SpaceX Super Heavy and Starship updates

[BetaguyGZT]

On the Horizontal Test Stand, too. Standby for scorched desert.  

[DocM]

Said to be LOUD!!

 

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

YAY!!!!

 

 

[Jim K Global Moderator]

 

 

Right ear approves.

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

 

Goal: 200 metric tons, then a 250 metric ton Raptor "Full Thrust"  

 

Audio corrected for camera-engine audio delay by redditor u/melancholicricebowl

 

https://streamable.com/nl6y7

 

[DocM]

That was quick!

 

Boiling cryo,

172 metric tons = 1686.74 kN = 379,195 lbf 

+10% for deep cryo gives,

189.2 metric tons = 1,855.414 kN = 417,114.5 lbf

 

 

 

 

Edited February 7, 2019 by DocM

[DocM]

Earwitness accounts

 

1) about 10s (3x longer)
2) heard 30 miles away

[DocM]

Hmmmmm.....

 

 

[DocM]

 

 

Edited February 8, 2019 by DocM

[DocM]

 

Edited February 11, 2019 by DocM

[DocM]

Yikes!!

 

 

Edited February 11, 2019 by DocM

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

STARGATE!

 

This is happening in the Starship Hopper hangar.

 

 

 

Edited February 13, 2019 by DocM

[DocM]

It was a VIP/congresscritter event

 

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

Confirmed: the Super Heavy booster and Starship will be built in Brownsville, TX

 

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/1120859043/

 

Quote

 

Tank Fabricator/Welder

 

Company Name: SpaceX 

Company Location: Brownsville, TX, US

Posted Date: Posted 2 days ago 

Number of applicants: Be among the first 25 applicants

Apply: Apply to Tank Fabricator/Welder on company website

 

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

TANK FABRICATOR/WELDER 

Tank fabricators will work to build the primary airframe of the Starship and Super Heavy vehicles at the SpaceX South Texas build site. The tank fabricator will work with an elite team of other fabricators and technicians to rapidly build the tank (cylindrical structure), tank bulkheads, and other large associated structures for the flight article design of both vehicles.

>

 

 

Edited February 17, 2019 by DocM

[DocM]

https://www.recruit.net/job/supervisor_brownsville-tx_jobs/23A52544507D7B8C

 

Quote

SUPERVISOR, TANK FABRICATION

 

The Tank Fabrication Supervisor is responsible for leading a team of fabricators, welders, and technicians building the Primary and Secondary structures for the Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. The Tank Fabrication Supervisor is the most influential person on-site to drive progress on an hour-by-hour and day-by-day basis. The Supervisor of the team will take technical direction from the Engineering team and turn it into reality by building, retaining, and managing their team effectively; distributing labor resources, prioritizing certain aspects of the build, and setting headcount requirements where necessary. The Supervisor is also a key enabler to a productive, fun, and hard-working culture. For this role specifically, it is highly important that the Supervisor is an inspiring leader, often-times working side by side with their build team.

 

 

[BetaguyGZT]

Makes complete sense to me from a logistics point of view.

 

All of these components are gigantic. Far larger than the infrastructure of the Rocky Mountains would permit for overland travel, and oversea shipping would be both expensive and time-consuming. Just build them where they can be more easily transported. Once built, they can be flown and dropped off via other Starships & Super Heavies.

 

No, seriously. They could be. This platform can be used for freight too. Suborbital hops to drop off massive shipments like these? Sure! It's modular, after all. Long as the weight distribution isn't wonky, a Super Heavy set up for this task could do it.

 

I'm not kidding -- the platform is robust enough, and adaptable enough, for "headless" applications. Think Saturn V launching Skylab -- headless like that.

[DocM]

It's also a straight-shot barge ride to KSC should they go through with that pad. No Panama Canal, less time.