SpaceX (general discussion)

Sandboxx has posted this video about the potential military applications of the Starship:


In 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory kicked off its Rocket Cargo Program, which aims to use commercial rocket applications to rapidly deliver military cargo anywhere in the world in under an hour. This concept was considered so potentially significant that the Air Force itself quickly established the Rocket Cargo effort as one of just four Vanguard Programs — the branch's highest priority technological efforts.
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And while SpaceX's Starship may not be the only potential platform for the job, it may prove to be exactly what the Air Force and Space Force need to revolutionize military logistics.
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I have to say that this is the first time I've heard of the AFRL's Rocket Cargo programme.
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1786759044948189202
View: https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1786759044948189202


The SpaceX Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit → spacex.com/updates #Maythe4thBeWithYou
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At ~700 km above Earth, the EVA suit will support the @PolarisProgram’s Polaris Dawn crew in the vacuum of space during the first-ever commercial astronaut spacewalk
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1786759332794880339
View: https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1786759332794880339


Evolved from the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suit, the EVA suit provides greater mobility, a state-of-the-art helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD) and camera, new thermal management textiles, and materials borrowed from Falcon’s interstage and Dragon’s trunk
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Building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will require millions of spacesuits. The development of this suit and the execution of the spacewalk will be important steps toward a scalable design for spacesuits on future long-duration missions as life becomes multiplanetary
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1786759813440897490
View: https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1786759813440897490


Tune in today ~3:00 p.m. ET to hear the crew discuss the mission on Spaces
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1786760319471161688
View: https://twitter.com/polarisprogram/status/1786760319471161688


More @SpaceX photos of the new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit the Polaris Dawn crew will wear during their upcoming mission. Let us know your questions below ahead of today’s X Spaces event with the crew and SpaceX team
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1786761535739617523
View: https://twitter.com/rookisaacman/status/1786761535739617523


After 2+ years, the @SpaceX EVA suit has been unveiled. We are thrilled to have contributed to the dev & testing and excited to wear them on Polaris Dawn for the first commercial EVA. A huge shoutout to the team working tirelessly on this! As we aim for the moon, Mars, and beyond, we'll need plenty of suits. Big step in that direction. May the 4th be with you!
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1786765758690709932
View: https://twitter.com/rookisaacman/status/1786765758690709932


I am very grateful to the thousands of brilliant people @SpaceX, the @PolarisProgram team and my amazing Polaris Dawn crew. The big day is quickly approaching. May the 4th Be With You!
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Be nice if they showed the umbilical for it and provided some details on that aspect.
 
That may be the best stage separation video ever of that system
 
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This is what happens when SpaceX get involved...
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1786828966353056082
View: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1786828966353056082


Our next-gen spacesuit will be even better
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In all seriousness, this is an EVA suit, not the IVA suit. So, don't listen to those saying differently. Other than being upgraded in every way, the only major difference between SpaceX's EVA Suit and NASA's is life-support. SpaceXs is tethered to Dragon, and NASAs is sitting on your back.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1786829373422837974
View: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1786829373422837974


Our EVA suit will look even better, but with a jetpack for maneuvering
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Mobility isn't based on what you see as "bulk" in the suit, it's more about joints and how your restraint system is designed to allow movement while loaded.

Current NASA suit is bulky from a large layer of MLI which SpaceX doesn't appear to have.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1786864310922236383
View: https://twitter.com/rookisaacman/status/1786864310922236383


Actually, quite a bit of leg and hip flexibility. Also, suit does incorporate MLI - thermal management is a big deal in an EVA suit. I know there is a natural desire to compare to EMU, but these are two very different suits with a 4 decade gap in development. As Stu mentioned on the call, the SpaceX suit will continue to evolve.
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NMaude said:
Sandboxx has posted this video about the potential military applications of the Starship:





I have to say that this is the first time I've heard of the AFRL's Rocket Cargo programme.
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It is very new and I think it only exists because Starship does.

IMO, the bigger military revolution of Starship, and especially the DoD owning its own starships, is that it might keep several in varying orbits with payloads designed for a future conflict - replacement satellites, an entire new previously undisclosed constellation, orbit to ground ordnance, etc. The fact that Starship can make rather dramatic orbital plane changes would make it a potent platform to stockpile resources on for a future conflict. It is also likely that refueling Starship will be possible as a result of NASA's moon projects. There are a lot of possibilities given several fully fueled Starships on orbit at all times with a hundred tons of payload.
 
Josh_TN said:
1.IMO, the bigger military revolution of Starship, and especially the DoD owning its own starships,
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Na,h unlikely
Josh_TN said:
is that it might keep several in varying orbits with payloads designed for a future conflict. - replacement satellites, an entire new previously undisclosed constellation,
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No reason to. The payload can do itself. no need to keep Starship around for it.
Josh_TN said:
orbit to ground ordnance, etc.
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Not going to happen. Not responsive

Josh_TN said:
The fact that Starship can make rather dramatic orbital plane changes
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No, doesn't have the long term storage capability individually.

Josh_TN said:
would make it a potent platform to stockpile resources on for a future conflict.
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no need for the starship to host the payload

Josh_TN said:
It is also likely that refueling Starship will be possible as a result of NASA's moon projects. There are a lot of possibilities given several fully fueled Starships on orbit at all times with a hundred tons of payload.
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Only one depot and hence one orbit. Again, no need for a host ship
 
Despite the hype there some issue with New EVA suits: they are intermediate step !
This here is more Gemini spacesuit connect to Life Support system of the Capsule.
also need the EVA suit Modification for portable Life Support system (LSS)
like reduction of length on suite Zip, to reduce air losses,
Attachment point for Portable LSS on suit on back and font for it control box
 
publiusr said:
SAFER system by Bugatti…

wait…what safer system?


Still nice to see The Stig gainfully employed.
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All I know about is: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safer
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System offers company safety data and related services to industry and the public over the Internet.
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SAFER is a runt MMU:

en.m.wikipedia.org

Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org en.m.wikipedia.org

I call the circumlunar Zonds “rump” Soyuz (no spherical living compartment) :)

Early cargo Dragons looked a bit similar.

I’m scatterbrained…sorry.

I guess Elon’s suit could be affixed with SAFER…but I didn’t see it.

THE MARTIAN had a full MMU and a tether.

I like that.
 
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publiusr said:
SAFER is a runt MMU:

en.m.wikipedia.org

Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org en.m.wikipedia.org

I call the circumlunar Zonds “rump” Soyuz (no spherical living compartment) :)

Early cargo Dragons looked a bit similar.

I’m scatterbrained…sorry.

I guess Elon’s suit could be affixed with SAFER…but I didn’t see it.

THE MARTIAN had a full MMU and a tether.

I like that.
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MMU ended up as a dead end
 
Dilandu said:
Not exactly the dead end, but it was found to be much simpler to move astronauts during EVA with the help of station's Canadarm-type manipulator.
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No, it was dead end. They never were a good work station. The RMS was used as a work station before the MMUs flew. The MMUs were never intended to be used on the ISS.
 

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