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Is that in reference to the tv series? I’ve heard of it but never watched it. Speaking of another series, I am hoping they will eventually name one Enterprise so I can say I’ve seen a real Starship Enterprise. And who knows? If they really can build them inexpensively, they could eventually put an RTG or small reactor in one, send it on a solar escape trajectory and load it with some instruments for research, for a true, if slow, starship.Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrison
I’m slightly annoyed that they aborted when I was watching and did the hop later when I was temporarily not monitoring electronic devices. It kind of killed any excitement. But, good to see the progress. Now I can believe a grain silo can fly . . . as long as it is filled with liquid oxygen and methane.
I didn't see/hear a reason for the abort yesterday.
Thunderbirds are Go!Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrison
One of my favorite shows as a kid.
Wasn't 7 one of the ones "tested to failure" for tank pressure, or am I not remembering right?Quote:
Originally Posted by Trebuchet
CJSF
Was that in the US? And would this have been in the mid ‘60s? I just don’t recall hearing about it until I was much older, and the show was much older too. By the time I remember hearing about it, I didn’t care for the puppets. I wonder if it just wasn’t on the local stations I watched? I would have been in Anchorage in ‘65 and I think the TV there was a little limited then, but I was young and don’t remember details. UFO is the first Anderson series I remember watching.Quote:
Originally Posted by Swift
I believe you are correct.Quote:
Originally Posted by CJSF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYBwCotSZ5A
SN7 was the test tank they intentionally popped, patched, and then blew to pieces while testing changes for SN8's tank design. IIRC, SN8 has those changes, uses thicker metal plate in some areas instead of multiple layers of sheet, and uses the new alloys.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trebuchet
Extrapolating from what Musk has said, I think SN6 is mostly a backup for SN5 at this point. Do some more small hops with those two while SN8 gets its nose and flaps installed, so it's no big setback if one of them gets destroyed or damaged, and the bugs get worked out before they risk a more complete build.
I'm still curious which mass simulator had the highest apogee: SN4 or SN5...
.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trebuchet
SN7 was a test tank
SN6 may or may not fly, there's a big debate and Musk's not talking. The against argument is that all the 304L steel parts for SN8 have been seen and are being assembled.
Another big crawler crane
Manitowoc 14000
Main boom: 89 meters
With luffing jib: 110 meters
Capacity: 200 tonnes
Attachment 25431
Boca Chica progress video
SN8 is stacking
https://youtu.be/egDXR8vSwSY
The test stand looks like it's in pretty good condition, and they're preparing to move SN-05...somewhere. Back to the test stand, or to the build area? Dunno.
With SN-08 parts present and stacking an SN-05 reflight isn't out of the question - see what she can take.
https://youtu.be/nTeeT4WVIfY
Just watched that one. The close-up shots of the legs were interesting. Gives the impression that landing pad has a slope and the legs compensated for it to put the vehicle upright. Very impressive if that's the case, but I suspect it's not. Probably just Mary (Bocachicagal) aligned the camera to the vehicle which would be an extremely natural thing to do. In any case the leg on the left (in the video) is definitely shorter than the ones on the right.Quote:
Originally Posted by docmordrid
It occurred to me yesterday that while the public focus has mostly been on the building of the rocket bodies in such a seemingly unsophisticated manner, right out in the open, the engine and control technologies are extremely advanced.
I'd forgotten about the "SN-7" test tank. Still be interesting to see what becomes of 6.
And that one. Looks like they must have about reached the limit of the boom-lifts for the guys working on the high bay. Wonder how they're going to do the next tier.Quote:
Originally Posted by docmordrid
Those ironworkers have big brass ones. They'll figure it out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trebuchet
They are up so high it doesn't even trigger my fall-o-phobia!Quote:
Originally Posted by docmordrid
StarLink 9
F9 B1051 is now a candidate for a 6th launch.
Qapla!!
https://youtu.be/KU6KogxG5BE
Well, candidate, it's not like they asked her. ;)
Good to see the reusability going in the direction that was advertised.
So SpaceX's week can be summarized as 2 up 3 down. :)
And here's the first 6th flight booster: StarLink v1.0 Flight 10
Date: TBD (August)
Window: TBD
Pad: SLC-40
Booster: 1049.6*
Recovery: ASDS
Secondary payloads: Planet Labs SkySat-19, 20 and 21
* previous launches,
September 2018: Telstar 18 VANTAGE
January 2019: Iridium 8
May 2019: Starlink V0.9
January 2020; Starlink V1.0 L2
June 2020: Starlink V1.0 L7
Two questions if you know.Quote:
Originally Posted by docmordrid
1. What is the significance if any with the black hexagonal section in the lower image?
2. What are the black objects along the side of the body? What are their purpose?
The Starship-scale crush core equivalent is interesting: a series of holes drilled in the leg, increasing in diameter toward the end so it crumples in a controlled fashion from the tip inward.Quote:
Originally Posted by docmordrid
They're hexagonal ceramic thermal protection tiles for re-entry. It's thought these are based on NASA's TUFROC, which SpaceX signed a Space Act Agreement to access 2 years ago.TUFROC is used on X-37B, and will be used on Dream Chaser. SpaceX will no doubt formulate an enhanced TUFROC-X version like they did with Dragon's PICA-X heat shield.Quote:
Originally Posted by bknight
SpaceX has been testing several attachment systems ranging from adhesive or snap-on to pins of several typss. A few fell off, so that system goes back to the drawing board.
The black cylinders are COPV's containing methane, or cold gas for the reaction control system.
SpaceX Resorts?
https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/...jid=4816599002
Quote:
RESORT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
SpaceX is committed to developing revolutionary space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. 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. We are looking for a talented Resort Development Manager to oversee the development of SpaceX's first resort from inception to completion.
They just didn't look aerodynamic but I can envision shield testing on these hops although the temperature won't really get high enough to really do good testing. The gas canisters are enclosed in inter stage why not build them that way. I would assume (I know) that those vehicles scheduled for higher hops might have them enclosed.Quote:
Originally Posted by docmordrid
The Starship concept images and Mk-1 prototype show long chines which act as fin fairings, protection for the Tesla electric motors driving the fin hydraulic pumps, and protection for other external items. They also act as raceways for plumbing and wiring. Starship also uses Tesla batteries, like F9, FH and DragonQuote:
Originally Posted by bknight
Attachment 25435
SN-07 is a test tank. They may use it to test different thrust pucks; 3 engine, 6 engine, 9 engine, 31 engine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trebuchet
Unconfirmed, but they may switch off between SN-05 and SN-06; one in refurb, one on the.pad, for vertical hops. Both are cold rolled 301 stainless steel. SN-08 is the first 304L family custom alloy bird, made for fins etc. and high skydiver landing tests.
More news;
Engine name: "Raptor" is shorthand for Velociraptor.
Thrust to weight ratio: Musk thinks they can get Velociraptor even with Merlin 1D: ~ 180:1
Full stack height: 122 meters. Fixed fin-legs on the Super Heavy booster make it 2 meters taller.
Earth Point to Point: "Increasingly likely"
...that is indeed news. Per Mueller, it was named "Raptor" after the general class of predatory birds, to go along with the Falcon launch vehicles and the Merlin and Kestrel engines (https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Merlin-...Merlin-engines). I don't believe Elon's ever mentioned dinosaurs in the context of Raptor before.Quote:
Originally Posted by docmordrid
Whatever. Elon, you're the one flying grain silos around, call it what you want. I don't think "Velociraptor" is going to displace "Raptor" as well as "Starship" has done so for "BFR", though.
It's not a namechange but a clarification of what kind of Raptor it's refering to.