SpaceX (general discussion)

NASA has selected the Falcon Heavy to launch a nuclear-powered drone to Titan, from the Space Bucket:


Yesterday afternoon we got news that NASA has picked SpaceX and the Falcon Heavy in particular to launch a nuclear-powered drone to Saturn’s Moon Titan. The firm-fixed-price contract has a value of approximately $256.6 million.
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Scheduled to launch in 2028, this rotorcraft named Dragonfly will sample materials and determine surface composition in different geologic settings, advancing our search for the building blocks of life. The contract award comes not long after the successful launch of Europa Clipper.
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Full article here - https://thespacebucket.com/nasa-wants...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...Q&q=https://thespacebucket.com/&v=eA8WNW36MJQ
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Credit:
SpaceX - / spacex https://www.youtube.com/c/SpaceX
NASA - / @nasa https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ
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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:32 - New Contract
3:29 - Dragonfly on Titan


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The anti-nukes have largely been absent since Cassini--but seeing an RTG is going up in a SpaceX rocket--don't be surprised if they show up in droves.
 
Updates
with completion of SpaceX HQ in Texas
The three old Stargate buildings got obsolete (build in 2019)
Now there is rumor that those and High bay will be demolish
To make place for the GIGA BAY

It make sense since update on Superheavy and Starship require lager buildings.
The second block of Superheavy will not fit into current Mega Bay 1&2
So GIGA BAY will be over 100 meter high, around 100 meter wide,
what also explain why at KSC all work on a Mega Bay was stop.
with change of starship design they need also GIGA BAY at KSC

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPBSzyuX_Ak
 
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publiusr said:
If SLS takes the hit--couldn't they just use the VAB?
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SpaceX try to hire VAB bays from NASA
But both not getting a agreement and ended the talks.

Now with meaningful of SLS in question and talks to cancel the program under Trump Administration.
if that happen SpaceX could get 4 VAB Bays to store Superheavy and Starships
 
Rabea Rogge @rprogge
We just completed another round of training!

This session featured:
flight simulations in the Dragon spacecraft mockup vehicle
medical training to prepare for various scenarios on-orbit
research training for a number of awesome experiments

Plus we hit the milestone that all of our suits passed acceptance testing, which means that they are ready to fly!
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1861772649870791005
View: https://twitter.com/rprogge/status/1861772649870791005


https://twitter.com/x/status/1863496562619392239
View: https://twitter.com/satofishi/status/1863496562619392239


Finally, we will see a free Wi-Fi spot at the South Pole, 430 km above.

Fram2 will use Starlink in space, providing valuable data for future communications systems necessary for human spaceflight missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

We’ll continue to help test laser-based satellite communication using optical links between the Dragon spacecraft and Starlink satellites, revolutionizing the speed and quality of space communications.
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Hover slams are violent—still, I wonder if this might allow Starship to land on its base.

If I had a boxy lattice-work structure atop the barge—like the hot staging ring but square—might that facilitate a Starship landing at sea?

Where SuperHeavy is caught from above to dangle—maybe something could rise out of truss work to support Starship from beneath?

It just needs a little elevation to “breathe.”

Now Lunar Starship needs retros higher up—Stoke has something like that but for their second stage tail…maybe work together on plumbing?

Those upper thrusters might help even standard Starship land?
 
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With all that talk about SLS eventually being cancelled - did some basic calculations to see how "far" could a Crew Dragon go if launched on a Falcon Heavy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Dragon_2
en.wikipedia.org

Falcon Heavy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

9.81*311*ln((1300+112+13)/(65+112+13))+9.81*348*ln((112+13)/(4+13))-9300 = 3658 m/s

Not enough to go IN / OUT of low lunar orbit. But enough to go IN/ OUT of EML-1 / EML-2 / NRHO.

Of course the usual caveats : Dragon 2 is LEO only and FH is not man rated. This duly noted, Falcon Heavy can throw a Dragon 2 beyond Earth escape velocity : to cislunar space.
 
Archibald said:
With all that talk about SLS eventually being cancelled - did some basic calculations to see how "far" could a Crew Dragon go if launched on a Falcon Heavy.
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I wonder if the HLS lander can pick up the crew from a dragon in earth orbit and do a return to earth orbit without refueling while crewed?
 
publiusr said:
Hover slams are violent—still, I wonder if this might allow Starship to land on its base.
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Starship doesn't do hover slams. it doesn't have the throttling issue like Falcon.
publiusr said:
If I had a boxy lattice-work structure atop the barge—like the hot staging ring but square—might that facilitate a Starship landing at sea?

Where SuperHeavy is caught from above to dangle—maybe something could rise out of truss work to support Starship from beneath?
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No, that requires too much accuracy and why the chopsticks are adjustable.
 
Landing out to sea might at least nix some noise complaints--less busybodies like those who made life hell for Concorde.
 
Chiquita thanks SpaceX to send one of there Bananas into Space
GeY-7PYWoAAfWtr


Now they posted this with 12 day countdown
22 December IFT-7 ?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1865072727800902130
View: https://publish.twitter.com/?url=https://twitter.com/Chiquita/status/1865072727800902130


https://twitter.com/x/status/1861896083485442374
View: https://twitter.com/Chiquita/status/1861896083485442374
 
publiusr said:
Landing out to sea might at least nix some noise complaints-
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current coastal launch sites have no issues with noise.

publiusr said:
--less busybodies like those who made life hell for Concorde.
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That is inane. Not "busybodies" but John Q. Public. Concorde would have affected the mainland and regular citizens. Its overflights were rightly limited.

You are being selective. A few hundred SLS workers getting laid off is not the same as 1000's being affected by sonic boom.
 
Who is Jared Isaacman, Trump’s proposed NASA Administrator?
www.planetary.org

Who is Jared Isaacman, Trump’s proposed NASA Administrator?

President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as the next NASA Administrator, marking the first…
www.planetary.org www.planetary.org

Unlike Musk, however, Isaacman is not openly partisan. In fact, his reported political donations are primarily given to Democratic candidates. This could be helpful for his Senate confirmation process. Trump’s previous NASA administrator pick, former Republican congressman Jim Bridenstine, endured a bruising confirmation process and ultimately received no Democratic votes. Isaacman carries no such burdens of a political record, and his personal politics may gain him Democratic support. Given the small Republican advantage in the next Senate, bipartisan support could help Isaacman offset any political resistance to his views on projects such as the Space Launch System, of which he has been openly critical.
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Byeman said:
Was referring to Concorde booms. You worry about a small group (SLS workers) but when a larger group was affected by something, you disregard it since it is not one of your favorite items.
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Hearing a sonic boom at BC or the Cape would be cool. Hearing them over your house is goddamn irritating. Have heard two and that was enough. One was an F-16 that broke Mach flying along the Wasatch Front in Utah back in the early 90s. Sounded like a bomb went off and made the news. The other was a B-1B as i recall, same area.
 
sferrin said:
Hearing a sonic boom at BC or the Cape would be cool. Hearing them over your house is goddamn irritating. Have heard two and that was enough. One was an F-16 that broke Mach flying along the Wasatch Front in Utah back in the early 90s. Sounded like a bomb went off and made the news. The other was a B-1B as i recall, same area.
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The booms are loud even in Merritt Island. Even louder at the lighthouse on the Cape.
 
THE SPACE REVIEW has a piece called "How to test artificial gravity" by Joe Carrol....it has drawings up a Dragon hooked to a tether to an upper stage. Good illustrations.

That got my feeble brain working as to other uses for tethers.

Earth's Trojans have pretty steep inclinations...so perhaps a tether set up might allow a "flyby skycrane" of sorts.

Tethers can spin any way you like--so perhaps spent tankage can be used as a reverse crasher stage --the payload slung towards an asteroid target and the tankage counterweight discarded.

I wonder if this could be done several times. An empty Starkicker slings a craft in one direction--that burns...repeat.

The payload fires a tethered dart at a fast mover then the payload reels itself down at the last.
 
Those poor Floridians.

I'd rather they land daily in the Hamptons.

If only
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SpaceX Falcon Super Heavy - 3D Model by Creator 3D

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