SpaceX flight testing in South Texas
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From: Near Stuttgart, Germany
Why do you keep repeating that all the time? The Space Shuttle was the first reusable first stage, together with it's boosters. Next came Buran, then Falcon 1, then Falcon 9 then New Shepard and maybe Superheavy in sixth place if there are no other classified reusable first stages of which we know nothing.
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From: Norfolk, UK
Tim Dodd: https://everydayastronaut.com/
Scott Manley: [Edit: Forum really not liking links to YouTube channels - try https://x.com/DJSnM]
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From: Peripatetic
Booster 12 has been lifted from the launch mount this morning with an awesome view of the Raptor nozzles! Especially like Pi Raptor 314. lol
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From: Peripatetic
In presume this is because the current licence covers flights this year using the same profile as IFT5 - allowing up to two more.
Next year will, presumably, be a new licence covering Starship recovery.
This is a far bigger step than it seems. The booster launches over the Atlantic and then burns back to the launch site, having a footprint just over the ocean and launch site.
The Starship will be launched eastwards but will have to complete an orbit and re-enter, as did the Shuttle and as does Dragon, crossing over California, New Mexico and Texas to get back to the launch site - unless they build a catch site at Vandenburg (which would assume a future launch tower there as well launching to the east).
BREAKING: Elon Musk just announced that by early next year, SpaceX will attempt to catch the Starship itself, not just the Super Heavy booster.
Next year will, presumably, be a new licence covering Starship recovery.
This is a far bigger step than it seems. The booster launches over the Atlantic and then burns back to the launch site, having a footprint just over the ocean and launch site.
The Starship will be launched eastwards but will have to complete an orbit and re-enter, as did the Shuttle and as does Dragon, crossing over California, New Mexico and Texas to get back to the launch site - unless they build a catch site at Vandenburg (which would assume a future launch tower there as well launching to the east).
BREAKING: Elon Musk just announced that by early next year, SpaceX will attempt to catch the Starship itself, not just the Super Heavy booster.
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From: Peripatetic
Booster 12 dismounted and back in the production bay.
woukdnt it be great if they turned it around and launched it again on IFT6…
woukdnt it be great if they turned it around and launched it again on IFT6…
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From: near an aeroplane
Under those chines are the COPV Nitrogen bottles. I'm wondering if one of those let go or a pipe failed causing an over pressure in the void.
It could just be a manufacturing anomaly, fasteners not as secure as needed or a small gap in the fairing allowing airflow within.
It will all come out in the wash I'm sure.
It could just be a manufacturing anomaly, fasteners not as secure as needed or a small gap in the fairing allowing airflow within.
It will all come out in the wash I'm sure.
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From: UK
Why do you keep repeating that all the time? The Space Shuttle was the first reusable first stage, together with it's boosters. Next came Buran, then Falcon 1, then Falcon 9 then New Shepard and maybe Superheavy in sixth place if there are no other classified reusable first stages of which we know nothing.
The shuttle Orbiter, boosters, Buran, and Falcon have to undergo factory inspection and an element of refurbishment. New Shepherd doesn't count. It's a toy.
The Chinese have at least two new designs undergoing current flight testing. They're at the Falcon1 stage of development.
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From: Peripatetic
FINALLY! The clip we have all been waiting for! Ship 30's flip maneuver and landing burn.
The accuracy is incredible to be able to be in the exact position needed for the Buoy cam to capture this.
I only wish this was a few seconds longer to show the ship tipping over after touchdown.
VideoStarship flip maneuver and landing burn on its fifth flight test.
Vehicle improvements ensured flaps were protected from high heating, resulting in a controlled entry and high accuracy splashdown at the targeted area in the Indian Ocean
The accuracy is incredible to be able to be in the exact position needed for the Buoy cam to capture this.
I only wish this was a few seconds longer to show the ship tipping over after touchdown.
VideoStarship flip maneuver and landing burn on its fifth flight test.
Vehicle improvements ensured flaps were protected from high heating, resulting in a controlled entry and high accuracy splashdown at the targeted area in the Indian Ocean
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From: Peripatetic
It is easy to see why Musk left it out. Spoiler: IT BLEW UP!
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There was video from the bouy last week that showed it exploding.
Regarding the catch. If you look at the chopsticks during the manoeuvre they swing in quite early, with a Starship they won't be able to do this due to the aft flaps adding width.
When you consider that the interplanetary Starships will need some sort of landing gear, I wonder if they will go for an independent soft landing on a pad instead of a catch next? Especially if the second tower isn't ready.
Regarding the catch. If you look at the chopsticks during the manoeuvre they swing in quite early, with a Starship they won't be able to do this due to the aft flaps adding width.
When you consider that the interplanetary Starships will need some sort of landing gear, I wonder if they will go for an independent soft landing on a pad instead of a catch next? Especially if the second tower isn't ready.
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From: Norfolk, UK
Think they'll view having to have earth-gravity legs on a Starship as a failure. Moon (1/6th g) and Mars (shade over 1/3rd g) won't need something so beefy to support the static weight and will almost certainly be "Specials" for that role with breaking thrusters towards the nose according to some models I've seen.
Good point about the width, but it's a smaller vehicle with less inertia so I'd imagine that they'll be able to make it work - Can't believe they've not considered that. Could always bring it in 90 degrees off axis with pins at the 12/6 instead of 3/9, I guess.
Good point about the width, but it's a smaller vehicle with less inertia so I'd imagine that they'll be able to make it work - Can't believe they've not considered that. Could always bring it in 90 degrees off axis with pins at the 12/6 instead of 3/9, I guess.
Last edited by MostlyHarmless; 20th October 2024 at 10:53.
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From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
I wonder if they will swing the aft flaps in. After the flip and when descending on rocket power, it would seem the aerodynamics are no longer a factor.
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From: UK
You are correct, the aft flaps move to the full retract position during the flip. Edit:In this clip.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/rGgMw6GJszhAPACF/
Re: landing legs. The legs on Ship 30 etc were quite small and were capable of withstanding the landing forces, I think they were fitted with crushable feet though. So not exactly quick turnaround stuff.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/rGgMw6GJszhAPACF/
Re: landing legs. The legs on Ship 30 etc were quite small and were capable of withstanding the landing forces, I think they were fitted with crushable feet though. So not exactly quick turnaround stuff.
Last edited by TURIN; 19th October 2024 at 15:54.
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From: Peripatetic
VideoThis story of strangulation by over-regulation from @elonmusk about the government requiring @SpaceX to asses whether their rockets could potentially hit SHARKS and WHALES is side-splittingly hilarious.
Elon Musk: Tomorrow, I will tell the story of how SpaceX was forced by the government to kidnap seals, put earphones on them and play sonic boom sounds to see if they seemed upset
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From: Peripatetic
Super Heavy Booster 13 has rolled out of Megabay 1 this morning to head to the launch complex for testing ahead of upcoming Starship test flight 6.
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From: Peripatetic
Raptor engine endurance testing - They just relit the same engine 5 times in a row…..
VideoVideoSCRAP THAT THEY JUST FIRED IT AGAIN BUT 34 TIMES IN A ROW!!! this video looks silly sped up ik 😆🔥
VideoVideoSCRAP THAT THEY JUST FIRED IT AGAIN BUT 34 TIMES IN A ROW!!! this video looks silly sped up ik 😆🔥
Last edited by ORAC; 23rd October 2024 at 20:41.