerman suggests, could take years.
Absent government red tape, Musk hopes to have his Starship operational in a few years. A version of SpaceX’s rocket ship is a candidate for NASA’s Artemis Human Landing System competition for a return to the moon. Musk expects to start shipping cargo and eventually people to Mars in the current decade, a boast that many people find incredible. NASA plans to have astronauts on the Red Planet by the 2030s at the earliest.
Musk could finance this operation by selling services from the Starlink constellation, a satellite system that promises to bring the Internet to every part of the planet. In effect, SpaceX would become a space power independent of NASA or any other government customer. These heady dreams may go crashing to Earth if the incoming Biden administration inflicts the heavy hand of government on SpaceX’s operations. The development would be a tragedy but also the consequences of an election that was perhaps decided unwisely.
Salute!
Well, folks, Space X will conduct first "real" launch of the Starship 8 December after 0800 Central time from the Boca Chica facility. Sucker should get up to 45 or 50K feet and then try to come back for a "soft" landing. Elon is on site as of Sunday night, so guess things are serious.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky5l9ZxsG9M&feature=youtu.be
or try the LabPadre sites
or : https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-sn8-launch-debut-slips-tuesday/
Glad Elon doing conmmercial business, and has a backlog of customers. Has a Serius XM sat launch Thursday, and so on. So lack of taxpayer $$$ that will soon go to "refugees" and social programs should not be a problem for "X".
Gums sends..
So close! Abort about T minus 1 second. One raptor engine failed to do as its told. Hopefully try again tomorrow.
Nice to see a Nasa Martin WB57 Canberra on station at 41000ft to observe.
cavuman1
9th Dec 2020, 22:12
A beautiful test flight - all seemed nominal until the Starship touched down hard and exploded. It will be interesting to see the cause of the last instant failure.
- Ed
Calling SN 9 - make your way to the launch pad please!
Amazing first flight, stable back flip and descent. The flip back to vertical was very smooth. Apparently the fuel header tank pressure dropped so they lost power just before touchdown.
goofer3
10th Dec 2020, 06:29
Video here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XeWoECbywU
B Fraser
10th Dec 2020, 07:01
Apparently the fuel header tank pressure dropped so they lost power just before touchdown.
Yup, too much oxidiser in the fuel mix as shown by the green flame. Possibly due to copper pipework being consumed as the system does not use TEB as an ignition source. (TEB was used in the SR-71 which gave a lovely green flash at engine start).
A tremendous effort, a perfect launch, precise manoeuvring, recovery to the vertical, a pinpoint landing ...........but just a bit fast due to low fuel pressure.
The Times, London:
SpaceX launched its prototype Mars rocketship on a pioneering high-altitude test flight last night, defying the odds to send its Starship SN8 vehicle soaring over the Gulf of Mexico before a fiery crash landing.
In an audacious feat that even Elon Musk, the SpaceX founder and chief executive, had given low odds of success, the 50m vehicle pulled off a spectacular sequence of steps to test its three Raptor engines and aerodynamic capabilities.
“We got all the data we needed. Congrats to the SpaceX team. Hell yeah!... Mars here we come!” Mr Musk tweeted.......
The prototype’s explosive landing was considered a mere blip in an otherwise victorious trial that allowed engineers to accomplish the primary goals of testing its Raptor engines and aerodynamic capabilities.
Its successful ascent, about-turn at high altitude, descent and final preparation for landing checked off critical boxes on SpaceX’s “to do” list, before a loss of pressure in the propellant tanks that control the landing speed caused it to hit the ground too fast.
Musk referred to the impact as an ‘RUD’, an acronym for ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly’ - engineers’ tongue-in-cheek euphemism for a crash.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin – a rocket company also developing lunar capabilities – and founder and chief executive officer of Amazon, stated last night: “Anybody who knows how hard this stuff is is impressed by today’s Starship test. Big congrats to the whole SpaceX team.”
B Fraser
10th Dec 2020, 09:35
Musk referred to the impact as an ‘RUD’, an acronym for ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly’ - engineers’ tongue-in-cheek euphemism for a crash.
Caused by an engine rich fuel supply.
The point to make is the rapid prototyping undertaken by SpaceX means that SN9 is just about finished and ready to roll out and parts have been delivered for assembly up to SN14.....
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-backup-starship-full-height-nosecone-installed/
SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN14 parts arrive (http://space.cheapbooks.com/video/23023/spacex-boca-chica-starship-sn14-parts-arrive/)
TURIN
10th Dec 2020, 11:20
Caused by an engine rich fuel supply.
I think it was oxidiser rich as they lost pressure in the fuel header tank.
B Fraser
10th Dec 2020, 12:08
Yes, which caused an excessive and unplanned presence of engine material in the combustion chamber. My comment was tongue in cheek ;)
TURIN
10th Dec 2020, 16:03
Ah yes, sorry. I'm still a bit giddy from the whole experience. :\
Brilliant synopsis from Marcus House here, and some epic new footage from SpaceX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcq5XDpF5pk
paulc
11th Dec 2020, 20:36
The next one due to launch suffered damage when its stand collapsed and it fell over inside the highbay and ended up leaning on the highbay structure itself.
https://twitter.com/austinbarnard45/status/1337417530898604035?s=20
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/962x1283/image_7050d7e3bcde30a738aff62943a5c49cb577cd84.jpeg
Mechta
12th Dec 2020, 00:11
One for the Douglas Adam fans:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ0PP0BoOpo
VP959
12th Dec 2020, 07:03
Not to mention the bowl of petunias
Cpt_Pugwash
12th Dec 2020, 17:38
Oh, no! Not again!
TURIN
13th Dec 2020, 10:09
Love the HHGTTG refs. :ok:
Anyway, the good news is SN9 is now vertical again, after they moved the big crane (Tankzilla) and lifted it on to a new stand.
Looks like one of the lower fins/flaps will need replacing. At least.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-crushes-commercial-falcon-9-reuse-record/
SpaceX crushes commercial Falcon 9 reuse record with radio satellite launch
SpaceX has crushed its commercial Falcon 9 reuse record with the successful December 13th launch of Sirius XM’s newest radio satellite while simultaneously debuting fairing reuse on customer missions.
Weighing around 7 metric tons (~15,400 lb) at liftoff, the SXM-7 spacecraft was carried aloft by Falcon 9 booster B1051, marking the rocket’s seventh successful launch and landing and the first time SpaceX has used a four-flight, five-flight, or six-flight booster on a non-Starlink mission.......
Up next for SpaceX is the launch of a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. That mission is scheduled to lift off from NASA's historic Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, Dec. 17.
TURIN
15th Dec 2020, 11:33
Thanks ORAC, I missed that one.
Another successful Electron launch this morning too.
SpaceX also have another Falcon 9 launch lined up for Thursday.
Oh and Virgin Galactic had what appears to be an abortive test of their suborbital Spaceship 2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UqTvJl3N3M&t=8049s
Its hard to keep up.
Anyway, good news is that SN9 has been moved and the damage appears, at first glance anyway, to be the upper and lower fins only. Replacement fins are on site ready to fit. Some good views here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDlWRkwmT4g
Successful NRO satellite launch and booster recovery to the launch site.
https://youtu.be/kljd5Bih-Wo
kit344
20th Dec 2020, 14:26
Is there a reason why all SpaceX activity is confined to this one thread ?
I've been following the activities in South Texas over the weeks and months, and most of it is about an entirely different model of rocket, with different engines.
Could I suggest that there should be a second thread for SpaceX activity in Texas, or alternatively rename this one something like Everything SpaceX ?
TURIN
20th Dec 2020, 21:29
Is there a reason why all SpaceX activity is confined to this one thread ?
I've been following the activities in South Texas over the weeks and months, and most of it is about an entirely different model of rocket, with different engines.
Could I suggest that there should be a second thread for SpaceX activity in Texas, or alternatively rename this one something like Everything SpaceX ?
Feel free to start a new thread.
Meanwhile, incredible new images of yesterday's launch. Close up of the stage separation and boost back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GXnDFc7BqU
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/starship-sn9-static-fire-test-flight/
Starship SN9 speeds toward Static Fire and test flight
First successful launch and booster recovery of 2021.
https://youtu.be/M1KLqcAxB4A
Double Dragons....
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x400/1610125008_e59038f7fe49f3a133468b638c3625aeae60ccf5.jpeg
Just been watching You Only Live Twice. I can see where SpaceX gets its ideas from. 😁
Non Linear Gear
8th Jan 2021, 20:30
Just been watching You Only Live Twice. I can see where SpaceX gets its ideas from. 😁
No Spare crew required.
https://www.news24.com/fin24/Companies/elon-musks-starlink-broadband-terminals-gets-approval-in-uk-20210110
Elon Musk’s Starlink broadband terminals gets approval in UK
https://spacenews.com/fcc-grants-permission-for-polar-launch-of-starlink-satellites/
FCC grants permission for polar launch of Starlink satellites
ThomaJo
19th Jan 2021, 11:44
Too many satellites. Or not. Recently, I have been increasingly reading news about the development of 6g networks. China launched the first satellites to explore these networks. It is sometimes mentioned in articles that the new type of networks will make Starlink unnecessary. Although, on the other hand, 6g is still very far from the start of the deployment. So we just watch who is the first to do it.
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-17-record-rocket-launch-landing-success
SpaceX rocket launches on record 8th flight carrying 60 Starlink satellites, nails landing
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A SpaceX (https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html) Falcon 9 rocket launched on a record 8th flight to send a new fleet of the company's Starlink internet satellites into orbit on Wednesday (Jan.20) and then nailed a landing at sea.
The Falcon 9 rocket (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) lifted off from the historic Pad 39A here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 8:02 a.m. EDT (1202 GMT) carrying 60 new Starlink satellites (https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html) for SpaceX's growing constellation in orbit. The launch came after two days of delay due to poor weather in the recovery zone and the need for extra pre-flight checks.
Approximately 9 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth, landing on one of SpaceX's drone ships in the Atlantic Ocean in a smooth touchdown. The massive ship, "Just Read the Instructions," is one of two in the company’s fleet of recovery vessels that catch falling boosters and return them to port........
The rocket featured in this launch is one of two record-setting boosters in SpaceX's Falcon 9 fleet. Known as B1051, this flight-proven booster is the first of SpaceX's fleet to make an 8th flight. It also marks one of SpaceX's shortest turnaround times between flights, as this particular booster last flew just over a month ago on Dec. 13 (https://www.space.com/spacex-sirius-xm-sxm-7-launch-rocket-landing-success)........
https://youtu.be/eU-6bk-ol-U
Imagegear
21st Jan 2021, 12:51
Are we seeing the two fairings way below the booster, tracking right to left behind the left grid pad, at the 6.26 minute mark? or is it a pair of little green men machines.
IG
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55775977
SpaceX: World record number of satellites launched
A new world record has been set for the number of satellites sent to space on a single rocket.
The 143 payloads, of all shapes and sizes, rode to orbit on a SpaceX Falcon rocket that launched out of Florida. The number beats the previous record of 104 satellites carried aloft by an Indian vehicle in 2017......
SpaceX itself had 10 satellites on the Falcon - the latest additions to its Starlink telecommunications mega-constellation, which is going to deliver broadband internet connections around the globe.
San Francisco's Planet company had the most satellites of all on the flight - 48. These were another batch of its SuperDove models that image the Earth's surface daily at a resolution of 3-5m. The new spacecraft take the firm's operational fleet now in orbit to more than 200.
The SuperDoves are the size of a shoebox. Many of the other payloads on the Falcon rocket were little bigger than a coffee mug, however; and some were smaller even than a paperback book.
Swarm Technologies is rolling out what it calls the SpaceBees. They're just 10cm by 10cm by 2.5cm. They'll act as telecommunications nodes to connect devices that are attached to all manner of objects on the ground, from migrating animals to shipping containers.
Some of the larger items on the Falcon rocket were suitcase-sized. Among these were several radar satellites. Radar has been one of the major beneficiaries of the revolution in componentry.
Traditionally, radar satellites were big, multi-tonne objects that cost hundreds of millions of dollars to fly, which essentially meant only the military or major space agencies could afford to operate them. But the adoption of new materials and compact "off the shelf" parts have dramatically shrunk the size (to under 100kg) and price (a couple of million dollars) of these spacecraft.
Iceye from Finland, Capella and Umbra from the US, and iQPS of Japan all took the ride to orbit on Sunday. These start-ups are establishing constellations in the sky that will return rapid, repeat imagery of the Earth.....
https://youtu.be/4hhj_Y3B54M
ThomaJo
28th Jan 2021, 09:51
Great! Thanks to such projects, it also becomes possible, for example, to send lunar landing modules from private companies. The Initiative Machines and Astrobotic mission is scheduled for October 2021.
Their lander, Nova-Ts, will send radio-controlled moon rovers to the moon. They are also developing open-source software for communicating cameras with computers. The mission aims to popularize space among teenagers. The launch vehicle is SpaceX Falcon 9.
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-18-satellites-launch-rocket-landing
SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites on record-setting used rocket, nails landing
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX (https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html) launched 60 more Starlink internet satellites to orbit this morning (Feb. 4) on a mission that notched a booster-reusability milestone for the company.
A two-stage Falcon 9 rocket (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) topped with the 60 broadband spacecraft lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 here at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today at 1:19 a.m. EST (0619 GMT). Approximately nine minutes later, the rocket's first stage returned to Earth, landing smoothly on one of SpaceX's drone ships in the Atlantic Ocean.
The massive ship, "Of Course I Still Love You," is one of two SpaceX vessels that catch falling boosters and return them to port.
It was the fifth launch for this Falcon 9 first stage, which last flew just 27 days ago — the quickest turnaround between missions for any SpaceX booster. Today's launch was also the first of two nearly back-to-back Starlink liftoffs; another 60 satellites are scheduled to take flight early Friday morning (Feb. 5) on a different Falcon 9.
Today's launch, dubbed Starlink 18, leapfrogged that coming flight, known as Starlink 17. Starlink 17 was supposed to get off the ground on Monday (Feb. 1) but was delayed due to poor weather in the recovery zone and the need for extra pre-flight checks......
Starlink 17, the other part of the doubleheader, was originally set to blast off Monday (Feb. 1). It was initially pushed 24 hours to allow for improved weather conditions at the recovery zone, then delayed several more times, causing it to switch places with Starlink 18. SpaceX relies heavily on its fleet of reused rockets, so the company wants to make sure that its recovery efforts are successful.
Starlink 17 will mark just the second time that one of the company’s Falcon 9 first stages has flown eight times. The booster, known by the designation B1049, launched a Telstar communications satellite in September 2018, lofted an Iridium NEXT satellite in January 2019, and then flew five different Starlink missions.
GO Ms. Tree and GO Ms. Chief will likely scoop both fairing pieces — SpaceX fairings come back to Earth in two halves — out of the ocean for future reuse. Both fairing halves on this mission have been used before.
Nige321
5th Feb 2021, 19:15
This is the current build states of all the hardware at Boca Chica... :eek:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1124/etfmgrvuuaexrl4_68434e54ba7790545eec882f3018ca10436ed38b.jpg
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/02/12/spacex-gearing-up-for-two-more-starlink-missions-within-days/
SpaceX gearing up for two more Starlink missions within days
Days after SpaceX opened preorders for Starlink internet service, two more Falcon 9 rockets are set to launch from Florida’s Space Coast as soon as Sunday night and Tuesday morning — weather permitting — to help push the network closer to commercial operations.
The next two Starlink missions, expected to loft around 60 satellites each, will fly on Falcon 9 rockets from two different launch pads.
Next in line is a Falcon 9 launch from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station scheduled for approximately 11:20 p.m. EST Sunday (0420 GMT Monday).
SpaceX is readying another Falcon 9 for blastoff from pad 39A, a few miles to the north at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, as soon as 1:17 a.m. EST (0617 GMT Tuesday).......
SpaceX has more than 1,000 satellites in its Starlink constellation, well on the way to finish deployment of its initial tranche of 1,584 Starlink stations later this year.
SpaceX won’t stop there, with plans to launch additional orbital “shells” of Starlink satellites into polar orbit to enable global coverage, with a first-generation fleet totaling some 4,400 spacecraft.....
The Federal Communications Commission has authorized SpaceX to eventually operate up to 12,000 Starlink satellites.
SpaceX began accepting preorders from would-be Starlink users this week, charging $99 for a potential customer to get in line for the broadband service. Once confirmed, customers will pay $499 for a Starlink antenna and modem, plus $50 in shipping and handling, SpaceX says. A subscription will run $99 per month.
SpaceX says the service should be available throughout the United States later this year.
Beta testing of the Starlink network has been underway for months in the northern United States, Canada. SpaceX said more than 10,000 users in the United States are abroad are already on the Starlink service, according to a Feb. 3 regularly filing with the FCC.
“Starlink continues to improve as SpaceX deploys additional infrastructure and capability, averaging two Starlink launches per month, to add significant on-orbit capacity alongside activation of additional gateways to improve performance and expand service coverage areas across the country,” SpaceX wrote in the filing.
Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO, tweeted Tuesday that SpaceX’s Starlink subsidiary will go public once it has a predictable cash flow. “Once we can predict cash flow reasonably well, Starlink will IPO,” Musk tweeted.
Until then, SpaceX will be spending cash at a high rate to maintain the Starlink network’s high-tempo deployment, from satellite launches at an average pace of every couple of weeks to the manufacturing of user ground terminals.
SpaceX has said the entire project could cost more than $10 billion, but Musk has said the revenue opportunities are even higher, providing resources for SpaceX to advance its audacious plans to send people to Mars.
“SpaceX needs to pass through a deep chasm of negative cash flow over the next year or so to make Starlink financially viable,” Musk tweeted. “Every new satellite constellation in history has gone bankrupt. We hope to be the first that does not.”
https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-internet-service-elon-musk-all-you-need-know-2021-2
Now that Starlink is available to order in more than six countries, here's all you need to know about Elon Musk's satellite internet service
Elon Musk is inching ever closer to fulfiling his dream of creating super-fast internet around the world, which beams down from satellites in orbit to Earth.
In the past two weeks, SpaceX's Starlink internet has reached more than 10,000 users worldwide (https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-beta-satellite-internet-users-worldwide-2021-2) and started offering $99 preorders (https://www.businessinsider.com/starlink-preorder-beta-elon-musk-spacex-satellite-internet-australia-mexico-2021-2) of the service to more countries and cities on a global scale......
A subscription to the beta is currently $99 a month. It costs a further $499 (https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-public-beta-how-to-join-price-cost-subscription-2020-10) for the Starlink kit, which includes a mounting tripod, a WiFi router, and a terminal to connect to the satellites.
On Monday, the company began offering preorders of Starlink to other countries so users can now put down a $100 deposit (https://www.starlink.com/legal/terms-of-service-preorder?regionCode=US) to get their hands on the service once it becomes available. The deposit will be applied to the amount due on the Starlink kit......
Users the UK are paying £439 for the kit and £89 for the subscription fee....... On Monday, Starlink began opening up preorders to other parts of the world.
People in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and parts of the US and Canada - where Starlink is not yet up and running - confirmed on Twitter and Reddit they were able to put down a deposit (https://www.businessinsider.com/starlink-preorder-beta-elon-musk-spacex-satellite-internet-australia-mexico-2021-2) to get the internet service in mid to late 2021.
More countries could green-light Starlink this year, including Spain, Italy, India, Japan and the Caribbean, according to a report from Teslarati (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-opens-starlink-internet-preorders-worldwide/).
Insider explained Tuesday how to sign up (https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-sign-up-for-starlink-elon-musk-spacex-internet-2021-2) for the service which works on "first-come, first-served basis."
SpaceX agreed in October to provide internet to a rural school district in Texas (https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-free-internet-texas-satellite-2020-10) next year via Starlink. A total of 45 families will get internet access in the area, followed by an additional 90 families later on. Scott Muri, the district's superintendent, told Insider he agreed to the deal because so many students' families have "zero internet" (https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-satellite-internet-ector-county-independent-school-district-agreement-2020-11) and no conventional way to get it.
Then in December, SpaceX connected up Pikangikum First Nation (https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-internet-first-canada-customer-indigenous-community-pikangikum-musk-2020-12), a remote 3,000-person indigenous community in north-western Ontario, to Starlink. Before the internet service, Pikangikum couldn't offer higher education or healthcare, and struggled with high suicide rates. Now, they're able to access everything.
Dave Brown, CEO of FSET, the company that linked up SpaceX and Pikangikum, said in an interview with Insider: "We took a community that was one of the most technologically disadvantaged anywhere in the world. They've now become one of the most technologically advanced, yet are still remote, living where they are and not having to move."
clareprop
16th Feb 2021, 09:31
Well, bad news and good news . The bad news is they didn't manage to stick the last booster landing from the Starlink launch yesterday...but the good news (for me) is I've just pre-ordered my Starlink dish. To have high speed internet (or mostly, any internet at all) is a dream come true.:ok:
TURIN
16th Feb 2021, 14:07
Just watched it. After the first stage entry burn something is not right. The booster looks like its either 'sliding' from right to left or one of the engines has gimballed way over to the right. Either way, telemetry is lost soon after, either SpaceX cut it off or the booster was out of control. and they lost the signal. The seagulls on the landing pad didn't look too bothered so i don't think the crash into the sea was very close. Shame, that would have been the 25th consecutive landing and the 70th overall.
Makes me wonder if we need a SpaceX Starlink thread in the Computer/Internet forum....
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starlink-internet-european-rollout/
SpaceX setting the stage for Starlink’s widespread European debut
Combined with regulatory filings, a series of new job listings suggest that SpaceX is in the late stages of preparations for a widespread Starlink internet rollout across Europe.
Last week, SpaceX began publishing multiple job listings for bilingual “customer support associates” fluent in French (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2415583524/?eBP=NotAvailableFromMidTier&recommendedFlavor=IN_NETWORK&refId=z%2BMxY62i6Cf5nGQBoqFQFw%3D%3D&trackingId=POhHTbeNdsRcW0QPuxy4rw%3D%3D&trk=flagship3_search_srp_jobs), Italian (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2415581648/?eBP=NotAvailableFromMidTier&recommendedFlavor=IN_NETWORK&refId=z%2BMxY62i6Cf5nGQBoqFQFw%3D%3D&trackingId=sn9hpt%2Bw2fwI3zP2gjigFA%3D%3D&trk=flagship3_search_srp_jobs), German (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2415583525/?eBP=NotAvailableFromMidTier&recommendedFlavor=IN_NETWORK&refId=z%2BMxY62i6Cf5nGQBoqFQFw%3D%3D&trackingId=86ui8BQ60RZbKwVhT%2B62fg%3D%3D&trk=flagship3_search_srp_jobs), Spanish (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2415583525/?eBP=NotAvailableFromMidTier&recommendedFlavor=IN_NETWORK&refId=z%2BMxY62i6Cf5nGQBoqFQFw%3D%3D&trackingId=86ui8BQ60RZbKwVhT%2B62fg%3D%3D&trk=flagship3_search_srp_jobs), and Greek (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2415578895/?eBP=NotAvailableFromMidTier&recommendedFlavor=IN_NETWORK&refId=z%2BMxY62i6Cf5nGQBoqFQFw%3D%3D&trackingId=ZLm9f8F0CiaQizQhoVlMcg%3D%3D&trk=flagship3_search_srp_jobs). Meshing well with recent regulatory-side indications of Starlink’s imminent rollout in France, Germany, and Greece, SpaceX also began accepting preorders – with a $99 deposit – in all the above countries (and more) earlier this week. Beta testing has already begun in the United Kingdom, further signaling that Starlink internet could be available across Europe far sooner than later.
While bilingual customer service agents are obviously useful in almost any country in the modern world, SpaceX is only seeking new hires for its “third shift,” either referring to 4pm to 12am or 12am to 8am Pacific at its Hawthorne, California headquarters. Either timeframe would be an excellent fit to ensure customer service availability for prospective European Starlink customers while simultaneously providing coverage for most western hemisphere markets outside of normal work hours.
According to several Greek news outlets (https://www.ekathimerini.com/259981/article/ekathimerini/business/musks-spacex-to-bring-starlink-internet-to-greece), Starlink service could begin arriving in the Mediterranean nation as early as February or March. Preorders (https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/lg9sx1/pre_order_confirmed_for_kefalonia_greece_delivery/) made after SpaceX opened availability earlier this month suggest that Starlink terminals will begin shipping in the second half of 2021.
In Germany, Tesla may already be testing Starlink internet to a limited extent at its Gigafactory Berlin construction site, while both German regulators and internet service providers (ISPs) have explicitly expressed interest and a desire for direct collaboration with SpaceX. Perhaps most notably, Federal Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer revealed plans (https://www.de24.news/en/2021/02/starlink-can-now-also-be-pre-ordered-in-germany-2.html) for legislation that could allocate around ~$120 million for vouchers that would cover the (admittedly expensive) ~$500 cost of Starlink user terminals for 200,000+ German households. Scheuer believes that those funds could be in place as early as September 2021.
In France, SpaceX is preparing to install at least two or three of the ground stations antenna sites needed for Starlink satellites to deliver low-latency connectivity throughout the region. Those approved French stations could easily complement coverage – or fully cover – large portions of the UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza. While ground stations in one European country will be able to reach multiple others, SpaceX will have to acquire telecommunication licenses and regulatory approval in each separate country regardless.
SpaceX currently offers a generic service availability target of “mid to late 2021” for prospective Starlink buyers, which seems to mesh well with the state of the company’s progress acquiring regulatory permission in several countries.
https://www.space.com/faa-closes-investigation-spacex-starship-sn9-crash
FAA closes investigation of SpaceX's Starship SN9's test-flight crash
SpaceX's latest Starship (https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy.html) prototype is a big step closer to liftoff.
Elon Musk's company is gearing up to launch that vehicle, known as SN10, on a 6-mile-high (10 kilometers) test flight from its South Texas site in the near future.
And such preparations can really ramp up now, because SpaceX (https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have just concluded an investigation of the last such flight, a Feb. 2 jaunt that ended with SN10's predecessor, SN9, exploding upon touchdown (https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn9-test-flight-launch-explosion).
"The FAA closed the investigation of the Feb. 2 SpaceX Starship SN9 prototype mishap today, clearing the way for the SN10 test flight pending FAA approval of license updates," an FAA spokesperson said Friday (Feb. 19) in an emailed statement.
"The FAA provided oversight of the SN9 mishap investigation conducted by SpaceX. The SN9 vehicle failed within the bounds of the FAA safety analysis," the statement continued. "Its unsuccessful landing and explosion did not endanger the public or property. All debris was contained within the designated hazard area. The FAA approved the final mishap report, including the probable causes and corrective actions."
https://spacenews.com/engine-shutdown-led-to-failed-falcon-9-booster-landing/
Engine shutdown led to failed Falcon 9 booster landing
WASHINGTON — A Falcon 9 first stage failed to land after a launch last month because one of its engines shut down during flight after hot gas breached a worn-out cover.
During a NASA press conference March 1 about the upcoming Crew-2 commercial crew flight, Benji Reed, senior director for human spaceflight programs at SpaceX, said that while the booster used on that Feb. 15 launch was making its sixth flight, some components on it were “life leaders” that had flown more often than any other in the Falcon 9 fleet.
That included “boots,” or covers around parts of the Merlin engines in the first stage. “This was the highest count number of flights that this particular boot design had seen,” he said.
However, one of those boots had a “little bit of a hole” that allowed hot gas to get into parts of the engine during flight, he said. “A little bit of hot gas got to where it’s not supposed to be, and it caused that engine to shut down,” he said.
Reed didn’t mention at what point in the launch the engine shut down, but he suggested it took place during ascent. “A great thing about Falcon 9 is that we have engine-out capability,” he said, meaning that one of the first stage’s nine engines can shut down without jeopardizing the mission. “The vehicle got to orbit and put the satellites exactly where they want to be. The primary mission was accomplished.”
The shutdown of the engine, though, kept the first stage from landing. “When that booster came to return home, because of the problem with that particular engine, we didn’t have enough thrust to get back to where we needed to be, and didn’t land where we wanted to be,” he said......
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-17-launch-success-8th-landing
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches and lands for 8th time, delivering 60 Starlink satellites to orbit
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A SpaceX (https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html) Falcon 9 rocket launched a new batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit Thursday morning (March 4), and nailed its landing on a floating platform at sea to top off the long-awaited mission.....
A two-stage Falcon 9 booster (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html), topped with the 60 broadband spacecraft, lifted off from Pad 39A here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:24 a.m. EST (0824 GMT). Approximately nine minutes later, the reusable rocket's first stage returned to Earth to attempt its eighth landing on SpaceX's drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" about 400 miles (630 kilometers) downrange, out in the Atlantic Ocean.
"And we have confirmation of our successful stage one landing," Youmei Zhou, a Dragon propulsion engineer at SpaceX, said during a live webcast of the launch. "This will mark our 75th successful recovery of an orbital class rocket and the eighth recovery of this particular booster."...
This latest mission marked the company's 20th Starlink mission and it's sixth mission overall for 2021 for SpaceX....
https://youtu.be/d5DzoKuhdNk
The Octagrabber.....
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/spacex-fairing-recovery-octagrabber/
SpaceX evolving fairing recovery plans, taking advantage of Octagrabber in pursuit of rapid reusability
.....On several missions, the “Octagrabber (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=octagrabber)” system on board both drone ships has made the difference between a successful recovery and losing a booster at sea.
On the morning of November 19, 2020, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/falcon-9/) core B1061 returned to Port Canaveral aboard the deck of drone ship Just Read the Instructions. Just days before, B1061 and its second stage blasted the company’s first operational crewed mission, Crew-1 (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/11/crew1-launch/), to orbit.
As B1061 appeared over the horizon, it was immediately noticeable that something was wrong. As the drone ship neared port, it became apparent that the booster was secure on the deck but leaning almost 10 degrees.
Around one month later, core B1051, which had just supported the SXM-7 (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/12/spacex-ready-for-25th-falcon9-of-year/) mission, arrived in port with a similarly dire lean. This time, the lean was so bad that one of the booster’s four landing legs was not even resting on the drone ship’s deck.
Often battered by high seas, howling winds, and raging storms, the drone ships and their recovery crews face a difficult task during the several day journey to and from recovery zones at sea. Landed boosters are kept secure thanks to a massive white robot dubbed “Octagrabber.”....
When not needed to secure a booster, Octagrabber rests safely in its garage, hidden behind the drone ship’s blast wall.....
After a landing, Octagrabber rolls on its two massive treads from its garage and stops directly underneath the booster. Four arms then connect to Falcon 9’s base, called the octaweb. These arms connect to the same hold-down points used to secure the rocket to its launch pad before liftoff.
While Octagrabber is quite small compared to a Falcon 9 booster, it still provides a strong enough grip that prevents the booster from sliding or falling off the deck because a Falcon 9 is quite light after landing; now empty of fuel, most of the booster’s mass is at the bottom where the nine Merlin engines are located.
Octagrabber itself is very large and flat, providing a stable base for the rocket to be secured to versus resting solely on its landing legs.......
TURIN
11th Mar 2021, 22:18
Another success today. The 6th time this booster has landed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4sWbTfrzj8
Definitely getting their monies worth out of it.....
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-21-satellites-launch-webcast
SpaceX to attempt record 9th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket with Starlink launch on Sunday
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX is gearing up to launch a third batch of Starlink satellites in as many weeks on Sunday (March 14) and you can watch the action live online.
The Hawthorne, California-based company is planning to fly one of its veteran Falcon 9 rockets (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) for a record nine times with the mission, which comes just days after SpaceX's last launch (https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-launch-success-rocket-landing). The two-stage launcher will blast off from the historic Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center here in Florida at 6:01 a.m. EDT (1101 GMT). .....
The booster, B1051, is one of two fleet leaders in SpaceX's stable of reusable rockets. It first flew in March of 2019 (https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-dragon-demo-1-test-flight-photos.html), lofting an uncrewed Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a demonstration mission.
Following that successful debut, B1051 trekked across the country to launch a trio of Earth-observing satellites for Canada (https://www.space.com/spacex-radarsat-launch-rocket-landing-photos.html) from SpaceX's facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The booster then flew a total of five times from Florida in 2020, carrying five different Starlink missions and a broadband satellite for Sirius XM (https://www.space.com/spacex-sirius-xm-sxm-7-launch-rocket-landing-success).
Sunday's mission marks the second flight for B1051 this year, and its second Starlink mission so far in 2021.
After its last flight took off on Jan. 20 (https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-17-record-rocket-launch-landing-success), SpaceX engineers were able to turn around the booster and get it ready for its historic ninth flight in just 53 days — the second quickest turnaround time for this particular booster. (The fastest was between flights 7 and 8, which took off just 38 days apart.)......
This particular flight, Starlink 21, is the 22nd set of internet-beaming satellites that SpaceX has delivered to space, including a set of initial prototypes in 2019.
The company planned for its initial constellation to be 1,440 strong, and while SpaceX is well on its way to achieving that milestone, the company has already been granted approval for as many as 30,000 with the option for evenmore at a later time.
The latest stack of 60 satellites will join the fleet already in orbit, bringing the total number launched over 1,300.......
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-22-satellites-launch-rocket-landing-success
SpaceX launches 60 new Starlink internet satellites, nails latest rocket landing at sea
There are now more than 1,300 Starlink satellites in orbit.
Listening to the commentators on the NASA site whilst waiting for the, scrubbed, SN11 launch, they discussed plans for future Starlink launches.
Spacex has now launched 1300 satellites out if a planned 1500, at their current launch rate that should be finished in 6-8 weeks (which is mind blowing in itself).
At which point they will reportedly switch to regular polar launches out of Vandenberg - which should provide good views in the higher latitudes.
The first 10 were launched on 24th January Transporter-1 mission which launched 133 satellites for various customers. The 10 were launched to an altitude of approximately 500-kilometers above Earth to operate in Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
The polar satellites transfer data between them using lasers so no ground stations are needed in the polar regions.
https://spacenews.com/spacex-adds-laser-crosslinks-to-polar-starlink-satellites/
https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/26/22350643/oneweb-spacex-racing-broadband-internet-arctic-military
OneWeb and SpaceX are racing to beam internet to the Arctic
Another successful launch and recovery of the stage 1 Falcon 9.
Some good images of the landing on this one.
https://youtu.be/Uy9Jn-3vuPs
Rocket Report: SpaceX abandons catching fairings
Over the last couple of years, SpaceX has experimented with two ships with large nets, Ms. Chief and Ms. Tree, to catch Falcon 9 payload fairings returning from space beneath a parafoil. However, as the SpaceXfleet.com website notes (https://spacexfleet.com/the-state-of-spacex-fairing-recovery-in-2021/), these efforts have not proven to be as reliable as SpaceX engineers likely imagined. "Catching" also proved dangerous to the recovery ships themselves.
As a result, SpaceX has transitioned to "wet recovery" of the fairings, in which the Dragon recovery ships GO Searcher and GO Navigator quickly pluck the two halves from the ocean after splashdown. But those vehicles are increasingly needed for Dragon missions, so as a result the SpaceX fleet is changing.
Both Ms. Chief and Ms. Tree have undergone a decommissioning process, and SpaceX has charted a much larger ship, the Shelia Bordelon, to begin pulling fairing halves from the ocean with its 50-ton crane. This, too, seems to be something of a stopgap measure.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-eight-falcon-9-launches-six-weeks-2021/
SpaceX on track to launch eight Falcon 9 rockets in six weeks
After yesterday’s successful Starlink-26 launch (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-fourth-starlink-launch-two-weeks/), SpaceX is now more than half of the way to completing eight orbital Falcon 9 launches in six weeks.
On April 23rd, after a one-day delay for bad weather, SpaceX launched four astronauts on a flight-proven Falcon 9 booster (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-dragon-third-astronaut-launch-space-station-arrival/) – and in a flight-proven Dragon capsule (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-dragon-third-astronaut-launch-space-station-arrival/) – in a historic spaceflight first.
Six days later, the company aced its 24th operational Starlink launch (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-25th-starlink-launch-landing-success/), followed by two more (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starlink-25-launch-half-million-preorders/) 60-satellite Starlink missions on May 4th and May 9th – the latter of which marked the first time a single Falcon 9 booster completed ten orbital-class launches. (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starlink-27-ten-flight-rocket-reuse-milestone/)
Finally, Falcon 9 completed yet another Starlink launch (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-fourth-starlink-launch-two-weeks/) on May 15th – this time carrying 52 flat-packed internet satellites and two third-party payloads as part of SpaceX’s fourth Starlink rideshare mission.
However, after launching 234 satellites, four astronauts, and five Falcon 9s – and recovering all five boosters – in 22 days, SpaceX is far from finished…..
Unsurprisingly another Starlink mission, Starlink-28 is now scheduled to launch no earlier than (NET) 2:59 pm EDT (18:59 UTC) on May 26th – 11 days after Starlink-26…
Up next, SiriusXM’s 7-ton SXM-8 radio satellite arrived at SpaceX’s payload integration facilities in Florida earlier this month and is scheduled to launch as early as 12:25 am EDT (4:25 UTC) on June 1st. The mission could slip a few days but is still likely to launch in early June.
Less than three days later, a rare new Falcon 9 booster could launch SpaceX’s second upgraded Cargo Dragon spacecraft – also new – on NASA’s CRS-22 space station resupply mission. Earlier today, NASA confirmed that the mission is on track to launch on June 3rd – likely around 1pm EDT (15:00 UTC).
If the weather, space station, and SpaceX’s rockets, spacecraft, and pad facilities cooperate, the completion of those three upcoming missions would mark eight successful Falcon 9 launches – carrying two Dragon spacecraft, four astronauts, and almost 300 satellites to orbit – in less than six weeks (41 days)…..
In the same period, a SpaceX Crew Dragon also safely returned four astronauts to Earth (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-crew-dragon-crew-2-splashdown-success/) after the longest crewed spaceflight in US history (May 2nd) and the company successfully launched and landed a full-size Starship prototype (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-aces-first-starship-landing-sn15/) for the first time (May 5th)….
https://youtu.be/o7Co61yrPEw
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-28-rocket-launch-and-landing-success
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 new Starlink satellites, nails its 2nd drone ship landing at sea
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/05/is-spacex-reliable-company-goes-for-100th-successful-flight-in-a-row-today/
Falcon 9 completes its 100th successful flight in a row
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1397630987832643586?s=20
TURIN
27th May 2021, 23:31
It's getting so routine I missed this one. 😁
Jacob87
28th May 2021, 04:51
It's getting so routine I missed this one. 😁
Yeah, sometimes I even think they do it every day
SpaceX is targeting Thursday, June 3 for Falcon 9’s launch of the twenty-second Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-22).
Liftoff is targeted for 1:29 p.m. EDT, or 17:29 UTC, from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
A backup launch opportunity is available on Friday, June 4 at 1:03 p.m. EDT, or 17:03 UTC.
Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean.
Dragon will separate from Falcon 9’s second stage about twelve minutes after liftoff and autonomously dock to the space station on Saturday, June 5.
Another successful launch and booster recovery. Awesome live coverage of the booster landing from the booster all the way down to touchdown on the deck.
Dragon en-route to the space station with two new rolled up solar arrays as outside cargo. You only appreciate the size of the thing when comparing the in orbit shots against the one from the lab with two technicians standing beneath them.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/879x485/image_9eab9dcbb7ab574ac4cd83a38f5df59cc368c7a5.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/875x585/image_2f3cc42581a1f526ebd9fc4636bf18a4a61a44c8.jpeg
Tisk, tisk, ORAC - "the in orbit ****s", but when you've gotta go................ :)
Next launch Sunday, 6th June, at 0426 UTC. Sirius XM satellite to GTO.
https://everydayastronaut.com/sirius-sxm-8-falcon-9-block-5/
That booster return video is incredible.
A mini burn-back too. Not sure why, I missed that bit.
Dragon has docked at the ISS with the new solar arrays.
https://electrek.co/2021/06/07/spacex-dragon-delivers-solar-arrays-to-the-international-space-station/
An uncrewed SpaceX (https://electrek.co/guides/spacex/) Dragon CRS-22 cargo ship launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 3 and arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) two days later (https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-crs-22-cargo-ship-docks-at-space-station). It was carrying, among many other things, two new solar arrays that will power the ISS.….
Astronauts will install the two iROSA on spacewalks on June 16 and 20.…..
NineEighteen
8th Jun 2021, 14:53
I wonder what kind of condition the ISS interior is in these days; considering it's been in orbit for twenty-odd years now. Presumably there are one or two dents and scrapes. Wear and tear from a relatively small space being continuously crewed for so long.
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1403811724193501184?s=20
Another successful launch and booster recovery.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/06/17/spacex-launches-first-national-security-mission-on-reused-commercial-rocket/
SpaceX launches first national security mission on reused commercial rocket
https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1405560802812350466?s=20
Miss a week and you miss a launch….
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-transporter-2-100-satellite-rideshare-static-fire/
SpaceX rocket ready for second rideshare launch with 100+ small satellites
For the second time in six months, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is ready to launch around 100+ small satellites into low orbit as part of a rideshare mission for dozens of companies and institutions.
Known as Transporter-2, the mission is SpaceX’s second dedicated launch under the Smallsat Rideshare Program it established in 2019. In 2020,
SpaceX began its first launches under the program and delivered eight Earth observation satellites to orbit for Planet and Blacksky as co-passengers on three Starlink missions. A fourth Starlink rideshare was later completed with payloads from Capella Space and Tyvak in May 2021.
In January 2021, Falcon 9 successfully launched 143 small satellites into orbit on a mission known as Transport-1, setting an all-time record for the number of spacecraft flown on a single rocket and emphasizing just how serious and competitive SpaceX’s Smallsat Program really is……
It remains to be seen what exactly Transporter-2 will be carrying to orbit. Transporter-1 carried 133 customer spacecraft and 10 of SpaceX’s own Starlink satellites with a collective liftoff mass of around five metric tons (~11,000 lb). The true mass is unknown but the Falcon 9 booster supporting the mission had to land on a drone ship ~550 km (~340 mi) downrange.
Transporter-2, however, will reportedly involve an increasingly rare return-to-launch-site (RTLS) landing for Falcon 9 booster B1060, implying that its payloads may be substantially lighter than its predecessor’s.
Based on a rough accounting of known Transporter-2 payloads from rideshare managers Spaceflight, Exolaunch, and others, the mission could feasibly launch with 100+ small satellites onboard.
Relative to Transporter-1, the most obvious weight-saving solution would be to exclude Starlink satellites, which likely represented more than a third of missions payload mass at liftoff.
Given that SpaceX also appears to be preparing for a flurry of dedicated polar Starlink launches from its West and East Coast pads that could begin as early as July, it’s fairly safe to assume that Transporter-2 will be Starlink-free.
Ultimately, Transporter-2 appears to be on track for a 2:56 pm EDT (18:56 UTC) launch on Friday, June 25th.
SpaceX is targeting no earlier than next week for its upcoming Falcon 9 launch from Florida, a rare polar mission that will see the rocket pivot south and hug the state's east coast.
The company on Friday confirmed teams were targeting no earlier than 2:56 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, for the 230-foot rocket's flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The mission named Transporter-2 was originally slated to fly from Launch Complex 40 on Friday, June 25.
goofer3
30th Jun 2021, 15:05
SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, June 30 for launch of Transporter-2, SpaceX’s second dedicated SmallSat Rideshare Program mission, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 58-minute launch window opens at 2:56 p.m. EDT, or 18:56 UTC. This mission also marks SpaceX’s second launch to a polar orbit from Florida. On its way to space, Falcon 9 will fly on a southern trajectory along Florida’s eastern coast over the Atlantic ocean and may be visible from the ground.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/
TURIN
30th Jun 2021, 22:05
https://youtu.be/MwJVJU2RAEY
Nailed it again. Great views of the re entry and descent.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-elon-musk-new-falcon-booster-reuse-goals-2021/
SpaceX sets new goals for Falcon booster reuse goals after ten-flight milestone
Speaking virtually at Barcelona’s 2021 Mobile World Congress (MWC), CEO Elon Musk says that SpaceX has already set its sights on even more ambitious reusability goals for Falcon rocket boosters.
Less than two months prior, booster B1051 sent 60 satellites and an upper stage on their way to orbit, simultaneously becoming the first Falcon 9 first stage to ace ten orbital-class launches and landings (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starlink-27-ten-flight-rocket-reuse-milestone/), crossing a mostly symbolic – but still significant – milestone years in the making.
SpaceX competitors – most notably the United Launch Alliance – have often held the ten-flight mark over its head as the latest in a long line of moving goalposts used to discredit, demean, and look down upon reusable rockets and SpaceX’s efforts to realize them.
Not long before it was clear that SpaceX would hit that 10-flight target with at least one Falcon booster, competitors working overtime to rationalize a lack of substantial investment into reusable rockets shifted their goalposts again, expanding rationales to require a fleetwide average (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/m3ws1i/spacex_on_twitter_targeting_sunday_march_14_at/gr0rdki/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) of ten flights.
Instead of explaining why SpaceX’s reusability plans could never work, as many dozens of aerospace executives have assuredly done over the last 5-10 years, the new attitude du jour is to claim that SpaceX’s ability to achieve its reuse goals was never actually in doubt and that the economics of full booster reuse simply can’t make economic sense!
Now, five and half years after Falcon 9’s first successful booster landing, four years after SpaceX’s first successful booster reuse, and seven weeks after a Falcon 9 first stage’s first ten-flight milestone, Elon Musk says that some of the company’s fleet of boosters are already “slated to fly 20 or possibly 30 times.”
Never one to personally rest or allow his companies to rest on their laurels, SpaceX now has a new target to strive for as teams work to ramp and sustain Falcon 9’s launch cadence at record-breaking levels (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-global-orbital-launch-leader/)……
Back in Musk’s 2018 conference call, he also noted that beyond plans for up to ten flights without refurbishment, Falcon boosters could feasibly be made to fly dozens or even 100+ times with occasional in-depth maintenance – not unlike modern aircraft.
Three years later, Musk is now talking about launching certain Falcon boosters 20 or 30 times, while something approximating the recurring maintenance he once described has yet to crop up.
It’s possible, in other words, that SpaceX has found that Falcon 9 Block 5 boosters – which do need some small amount of refurbishment and inspection after each launch – can actually be flown 20 or 30 times without major rework.
Ultimately, only time will tell, but Falcon 9 B1051’s 11th flight is expected – this time from the West Coast – as early as late July or August 2021, carrying SpaceX’s first or second dedicated batch of polar Starlink satellites. (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-west-coast-starlink-booster-fleet/)
B1051 arrived at Vandenberg Air/Space Force Base (VAFB) in late June about a month after Falcon 9 B1049 – likely set to become the second booster to complete ten launches…….
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/10/spacex-cargo-capsule-splashes-down-in-gulf-of-mexico/
SpaceX cargo capsule splashes down in Gulf of Mexico
Wrapping up a 36-day mission to the International Space Station, a SpaceX Cargo Dragon capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico Friday night with biomedical experiments, spacewalk equipment, and other hardware returning from orbit.
The unpiloted spacecraft made a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico south of Tallahassee, Florida, at 11:29 p.m. EDT Friday (0329 GMT Saturday).
SpaceX confirmed the capsule’s splashdown in a tweet as recovery teams converged on the Dragon spacecraft in the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX’s “Go Navigator” recovery ship was on station near the splashdown zone to pull the capsule out of the sea.
Once the Dragon capsule is on the deck of the recovery ship, teams will open the hatch and retrieve time-sensitive research specimens for delivery by helicopter to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where scientists will begin analyzing the experiments.
The recovery ship will bring the capsule back to Cape Canaveral for refurbishment and reuse on a future cargo mission......
This mission was SpaceX’s second resupply flight to use the company’s upgraded Cargo Dragon spacecraft, which is based on the design of the human-rated crew Dragon spaceship.
The new version of the Dragon spacecraft is designed to be flown at least five times, up from three missions on the earlier configuration......
And, of course, the same technology which will provide coverage of the Starship flight to Hawaii - but with the Starlink terminals on the Syarship, not a drone ship….
https://youtu.be/Bf4rPsS_fwA
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launching-new-generation-of-starlink-satellites-next-month/
SpaceX to begin launching the next series of Starlink satellites
After going through the month of July with no launches, SpaceX is scheduled to resume missions in August with Falcon 9 rocket flights from California and Florida to begin deploying Starlink internet satellites into new orbits.
SpaceX is gearing up for at least two Starlink launches next month, beginning with a Falcon 9 mission departing from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, no earlier than Aug. 10, multiple sources said. Another Falcon 9 launch is scheduled to carry a batch of Starlink satellites into orbit in mid-August…..
SpaceX has launched 1,740 Starlink satellites to date, including prototypes already retired, more than all other commercial satellite fleets combined. Most of the satellites have launched into a 53-degree inclination orbit, the first of five orbital “shells” the company plans to complete full deployment of the Starlink network.…
SpaceX’s other Starlink layers will include 1,584 satellites at 335 miles (540 kilometers) and an inclination of 53.2 degrees, 720 satellites at 354 miles (570 kilometers) and an inclination of 70 degrees, and 520 satellites spread into two shells at 348 miles (560 kilometers) and an inclination of 97.6 degrees.
The Starlink mission set for liftoff from Vandenberg next month, designated “Starlink 2-1,” will begin populating a new orbital shell.…
A SpaceX application with the FCC associated with launch vehicle telemetry links for the Starlink launch from Vandenberg suggests the company’s booster landing platform, or drone ship, will be positioned in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California. The drone ship position indicates the launch will target an orbit with an inclination of 70 degrees.
A similar FCC application for a Starlink launch next month from Cape Canaveral shows a SpaceX drone ship will be parked in the Atlantic Ocean in line with a rocket trajectory heading for an inclination of 53.2 degrees…..
More Starlink missions will follow the launches in mid-August. SpaceX is expected to launch an average of one Starlink mission per month from Vandenberg over the next year, and there will be a regular cadence of Starlink flights from Cape Canaveral, too.….
SpaceX launched 10 Starlink satellites into a 97.6-degree polar orbit on a rideshare mission in January. Another three Starlink payloads launched into a similar orbit last month on a subsequent rideshare flight.
Those satellites featured laser intersatellite links, which allow spacecraft to pass data and internet traffic between each other without routing it through a ground station. The upgrade will allow SpaceX to provide internet connectivity near the poles and in other regions without ground stations…..
SpaceX has not disclosed what, if any, design changes it plans to introduce on the next series of Starlink satellites, which the company builds on an assembly line at a development facility in Redmond, Washington.….
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-two-month-launch-gap/
SpaceX set to end longest gap between Falcon launches in two years
NASA has confirmed that SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 launch is now scheduled to occur no earlier than 3:37 am EDT (07:37 UTC) on Saturday, August 28th.
Known as CRS-23, the cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is noteworthy for two major reasons. Most importantly, CRS-23 will mark SpaceX’s first-ever reuse of an upgraded Cargo Dragon 2 spacecraft. Simultaneously, that reuse milestone will coincide with another when SpaceX smashes its internal record for orbital spacecraft turnaround later this month.
Second, much to the surprise of virtually everyone watching from the sidelines, SpaceX’s last launch occurred on June 30th – in the first half of 2021. One step removed from the mission’s technical specifics, CRS-23 will, in other words, also be SpaceX’s first launch in almost two months – a gap not seen in two years…..
TURIN
29th Aug 2021, 10:18
Finally gets up after a couple of weather aborts.
https://youtu.be/eac4loxYK40
Two Dragons at the ISS ,for the first time.
https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-docks-space-station-crs-23
SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship docks at space station
Two Dragons at the ISS ,for the first time.
Not counting the other first time, of course:
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/07/spacex-docks-two-dragon-spacecraft-to-the-iss-for-the-first-time.html
It is surprising how little real-time interest this generated in the forum. I suppose it is getting routine. Or maybe everybody is too amazed at the latest Blue Origin mission to notice a small thing like sending cargo to the ISS.
What Blue Origin mission?
What Blue Origin mission?
Exactly! I found it painful to watch.
https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-first-dedicated-polar-starlink-mission/
SpaceX launches first dedicated polar Starlink mission
WASHINGTON — SpaceX launched its first dedicated polar Starlink mission Sept. 13 as the company moves into the next phase of deployment of its broadband satellite constellation.
A Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 11:55 p.m. Eastern. The rocket’s payload of 51 Starlink satellites deployed 15 and a half minutes after launch, although it took an additional 11 minutes to confirm the satellites separated as expected.
The rocket’s first stage, making its tenth flight, landed on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean nearly nine minutes after liftoff. The booster, the second to have reached the ten-flight milestone, had previously launched seven other Starlink missions as well as the Telstar 18 Vantage and Iridium-8 missions.
The launch was the first dedicated Starlink launch since May 26, although three Starlink satellites were included on the Transporter-2 rideshare mission that launched June 30. The launch was also the first dedicated launch of Starlink satellites to polar orbit.
SpaceX blamed the long gap in Starlink launches on delays in completing a new series of satellites that include laser inter-satellite links. Those links will minimize the number of ground stations the network needs to provide service in the polar regions and over the oceans…..
https://youtu.be/4372QYiPZB4
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1443772405772476417?s=20
https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1466897080878874627?s=21
First launch 1:24 am PDT (09:24 UTC) on Saturday.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-three-falcon-9-launches-four-days-2021/
SpaceX set to launch three Falcon 9 rockets in three days after Starlink delay
https://youtu.be/q4Ed3EBx90s
https://youtu.be/CoWYFMGmjEM (https://youtu.be/q4Ed3EBx90s)
https://www.space.com/spacex-rocket-nasa-crs-24-cargo-mission-launch-webcast
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX (https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html) will launch a Dragon spacecraft packed with NASA cargo to the International Space Station early Tuesday (Dec. 21) as part of its latest resupply mission for the U.S. space agency and you can watch it live.
A shiny new SpaceX Falcon 9 (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) rocket will take to the skies here from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 5:06 a.m. EST (1006 GMT). The two-stage launcher will blast off from Pad 39 lofting a robotic Dragon (https://www.space.com/18852-spacex-dragon.html) cargo capsule carrying more than 6,500 pounds (2,948 kilograms) of fresh supplies, experiment hardware, and other gear for the astronauts aboard the orbiting lab.
You can watch the launch live on this page and here at Space.com (https://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html), courtesy of NASA. You can also watch directly via NASA TV (https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/) or SpaceX's launch webcast page (https://www.spacex.com/webcast)…..
The weather outlook is iffy going into Tuesday's attempt, with forecasters at the 45th Weather Squadron predicting a 30% chance of favorable conditions (https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/Portals/14/Weather/Falcon%209%20NASA%20CRS-24%20L-1%20Forecast%20-%2021%20Dec%20Launch.pdf?ver=_SeXjZh6wfl2FqPnmzCwvw%3d%3d) for liftoff. The primary concerns being cumulus clouds, thick clouds, and surface electricity rule.
There is another opportunity on Wednesday if the rocket can't get off the ground; with, the weather report improves significantly to 70% favorable. While the launch weather improves, the booster recovery weather deteriorates slightly as higher seas are expected on Wednesday.
Tuesday's launch marks the 31st flight of the year for SpaceX’s workhorse two-stage Falcon 9 rocket. The liftoff is expected to feature a new Falcon 9 first stage, designated B1069, marking only the second SpaceX launch so far this year to blast off on a new rocket.
It will be the company's sixth Dragon launch of the year, which includes two crew missions as well as three previous cargo flights. The Dragon used in Tuesday's flight will be a previously used cargo craft, having flown on the CRS-22 mission in June (https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-crs-22-nasa-cargo-launch-success)…..
To date, SpaceX has successfully landed its first-stage boosters 99 times. If successful, Saturday's landing will mark a new milestone for the company — its 100th overall recovery…..
https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-crs-2-launch-100th-rocket-landing-success
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX launched its 31st rocket of the year early Tuesday (Dec. 21), sending a used Dragon cargo capsule toward the International Space Station (https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html) before nailing the company's 100th landing.
A new two-stage Falcon 9 rocket (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) blasted off from Launch Complex 39A here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 5:07 a.m. EST (1007 GMT), kicking off the company's 24th cargo resupply mission to the orbiting lab for NASA. The Dragon (https://www.space.com/18852-spacex-dragon.html)is packed with more than 6,500 pounds (2,949 kilograms) of supplies, scientific experiments, and hardware for the crew of Expedition 66 on the station…..
https://youtu.be/S5w91xuo3X8
About eight minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth, landing on one of SpaceX (https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html)'s drone ships in the Atlantic Ocean in a smooth touchdown.
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-launch-success-january-2022
SpaceX lofts 49 Starlink internet satellites to orbit in 1st launch of 2022
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX successfully launched its first Falcon 9 rocket of the year Thursday (Jan. 6), sending a new stack of Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida, before nailing a landing at sea.
The previously flown Falcon 9 (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) rocket blasted off at 4:49 p.m. EST (2149 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station here in Florida, carrying a stack of 49 Starlink (https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html) satellites.
Approximately nine minutes after liftoff, the rocket's first stage returned to Earth and touched down on the deck of SpaceX's newest drone ship, "A Shortfall of Gravitas," marking the company's first successful launch and landing of the new year….
Thursday's liftoff kicks off another action-packed year for the California-based aerospace company. In 2021, SpaceX (https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html) set a new record for most launches in a single year at 31. The company also launched a total of 12 astronauts on three Crew Dragon missions, including four private citizens who flew as part of the Inspiration4 mission.
SpaceX will try to keep up its rapid launch cadence this year as the company continues to expand its ever-growing internet constellation. Also on deck this month is the company's third dedicated rideshare mission, which is devoted to launching a multitude of small satellites in orbit.
Following that launch on Jan. 13, the company will also send a radar reconnaissance satellite into space for the Italian space agency. Called COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG 2), the satellite is scheduled to launch on Jan. 24….
Next launch tomorrow 13th January.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-transporter-3-rideshare-launch-prep/
SpaceX preparing for third rideshare launch with dozens of small satellites
….Transporter-3 will mark SpaceX’s first ‘land landing’ of a Falcon booster in more than six months and its first truly polar launch of 2022.
Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off no earlier than (NET) 10:25 am EST (15:25 UTC) on Thursday, January 13th. Three more Falcon 9s – including one NET January 24th – are scheduled to launch before the end of the month. Barring schedule delays, Transporter-3 could also be the first of up to four dedicated SpaceX rideshare launches this year.
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket Thursday from Cape Canaveral with 105 satellites ranging from the size of a soda can to a washing machine.
Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station occurred at 10:25:39 a.m. EST (1525:39 GMT), and the Falcon 9’s first stage booster returned to Florida’s Space Coast for a propulsive landing about eight-and-a-half minutes later.….
LAUNCH TIMELINE:
T+00:00: Liftoff
T+01:12: Maximum aerodynamic pressure (Max-Q)
T+02:15: First stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
T+02:19: Stage separation
T+02:26: Second stage engine ignition
T+02:32: Boost-back burn begins
T+03:47: Fairing jettison
T+06:36: First stage entry burn ignition (three engines)
T+08:26: Second stage engine cutoff (SECO 1)
T+08:27: First stage landing
T+55:22: Second stage engine restart
T+55:24; Second stage engine cutoff (SECO 2)
T+59:38: Unicorn 2E separation
T+59:51: Delfi-PQ, EASAT 2, and HADES separation
T+1:00:25: Unicorn 2D, SATLLA 2A, Grizu-263A separation
T+1:02:10: Unicorn 1 and Unicorn 2D separation
T+1:02:49: PION-BR1, MDQubeSat 1, SATLLA 2B, Unicorn 2TA1 separation
T+1:02:55: ETV-A1 separation
T+1:03:04: HYPSO 1 separation
T+1:03:16: Gossamer Piccolomini separation
T+1:03:28: DEWASat 1 separation
T+1:03:47: NuX 1 separation
T+1:04:15: BRO 5 separation
T+1:05:36: Challenger and SanoSat 1 separation
T+1:05:48: FossaSat 2E5 and FossaSat 2E6 separation
T+1:06:01: FossaSat 2E2 and FossaSat 2E3 separation
T+1:06:27: FossaSat 2E1 and FossaSat 2E4 separation
T+1:06:32: First SuperDove separation
T+1:06:51: First Lemur 2 separation
T+1:07:13: Kepler 17 separation
T+1:07:19: Second Lemur 2 separation
T+1:07:31: Ororatech separation
T+1:08:09: Tevel 4 and Tevel 5 separation
T+1:08:35: Tevel 1, Tevel 2, Tevel 3 separation
T+1:10:27: Kepler 19 separation
T+1:11:01: MDASat 1a separation
T+1:11:13: IRIS A separation
T+1:11:25: Kepler 18 separation
T+1:11:39: Kepler 16 separation
T+1:12:03: Lemur 2 Djirang separation
T+1:12:28: Lemur 2 Miriwari separation
T+1:12:44: MDASat 1b separation
T+1:12:58: MDASat 1c separation
T+1:13:27: Tevel 6, Tevel 7, Tevel 8 separation
T+1:21:07: Last SuperDove separation
T+1:21:30: First ICEYE separation
T+1:22:08: Second ICEYE separation
T+1:22:20: Umbra 2 separation
T+1:23:02: Sich 2-1 separation
T+1:23:31: First Capella separation
T+1:24:30: ION SCV 004 transfer vehicle separation
T+1:27:04: Second Capella separation
Absolutely gorgeous footage from after launch (40m) showing separation and the boost back. Stunning.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1488297679557959681?s=21
https://youtu.be/rNUAW1DT7tY
treadigraph
1st Feb 2022, 15:11
Amazing sight!
NROL-87 launch and booster recovery.
https://youtu.be/RJp6IgEz8Gk
A Falcon 9 (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) rocket launched 49 new Starlink satellites to orbit today (Feb. 3), lifting off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on the east coast of Florida at 1:13 p.m. EST (1813 GMT).
About nine minutes after launch, the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage touched down safely on the SpaceX (https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html) droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas," which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean a few hundred miles east of KSC.
It was the sixth landing for this particular booster, whose previous launches included the Crew-1 and Crew-2 astronaut-carrying missions to the International Space Station for NASA.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/02/spacexs-falcon-9-rocket-has-set-a-record-for-most-consecutive-successes/
The Falcon 9 may now be the safest rocket ever launched
https://youtu.be/HgT6xRyBOdM
Oops. Was the storm predicted?
https://twitter.com/djsnm/status/1491212294184849408?s=21
SnowFella
10th Feb 2022, 00:25
Timelapse of what they believe is the aftermath of that solar storm. Pretty expensive little lightshow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUlAz_Oxv4Q
wiggy
10th Feb 2022, 12:37
Oops. Was the storm predicted?
Space weather forecasting is still a very inexact art. The solar event was noted but there were no warnings issued about it’s effect on the upper atmosphere.
From Spaceweather.com:
Two days before launch a CME hit Earth's magnetic field. It was not a major space weather event. In fact, the weak impact did not at first spark any remarkable geomagnetic activity. However, as Earth passed through the CME's wake, some sputtering G1-class (https://spaceweather.com/glossary/g1.jpg) geomagnetic storms developed. It was one of these minor storms that caught the Starlink satellites on Feb. 4th.
Geomagnetic storms heat Earth's upper atmosphere. Diaphanous tendrils of warming air literally reached up and grabbed the Starlink satellites. According to SpaceX, onboard GPS devices detected atmospheric drag increasing "up to 50 percent higher than during previous launches."
"The Starlink team commanded the satellites into a safe-mode where they would fly edge-on (like a sheet of paper) to minimize drag," says SpaceX. "Preliminary analysis show the increased drag at the low altitudes prevented the satellites from leaving safe-mode to begin orbit raising maneuvers, and up to 40 of the satellites will reenter or already have reentered the Earth’s atmosphere."
Two consecutive successful launch and recoveries this week…
https://www.space.com/spacex-50-starlink-satellites-launch-february-2022
SpaceX launches 50 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on ship at sea
Next launch today at 1516 UTC.
https://everydayastronaut.com/starlink-group-4-14-falcon-9-block-5/
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off for a record-tying 12th time on Thursday (April 21) — and aced its 12th landing as well.
The two-stage Falcon 9 (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) launched Thursday at 1:51 p.m. EDT (1751 GMT) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 53 of SpaceX's Starlink (https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html)internet satellites to orbit.
It was the 12th liftoff for this particular Falcon 9 first stage, tying a SpaceX reuse record set just last month (https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-launch-falcon-9-12th-flight) on a different Starlink launch. And it likely won't be this booster's last flight; about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, it came down for a safe landing on the SpaceX droneship Just Read The Instructions, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-sl3-1-launch-rocket-landing
SpaceX launches 46 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on ship at sea
SpaceX launched 46 satellites and landed the returning rocket on a ship at sea on Sunday (July 10).
A two-stage Falcon 9 rocket topped with 46 of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday at 9:39 p.m. EDT (6:39 p.m. local California time; 0139 GMT on July 11). About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth and landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
It was the sixth launch and landing for this Falcon 9 first stage. The booster also helped loft the Earth-observation satellite Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission (https://www.space.com/nasa-dart-mission-launch-asteroid-planetary-defense) and three Starlink batches. The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, deployed the 46 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit 63 minutes after liftoff as planned...
Sunday evening's launch was the 29th orbital mission of the year for SpaceX and the 17th dedicated to Starlink, the company's huge internet-satellite constellation.
SpaceX has launched more than 2,750 Starlink satellites (https://planet4589.org/space/stats/star/starstats.html) to date, and the number will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. The company already has approval to launch 12,000 Starlink craft, and it has applied to an international regulator for permission to loft up to 30,000 more on top of that.
I think you missed like 20 of these - guess it shows how repetitive it has become!
Yeah, main reason was the update on the number of Starlink satellites now in orbit.
If and when the Starship gets into launching Starlink they’ll be adding a couple of thousand every month….
And, of course, that they’ve stopped building them, as they see them as obsolete tech and can just keep refurbishing and launching the current fleet of abiut 20 until Starship comes on line.
What any other company or country in the world would pay to take over the production line and technology….
https://www.space.com/spacex-crs-25-cargo-mission-launch-success
Dragon capsule launches on SpaceX's 25th cargo mission to the space station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida this evening (July 14), sending a robotic Dragon resupply craft toward the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission, known as CRS-25, lifted off tonight at 8:44 p.m. EDT (0044 GMT on July 15) from KSC's Launch Complex 39A. The two stages of the Falcon 9 (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html)separated 2.5 minutes into flight. As the rocket's second stage propelled Dragon into orbit, the main booster began its return to Earth, safely landing on SpaceX's A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship in the Atlantic Ocean about 7.5 minutes after launch.
The Dragon (https://www.space.com/18852-spacex-dragon.html) will spend the next day and a half catching up to the ISS. The cargo capsule is scheduled to dock with the orbiting lab around 11:20 a.m. EDT (1520 GMT) on Saturday morning (July 16)…..
https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1577319599774830592?s=61&t=DCuDWqnZrbGE9M1JLh5cQA
Falcon 9 and Dragon Endurance on the pad ahead of tomorrow’s 12:00 p.m. EDT launch of Crew-5 to the ISS for a long-duration science expedition.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x1500/image_2028c779cd38cf556af266c06665b7778985ed3a.jpeg
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1578893554910273536?s=61&t=lZwXoW-tkvdd1WyFcYavIg
SpaceX launched its 180th Falcon 9 rocket tonight, and 46th booster of the year, for a cadence of one flight every 6.1 days.
This first stage was making its 14th flight, and was a purely commercial mission. The customer received no discount for an "aged" booster.
Reuse is real.
https://youtu.be/tYaV5XXygZY
SpaceX launches more mass to orbit than the rest of the world combined…
A trend which, currently, is accelerating…
https://twitter.com/wapodavenport/status/1585394499890868225?s=61&t=vBouRWyxezwJtvK7AUOlZA
SpaceX launched a telecom satellite to orbit and landed a rocket on a ship at sea early Thursday (Nov. 3).
A Falcon 9 (https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html) rocket carrying Eutelsat's Hotbird 13G satellite lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force (https://www.space.com/42089-space-force.html) Station Thursday at 1:22 a.m. EDT (0522 GMT).
The Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth a little less than nine minutes later, touching down as planned on SpaceX's Just Read the Instructions droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
It was the seventh launch and landing for this particular first stage.
"The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, and one Starlink mission," SpaceX wrote in a prelaunch mission description (https://www.spacex.com/launches/eutelsat-hotbird-13g/).
(Crew-3 and Crew-4 were astronaut missions to the International Space Station (https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html), and CRS-22 and CRS-25 were uncrewed cargo flights to the orbiting lab.)
Hotbird 13G, meanwhile, kept flying atop the Falcon 9's upper stage, which deployed the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit right on schedule, about 36 minutes after liftoff.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-ties-42-year-old-record-last-launch-2022/
SpaceX ties 42-year-old Soviet record with last launch of 2022
Been a while since this thread was at the top. It’s become so routine that we don’t even comment on Falcon launches and successful landings - last just yesterday launching another 21 Starlink satellites, around 4K now in orbit…
Meanwhile. Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete – targeting Friday, August 25 for launch of NASA’s Crew-7 mission to the ISS.
It’s become so routine that we don’t even comment on Falcon launches and successful landings ...
I have often had the same thought. How far they have come!
SpaceX and NASA are now targeting no earlier than Saturday, August 26 for Falcon 9 to launch Dragon to the @space_station.
The new launch date provides teams additional time to complete and discuss analysis. The vehicles remain healthy and crew is ready to fly → spacex.com/launches
Another successful launch and landing. Crew on way to ISS.
https://youtu.be/lbLdH308xeg?si=uL0CXUsTYaVzeuFO
Lots of interest/concern at the RTLS re-entry burn.
Regardless it nailed the landing - which if there was an engine relight problem shows a remarkable level of redundancy in both hardware and software.
https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1695343972040753208?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
SpaceX timeline called for 11-seconds of entry burn (short, but for RTLS), but this Booster only burned for about three seconds. Then fought a fair bit during the return but still managed to land!
Secondary to the smooth crew launch on Dragon, which all went well, but it is fascinating if the booster had an entry burn issue, but STILL got back to the landing site OK! Or SpaceX changed something and didn't update their timeline.
Let's see if we get an official answer during post-launch presser.…
https://x.com/spacex/status/1704341614213156910?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, completing the first 17th launch and landing of a booster.
Another successful Falcon Heavy launch and twin booster recovery with the launch of the Psyche asteroid mission.
Two interesting points. First there will no longer be any attempts to recover a centre core, apparently the margins are two close and it’s not worth the effort. Second there was a big difference between the booster landings; no reason given, perhaps they’re playing around with different burn options to see which needs less fuel.
meleagertoo
14th Oct 2023, 11:34
"Two close..."?
You've just one this week's Adrian Mole litricy prise for that!
https://x.com/spacex/status/1720603360154521898?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, completing the first 18th launch and landing of a booster.
Elon saying that the current SpaceX launch tempo of one every 3 days will increase to one every 2 days next year.
The mind boggling question is how many of those will be Starship and what the percentage increase in payload to orbit will become…
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1722098742533210545?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Super Heavy launch of x-37B from Canaveral now planned for 2014 ET Monday (0114 UTC Tuesday).
Launch delay was due t9 weather but 70% probability it will be suitable tonight.
SpaceX Twitter stream starts at 1958 ET.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=ussf-52
Falcon Heavy launch scrubbed due to a ground side issue; vehicle and payload remain healthy.
Next launch window tonight at same time.
TURIN
12th Dec 2023, 11:19
If SpaceX are going to increase launch cadence to one every two days then we are going to see more and more days with multiple launches as we did on the day of the Psyche Launch. As soon as the weather or a downrange anomaly scrubs the launch we will be stacking up rockets like mad. I wonder how long it will be before a Nimby starts complaining? 😁
Now targeting no earlier than Wednesday, December 13 for Falcon Heavy to launch USSF-52. The extra time allows teams to complete system checkouts ahead of liftoff.
Teams are also keeping an eye on weather, which is 40% favorable for launch
Spacex:
We are standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon Heavy launch of USSF-52 to perform additional system checkouts.
The payload remains healthy while teams work toward the next best launch opportunity.
We’re also keeping an eye on the weather and will announce a new launch date once confirmed with the Range.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/12/technical-problems-ground-spacex-launch-of-us-military-spaceplane/
Effects of Falcon Heavy launch delay could ripple to downstream missions
SpaceX is targeting no earlier than Thursday, December 28 for Falcon Heavy to launch USSF-52 to orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four-hour launch window opens at 7:00 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Friday, December 29 during the same window.
SpaceX is targeting Thursday, December 28 for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink (https://www.starlink.com/) satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 9:09 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 12:32 a.m. PT on Friday, December 29. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Friday, December 29 starting at 8:48 p.m. PT.
This launch will include the first six Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell (https://direct.starlink.com/) capabilities that will enable mobile network operators around the world to provide seamless global access to texting, calling, and browsing wherever you may be on land, lakes, or coastal waters.
Meanwhile routine (sic) Falcon 9 launches and recoveries continue, including one last night….
https://x.com/spacex/status/1736962106795458996?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
The Falcon fleet’s life leading rocket completed its 19th and final launch and landing on December 23. This one reusable rocket booster alone launched to orbit 2 astronauts and more than 860 satellites — totaling 260+ metric tons — in ~3.5 years.
This Falcon 9 booster is celebrated for executing the first-ever crewed flight of a SpaceX Dragon capsule, notably ferrying astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station. It also set a record by launching 860 satellites and over 260 metric tons of cargo in just over three years. Its exterior, adorned with the iconic red "NASA" logo, is a testament to its pivotal role in space exploration.
The booster's final mission was completed in late December 2023, with plans for its retirement already in place. However, rough seas on the recovery droneship led to its unexpected end. Despite this, SpaceX continues to innovate, with newer Falcon 9 models featuring upgraded landing legs to prevent similar incidents.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x2000/image_d468c0e69582452dfc51a87650e15ae7e05d6981.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/image_2cdf77c1ef7fe4bb9f76033d8c7967b287249a77.jpeg
3 other Falcon 9 B5 Boosters are currently tied with 17 flights each: 60, 61, & 62.
https://x.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1739723992871960875?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
JRTI and the remnants of Falcon 9 B1058 have returned to Port Canaveral.…
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1250x833/image_42a0ef5af09bad162fdec66b264f4cd97985ede0.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1250x833/image_522a3d8037a91f6a2e58b50aea368bb347d85c59.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1250x833/image_8401f736b208e9bd3b8be8144f054a334d927559.jpeg
SpaceX is set to launch the X-37B Spaceplane on Falcon Heavy from LC-39A tonight. The 10-minute launch window opens at 8:07 p.m. ET. Weather is currently 80% GO.
Both side cores (B1064 & B1065) will be landing at LZ-1 and LZ-2.
https://www.youtube.com/live/wnfddhDuWDE?si=oBzc-Zfs0XjFVGm2
Just 3 hours later, SpaceX is set to launch a batch of Starlink satellites from SLC-40. Liftoff is targeting 11:01 p.m. ET.
B1069 will be making its 12th flight.
Both successful launches and recoveries - heavy boosters RLS to Canaveral and Starlink booster which landed back on the droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,’ which was stationed near the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean.
That makes a total of 98 launches this year - 91 Falcon 9, 5 Falcon Heavy and 2 Starship.
cavuman1
29th Dec 2023, 15:10
A tip of the hat to Mr. Musk: a launch every 3.7 days, with almost every payload delivered to orbit and with the majority of boosters recovered successfully. Viva SpaceX and Private Enterprise!
- Ed
https://ringwatchers.com/article/s28-b10-updates
What's New on Starship 28 & Booster 10?
A redesigned dome, heatshield changes, structural improvements, and more, are all debuting on Starship Flight 3. Our new article is live, covering all of the publically known changes on Ship 28 and Booster 10.
Just another day at SpaceX…
https://x.com/spacex/status/1764821414610420210?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Three Falcon 9 launches in 20 hours, carrying to orbit:
- 4 crewmembers headed to the @Space_Station
- 53 rideshare spacecraft
- 23 @Starlink satellites
https://x.com/spacex/status/1764918210820706725?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Dragon docked with the @Space_Station for the fifth time
https://x.com/spacex/status/1764818522813931993?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Deployment of @Starlink satellites confirmed. This mission brings us above 10,000 operational space lasers for the constellation, which enable satellites to provide truly global coverage and serve those in the most remote locations on Earth.
https://x.com/spacex/status/1764812375683998198?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Rideshare deployment sequence complete.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=crew-8
All first stages landed successfully.
https://x.com/spacex/status/1773871502884302914?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Targeting Saturday, March 30 for back-to-back-to-back launches from all three launch pads in Florida and California.
Up first, Falcon 9 will launch the @Eutelsat_Group EUTELSAT 36D mission from pad 39A in Florida,
Three hours later, Falcon 9 is targeted to lift off from pad 40 in Florida, delivering 23 @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit.
Later Saturday night at pad 4E in California, Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch an additional 22 @Starlink satellites to orbit.
http://spacex.com/launches
👀👀👍👍
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1777386291258183708?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Every SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral 2010-2023.