SpaceX Super Heavy and Starship updates

[DocM]

On 31/10/2021 at 17:42, IsItPluggedIn said:

That would be interesting, if SN21 is ready and better before their allowed to fly, it would make more sense to fly it. However I guess it would depend on how long SN22 is away, if they are partway through SN22 It makes total sense, but if SN22 is still a long way away, then they can use SN22 for the next test. 

It may come down to engine readiness. If Ship 22/23 are that much improved they may want to use Raptor 2, which started test fires last week.

[DocM]

Hires version Gateway to Mars

 

 

[DocM]

Revised road closure schedule for Starship tests. Add 1 hour for Eastern time.

 

 

 

[DocM]

NASA Starship HLS work resumes; Blue Origin lost their lawsuit.

 

 

[+Warwagon MVC]

On 04/11/2021 at 14:52, DocM said:

NASA Starship HLS work resumes; Blue Origin lost their lawsuit.

 

 

*Gives middle finger* .. .Suck it Bezos!

[DocM]

 

Quote

Ship 20 has all six Raptors installed and is being prepared for further static fire testing. Meanwhile Mechazilla's chopsticks are coming to life, the Wide Bay rises from the ground, and we bid farewell to Frankencrane.

Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal), Nic (@NicAnsuini), and the NSF Robots. Edited by Aaron (@Huslage

 

[DocM]

Possible Starship 20 static fire Nov. 12. Add 1 hour for Eastern time.

 

[DocM]

Ship 20 static fire stream (now)

https://youtu.be/g8ja43uGrdQ

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

FAA Boca Chica EA by Dec 31

 

 

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

A Super Heavy static fire is in the works.

 

A look at Super Heavy's 9 engine center thrust cluster. 20 engines in the outer ring. 12 million lbf, evolving to 16 million lbf.

 

 

[DocM]

An engine is coming  after Raptor 2, and it won't be named Raptor  🚀 😎 🚀 

 

 

Edited November 17, 2021 by DocM

[DocM]

Today at 1800 Eastern Elon Musk will discuss Starship at the National Academy's Space Studies Board/Board on Physics and Astronomy

 

YouTube stream

 

 

[bguy_1986]

On 17/11/2021 at 16:23, DocM said:

Today at 1800 Eastern Elon Musk will discuss Starship at the National Academy's Space Studies Board/Board on Physics and Astronomy

 

YouTube stream

 

 

Starts about 6:50:00

[DocM]

Musk acts like they got a mitigated FONSI* from FAA's environmental assessment. We'll see..

 

He expects an orbital Starship  launch in Jan-Feb, 12 launches in 2022, and commercial launches by 2023.

 

* Finding Of No Significant Impact

[DocM]

 

 

 

 

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

Sounds like 2 pads at Starbase....

 

 

[DocM]

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/03/elon-musk-spacex-starts-construction-of-starship-launchpad-in-florida.html

 

Quote

 

Elon Musk says SpaceX has started building a Starship launchpad on Florida’s Space Coast

>

NASA, in a statement to CNBC, confirmed that SpaceX is “within the rights of their lease agreement to make launch infrastructure improvements within the boundaries of the pad.” The agency also confirmed that NASA is not providing funding for the Starship launchpad, and deferred to SpaceX on the project’s scope, cost, and timeline.
>
Tom Engler, director of planning and development at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, told CNBC that he think the SpaceX plan is “really exciting.” Before the company leased the complex, it was previously used to launch Saturn V rockets for Apollo missions, as well as Space Shuttle missions.

“If you look at the history of the launchpad, this is probably right in line with how it was meant to be used,” Engler said. “To us, it’s really just kind of an reaffirmation of the thought process of why that pad was built to begin with.”

>

 

 

[DocM]

How to catch a Super Heavy rocket

 

 

 

[bguy_1986]

On 05/12/2021 at 03:01, DocM said:

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/03/elon-musk-spacex-starts-construction-of-starship-launchpad-in-florida.html

 

 

They must be pretty confident the chopsticks are going to work.  It's still crazy to me.  Can't wait to see it.

[+Warwagon MVC]

On 05/12/2021 at 04:53, DocM said:

How to catch a Super Heavy rocket

That was bad ass.

 

On 06/12/2021 at 07:53, bguy_1986 said:

They must be pretty confident the chopsticks are going to work.  It's still crazy to me.  Can't wait to see it.

That will be one intense moment when it is first attempted. So what happens when if it fails? How does the explosion effect the tower? Does it destroy them?

[DocM]

On 06/12/2021 at 09:40, warwagon said:

That was bad ass.

 

That will be one intense moment when it is first attempted. So what happens when if it fails? How does the explosion effect the tower? Does it destroy them?

 

The tower will likely be OK, very beefy, and the launch mount will be at ~45° to the inertial impact point. They'll likely use an F9-like divert to keep the IIP far from the tower. If all's good, guidance working etc., it diverts straight into the chopsticks. If not, it crashes at the IIP. A few roasted crabs & burned sawgrass.

 

Maybe the chopsticks and carriage take a hit, and at capture there should only be a few tonnes of props. 

Edited December 6, 2021 by DocM

[DocM]

The FCC has issued a Special Temporary Authority (STA, frequency license) for the Starship orbital test flight.  FAA Environmental Assessment  and flight license pending.

 

December 20, 2021 - March 1, 2022