SpaceX (general discussion)

[Flyaway]

Another pre-burner test this morning & possibly another but unclear on the second one. No static fire today & testing complete.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Out Of This World! Tom Cruise Plots Movie To Shoot In Space With Elon Musk’s SpaceX

Tom Cruise Plots Movie To Shoot In Elon Musk Spacecraft In Space

deadline.com

 

[RanulfC]

Starhopper for moment is equip with Cameras and loudspeakers
why loudspeakers ?
There two logical conclusion
one to Warn everyone nearby of engine Testing or liftoff
Second noise suppression with active noise control

Active noise control - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

To Broadcast a kick-a** sound track? Every great event needs a good theme song.. to paraphrase a movie

Randy

 

[Michel Van]

To Broadcast a kick-a** sound track? Every great event needs a good theme song.. to paraphrase a movie

Could be possible

other hand he just want to do rave party under Starhopper...

 

[Hanse]

Out Of This World! Tom Cruise Plots Movie To Shoot In Space With Elon Musk’s SpaceX

Tom Cruise Plots Movie To Shoot In Elon Musk Spacecraft In Space

deadline.com

Top Gun 3: Grumpy Old Men

 

[fredymac]

Static fire (about 1/2 sec long).

 

[Flyaway]

Starship SN4 passed static fire

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 6, 2020

 

[FighterJock]

Starship SN4 passed static fire

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 6, 2020

That is excellent news for Starship.

 

[Flyaway]

StarShip SN4 being inspected by SpaceX crew after a successful static fire. 🔥🚀 pic.twitter.com/GaAXrEnd1F

— Austin Barnard🚀 (@austinbarnard45) May 6, 2020

 

[Michel Van]

SpaceX conducted another Static fire test
There is some news by Musk on Superheavy
Modification from 37 engines down to 31 raptors, the Fins disappear for a similar configuration of landing legs on Starship
according Musk it's biggest problem is Tankdome & Thrust section of for engines

and Testing the Vacuum Raptors beginn next week

 

[Flyaway]

Flare stack flamed out. In a few weeks we’ll be recondensing methane using solar power, so no flare stack.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2020

Ooooo that's exciting!! I assume that'll be good practice for ISRU 🤔

— Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) May 7, 2020

In this case, just chilling the gas back to liquid

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2020

 

[Flyaway]

 

[Richard N]

 

[Flyaway]

From NSF:

Meanwhile, at SpaceX Boca Chica - following two successful Static Fire tests, Raptor SN18 was removed from Starship SN4 and enjoyed a forklift ride!

Testing will continue on Starship before the Raptor is reinstalled for the Hop campaign. SN5 and SN6 wait in the wings to follow up on what will hopefully be a successful SN4 test series.

Video and Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal) and "Nomadd" for NSF. Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer).

 

[Flyaway]

Has the Super Heavy build been started yet?

— “Mary” (@kulpability) May 8, 2020

No, but it’s mostly the same as the ship, except for the thrust bulkhead (31 engines vs 6)

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 8, 2020

 

[Flyaway]

Update: It appears that this may have actually been a gaseous nitrogen proof test and that the brief frost was caused by it being vented out.

No significant venting or frost since then, and vehicles have now returned to the pad.

— Michael Baylor (@MichaelBaylor_) May 9, 2020

 

[Flyaway]

Source: https://www.spacex.com/news/2020/04/28/starlink-update

The first unit is flying on the next launch, and by flight 9 in June all future Starlink satellites will have sun visors.

As previously noted, the first VisorSat prototype will launch in May and we will have these black, specular visors on all satellites by June.

 

[FighterJock]

Source: https://www.spacex.com/news/2020/04/28/starlink-update

The first unit is flying on the next launch, and by flight 9 in June all future Starlink satellites will have sun visors.

As previously noted, the first VisorSat prototype will launch in May and we will have these black, specular visors on all satellites by June.

Good news for all astronomers concerned with the Starlink being too bright in the night sky. Don't know why the first Starlink satellites did not come with sun visors in the first place.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Someone's idea of a time/cost saving measure, no doubt.

 

[Hanse]

Source: https://www.spacex.com/news/2020/04/28/starlink-update

The first unit is flying on the next launch, and by flight 9 in June all future Starlink satellites will have sun visors.

As previously noted, the first VisorSat prototype will launch in May and we will have these black, specular visors on all satellites by June.

Good news for all astronomers concerned with the Starlink being too bright in the night sky. Don't know why the first Starlink satellites did not come with sun visors in the first place.

Probably for the same reason the F-16 wasn't sporting AIM-120 and LANTIRN right out of the box.

 

[Flyaway]

SN4 passed high pressure (7.5 bar) & engine thrust load at cryo

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 10, 2020

And testing is wrapped up for today

 

[Flyaway]

SN4 has a new Raptor changing from number 18 to 20.

 

[Michel Van]

seems they testing each engine single under SN4

progress update on Boca Chica site

 

[Flyaway]

SpaceX’s first high-flying, triple-Raptor Starship is almost finished

SpaceX’s first high-flying, triple-engine Starship prototype is rapidly approaching completion at the same time as the company is preparing for the rocket’s predecessor to lift off on its inaugural test flight. Known as serial number 5 (SN5), it will be the fifth full-scale Starship prototype...

www.teslarati.com

 

[Flyaway]

 

[fredymac]

The pace is what stands out in this amusing video.

 

[fredymac]

Crew Dragon docking simulation. Graphics look more appealing vs a reading chart full of text.

Simulator of Crew Dragon docking with @space_station → https://t.co/vVqJfnbuNC pic.twitter.com/ZH3bkT0DhM

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 12, 2020

 

[Flyaway]

Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting Sunday, May 17 at 3:53 a.m. EDT, 7:53 UTC, for launch of the eighth Starlink mission, which will lift off from SLC-40 in Florida

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 13, 2020

The first stage rocket booster supporting this mission previously launched two Starlink missions, as well as the Iridium-8 and Telstar 18 VANTAGE missions pic.twitter.com/rvQ6Mh4ZxZ

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 13, 2020

 

[Flyaway]

SkySats 16-21 to Launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 Rideshare Missions

www.planet.com

Journalists Use Satellite Data to Track Pollution, Kim Jong-Un and More During COVID-19 Pandemic

www.planet.com

 

[fredymac]

More on Crew Dragon control software.

 

[Michel Van]

link to simulator

SPACEX - ISS Docking Simulator

This simulator will familiarize you with the controls of the actual interface used by NASA Astronauts to manually pilot the SpaceX Dragon 2 vehicle to the International Space Station.

iss-sim.spacex.com

progress on site
new assembly hangar is build
and Teststand get a umbilical(?) tower

 

[Flyaway]

 

[Flyaway]

Testing for today has been cancelled.

 

[Deino]

Another test today as it seems

Starship SN4 test - looked like either a preburner test or aborted Static Fire test with Raptor SN20. Captured by Mary (@BocaChicaGal).

LIVE: https://t.co/pCMEMJFyIS

Clip: pic.twitter.com/oShS7qlIeu

— NSF - NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) May 17, 2020

 

[Flyaway]

It appears that the first static fire attempt was likely aborted. Waiting to see if they recycle for another attempt.

— Michael Baylor (@MichaelBaylor_) May 18, 2020

 

[Flyaway]

Standing down from the Starlink mission, due to tropical storm Arthur, until after launch of Crew Demo-2

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 18, 2020

 

[FighterJock]

Standing down from the Starlink mission, due to tropical storm Arthur, until after launch of Crew Demo-2

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 18, 2020

That is bad news for Starship.

 

[Hanse]

Standing down from the Starlink mission, due to tropical storm Arthur, until after launch of Crew Demo-2

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 18, 2020

That is bad news for Starship.

How does this have anything at all to do with Starship? Different launch vehicles in different states.

 

[Flyaway]

Standing down from the Starlink mission, due to tropical storm Arthur, until after launch of Crew Demo-2

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 18, 2020

That is bad news for Starship.

How does this have anything at all to do with Starship? Different launch vehicles in different states.

This isn’t a Starship thread it’s a general Space X thread.

 

[Flyaway]

NOTAM added for the 21st up to 16,000 feet, indicating this is the NET for the 150m hop.

0/1869 NOTAM Details