Author Topic: SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virigin Galactic and other Private Space Companies Thread (Read 93218 times)

Elderberry · « **Reply #875 on:** July 12, 2022, 12:53:53 am »

SpaceX Booster 7 Experiences Explosion

NASASpaceflight 7/11/2022

Multiple angles of Booster 7 experiencing an unexpected ignition during Raptor engine testing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Yiw7_JTXY

Elderberry · « **Reply #876 on:** July 12, 2022, 12:57:19 am »

SpaceX fires up engines on huge Starship booster ahead of orbital test flight

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy-booster-7-engine-fire

Booster 7 has roared to life.

SpaceX just lit a very big candle.

The company fired up the engines today (July 11) on Super Heavy, the giant first-stage booster for its next-gen Starship deep-space transportation system.

The firing, which occurred at 5:20 p.m. EDT (2120 GMT; 4:20 local Texas time) at Starbase, SpaceX's South Texas facility, was unannounced and initially had people speculating on Twitter that it was an accident of some sort. But SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk quickly put that rumor to bed.

"Yes. Booster engine testing," Musk said via Twitter (opens in new tab) this evening, responding to a follower who had asked if the firing was intentional.

The Super Heavy in question is Booster 7, which SpaceX is prepping for the first-ever Starship orbital test flight. That landmark mission could lift off in the next few months, if all goes according to plan.

The Starship system consists of Super Heavy and a 165-foot-tall (50 meters) upper-stage spacecraft called Starship. Both of these elements will be fully and rapidly reusable, potentially making Mars colonization and other ambitious exploration feats economically feasible, Musk has said.

Starship is powered by SpaceX's brawny new Raptor engine — 33 for the booster and six for the upper-stage spacecraft. Booster 7 sports a full complement of Raptors; it's unclear from footage of today's test firing, which NASASpaceflight streamed live (opens in new tab), how many of the engines lit up.

More at link.

Idiot · « **Reply #877 on:** July 12, 2022, 02:35:48 pm »

Quote from: Elderberry on July 12, 2022, 12:57:19 am

SpaceX fires up engines on huge Starship booster ahead of orbital test flight

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy-booster-7-engine-fire

Booster 7 has roared to life.

SpaceX just lit a very big candle.

The company fired up the engines today (July 11) on Super Heavy, the giant first-stage booster for its next-gen Starship deep-space transportation system.

The firing, which occurred at 5:20 p.m. EDT (2120 GMT; 4:20 local Texas time) at Starbase, SpaceX's South Texas facility, was unannounced and initially had people speculating on Twitter that it was an accident of some sort. But SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk quickly put that rumor to bed.

"Yes. Booster engine testing," Musk said via Twitter (opens in new tab) this evening, responding to a follower who had asked if the firing was intentional.

The Super Heavy in question is Booster 7, which SpaceX is prepping for the first-ever Starship orbital test flight. That landmark mission could lift off in the next few months, if all goes according to plan.

The Starship system consists of Super Heavy and a 165-foot-tall (50 meters) upper-stage spacecraft called Starship. Both of these elements will be fully and rapidly reusable, potentially making Mars colonization and other ambitious exploration feats economically feasible, Musk has said.

Starship is powered by SpaceX's brawny new Raptor engine — 33 for the booster and six for the upper-stage spacecraft. Booster 7 sports a full complement of Raptors; it's unclear from footage of today's test firing, which NASASpaceflight streamed live (opens in new tab), how many of the engines lit up.

More at link.

I wonder how many days/weeks/months this will set them back?

Elderberry · « **Reply #878 on:** July 13, 2022, 01:25:32 am »

Elon Musk’s SpaceX: here’s what caused the Starship booster explosion

The National News by Sarwat Nasir 7/12/2022

Mr Musk said the issue was caused by a spin start test on all 33 of the rocket's powerful Raptor engines at once.

“Cryogenic fuel is an added challenge, as it evaporates to create fuel-air explosion risk in a partially oxygen atmosphere like Earth,” Mr Musk tweeted.

“That said, we have a lot of sensors to detect this.

“This particular issue, however, was specific to the engine spin start test (Raptor has a complex start sequence). Going forward, we won’t do a spin start test with all 33 engines at once.”

More: https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2022/07/12/elon-musks-spacex-heres-what-caused-the-starship-booster-explosion/

Elderberry · « **Reply #879 on:** July 14, 2022, 01:38:05 am »

SpaceX Starship explosion: Elon Musk outlines next step before orbital flight

Interesting Engineering by Chris Young 7/13/2022

SpaceX still 'need to inspect all' 33 Raptor 2 engines.

It's been largely overshadowed by NASA's James Webb images reveal, but SpaceX's Starship prototype suffered an explosive setback earlier this week during testing on the launchpad.

The private space firm has put its engine tests on hold after an unexpected explosion at SpaceX's Boca Chica facility in Texas, on July 11. The incident may delay SpaceX's orbital launch of Starship, which CEO Elon Musk recently predicted to take place this month.

Now, Musk has provided an update, and it looks like good news — though more time is needed to investigate the extent of the damage.

"Damage appears to be minor, but we need to inspect all the engines," Musk wrote on Twitter. "Best to do this in the high bay," he added.

The latest update from Musk gives a positive outlook, though as he points out, more inspection will be needed at the High Bay. The High Bay at SpaceX's Boca Chica facility is where most of the Starship prototype stacking and assembly, including for the Super Heavy Booster 7 that exploded, takes place. We will be sure to know more in the coming days.

More: https://interestingengineering.com/space-starship-explosion-next-step

Elderberry · « **Reply #880 on:** July 15, 2022, 11:30:35 am »

Elon Musk just revealed the cause of Booster 7's explosion!

ALPHA TECH
Elon Musk just revealed the cause of Booster 7's explosion!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-fDPvtCQaI

Elderberry · « **Reply #881 on:** July 18, 2022, 12:18:22 am »

SpaceX ties annual launch record with latest Starlink mission

https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/starlink/spacex-ties-annual-launch-record-with-latest-starlink-mission/

SpaceX launched its 31st Falcon 9 rocket of 2022, tying its annual flight record set just last year — and it’s only July.

The first stage of the rocket, core B1051, made its 13th flight to space, joining two other boosters that also reached that milestone for the company.

This was the Falcon 9’s 31st flight of 2022, which is the same number of SpaceX missions as all of 2021. The company is averaging a launch every 6.38 days.

More at link.

Idiot · « **Reply #882 on:** July 18, 2022, 01:29:58 pm »

Quote from: Elderberry on July 18, 2022, 12:18:22 am

SpaceX ties annual launch record with latest Starlink mission

https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/starlink/spacex-ties-annual-launch-record-with-latest-starlink-mission/

SpaceX launched its 31st Falcon 9 rocket of 2022, tying its annual flight record set just last year — and it’s only July.

The first stage of the rocket, core B1051, made its 13th flight to space, joining two other boosters that also reached that milestone for the company.

This was the Falcon 9’s 31st flight of 2022, which is the same number of SpaceX missions as all of 2021. The company is averaging a launch every 6.38 days.

More at link.

How many satellites do they have in orbit and what is their target amount? Also, what is their life span?

Kamaji · « **Reply #883 on:** July 18, 2022, 01:43:34 pm »

Quote from: mrpotatohead on July 18, 2022, 01:29:58 pm

How many satellites do they have in orbit and what is their target amount? Also, what is their life span?

Currently, they have 2,500 satellites in orbit. They're currently approved for 12,000, and are angling to get approval for another 30,000. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink

Idiot · « **Reply #884 on:** July 19, 2022, 02:17:59 am »

Quote from: Kamaji on July 18, 2022, 01:43:34 pm

Currently, they have 2,500 satellites in orbit. They're currently approved for 12,000, and are angling to get approval for another 30,000. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink

Wow!!! I had no clue that there'd be so many. Thanks!

Elderberry · « **Reply #885 on:** August 24, 2022, 09:16:44 pm »

WHY Jeff Bezos & Blue Origin is so SCARED of what SpaceX just did in Florida?

ALPHA TECH

Jeff Bezos is best known as Amazon’s founder. But he believes his most valuable company is Blue Origin.
His space project is only six years behind the online giant. However, it is not on the same level.
Blue Origin sees itself as the tortoise in the race against the hare.
The hare is so confident about winning it takes a nap. The tortoise is slow and steady and ends up victorious.
But if SpaceX is the hare in this story, there’s a twist. Because this hare definitely doesn't take a nap!
Thus, despite being 2 years later, Elon Musk's firm still beats Jeff's in every way!
From NASA’s $2.9 billion lunar lander contract to rockets, engines, and now, what SpaceX just did in Florida also makes Blue Origin afraid!!!
Why’s that?
All this and more in today's episode of the Alpha Tech!

Blue Origin leased Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) in Cape Canaveral, Florida in September 2015 to build a launch pad for their orbital launch vehicle New Glenn.
Ground-breaking for the facility to begin construction occurred in June 2016. By March 2018, Blue's construction at LC-36 was lagging, but the company stated they did not think it would delay achieving the anticipated 2020 initial launch of New Glenn.
However, as of 2022, Blue Origin does not expect to launch New Glenn until 2023 at the earliest.
The Blue Origin orbital launch site will be situated on a total of 306 acres of leased land assembled from former Launch Complexes 11, 36A, and 36B. The land parcel will be used to build a rocket engine test stand for the BE-4 engine, a launch mount—called the Orbital Launch Site by Blue—and a reusable booster refurbishment facility for the New Glenn launch vehicle, which is expected to land on a seaborne platform and returned to Port Canaveral for refurbishment.
Space Florida’s Dale Ketcham called it a “monster” of a launch pad.
“It is going to be a beast,” Ketcham said.
But disappointingly, after 6 years, there are still a lot of unfinished parts here from Blue Origin.
WHY Jeff Bezos & Blue Origin is so SCARED of what SpaceX just did in Florida?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5B-T1gGbpM

Weird Tolkienish Figure · « **Reply #886 on:** August 25, 2022, 02:52:27 pm »

This popped up on my YT feed the other night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNU9MeYmHeM&t=924s

So if Starlink fails that means we have 30k junk satellites in orbit? :(

Cyber Liberty · « **Reply #887 on:** August 25, 2022, 03:42:40 pm »

Quote from: Weird Tolkienish Figure on August 25, 2022, 02:52:27 pm

So if Starlink fails that means we have 30k junk satellites in orbit? :(

No. Companies that shoot satellites into space are required to pay a bond for each bird to cover the costs of de-orbiting in advance. I learnt this when I worked for Motorola and we were launching Iridium satellites at the time.

Elderberry · « **Reply #888 on:** August 25, 2022, 04:47:36 pm »

SpaceX: Here's Why Starlink Poses No Orbital Hazard

https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-heres-why-starlink-poses-no-orbital-hazard

Quote

SpaceX is pushing back on worries the company’s Starlink network will one day crowd Earth’s orbit with too many satellites.

“SpaceX is striving to be the world’s most open and transparent satellite operator,” the company added, “and we encourage other operators to join us in sharing orbital data and keeping the public and governments updated with detailed information about operations and practices.”

In response, SpaceX on Tuesday said it’s the leader in satellite safety and listed the various reasons why.

•   Each Starlink satellite is built with an anti-collision avoidance system, capable of maneuvering the satellite. “If there is a greater than 1/100,000 probability of collision (10x lower than the industry standard of 1/10,000) for a conjunction, satellites will plan avoidance maneuvers," the company said.

•   SpaceX satellite operators are on call 24/7 to coordinate and respond to requests from other satellite companies.

•   The satellites have also been tested for high reliability, enabling SpaceX to launch over 2,000 satellites for the existing first-gen Starlink network with a failure rate at “only 1% after orbit raising.” Another 200 Starlink satellites have been safely deorbited.

•    All Starlink satellites operate in a “self-cleaning” low-Earth orbit below 600 kilometers, meaning the satellites will naturally de-orbit in five to six years and burn up in the atmosphere, generating no debris at all.

Elderberry · « **Reply #889 on:** August 30, 2022, 11:27:07 am »

Disaster! BE-4 Failure...

ALPHA TECH 8/27/2022

The billionaire Jeff Bezos is no stranger to success. He controls Amazon, the biggest online commerce store ever known to man, which he founded. Of course, he stepped down from the role of CEO later last year but he has been doing so as the third richest man on earth. Bezos also has a media empire with his ownership of The Washington Post.
Coming down to Blue Origin, a commercial space flight company the billionaire founded in 2000, success is not completely unheard of there either. The company is on record to have successfully landed its New Shepard rocket vertically after it returned from space, that is, the rocket landed upright on its legs. The boosters were even reused.
Pretty cool achievement!
Sadly, that’s all Blue Origin can boast of, despite the backing of its billionaire founder.
The most remarkable is his rocket engine, BE-4 is a horrendous failure compared to SpaceX Raptor!
Welcome back to Alpha Tech. Don't forget to hit the like button and subscribe to our channel.

Following Aerojet’s acquisition of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne in 2012, Blue Origin president Rob Meyerson saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the defense industrial base. Blue Origin publicly entered the liquid rocket engine business by partnering with ULA on the development of the BE-4 and working with other companies to replace Russia's RD-180.
Unfortunately, it turns out that this opportunity is not easily achieved. On the contrary, it has become the grave for Blue Origin.

The company began work on the BE-4 in 2011, although no public announcement was made until September 2014. This was their first engine to combust liquid oxygen and liquified natural gas propellants. In September 2014—in a choice labeled "a stunner" by SpaceNews—the large launch vehicle manufacturer and launch service provider United Launch Alliance selected the BE-4 as the main engine for a new primary launch vehicle. Blue Origin said the "BE-4 would be 'ready for flight' by 2017."
However, until now, you can see, Blue Origin still has not delivered the engine to ULA.

Yeah, the rocket industry is really a difficult stuff but can't be justified because of this.
Disaster! BE-4 Failure...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAkZ4IwkkbM

Elderberry · « **Reply #890 on:** September 20, 2022, 03:03:24 pm »

Booster 7 Seven Engine Static Fire | SpaceX Boca Chica

NASASpaceflight 9/19/2022

Booster 7 completed a successful 7 engine static fire test, the most thrust and highest number of engines in a single test yet.

Video from Starbase Live. Edited by Jack (@theJackBeyer).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNguwefrBsc

Elderberry · « **Reply #891 on:** September 23, 2022, 07:11:21 pm »

Orbital Launch Mount Water Deluge System Tested | SpaceX Boca Chica

NASASpaceflight 9/22/2022

SpaceX tested a new water deluge system on the Orbital Launch Mount that will aid with fire and sound suppression during Super Heavy Booster testing and Starship launches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsbnYp0FYKU

Elderberry · « **Reply #892 on:** September 23, 2022, 07:46:26 pm »

SpaceX rolls Starship Super Heavy booster off pad to prep for epic launch

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy-booster-7-rollback-video

Booster 7 is getting some "robustness upgrades" ahead of its coming orbital launch try.

SpaceX's Starship Mars rocket is getting some work done to gear up for its coming orbital launch attempt.

SpaceX aims to launch that test flight — the first orbital mission for the Starship program — in late October or November. It will involve Booster 7 and Ship 24, prototype versions of Starship's Super Heavy first stage and Starship upper stage, respectively.

SpaceX has been performing "static fire" engine tests with both vehicles at its Starbase facility in South Texas over the past six weeks or so. On Monday (Sept. 19), for instance, Booster 7 ignited seven of its 33 Raptor engines, more than it had ever lit up simultaneously before.

Presumably, SpaceX will work its way up to a full 33-Raptor static fire with Booster 7 before the orbital attempt. But that ramp-up will have to wait, at least for a little while, since Booster 7 is no longer on the pad.

More at link.

Elderberry · « **Reply #893 on:** September 29, 2022, 11:05:26 am »

SpaceX Tests Raptor Engine Rapid Relight

NASASpaceflight 9/29/2022

A Raptor engine conducted a test firing, shutdown, and was relit and tested again after just 9 seconds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO5Uu6xA3N8

Elderberry · « **Reply #894 on:** November 14, 2022, 12:23:05 pm »

SpaceX Starship attempts first landing catch !!

SpacePadre 11/13/2022

https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1591898767951032321

Idiot · « **Reply #895 on:** November 14, 2022, 02:54:05 pm »

Quote from: Elderberry on November 14, 2022, 12:23:05 pm

SpaceX Starship attempts first landing catch !!

SpacePadre 11/13/2022

https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1591898767951032321

Cyber Liberty · « **Reply #896 on:** November 14, 2022, 05:34:52 pm »

Quote from: Elderberry on November 14, 2022, 12:23:05 pm

SpaceX Starship attempts first landing catch !!

SpacePadre 11/13/2022

https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1591898767951032321

Kamaji · « **Reply #897 on:** November 14, 2022, 07:35:08 pm »

Quote from: Elderberry on November 14, 2022, 12:23:05 pm

SpaceX Starship attempts first landing catch !!

SpacePadre 11/13/2022

https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1591898767951032321

Elderberry · « **Reply #898 on:** November 14, 2022, 10:36:44 pm »

That sounded solid on SPI!! 🚀

Chris Bergin - NSF @NASASpaceflight 11/14/22
·

STATIC FIRE! Booster 7 fires up a record amount of Raptor engines!

WOW!

Hopefully, @elonmusk will let us know how many and if it looked good!

https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1592229259904679938?cxt=HBwWhIDQ2e2E3pgsAAAA&cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email

https://youtu.be/VjEjt1XLs8E?t=10610

Idiot · « **Reply #899 on:** November 15, 2022, 12:16:38 am »

Quote from: Elderberry on November 14, 2022, 10:36:44 pm

That sounded solid on SPI!! 🚀

Chris Bergin - NSF @NASASpaceflight 11/14/22
·

STATIC FIRE! Booster 7 fires up a record amount of Raptor engines!

WOW!

Hopefully, @elonmusk will let us know how many and if it looked good!

https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1592229259904679938?cxt=HBwWhIDQ2e2E3pgsAAAA&cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email

https://youtu.be/VjEjt1XLs8E?t=10610

14 raptors! Come on 33!