SpaceX (general discussion)

[Moose]

I never said anything about a clean sheet, I asked what the problem with a simple fix was.

It's possible the two failures have the same root cause, though this is the first time we've seen evidence of an upper stage Raptor missing its nozzle prior to LOS so it's also possible this was a significantly separate failure only taking place at a similar point in the flight.

It will be interesting to see if they publish any kind of detailed findings this time. They've not done so on any prior Starship failures so I'm certainly not expecting it, but maybe the two failures in a row pushes them towards transparency.

 

[Byeman]

We see how Vulcan tapers a bit…

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0307904X11000837

This may help with IM’s lander too perhaps:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2019/9854187

Scuttlebutt


Titan nozzle

Starship Flight 8 DISCUSSION : Starbase TX : 6 March 2025 (23:30 UTC)

Starship Flight 8 DISCUSSION : Starbase TX : 6 March 2025 (23:30 UTC)

forum.nasaspaceflight.com

Slosh isn't the problem in both cases
It isn't combustion instability
It's plumbing according to your source.

 

[publiusr]

The guys at NSF showed tripod like downcomers in a Saturn V first stage cutaway—but that used kerosene.

Might different propellants benefit from different plumbing? There may be some hidden answers—I’m just shaking the branches here…

 

[NMaude]

An amateur astronomer captured on his telescope and filmed the IFT-8 flight's demise:

 

[NMaude]

The Space Bucket has just put out a video concerning the loss of the upper-stage in IFT-8:

It's been a few days since the eighth Starship launch and in that time more information has surfaced related to the loss of the ship. Specifically, a possible leaked image inside the aft section, in addition to details on exactly what caused the failure, have been circulating.

While this info is not confirmed by SpaceX, and should be taken with a grain of salt, a lot of it does align with what was shown during the livestream and on Flight 7 as well.https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...w&q=https://thespacebucket.com/&v=r-dYWs-YkGA

Credit:
SpaceX - / spacex
https://www.youtube.com/c/SpaceX
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:28 - Missing Engines

 

[publiusr]

For years—SLS critics loved to talk about how shaky SRBs were in flight.

Even if future Starships can survive—might harmonics impinge upon science payloads?

Like Shuttle, SLS’ flight profile became smoother upon staging. Only four liquid engines—farther away from the payload.

The 4 engines being individual RS-25s—whose vibrations were perhaps overrode by just the two solids.

With Starship-the ride looks to get rougher upon staging—the polar opposite of SLS’s flight profile.

 

[sferrin]

For years—SLS critics loved to talk about how shaky SRBs were in flight.

Even if future Starships can survive—might harmonics impinge upon science payloads?

Like Shuttle, SLS’ flight profile became smoother upon staging. Only four liquid engines—farther away from the payload.

The 4 engines being individual RS-25 vibrations reigned over by just the two solids.

With Starship-the ride looks to get rougher upon stage—the polar opposite of SLS’s flight profile.

You probably shouldn't take a ride on it then. Others might have a different opinion. And, rough as the SRBs were, I don't recall anybody who was offered taking a pass.

 

[aim9xray]

With Starship-the ride looks to get rougher upon staging—the polar opposite of SLS’s flight profile.

With all respect, this is unqualified, meaningless speculation. Show the Nx/Ny/Nz data plots for the two SLS flights and the eight Starship flights (in multiple physical configurations) and we can talk. Otherwise ... (shrug). Data talks, gossip walks.

 

[publiusr]

First, Starship has to complete a full mission like SLS has.

That’s the time—otherwise…there is no comparison

 

[aim9xray]

First, Starship has to complete a full mission like SLS has.

That’s the time—otherwise…there is no comparison

Puzzled here. First you were talking about comparing vehicle vibration at staging. Now you are not, preferring full mission profile. Am I misunderstanding you here?