SpaceX flight testing in South Texas
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From: Everett, WA
I can't help but wonder how long it would have taken to develop the Atlas back in the late 1950's-early 1960's if the FAA had been in charge. Those things blew up on a regular basis, yet they continued to launch them as part of the development process to sort out all the issues.
Even when the Atlas was 'man-rated' for Mercury-Atlas orbital flights, it's failure rate was close to 1/3rd...
Even when the Atlas was 'man-rated' for Mercury-Atlas orbital flights, it's failure rate was close to 1/3rd...
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From: Blighty
Could be a long delay. January next year perhaps.
https://wccftech.com/spacexs-starshi...case-scenario/
https://wccftech.com/spacexs-starshi...case-scenario/
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Musk getting pissed off. Not sure what NASA thinks…
US Fish and Wildlife officials have yet to begin a formal review of SpaceX’s upgrades following Starship’s first launch in April. This could push back the next launch window by months, which I know none of us want to hear.
The agency still needs to review SpaceX’s plans to operate a water deluge system during the next launch of its Starship rocket — this process could take anywhere from 30 to 135 days, the FWS said in an email to Bloomberg News on Monday.
However, that review process has yet to formally begin, the FWS said, which could further delay SpaceX’s plans to launch Starship on its second test flight from South Texas.
The US Federal Aviation Administration cannot give SpaceX a new launch license until the consultation with the FWS is complete, the FWS added….
Elon Musk:
That is unacceptable.
It is absurd that SpaceX can build a giant rocket faster than they can shuffle paperwork!
US Fish and Wildlife officials have yet to begin a formal review of SpaceX’s upgrades following Starship’s first launch in April. This could push back the next launch window by months, which I know none of us want to hear.
The agency still needs to review SpaceX’s plans to operate a water deluge system during the next launch of its Starship rocket — this process could take anywhere from 30 to 135 days, the FWS said in an email to Bloomberg News on Monday.
However, that review process has yet to formally begin, the FWS said, which could further delay SpaceX’s plans to launch Starship on its second test flight from South Texas.
The US Federal Aviation Administration cannot give SpaceX a new launch license until the consultation with the FWS is complete, the FWS added….
Elon Musk:
That is unacceptable.
It is absurd that SpaceX can build a giant rocket faster than they can shuffle paperwork!
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Peripatetic
In a remarkably frank discussion this week, several senior SpaceX officials spoke with Ars Technica on background about how working with the Federal Aviation Administration has slowed down the company's progress.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/1...censing-staff/
Citing slow Starship reviews, SpaceX urges FAA to double licensing staff
https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/1...censing-staff/
Citing slow Starship reviews, SpaceX urges FAA to double licensing staff
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Peripatetic
As the consultation with FAA and US Fish and Wildlife over the Starship mishap will likely push into November, further delaying a second launch attempt, SpaceX is calling on Congress to push FAA to issue launch licenses faster - The Washington Post
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Everett, WA
In a remarkably frank discussion this week, several senior SpaceX officials spoke with Ars Technica on background about how working with the Federal Aviation Administration has slowed down the company's progress.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/1...censing-staff/
Citing slow Starship reviews, SpaceX urges FAA to double licensing staff
https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/1...censing-staff/
Citing slow Starship reviews, SpaceX urges FAA to double licensing staff
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,290
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From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
The FAA didn't help us get to the moon in '69.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Near Stuttgart, Germany
We are not going to see any space travel soon if a major accident happens during testing of these rockets. A fueled Superheavy/Starship rocket has the destructive power of a small nuclear bomb. On the first launch attempt, the rocket was completely out of control, staging didn't work and the safety systems not as expected. I wouldn't want to live any closer than 1000 miles from Boca Chica when they try it again, unless the FAA and the other supervising authorities work as good as they can. If it takes a little longer, then be it so. An accident will cause much bigger delays or even an end of the entire program.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
SpaceX is cleaning up the concrete debris from the inaugural Starship launch! Personnel from the Fish & Wildlife Service and Texas Parks have been spotted onsite, likely overseeing the process.
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From: Everett, WA
They didn't do that because they had the FAA looking over their shoulder and second guessing everything they did.
Sometimes you need to turn the innovators loose to do their thing.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Single engine static fire demonstrating flight-like startup for a Starship deorbit burn
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From: Blighty
Blaming the FAA is a straw man, SpaceX has only itself to blame.
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Everett, WA
About time. This is the real reason for the delay. SpaceX were allowed to build a launch complex in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary, they made a right mess of that when the launch pad got blasted to bits and threw debris for literally miles! It's been months and there has been no attempt to clear it up. None! Did NASA ever create a similar mess at The Cape in the 60s?
Blaming the FAA is a straw man, SpaceX has only itself to blame.
Blaming the FAA is a straw man, SpaceX has only itself to blame.
I wonder how long it took SpaceX to get Parks and Wildlife approval for their cleanup plan, and to arrange for the government required observers of their process?
Because I'd bet big money that it wasn't a quick or easy process to do that, and SpaceX doesn't have a reputation for procrastination.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Starship: Catch & release - Though not planned for the first few launches, with the help of @LunarCaveman, I have put together this infographic explaining how SpaceX plans to catch the biggest operational rocket in history on future missions.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
The Flame Deflector test from earlier today was pretty intense compared to past tests. Such a massive amount of water being ejected in less than a 60 seconds.
This change is result of an additional 82,000 gallons of capacity that was added recently. Along with this, the high pressure gas system now has nearly double the capacity since the last time this system was tested.
Can't wait for launch day, when ever that is!
This change is result of an additional 82,000 gallons of capacity that was added recently. Along with this, the high pressure gas system now has nearly double the capacity since the last time this system was tested.
Can't wait for launch day, when ever that is!