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

[kevindavis007]

Yeah, I remember those "discussions" too.  Between those and Willie Greene's Choo-Choos they got to be quite entertaining. 

I kinda missed those "discussions"

[Cyber Liberty]

I kinda missed those "discussions"

Me too.  I think Willie shifted off the mortal coil, but I like to keep things alive.

[kevindavis007]

Me too.  I think Willie shifted off the mortal coil, but I like to keep things alive.

Well tomorrow is going to be very interesting.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVIs1bnIcCY

[Elderberry]

Virgin Orbit provides more details about what went right with its first launch demo

Tech Crunch by Darrell Etherington 5/27/2020

https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/27/virgin-orbit-provides-more-details-about-what-went-right-with-its-first-launch-demo/

Virgin Orbit performed a demonstration of its full launch system on Monday, and while it didn’t go quite as planned, with the mission cut short just a few seconds after Virgin’s LauncherOne separated from its Cosmic Girl carrier aircraft, the company says it still learned a lot — and a lot went right, too.

Spaceflight is tough stuff, and it’s actually pretty common for a new spacecraft to not quite get everything right on its first time out. SpaceX took four tries with its original Falcon 1 rocket to make it to space, for instance. Test flights are tests for a reason, and Virgin Orbit notes that it actually did ace a lot of the aspects of the test, including launch-vehicle release, the controlled drop after that release point, igniting the rocket on LauncherOne and even the first couple of seconds of powered flight after that — all of which it says proves out the viability of its launch model.

Meanwhile, Virgin Orbit says that this test did prove a number of important things about its approach to launching spacecraft. First, that its mobile, flexible ground operating system that can launch outside of U.S. federal ranges works as designed. Second, that its autonomous flight safety system works as designed to protect the safety of the general public. Also, this is the first time that Cosmic Girl and LauncherOne have flown with liquid oxygen fuel on board, so this is a verification that its fuel containment system works. And, as mentioned, the LauncherOne release and initial flight matched simulations perfectly, so Virgin Orbit knows that part of the system is well-designed.

More at link.

[Elderberry]

SpaceX At Two Starship Per Month Construction Rate

nextBIG Future by Brian Wang | May 27, 2020

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2020/05/spacex-at-two-starship-per-month-construction.html

SpaceX has started building its seventh Starship prototype. This is the second Starship construction start in May. They now have four Starship prototypes under active testing or construction. SN4 is being prepared for a test flight. SN4 has passed tank pressurization tests that show it could withstand the pressures needed to fly to orbit.

SpaceX is started two Starship prototype construction in May, 2020. SN6 and SN7 had construction starts in May. SN5 was started in April.

Elon Musk indicated that SpaceX would build two Starships every week in 2021.

[Elderberry]

Starship SN4 static fire LIVE from Boca Chica

3,953 watching now

•Started streaming 35 minutes ago

NASASpaceflight
71.3K subscribers

SpaceX is set to perform another static fire test with the Starship SN4 prototype at their Boca Chica, Texas launch site. If successful, today's test would be another step forward towards the planned 150-meter hop test.


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

[Elderberry]

SN4 Kablooey


Michael Sheetz
@thesheetztweetz
·
3m
The SpaceX Starship rocket prototype SN4 exploded after an engine test this afternoon in Texas.

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1266442557107699718?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[Cyber Liberty]

Ooops.

[EdinVA]

SN4 Kablooey


Michael Sheetz
@thesheetztweetz
·
3m
The SpaceX Starship rocket prototype SN4 exploded after an engine test this afternoon in Texas.

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1266442557107699718?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Yikes... Well, that is why they test..

[Elderberry]

My son said he could feel it in the tents. I don't know how far away that is. And he said he'll be part of the crew to rebuild the test pad.

[Elderberry]

[catfish1957]

My son said he could feel it in the tents. I don't know how far away that is. And he said he'll be part of the crew to rebuild the test pad.

I can imagine.

Look at the first second of that clip.  That is one  hell of a percussive blast.

[mountaineer]

Lawyerforlaws  @lawyer4laws
Ironic . . . Listening to info about tomorrows Falcon 9 Launch . .
They "Can't Predict" if they'll Launch tomorrow because of weather . .
But somehow  . .  We're to believe "Climate Change" models can predict years and decades in advance  . . .?
 
4:03 PM · May 29, 2020

[kevindavis007]

[Elderberry]

"Funeral for a Friend"

SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN4 Aftermath - Successors Line Up
•May 30, 2020 NASASpaceflight

Following the loss of Starship SN4 during its fifth Static Fire test, work has begun on clearing the launch site of debris. At the production area, the successors are being prepared to take their turn at testing.


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

[kevindavis007]

Blue Danube Docking of SpaceX Crew Dragon With Space Station

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdrXYgHanA8

[Idiot]

Blue Danube Docking of SpaceX Crew Dragon With Space Station

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdrXYgHanA8

Thanks for posting that....unreal!

[Elderberry]

SpaceX successfully launches 60 satellites from the Space Coast

WESH2 by Dan Billow 6/3/2020

https://www.wesh.com/article/spacex-to-launch-60-satellites-into-space-wednesday/32759396

Fresh off its unforgettable return of astronaut launches to Central Florida, it’s back to business Wednesday for SpaceX.

The company launched 60 satellites into space on Wednesday.

Launch pad 40 is a few miles from pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center, where SpaceX made the first commercial launch of astronauts Saturday.

Instead of a 5-ton crew capsule, the SpaceX Falcon 9 carried 15 tons of satellites. Inside the nose cone, 60 Starlink satellites were stacked in a single dispenser, waiting to be dealt out like playing cards when they get to space.

In previous launches, they could be seen from the ground, looking like a string of bright lights.

The successful launch means SpaceX has a total of 420 of the satellites in orbit, but the plan is to someday have as many as 12,000.

The satellites are intended to beam internet access to the ground, giving SpaceX a worldwide business that could be a big moneymaker.

More at link.

[Cyber Liberty]

Blue Danube Docking of SpaceX Crew Dragon With Space Station

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdrXYgHanA8

Created by our very own @pjcomix!  I liked it a lot!

[Elderberry]

SpaceX set for a swift return to testing following Starship SN4 anomaly

NASA Spaceflight by  Michael Baylor June 5, 2020

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/06/spacex-swift-testin-starship-sn4-anomaly/

Following the May 29 explosive failure of the Starship SN4 prototype during a Static Fire test, SpaceX workers have been quickly making repairs to its Boca Chica, Texas launch facility. Starship SN5 is expected to roll to the launch site in the coming days in preparation for testing to begin on June 10.

The anomaly totaled the existing test stand used to hold down the vehicle during the testing milestones. On June 3, a replacement launch stand was installed at the launch site. SpaceX had already been working on a new launch stand before the May 29 accident – a factor that accelerated the recovery process.

The new stand appears to be similar in design to the original Starship launch mount.

In the coming days, teams will continue to repair Ground Support Equipment (GSE) at the launch site. There was significant damage to GSE infrastructure due to the anomaly, but SpaceX will have the GSE repaired in time for testing to resume on June 10, per the latest notice of road closures.

More at link.

[Cyber Liberty]

SpaceX set for a swift return to testing following Starship SN4 anomaly

NASA Spaceflight by  Michael Baylor June 5, 2020

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/06/spacex-swift-testin-starship-sn4-anomaly/

This goes to show failures were expected, Musk is no fool and is prepared to push ahead to get 'er done.  This is a fellow who has obviously been dealt some problem hands, and still walks away from the table a winner.  Dare I say it...there is a lot of Donald Trump in this guy.

[Elderberry]

Don’t Stop Me Now | Electron Prelaunch Preview

June 4, 2020 In Prelaunch Preview ROCKET LAB

https://everydayastronaut.com/prelaunch-preview-electron-dont-stop-me-now/

Rocket Lab’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” mission, launching from their Launch Complex 1 situated on the serene Mahia peninsula in New Zealand, will fly five payloads into orbit atop its Electron rocket. That’s one each for NASA’s ELaNa program and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), along with three for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Despite its colourful name, this mission is somewhat sombre, having been named in memory of former Rocket Lab board member, Stanford Scott Smith – an avid fan of the iconic rock band Queen – who recently passed away.

Lift Off  Time (Subject to change)   June 11, 2020 | 04:43 — 06:32 UTC |

More at link.

[kevindavis007]

Elon Musk Tells SpaceX Workers Starship Rocket Is Top Priority: CNBC
https://www.isn-news.com/2020/06/elon-musk-tells-spacex-workers-starship.html

[Elderberry]

Virgin Galactic Stock Won’t Benefit Now From SpaceX’s Success

By Ian Bezek, InvestorPlace Contributor Jun 8, 2020

https://investorplace.com/2020/06/virgin-galactic-spce-stock-spacex-success/

Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) stock has been one of the hottest trading names of 2020. The company, which went public via a special purpose acquisition company at $10 per share, blasted off to a high of $42 in February. Shares sunk back to $10 at the depths of the March crash, but have recovered to $17. And they could soar again soon. The market is in a speculative frenzy right now. On top of that, space travel is making major headlines.

That brings us to SPCE stock. Though seemingly having a related ticker symbol, SPCE actually represents Virgin Galactic, which has no economic interest in the Crew Dragon or other SpaceX flights.

SpaceX Blasts Off

SpaceX’s successful rocket launch has had an impact on Virgin Galactic’s stock. We saw this around the Crew Dragon launch. SpaceX intended to lift off on a Wednesday. Virgin Galactic stock traded up more than 5% that day with the excitement around SpaceX.

Once the launch was delayed, however, Virgin Galactic stock gave back its gains. The SpaceX launch subsequently happened on a Saturday when the stock market was closed.

SpaceX Makes Recent Virgin Orbit Failure Look Worse

InvestorPlace’s Josh Enomoto recently highlighted how the Virgin Orbit planned launch did not live up to expectations. Virgin Orbit was supposed to demonstrate an ability to launch small payloads into space. However, the launch was a failure.

More at link.

[Elderberry]

You can watch a launch triple header from SpaceX, Rocket Lab and Japan tonight. Here's how.

Space.com By Tariq Malik 6/12/2020

https://www.space.com/spacex-rocket-lab-interstellar-technologies-launch-triple-header-webcasts.html

Be ready to stay up late (or rise super-early)!

Editor's note: Interstellar Technologies has postponed the launch of its Momo-F5 rocket to Saturday afternoon. This guide has been updated with that new launch time.

In the next 24 hours, no less than three rockets — built by Rocket Lab, SpaceX and Interstellar Technologies — will launch from three different countries in a space age triple-header. But if you want to watch them all online, you're going to need to stay up late (or rise super early).

The action will begin early Saturday (June 13) with the launch of a Rocket Lab Electron booster carrying five small satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, NASA and the University of South Wales Canberra Space.

Liftoff is scheduled for 12:43 a.m. EDT (0443 GMT) from Rocket Lab's Launch Site 1 on the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand. You'll be able to watch the launch live on Space.com here, courtesy of Rocket Lab. The webcast should begin about 20 minutes before launch time. However, Rocket Lab has a nearly two-hour window in which to launch the Electron booster, so the start time could change closer to liftoff.

Rocket Lab will webcast the launch here, as well as on its YouTube channel.

[Elderberry]

SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy Booster Coming Soon & SN7 Testing is Next | SpaceX in the News


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC6JiuTCG6Q
spaceXcentric  6/12/2020

SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy Booster Coming Soon & SN7 Testing is Next | SpaceX in the News Episode 97. Today we go over a ton of good news concerning Starship Super Heavy; briefly talk about dragon; review some developing Starlink updates; and finish with today's Honorable Mention.


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

[Elderberry]

SpaceX launches 58 Starlink satellites and 3 Planet SkySats, nails rocket landing

Space.com By Amy Thompson 6/13/2020

https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-8-planet-satellite-launch-rocket-landing-success.html

The Starlink constellation is growing fast.

 SpaceX successfully launched its first rideshare mission into orbit today (June 13), lofting a new batch of 58 Starlink internet satellites along with three small Earth-observation satellites before nailing a Falcon 9 rocket landing at sea.

It was a mostly clear morning, with just a few clouds above the launch pad here at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at liftoff. Onlookers were treated to an awesome view in the predawn sky — the glow from the rocket's engines were visible well into the flight as it launched at 5:21 a.m. EDT (0921 GMT).

The exhaust from the rocket was illuminated by the sun, which was just below the horizon. The resulting cloud appeared as a nebula hanging in the sky.

More at link.

[sneakypete]

This is some impressive stuff,I don't give a damn how high your standards are.

[Elderberry]

Interstellar Technologies’ privately-developed MOMO-5 rocket falls short of reaching space

Tech Crunch by Darrell Etherington 6/13/2020

https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/13/interstellar-technologies-privately-developed-momo-5-rocket-falls-short-of-reaching-space/

Private launch companies seeking to lower the coast of reaching space continue to develop new vehicles, and the latest to attempt a trip to space is Interstellar Technologies (IST), a Japanese private launch company founded in 2003. The company first launched a vehicle in 2017, but the launch didn’t go exactly as planned and failed to reach space – in 2019, its MOMO-3 sounding rocket did break the Karman line, though just barely, and unfortunately its MOMO-5 sounding rocket launched today did not make space as planned, instead apparently suffering some kind of malfunction and loss of control around the time it reaches max Q, or the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure prior to exiting Earth’s atmosphere..

MOMO-5 took off at 8:15 PM UTC (4:15 PM EDT), and liftoff seemed to go smoothly. This demonstration launch was meant to build on IST’s existing development program, and put it closer to establishing a new, affordable rocket option fo redelivering small payloads to orbit using a small, affordable rocket that the company describes as a “family sedan for the stars.”

IST’s approach is interesting it that in doesn’t claim to be cutting-edge; instead, the company says that it focuses on leveraging “legacy methods” of rocketry, along with advances including additive manufacturing and more modern materials to reduce costs as much as possible and lower the bar in terms of affordability to serve a wide range of customers. To some extend, that’s similar to the approach taken by SpaceX and Rocket Lab, but IST’s approach is even less focused on modernization, and more intent on efficiencies, than some of its operational competitors, which could theoretically give it a cost advantage once it starts serving companies with regular commercial launches.

More at link.

[Cyber Liberty]

Interstellar Technologies’ privately-developed MOMO-5 rocket falls short of reaching space

Tech Crunch by Darrell Etherington 6/13/2020

https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/13/interstellar-technologies-privately-developed-momo-5-rocket-falls-short-of-reaching-space/

Rats. 2 out of 3?

[Elderberry]

SpaceX’s month-long launch blitz adds Korean military satellite mission

TESLARATI by Eric Ralph 6/11/2020

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-launch-blitz-korean-military-satellite/

Preliminary schedules show that SpaceX – on top of plans for a record-breaking four-launch month – wants to add a Korean military satellite launch to the mix, meaning that the company could attempt five launches in five weeks.

SpaceX partially broke the news on June 9th when it opened media accreditation for the Korean military mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than (NET) July. LaunchPhotography.com was able to get even more specific, stating that South Korea’s ANASIS II communications satellite could lift off on a Falcon 9 rocket sometime in early July, while Teslarati has learned that the mission is tentatively scheduled to launch as soon as the second week of the month.

If SpaceX manages to launch Starlink-8, Starlink-9, and GPS III SV03 on time this month and can turn its Kennedy Space Center (KSC) LC-39A pad around in time for South Korea’s ANASIS II by July 8th, it’ll have sustained a weekly launch cadence for well over a month. The odds are heavily stacked against SpaceX’s favor but with Starlink V1 L8 on track for a June 12th launch and Starlink V1 L9 expedited from June 24th to June 22nd, the company actually has a shot at completing five launches in five weeks.

More at link.

[Elderberry]

Today sn7 test tank has been tested till it has popped


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[Elderberry]

TESMANIAN

https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/spacex-test-tank

Today, June 15, SpaceX conducted a cryogenic pressure test on a Starship dome tank prototype referred to as SN7. The tank was filled with super-chilled liquid nitrogen which caused the entire structure to fill with visible frost all around – “…There a few known weak points on this test tank, probably capable of more pressure,” Musk said, “The second test tank to follow shortly has addressed the weak points.” The stainless-steel SN7 dome tank reached strength of around 7.6 bar –“Tank didn’t burst, but leaked at 7.6 bar,” Musk shared, “This is a good result & supports idea of 304L stainless being better than 301. We’re developing our own alloy to take this even further. Leak before burst is highly desirable,” he explained.

Then, the dome tank was intentionally pressured to the max, as seen in the video below, until it bursted. SpaceX will mix their own stainless-steel alloy for future starships to increase the strength factor. The goal is to develop a structure that could withstand a 8.6 bar -which would be the ideal strength to take astronauts to space aboard Starship.

The next prototypes will undergo the same tests. SpaceX runs 24/7 operations in South Texas. Musk sees Starship development as the company’s top priority. "We need to accelerate Starship progress," Musk told his teams. And asked them to "consider spending significant time" at Boca Chica to help the company accelerate Starship development, “For those considering moving, we will always offer a dedicated SpaceX aircraft to shuttle people.” He aims to conduct a 150-meter and a 20-kilometer test-flight above Boca Chica this year and hopes to take a Starship to orbit soon.

[Cyber Liberty]

Wait 'til he tries Reardon Steel.

[Elderberry]

SpaceX set to finish three Starship prototypes in the same month

TESLARATI By Eric Ralph 6/18/2020

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-three-starship-prototypes-one-month/

SpaceX appears to be on track to complete its third Starship prototype in a month just days after the company finished testing a new steel tank and at the same time as it prepares to roll another full-scale ship to the launch pad.

Postponed by several weeks after the (fleeting) success of the Starship serial number 4 (SN4) prototype, violently destroyed by a minor testing mishap on May 29th, SpaceX’s fifth full-scale Starship tank section (SN5) could roll to an adjacent testing facility at any point in the next few days. In fact, SN4’s successor has likely been ready to begin tank proof and static fire testing for several weeks since it was stacked to its full height on May 12th. SN4 rolled to the launch pad on April 23rd and remained SpaceX’s top Starship priority until its demise more than a month later.

As it turns out, the explosion that destroyed the ship also launched a ~25 metric ton (~55,000 lb) counterweight installed a few days prior some 100m (300+ ft) into the air, where it proceeded to fall back to earth and obliterate the steel mount Starship SN4 sat on. The loss of that pad hardware necessitated its own several-week delay but SpaceX appears to be nearly done installing and outfitting replacements as of June 18th – an incredible turnaround given the scale and complexity of everything involved. Of course, the whole purpose of those rapid repairs is to get back to the business of testing Starships as quickly as possible.

More at link.

[Elderberry]

Three Starship prototypes in line for testing

Behind the Black by Robert Zimmerman 6/18/2020

https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/three-starship-prototypes-in-line-for-testing/

Capitalism in space: SpaceX’s assembly line for building Starship prototypes is heating up, with three such ships completed or under construction in Boca Chica, Texas.

Initially numbered 5 through 7, the goal of the first two will be to do the first full scale vertical hops, flying as high as 7.5 miles.. #7 however has a different purpose:

    While stouter than an actual Starship-class methane or oxygen tank, this particular test tank is maybe only 25% shorter than the methane tanks installed on Starship prototypes. According to Musk and effectively confirmed by writing all over the prototype, this particular test tank – formerly Starship SN7 – was built to determine if a different kind of steel could be preferable for future ships.

    Shortly after the June 15th test began to wind down, Musk announced that the new material (304L stainless steel) had performed quite well, reaching 7.6 bar (110 psi) before it sprung a leak. The fact alone that it sprung a leak instead of violently depressurizing is already a major sign that 304L is preferable to 301L, as it means that Starships built out of it could fail much more gracefully in the event of a leak instead of collapsing or violently exploding. A step further, SpaceX has already managed to repair the leak on SN7 and will likely test the tank again in the next few days.

SpaceX is once again demonstrating how to properly do this kind of cutting edge development. You test, you fix or, you change, based on what your tests tell you. You don’t lock down design in the early stages, because at that point you really don’t know enough to do so.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Wait 'til he tries Reardon Steel.

Is that an Ayn Rand reference? I really need to read those books.

Anyway, I do admire Elon Musk for thinking this big.

[Cyber Liberty]

Is that an Ayn Rand reference? I really need to read those books.

Anyway, I do admire Elon Musk for thinking this big.

Yes, it's something from Atlas Shrugs.  And Elon Musk is indeed thinking big.  I like that too.

[catfish1957]

Yes, it's something from Atlas Shrugs.  And Elon Musk is indeed thinking big.  I like that too.

My problem with Musk is his acceptance of government subsidies for electric cars.  That's 2 1/2 strikes by itself.

[Cyber Liberty]

My problem with Musk is his acceptance of government subsidies for electric cars.  That's 2 1/2 strikes by itself.

Nobody has ever accused Musk of being conservative.   

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

My problem with Musk is his acceptance of government subsidies for electric cars.  That's 2 1/2 strikes by itself.

 

I no longer care about that stuff. He's a capitalist.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Nobody has ever accused Musk of being conservative.   

From what I can see he's basically apolitical although he did mention something about taking the red pill a few weeks ago before this nonsense started.

[catfish1957]

I no longer care about that stuff. He's a capitalist.

On your and my dime.....

[kevindavis007]

SpaceX Starship event expected this September, says Elon Musk
https://www.isn-news.com/2020/06/spacex-starship-event-expected-this.html

[Elderberry]

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-event-elon-musk-update-2020/

By Eric Ralph 6/29/2020

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has implied that he will continue the tradition of annual Starship update events later this year, likely presenting on the progress the company has made over the last 12 months at its South Texas rocket factory.

Beginning in Guadalajara, Mexico at the September 2016 International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Musk has presented a detailed annual update on the status of SpaceX’s next-generation Starship launch vehicle in September or October for the last four years. Formerly known as the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) and Big Falcon Rocket (BFR), Starship is effectively a continuation of the unprecedented progress SpaceX has made with Falcon 9 and Heavy reusability.

SpaceX has managed to reliably reuse Falcon boosters 5+ times and is on the way to replicating that with payload fairings, but Musk has concluded that the Falcon family – despite being some of the largest operational rockets in existence – is just too small to feasibly recover and reuse the orbital second stage. With Starship, SpaceX wants to take a slightly different approach.

September sounds about right
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 24, 2020

A senior SpaceX engineer and executive believes that Starship’s first orbital launch could still happen by the end of 2020. (SpaceX)

[Elderberry]

SpaceX GPS III Launch | LIVE


spaceXcentric

124K subscribers

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, June 30 for a Falcon 9 launch of the GPS III Space Vehicle 03 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The 15-minute primary launch window opens at 3:55 p.m. EDT. SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The fairings will be recovered from the water. We will begin our stream at 3:35 p.m. EDT.


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[Elderberry]

SpaceX set for rocket recovery first after US military satellite launch

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-first-rocket-recovery-us-military-launch/

A SpaceX Falcon 9 is set to become the first commercial rocket to attempt to land after an operational launch for the US military, potentially paving the way for an even more significant milestone somewhere down the road.

Featuring brand new booster B1060 and a new upper stage and payload fairing, Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch the US military’s third upgraded GPS III satellite (PS III SV01) no earlier than (NET) 3:55 pm EDT (19:55 UTC) on June 30th. While it will be the second time a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket has lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) Launch Complex 40 (LC-40) with a GPS III satellite in tow, the mission will mark a critical first for SpaceX and the US military. For the first GPS III mission, the US Air Force somewhat inexplicably required SpaceX to expend the new Falcon 9 booster assigned to the December 2018 launch.

The US military never offered a technical explanation for why Falcon 9 couldn’t land after launching a ~3900 kg (~8600 lb) GPS III SV01 to a medium orbit but could, for example, land after launching a dozen metric tons and two NASA astronauts. Regardless, the US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Command (SMC) has decided that SpaceX can now attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage during the company’s second GPS III launch. A step further, on the eve of the mission, SMC has revealed that it may even be opening up to the idea of reusing SpaceX boosters on future military launches.

More at link.

1st Stage Landing was successful.

[Elderberry]

Blue Origin delivers the first BE-4 engine to United Launch Alliance

Space News by Sandra Erwin — July 1, 2020

https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-delivers-the-first-be-4-engine-to-united-launch-alliance/

The engine Blue Origin delivered is a pathfinder engine to be used in tests.

Blue Origin this week delivered a BE-4 rocket engine to United Launch Alliance. ULA will use two BE-4s in the main stage of its future Vulcan Centaur rocket

In a celebratory tweet July 1 with the hashtag #CountdowntoVulcan ULA announced that a BE-4 engine arrived at its rocket factory in Decatur, Alabama.

“The engine delivered is the first pathfinder engine to be mated with the Vulcan Centaur and will support ULA’s testing,” a Blue Origin spokesperson told SpaceNews. “We are planning on delivering the second engine in July.”

A pathfinder is a development engine.  Blue Origin has not said when a flight-qualified engine will be delivered.

The BE-4 uses liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas propellants and generates 75,000 horsepower. The engine was developed by Blue Origin with some financial support from ULA.

ULA announced in September 2018 its selection of the BE-4 as Vulcan’s main engine. The vehicle was projected to make its first launch in 2020 but engine delays set ULA back.

More at link.

A Blue Origin BE-4 engine arrived at ULA's factory in Decatur, Ala. Credit: ULA via Twitter

[Elderberry]

SpaceX is accelerating Starship development -Starship SN5 completes a pressure test

TESMANIAN by  Evelyn Arevalo July 01, 2020

https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/starship-cryogenic-test

SpaceX engineers are in the process of developing Starship, an enormous stainless-steel spacecraft that will one day launch one hundred passengers to the moon and Mars. Starship prototypes are under construction at the company’s South Texas facility located at Boca Chica Beach in Brownsville, TX. The company will build a spaceport along Boca Chica’s coast. The first crewed Starship voyage is scheduled for the year 2023, booked by Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa who plans to take a circumlunar trip. SpaceX is working on a tight schedule to develop a space-ready Starship.

Tuesday night, SpaceX teams at Boca Chica conducted a cryogenic pressure test of the Starship SN5 prototype. The stainless-steel SN5 vehicle was subjected to conditions it would experience during spaceflight.  The structure was filled with sub-cooled liquid nitrogen that causes the vehicle to experience max pressure, while a thrust simulator system imitates the force of a Raptor engine by pressing at the bottom of the vehicle. This test is to determine if the vehicle can withstand highly pressurized propellant and high-stress of flight. Starship must withstand a pressure of 6 bar to conduct an orbital flight, a pressure strength of 8.5 bar is needed to take astronauts to space. NASASpaceflight reporters captured footage of last night’s cryogenic pressure test, shown below.

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[EdinVA]

The part of all of this that impresses me the most is the fist stage hitting that barge out in the middle of the ocean...  Easy to entertain I guess... lol