SpaceX

[Trebuchet]

I’m wondering if the “bellyflop” is really much different from previous work with lifting bodies. NASA has done a lot of work testing various lifting body configurations. The flip and vertical powered landing strikes me as more of a new twist.

My impression is that a lot of SpaceX’s technical innovations are ones that aren’t so obvious, for instance automated manufacturing where in the old days there would have been far more manual work with manual evaluation and rework if bits didn’t pass quality control checks.

Building rockets essentially outdoors is a rather novel approach as well.

[publiusr]

The biggest belly flop concept before Starship was a proto-Buran concept: http://buran.ru/htm/str124.htm

[Nicolas]

I haven't forced the text through auto translate, but that one seems to be stabilized passively with the chutes? Apart from that, it does show similarities with Starship.

[Roger E. Moore]

SpaceX’s Starship SN10 Is Officially Ready to Fly, But the FAA Might Slow It Down. On Monday afternoon, SpaceX completed SN10’s first cryogenic-proof test with liquid nitrogen (to make sure the rocket can endure the temperature and pressure when filled with extreme cold propellants.) The next step will be one or multiple static fire test, which includes a “wet dress rehearsal” (filling the rocket with actual propellants) and firing the three Raptor engines at full thrust.

https://observer.com/2021/02/spacex-...k-pending-faa/

[docmordrid]

The Friday and Saturday TFR's are cancelled - SpaceX is still repairing the landing pad.

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/sta...32603569766400

Sunday is still on for a wet dress rehearsal and static fire(s).

SpaceX may also need time to make fixes related to the engine misfire that doomed SN-09. Musk has already said the software will be changed to light all 3 engines, then downselect to the two which are working best.

[bknight]

The Friday and Saturday TFR's are cancelled - SpaceX is still repairing the landing pad.

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/sta...32603569766400

Sunday is still on for a wet dress rehearsal and static fire(s).

SpaceX may also need time to make fixes related to the engine misfire that doomed SN-09. Musk has already said the software will be changed to light all 3 engines, then downselect to the two which are working best.

I take this as they know what caused the issue and are addressing, but have they released the cause to the public?

[docmordrid]

At least one thing has been mentioned, but it's not public. They may issue a statement.

[Roger E. Moore]

SpaceX Falcon Heavy ‘center core’ passes through Arizona on its way to Texas. (photo)

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-fal...e-texas-bound/

[publiusr]

Potassium pertechnetate protects steel from corrosion up to 250 degrees centigrade as per the wiki. Musk should look at that, if he hasn't already. It doesn't take much of that technetium compound. I wonder if Shuttle-Centaur is public domain...I can just see Falcon Heavy as a scaled up Titan IV.

[profloater]

Potassium pertechnetate protects steel from corrosion up to 250 degrees centigrade as per the wiki. Musk should look at that, if he hasn't already. It doesn't take much of that technetium compound. I wonder if Shuttle-Centaur is public domain...I can just see Falcon Heavy as a scaled up Titan IV.

What? Zinc goes higher,

[Roger E. Moore]

SpaceX rolls last Starship (SN11) off the assembly line ahead of “major upgrades” (many photos, much information on SN 12+)

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-sta...ajor-upgrades/

[Roger E. Moore]

Elon Musk's SpaceX now owns about a third of all active satellites in the sky. SpaceX created a swarm of about thousand satellites that is circulating about 340 miles overhead, and building the constellation has put SpaceX in a "deep chasm" of expenses, according to CEO Elon Musk. The constellation has also raised concerns about potential in-space collisions and the impact on astronomers' ability to study the night sky. But for some early customers of the $99-per-month Starlink service, the satellites are already improving how rural communities access the internet.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/11/tech/...scn/index.html

[Roger E. Moore]

SpaceX plans to launch 2 batches of Starlink satellites this week. Pending range approval, SpaceX targeting Feb. 13th, 16th for launch

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/lo...-this-week/#//

[ozduck]

Elon Musk's SpaceX now owns about a third of all active satellites in the sky. SpaceX created a swarm of about thousand satellites that is circulating about 340 miles overhead, and building the constellation has put SpaceX in a "deep chasm" of expenses, according to CEO Elon Musk. The constellation has also raised concerns about potential in-space collisions and the impact on astronomers' ability to study the night sky. But for some early customers of the $99-per-month Starlink service, the satellites are already improving how rural communities access the internet.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/11/tech/...scn/index.html

There was an article about Starlink activities, and the advantages their system might provide, in Australia on our national news service website yesterday.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-...ealed/13144262

[docmordrid]

SpaceX Crew-3 and Crew-4

Crew-3
Date: September, 2021
Vehicle: C207 Resilience
Commander: Raja Chari - NASA
Pilot: Thomas Marshburn - NASA
Mission Specialist 1: Matthias Maurer - ESA
Mission Specialist 2: TBA

Crew-4
Vehicle: TBA
Date: ????, 2022
Commander: Kjell Lindgren - NASA
Pilot: Bob Hines - NASA
Mission Specialist 1: TBA
Mission Specialist 2: TBA

[docmordrid]

StarLink 19 tonight

Date: Feb 14
Time: 2320 Eastern

https://youtu.be/L0dkyV09Zso

[Trebuchet]

Oh good, not in the wee hours for me for a change!

[docmordrid]

SN-10

Musk: 60% odds of landing.

Marcus House @MarcusHouseGame

So SpaceX is attempting another fliht NET this coming week with SN10! Can they master the flip and stick the landing!? That is the big question. What do you think?

(full video explaining more detail at https://youtu.be/uiT4brKuQGg)
✔ They will stick it! 64.1%
💥 Another RUD! 18.7%
🙄 Why try to predict it? 17.2%
47,412 votes · Final results
|
Elon Musk ✓ @elonmusk
Success on landing probability is ~60% this time

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1360774866023112704

[schlaugh]

StarLink 19 tonight

Date: Feb 14
Time: 2320 Eastern

https://youtu.be/L0dkyV09Zso

Scrubbed.

SpaceX
@SpaceX
Due to unfavorable weather tonight, now targeting Monday, February 15 at 10:59 p.m. EST for Falcon 9's launch of 60 Starlink satellites

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[docmordrid]

Tonight Feb 15, 2259 Eastern

https://youtu.be/L0dkyV09Zso

[schlaugh]

Tonight Feb 15, 2259 Eastern

https://youtu.be/L0dkyV09Zso

The weather at the Cape seems iffy; 60% chance of rain and thunder before 1 am.

ETA: Well never mind! It’s off and away.

[Trebuchet]

Off and away, but missed the landing!

[docmordrid]

Looked like a bad shutdown after the entry burn.

[Nicolas]

Or it wanted to avoid the three seagulls that were sitting on the bullseye. By the looks of it it came close to the platform (you see the sky light up) but still missed by enough margin for the camera not to see any rocket/debris.

[Roger E. Moore]

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites, loses booster in sea.

https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/S...n_sea_999.html

[docmordrid]

Mary @BocaChicaGal
This morning the second aft flap is being attached to Starship SN11. The wind has died down and temperatures are slowly rising. We lost power here at Boca Chica for most of the night. Power was restored in time for morning coffee.

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/sta...74113467744258

[Trebuchet]

Looked like a bad shutdown after the entry burn.

I noticed the announcer on the SpaceX broadcast seemed uncertain about the shutdown.

Or it wanted to avoid the three seagulls that were sitting on the bullseye. By the looks of it it came close to the platform (you see the sky light up) but still missed by enough margin for the camera not to see any rocket/debris.

I noticed the birds as well!

[Swift]

Mary @BocaChicaGal
This morning the second aft flap is being attached to Starship SN11. The wind has died down and temperatures are slowly rising. We lost power here at Boca Chica for most of the night. Power was restored in time for morning coffee.

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/sta...74113467744258

Well, one can't expect to revolutionize space flight without your morning coffee.

[docmordrid]

New SpaceX funding round

Amount: $850 million
Share price: $419.99
New valuation: $74 billion
Total bids offered: >$6 billion

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/16/elon...9-a-share.html

[docmordrid]

Mary @BocaChicaGal
I have received an “Alert” notice for tomorrow February 17. Possible Starship SN10 static fire attempt tomorrow between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. No road closure has been posted on the Cameron county website though!! We’ll see what happens tomorrow. 🔥🔥🔥
@NASASpaceflight

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/sta...45958024265728