SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virigin Galactic and other Private Space Companies Thread

[Elderberry]

SpaceX returns to Starship program roots with new ‘test tank’ prototype

TESLARATI by Eric Ralph 1/15/2021

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-program-new-test-tank-assembly

It’s now clear that SpaceX is preparing to return to the roots of its Starship program with the latest in a series of one-off ‘test tanks’ meant to qualify upgrades to the rocket’s design and production.

Likely known as Starship SN7.2, the hardware will be the first standalone tank built and tested by SpaceX since SN7.1 was successfully pressurized to failure in a process known as burst testing in September 2020. Following in the footsteps of SN7.1, a simple test tank fully focused on qualifying a change in the steel alloy used to build Starships, SN7.2 was somewhat more complex, swapping one of two smooth forward domes with a thrust dome and adding a ‘skirt’ section.

Built out of the same steel alloy as SN7.1, SN7.2 went through similar testing but included the use of a hydraulic ram designed to simulate the thrust of one, two, or three Raptors on the ‘thrust puck’ those engines would otherwise attach to. Starship test tank SN7.2 appears to be quite similar to SN7.1 – but with one or two crucial differences.

    SN7.2's forward dome has been mated with its aft dome. This is the first tank to be built using 3mm stainless steel instead of the current 4mm. @elonmusk what bar are you expecting SN7.2 to reach and when will it be tested?

[Elderberry]

SpaceX swapping out two engines on Starship SN9 prototype ahead of test flight

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn9-engine-swap

Space.com by By Mike Wall 1/15/2021

It's unclear when SN9 will make its big hop.

SpaceX's latest Starship prototype needs some maintenance work before it can take to the skies.

On Wednesday (Jan. 13), the Starship SN9 prototype performed three "static fire" tests in rapid succession at SpaceX's South Texas site, firing up its three Raptor engines while the vehicle remained anchored to the ground.

These brief burns were part of the preflight routine for SN9, which is being groomed for a high-altitude test. That big hop could have happened as soon as this weekend, had Wednesday's static fires gone perfectly smoothly. But there were apparently a few hiccups.

[Idiot]

SpaceX swapping out two engines on Starship SN9 prototype ahead of test flight

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn9-engine-swap

Space.com by By Mike Wall 1/15/2021

It's unclear when SN9 will make its big hop.

SpaceX's latest Starship prototype needs some maintenance work before it can take to the skies.

On Wednesday (Jan. 13), the Starship SN9 prototype performed three "static fire" tests in rapid succession at SpaceX's South Texas site, firing up its three Raptor engines while the vehicle remained anchored to the ground.

These brief burns were part of the preflight routine for SN9, which is being groomed for a high-altitude test. That big hop could have happened as soon as this weekend, had Wednesday's static fires gone perfectly smoothly. But there were apparently a few hiccups.

Means more static fires before the hop.  Swapping out 2/3's of your engines is a MAJOR problem.

[Elderberry]

Means more static fires before the hop.  Swapping out 2/3's of your engines is a MAJOR problem.

Of course there will be more static fires before the flight. I believe the "MAJOR problem" is FOD damage from the static fires.

[Elderberry]

Blue Origin flies new space capsule, posts video of new Alabama rocket engine plant

American Military News by  Lee Roop - Alabama Media Group  January 17, 2021

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/01/blue-origin-flies-new-space-capsule-posts-video-of-new-alabama-rocket-engine-plant/

Blue Origin flew its New Shepard rocket with a new capsule on top successfully to space and back to a safe ground landing Thursday, moving the company closer to commercial launches for the public, and it released a video with a rare look at its new Huntsville engine plant.

The six-seat capsule carried only Mannequin Skywalker to carry data, but it will carry space tourists later on suborbital flights the company expects to raise revenue and spread excitement about space. The capsule that launched today featured upgrades to its acoustics, temperature regulation, crew display panels and push-to-talk communications at each of its passenger seats.

Seeing the inside of Blue’s Huntsville engine plant is rare in part because of federal law bans photography of technology that might be copied by foreign competitors. Guide Jacki Cortese toured the huge plant where Blue Origin is developing and building its BE4 engine and showed some of the techniques used in modern rocket production.

More at link.

Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

[Elderberry]

The 2 Raptors have been replaced on SN9.

Boca Chica Testing Schedule

Based on Cameron County, Texas – Road Closures

    1/18/21 – 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
    1/19/21 – 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
    1/20/21 – 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

[Elderberry]

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster set to beat rocket turnaround record by a huge margin

TESLARATI by Eric Ralph 1/17/2021

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-booster-record-rocket-turnaround-2021/

The Falcon 9 booster assigned to SpaceX’s first Starlink launch of the new year is on track to become the world’s most rapidly reusable rocket as early as Monday, January 18th.

    Targeting Monday, January 18 at 8:45 a.m. EST for Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites from LC-39A; Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported seven missions. Team is keeping an eye on launch and recovery weather → https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK

Prior to 2020, SpaceX’s Block 5 booster turnaround record – referring to the time between two launches of the same rocket – happened to be set by two Falcon Heavy side boosters after they supported two of the rocket’s three total launches in just 74 days. In mid-2018, a pre-Block 5 Falcon 9 booster technically made it slightly further, flying twice in 71 days. While impressive, the speed of SpaceX’s Falcon Block 5 booster reuse remained firmly behind NASA’s Space Shuttle, the only operational orbital-class reusable rocket prior to Falcon.

While already dramatically more cost-effective and labor-efficient than the Space Shuttle’s extraordinarily involved refurbishment process, SpaceX’s established turnaround time capabilities would begin to take huge steps forward in 2020. In July, the inevitable finally happened when a Falcon 9 booster launched for the second time in just 51 days, beating NASA’s longstanding Space Shuttle turnaround record of 54 days.

Last flown for the seventh time on December 13th, Falcon 9 B1051 is now scheduled to attempt its eighth orbital-class launch and landing just 36 days later, beating the 51-day world record by almost a third (~30%) and simultaneously becoming the first Falcon booster to launch eight times. If successful, SpaceX’s Falcon rockets will be mere days away from demonstrating monthly reusability.

[Elderberry]

SpaceX acquires former oil rigs to serve as floating Starship spaceports

NASA Spaceflight  by Thomas Burghardt January 19, 2021

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/spacex-rigs-starship-spaceports

SpaceX has acquired two former oil drilling rigs to serve as these floating spaceports. Named Phobos and Deimos, after the two moons of Mars, they are currently undergoing modifications to support Starship launch operations.

SpaceX has long been hinting at future floating launch and landing sites for their Starship launch system. The super heavy lift launch vehicle will have a large blast danger area and pose noise concerns if launched frequently near populated areas. Therefore, sea launch platforms will play a key role in the launch cadence SpaceX plans to reach with Starship, including on-orbit refueling flights for deep space missions and transportation from one place to another on Earth.

Job postings by SpaceX have indicated that work on offshore launch platforms has begun in Brownsville, Texas, near their Starship manufacturing and launch facilities in Boca Chica.

Positions included crane operators, electricians, and offshore operations engineers, and several of the job listings specified that the position was part of the company’s Starship program. Job descriptions for these positions included responsibilities like “designing and building an operational offshore rocket launch facility” and required the “ability to work on an offshore platform in Brownsville, Texas.”

[Idiot]

Test vessel 7.2 (Poppy) arrives at the launch facility to be tested to rupture.  It is using 3 mm stainless steel.

[Elderberry]

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,387074.msg2363504.html#msg2363504

SpaceX returns to Starship program roots with new ‘test tank’ prototype

TESLARATI by Eric Ralph 1/15/2021

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-program-new-test-tank-assembly

It’s now clear that SpaceX is preparing to return to the roots of its Starship program with the latest in a series of one-off ‘test tanks’ meant to qualify upgrades to the rocket’s design and production.

Likely known as Starship SN7.2, the hardware will be the first standalone tank built and tested by SpaceX since SN7.1 was successfully pressurized to failure in a process known as burst testing in September 2020. Following in the footsteps of SN7.1, a simple test tank fully focused on qualifying a change in the steel alloy used to build Starships, SN7.2 was somewhat more complex, swapping one of two smooth forward domes with a thrust dome and adding a ‘skirt’ section.

Built out of the same steel alloy as SN7.1, SN7.2 went through similar testing but included the use of a hydraulic ram designed to simulate the thrust of one, two, or three Raptors on the ‘thrust puck’ those engines would otherwise attach to. Starship test tank SN7.2 appears to be quite similar to SN7.1 – but with one or two crucial differences.

    SN7.2's forward dome has been mated with its aft dome. This is the first tank to be built using 3mm stainless steel instead of the current 4mm. @elonmusk what bar are you expecting SN7.2 to reach and when will it be tested?

[Elderberry]

LIVE: Starship SN9 Static Fire Attempt

 NASASpaceflight

SpaceX is conducting a static fire test with Starship SN9 in Boca Chica, Texas. If all goes well, a successful test will clear the way for a test flight in the coming days.


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

Propellant is loading @ 5:28PM CST

[Idiot]

LIVE: Starship SN9 Static Fire Attempt

 NASASpaceflight

SpaceX is conducting a static fire test with Starship SN9 in Boca Chica, Texas. If all goes well, a successful test will clear the way for a test flight in the coming days.


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

Propellant is loading @ 5:28PM CST

Several aborted static fire attempts today.  I wonder what the issue was?  Hopefully they'll get this ironed out.

[Elderberry]

SpaceX rocket launches on record 8th flight carrying 60 Starlink satellites, nails landing

Space.com By Amy Thompson 1/20/2021

It's the most-flown Falcon 9 ever.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on a record 8th flight to send a new fleet of the company's Starlink internet satellites into orbit on Wednesday (Jan.20) and then nailed a landing at sea.

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the historic Pad 39A here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 8:02 a.m. EDT (1202 GMT) carrying 60 new Starlink satellites for SpaceX's growing constellation in orbit. The launch came after two days of delay due to poor weather in the recovery zone and the need for extra pre-flight checks.

Approximately 9 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth, landing on one of SpaceX's drone ships in the Atlantic Ocean in a smooth touchdown. The massive ship, "Just Read the Instructions," is one of two in the company’s fleet of recovery vessels that catch falling boosters and return them to port.

More: https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-17-record-rocket-launch-landing-success

[Elderberry]

SpaceX aborts several of Starship’s static fire attempts and rolls the test tank onto the pad

Newsbeezer 1/21/2021

Note: {Crash means "Abort")

SpaceX held the Starship SN9 for about an hour after the third crash, but eventually began the final deflation and depressurization around 6:50 p.m., marking the end of the day’s trials.

It is impossible to say what caused the consecutive crashes on Wednesday or whether the three instances were linked. While it may be frustrating to watch from the sidelines, it’s important to remember that the public is getting a truly unprecedented continuous view of the process of developing and refining a world-class SpaceX launcher. Additionally, any demolition that Starship suffers should theoretically produce a lot of valuable data that will help both Starship and Raptor teams better understand how the cutting-edge vehicle and its engines are designed, built, tested and operated.

Most likely, SpaceX is tending to be cautious (and thus cautious hardware and software limits) as it tries to prep the Starship SN9 for its real purpose of data acquisition – an SN8-style take-off and landing attempt at high altitude.

More: https://newsbeezer.com/uk/spacex-aborts-several-of-starships-static-fire-attempts-and-rolls-the-test-tank-onto-the-pad/

[Elderberry]

When Will SN9 Launch? | Live Updates

https://everydayastronaut.com/sn9-10-km-flight-live-updates/

Keeping track of when a Starship Prototype is going to launch is hard. Here, we’ll keep you up to date on the latest launch date and what’s happening with SN9.
Official NET date:   January 25, 2021
Tim’s take:   Waiting for another static fire?

[Idiot]

The static fire today was VERY short and didn't sound right at all.  I think they have issues.  Poor Eileen has had a hard life...lol.

[Idiot]

The static fire today was VERY short and didn't sound right at all.  I think they have issues.  Poor Eileen has had a hard life...lol.

Eileen is undergoing a static fire currently.  I just got my morning cup of coffee....barely made it.


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

[Elderberry]

Static Fire @ 8:59:40 CST

[Elderberry]

Boca Chica currently 28 mph wind gusts. Wind expected to drop this afternoon.

Possible launch or Static fire,
waiting for residents to evacuate.
Road closure 12-6p CST (1800-0000 UTC).
Flight TFRs Jan 25-27 8a-6p (1400-2359 UTC)

3pm Launch tentatively.

No Launch Today. Too windy.

Tues. 1/26/2021 08:43CST 0 wind. Thick fog.  Should be a good day for a flight!

No Launch Today.

7.2 Testing in progress

[Elderberry]

SpaceX’s most important Super Heavy booster part makes first appearance

TESLARATI by Eric Ralph 1/25/2021

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-super-heavy-booster-most-important-part



What is arguably the most complex and important part of SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster prototype has made its first appearance at the company’s South Texas Starship factory.

Following in the footsteps of Starship development, Super Heavy has been able to extensively borrow from the many lessons learned over the course of building, testing, flying, and building more Starship prototypes. SpaceX is able to use virtually identical materials, equipment, and techniques to build and assemble both Starship and Super Heavy propellant tank barrels and domes, while both stages will also share an extensive foundation of avionics, plumbing, propulsion, and ground systems, among other things.

In fact, lacking a conical nose, secondary (‘header’) propellant tanks, flaps, a reusable orbital-class heatshield, and vacuum-optimized Raptor engines, Super Heavy is actually substantially simpler than the Starships it will one day launch towards orbit. However, not everything is simpler. Super Heavy will ultimately be the largest and most powerful liquid-fueled rocket stage ever built or tested – power that demands as many as 28 Raptor engines and a thrust structure capable of feeding and withstanding them.

[Elderberry]

SN7.2 Pressure Test was Successful.

Too windy again. No Flight Today.

[Elderberry]

@mrpotatohead
@Cyber Liberty

SN-9 Launch T-0 @ 11:00 (ish)


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

[Idiot]

@mrpotatohead
@Cyber Liberty

SN-9 Launch T-0 @ 11:00 (ish)


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

@Elderberry
THANKS!  I've got it on my second monitor.  I can't wait!

[Elderberry]

The wind hasn't yet subsided.


Wind:19.7 mph NE @ 10:51

High gust 26.0 mph at 09:12 AM


Temporary Flight Restriction.  No TFRs have been cancelled.

[Cyber Liberty]

The wind hasn't yet subsided.


Wind:19.7 mph NE @ 10:51

High gust 26.0 mph at 09:12 AM


Temporary Flight Restriction.  No TFRs have been cancelled.

Outlook may be dimming for a launch today.