SpaceX (general discussion)

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1799206430039544188

View: https://twitter.com/bccarcounters/status/1799206430039544188

In case you are wondering. The FAA is still asscessing the operation and will determine if a mishap investigation is warranted, regarding Starship Flight 4.

 

[FighterJock]

Wonder why the FAA think they need an investigation?

 

[Orionblamblam]

so you were trying to say?

The media is (in general) trying to destroy hope in actual progress. Negative headlines about Starship, nuclear power, whatever. They know that bad news sells, so they'll get your eyes and your money at the same time they're trying to crush your spirit.

And then there's the outright politics, but the nattering nabobs of negativity tend to lose their tiny little minds when such realities are brought up around here, so I won't.

 

[publiusr]

The public loves a come-back story as much as they love tearing things down.

Musk's enemies will resort to work conditions, insider trading allegations, more usable fare.

To stop space utilization, "legal animism" looks to be chosen method.

Marcus House has a more positive stance.

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1799261587951546741

View: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1799261587951546741

 

[Moose]

Wonder why the FAA think they need an investigation?

They don't, they're assessing the data before making a determination as is standard procedure. If they said "no investigation needed" right away because it looks good on camera...only to come across something alarming in the readouts a couple days later, it would be more than merely embarrassing.

 

[Josh_TN]

If no investigation is needed, presumably that speeds the preparations for the next test? Just a matter of making any desired changes to the starship?

 

[snne]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1799458854067118450

View: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1799458854067118450

 

[Deino]

Simply WOW !!!!!!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1799458854067118450

View: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1799458854067118450

 

[Deino]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1799458854067118450

View: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1799458854067118450

You beat me by a second!!!

 

[Josh_TN]

It looks like it got a little cooked by its own burn, but impressive.

 

[Michel Van]

To compare size Superheavy to 747

 

[Orionblamblam]

Had some engine-rich exhaust there for a moment.

 

[sferrin]

Had some engine-rich exhaust there for a moment.

View attachment 731261

I seem to recall one of the engines blew up near the end.

 

[Orionblamblam]

I seem to recall one of the engines blew up near the end.

And Still She Persisted.

 

[Olympus]

Elon and the People at SpaceX are doing great things. It is really awesome.

 

[Josh_TN]

I seem to recall one of the engines blew up near the end.

Is that confirmed?

 

[publiusr]

“What does God need with a light saber?”

 

[NMaude]

The Space Bucket has just put out a video concerning IFT-4's Booster splashdown:

It’s now been a few days since Starship’s fourth Integrated Flight Test and the company just released some ground footage of the booster’s landing. While short, it gives more details into the exact orientation, engine use, and even proximity to the intended landing site.

This comes in addition to more comments from Musk talking about the boosters landing burn and why they might try to catch it on the next attempt. Based on the time between launches going back to IFT-1, the 5th flight could be sooner than many think. Here I will go more in-depth into the new booster footage, the launch timeline, catching challenges, and more.

Full article here - https://thespacebucket.com/a-closer-l...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...acexs-starship-booster-landing/&v=tMz8GxUun7Q

For more space-related content check out - https://thespacebucket.com/https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...w&q=https://thespacebucket.com/&v=tMz8GxUun7Q

Credits:

SpaceX - https://www.youtube.com/c/SpaceXhttps://www.youtube.com/c/SpaceX

Booster Landing Link - https://x.com/SpaceX/status/179945885...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...aceX/status/1799458854067118450&v=tMz8GxUun7Q

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

0:31 - New Booster Video

3:20 - The Next Flight

​

 

[Orionblamblam]

 

[publiusr]

Don’t hex it!

 

[Forest Green]

View attachment 731317

What is the last one?

 

[Archibald]

Black Arrow October 1971. Also known as "the lipstick rocket".

 

[FighterJock]

Black Arrow was the UK's last attempt at trying to get a viable independent space program running but failed sadly. So let's see if the new attempts in the north of Scotland succeed.

 

[NMaude]

Black Arrow was the UK's last attempt at trying to get a viable independent space program running but failed sadly.

And that was scuttled by incredibly shortsighted bean-counters in the British bureaucracy, once it became clear what their short-sighted folly had cost the UK those civil-servants should've been dealt with harshly in a public manner.

 

[FighterJock]

So true NMaude, see what happens this time round.

 

[sferrin]

 

[sferrin]

View attachment 731317

That bottom one could be just about any US government program. (For military and space anyway. For civil stuff the money laundering machine never turns off.)

 

[publiusr]

IFT-4 retrospective

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ObulHCfaODU

 

[Dilandu]

What does God need with a light saber?”

Because since invention of lighting rod, smithening the evil with lightings and thunder became rather unreliable.

 

[Michel Van]

Musk gave some information during gaming stream

Booster landing was on target, ship landing was several km off due to flap damage,
but both were soft landings

Left flap also got very hot, but was less damaged.

Rear flaps seemed to be ok, based on their control authority, but probably lost some tiles.

Next flight would in one month so Musk
Not quite Elon time - since Masseys test stand is operational
However the modifications on Heatshield flaps will take some time
And yes Mechzilla will try to catch the Superheavy on return.

My dream is to reach Uranus

(no idea what he smoke this time)

 

[Grey Havoc]

SpaceX Hopes to Eventually Build One Starship Per Day at Its Texas 'Starfactory' - Slashdot

SpaceX's successful launch (and reentry) of Starship was just the beginning, reports Space.com: SpaceX now aims to build on the progress with its Starship program as continues work on Starfactory, a new manufacturing facility under construction at the company's Starbase site in South Texas...

science.slashdot.org

 

[NMaude]

Well it looks like SpaceX is adding another heat shield layer to Starship, from the Space Bucket:

In the few days since Starship’s fourth flight test, we’ve received snippets of information from Musk along with the company highlighting new details and future plans. Most recently, during a livestream Musk was hosting, he talked about plans to add an additional ablative material under all of Starship’s existing heat shield tiles.

The goal here would be to add extra protection in the event that a tile breaks or falls off during any process in the launch. If that wasn’t enough, he also estimated the next launch would happen in about a month from now. Here I will go more in-depth into the highlights of what Musk said, work on the heat shield, preparing for reentry, and more

.For more space-related content check out - https://thespacebucket.com/https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...w&q=https://thespacebucket.com/&v=uxkYTEK5NCU

Credit:

SpaceX - https://www.youtube.com/c/SpaceXhttps://www.youtube.com/c/SpaceX

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

0:34 - Heat Shield Upgrade

4:05 - Launch In 1 Month

​

 

[TomcatViP]

Wonder if the good old MA-25* will be flying one more more space vehicle?

*Ablative coating from Martin selected for the X-15A2 and Space shuttle Orbiter (if my mem stands right)

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed-martin/space/documents/thermal/MA-25S%20product%20sheet.pdf

Lockheed Martin MA-25S Ablative Coating | GracoRoberts

Lockheed Martin MA-25S is an Ablative Coating supplied in various sizes. Available to buy online from gracoroberts.com. Datasheet download available.

www.gracoroberts.com

 

[Byeman]

Wonder if the good old MA-25* will be flying one more more space vehicle?

Doubtful, because it has properties that goes against Spacex's philosophies, like its application methodology.

 

[TomcatViP]

Sprayed or trowelable. You can certainly robotize that to spray the entire surface before the tiles are applied and then have a manual application with a trowel for finishing the interstices.
I understand tiles are applied via stirred weld nails. If that is correct, those would probably penetrate the coating without too much damages, making it an easy and rapid process.

 

[Michel Van]

SpaceX newest plan for Pad 39A

https://www.faa.gov/media/80626

 

[abheiden]

Musk gave some information during gaming stream




Next flight would in one month so Musk
Not quite Elon time - since Masseys test stand is operational
However the modifications on Heatshield flaps will take some time
And yes Mechzilla will try to catch the Superheavy on return.


(no idea what he smoke this time)

Suppose solar man Musk finally go nucleair and put a reactor on it. Not much solar power at Uranus

 

[Moose]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1801003212138222076

View: https://twitter.com/BCCarCounters/status/1801003212138222076

No mishap investigation

 

[NMaude]

That no mishap investigation means it won't be long before the IFT-5 lift-off.