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

[Elderberry]

SpaceX Raptor Engine COMPLETELY Humiliation Blue Origin BE4 Engine.

Science Of Space 1/29/2022

A few months ago spacex completed its 100th raptor engine, this extraordinary milestone was achieved in just 29 months, a little over two years blue origin's rocket engine's development started, work on the be 4 engine since 2011.

Importantly, they said the be4 would be ready for flight by 2017, but at this very moment blue origin's powerful be4 engine is more than four years late.

The first flight test of the new engine is now expected no earlier than 2022, on the vulcan rocket, this is a big problem and we need to talk about it. So how did blue origin's be4 turn into a joke, whereas spacex's raptor is the leading example of the industry.

More:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4jnnabHonY

[Elderberry]

SpaceX tests fully stacked Starship rocket for the first time

TeslaRati by Eric Ralph 3/17/2022

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-first-full-stack-cryoproof/

After rapidly stacking Ship 20 and Booster 4 the evening prior, SpaceX appears to have begun testing a fully stacked Starship rocket for the first time ever.

Though the test SpaceX subjected Starship to was by no means ambitious and in spite of the fact that it no longer appears that Ship 20 and Booster 4 will ever fly, the first test of the first fully integrated prototype of a new rocket is still an immensely significant achievement – particularly so for the largest rocket ever built.

Standing around 119 meters (~390 ft) tall, Starship is unequivocally the largest and most voluminous rocket ever built. With its 29 Raptor V1 engines, the fully assembled Ship 20 and Booster 4 (B4) stack would have likely weighed around 4000-5000 tons (9-11M lb) and been able to produce around 5400 tons (11.9M lbf) of thrust at liftoff – substantially heavier and more powerful than Saturn V or N1, the largest rockets ever successfully and unsuccessfully launched.

For its first fully-integrated test, though, SpaceX appears to have put Starship through a fairly limited cryogenic proof – a test where flammable propellant is replaced with a similarly cold (cryogenic) fluid that’s similar enough to subject a rocket to similar thermal and mechanical stresses. For Ship 20 and Booster 4’s combined debut, Super Heavy was filled maybe 10-20% and Starship around 25-50% of the way with either liquid nitrogen (LN2) or a combination of LN2 and liquid oxygen (LOx). It’s difficult to tell but it’s unlikely any methane (LCH4) fuel was involved.

More at link.

[Elderberry]

How SpaceX is Rapidly Iterating Starship

NASASpaceflight

A slew of design changes to both Ship and Booster have happened and more are coming. Super Heavy is getting chines and Starship is finally getting a payload bay. This is a breakdown of those changes.

0:00 - Intro
1:34 - Naming Conventions
2:23 - Starship Changes
7:04 - Surfshark VPN
8:05 - Booster Changes
13:08 - Outro


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4ebfRG16nM

[Elderberry]

SpaceX Second Starbase - Will SpaceX Fly Out Of Kennedy Space Center Soon?

 What about it!? 4/8/2022

SpaceX doing the first-ever full cryo test of a Super Heavy Starship booster! Starship components possibly heading to Kennedy Space Center! Starbase 2 at Roberts Road expanding rapidly and more! Let’s find out why!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JahF4nQhIEA&t=1s

[Elderberry]

SpaceX Starbase Extension Denied, Starship Updates, Crew Dragon Axiom-1, Amazon Project Kuiper

 Marcus House  4/9/2022


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aiz2UppbX1c

[Elderberry]

SpaceX rapidly constructing Starship’s first Florida launch pad and tower

TeslaRati by Eric Ralph 4/13/2022

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-florida-launch-pad-tower-progress/

After restarting work on the project a few months ago, SpaceX appears to have gotten back up to speed and begun to make rapid progress on the construction of Starship’s first Florida launch pad and tower.

Located at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex 39A facilities, SpaceX has intended to construct a Starship launch site there for several years. A serious attempt was made in late 2019 but SpaceX soon abandoned the effort and redirected its energy towards Starship prototyping and a much different launch pad design. Two years later, SpaceX’s second attempt shares only a little in common with the first. Both are to be located within the eastern half of Pad 39A’s shield-like footprint, although the specific location of the tower and launch mount has been modified. If this attempt comes to fruition, Starship’s first East Coast launch facilities will still sit just a few hundred feet away from the only SpaceX pad capable of launching Crew Dragon, Cargo Dragon, or Falcon Heavy.

Beyond those two characteristics, SpaceX’s second attempt is almost entirely different.

Instead of continuing with an older launch pad design, Starship’s 39A facilities will likely be close to a direct copy of Starbase’s first orbital launch site (OLS), which SpaceX began constructing in earnest in late 2020. It’s safe to assume that some lessons have been learned from Starbase OLS construction and that some modifications will be made to the Florida pad’s design, but no obvious changes are thus far visible.

Most of the visible work SpaceX has done this year centers around the company’s KSC-based Roberts Road facilities, where it has built a major Falcon processing facility and a staging yard for Starship pad construction and broken ground on a massive East Coast Starship factory. At that staging yard, SpaceX began assembling prefabricated sections of Starship’s Pad 39A ‘launch tower’ around March 10th after tower parts began arriving at KSC sometime in February. Within two weeks, SpaceX had completed the basic structure of two tower sections. Another two more weeks after that, around April 11th, a third section had reached a similar level of completion and SpaceX had begun assembling a fourth.

[Elderberry]

Elon Musk just SMASHED Tory Bruno & BE-4 engines on social media...

SPACEX FANS

Elon Musk just SMASHED Tory Bruno & BE-4 engines on social media...#STARSHIPFANS

Elon Musk has just officially destroyed Tory Bruno with only a picture of his powerful Raptor 2 engines.
How exactly does this happen?
Everything will be exposed in today's episode.
Ok! Let's get started...
"Where are my engines, Jeff?"
After a long time of delay, ULA finally had this question here.
On Apr 26, the CEO of United Launch Alliance, Tory Bruno shared this picture of the BE-4s engines.
He said" Engines!!  Vulcan Flight BE-4s heading to the build stand".
This means Blue Origin now nears the critical point of delivering flight-ready BE-4 rocket engines to United Launch Alliance.
But this is only the combustion chamber and the nozzle, and the pumps are in assembly elsewhere in the factory.
"We all know they still don’t work", a Twitter named Scotty B questioned.
Bruno seems to be annoyed and replied immediately: "No. Thousands of seconds of run time. Full throttle range. dozens of starts. Performing better than my expectations"
But when being asked:" Are these flight ready?"
He only can answer: "Not yet.  Still being assembled."

In fact, except for having a real photo of BE-4 engines, Tory Bruno has repeatedly asserted his confidence with Vulcan and BE-4.
During a panel at the Satellite 2022 conference last month, Tory Bruno announced that he expected the first launch of the Vulcan “later this year".
That schedule is driven by the completion of testing of the BE-4 engine that powers the first stage of Vulcan and the delivery of the first flight units from Blue Origin. “The engine is in great shape,” Bruno said. “It is performing better than I anticipated.”
Bruno said he expected to receive the first two flight models of the BE-4 in the middle of the year, “which supports me flying before the end of the year.” He added that testing of the engine is also going well, including the firing of the engine three times a week “on a sustained basis” at a Blue Origin test site.
“We’re very pleased with where the BE-4 is and we expect to fly this year as a result,” he said.
While Vulcan remains publicly on schedule for the first launch in 2022, Jones ruled out any chance that New Glenn will launch before the end of the year, a schedule that the company had previously cast doubt on. “The runway is closing on 2022”
Blue Origin has to balance New Glenn development with the completion of the BE-4, which will be used by both New Glenn and Vulcan.
“It’s fair to say you’re focusing on your most important customer, delivering BE-4s so I can fly this year,” quipped Bruno.
Anyway, this seems really good news for ULA.
Elon Musk just SMASHED Tory Bruno & BE-4 engines on social media...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI-focDR7kk

[Kamaji]

Musk just seems to be going from strength to strength.

[Elderberry]

SpaceX Planning To Land In Middle of Bahamas - Deep Space Updates - May 10th

 Scott Manley

Update on the Road!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glpz90RhegM

[Elderberry]

 New SpaceX Booster, Starship and FAA Approval Tracking to Possible July Orbital Launch

Next Big Future by  Brian Wang May 11, 2022   

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2022/05/175857.html

SpaceX COO and President Gwynne Shotwell says the orbital launch of Super Heavy Starship should be June or July from Boca Chica, Texas, pending FAA approvals. Shotwell said SpaceX views human #Mars exploration and nuclear propulsion systems as “inevitable”.

The FAA has revealed that SpaceX has completed four out of five processes for the Environmental Assessment. However, even with all Environmental Assessments complete this will not guarantee that the FAA will issue a launch license. SpaceX’s application must also meet FAA safety, risk, and financial responsibility requirements.

Once Section 4(f) is behind them, the FAA and SpaceX and the Final PEA completion needs the approval of all relevant paperwork. The FAA’s targeted completion date, currently May 31st, 2022, may be achievable.

More at link.

[Elderberry]

SpaceX continues Super Heavy Booster 7 testing at Boca Chica Village

Tesmanian  by Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo May 11, 2022

https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/cryo-booster-7

SpaceX is rapidly developing its next-generation launch system designed to revolutionize space travel. SpaceX founder Elon Musk aims to design a fully-reusable Starship, capable of transporting tons of cargo to and from Mars. This ambitious endeavor has never been achieved in the aerospace industry. Building a fully-reusable launch system is the "holy grail" of rocket technology, says Musk. Reusability is crucial to decrease the cost of spaceflight enough to actually be able to send thousands of humans to the Red Planet, as well as megatons of cargo for survival on the rough Martian environment.

SpaceX feels ready to launch the first Starship to orbit at the sandy beach at Boca Chica Village located at the southernmost tip of Texas, along the border with Mexico. This week, SpaceX is putting its gigantic Super Heavy Booster 7 rocket prototype to the test at the Starbase launch site. Booster 7 is the first that will be used to propel a Starship prototype to orbit. The 230-foot-tall Booster 7 was transported to the launch pad on May 6 after engineers repaired an internal propellant tank structure that got damaged during the first test campaign last month.

This week, engineers resumed the booster’s test campaign and completed a pair of cryogenic proof tests on May 10 and May 11. The tests gather data about the stainless-steel rocket's structural integrity by filling it up with liquid nitrogen to simulate the pressure of propellant. The pressure test(s) allows engineers to assess if the stainless-steel vehicle is strong enough to withstand the stress of spaceflight; It also serves to check if there are any leaks in the propellant tanks and overall structure. Local space enthusiasts, Spadre and NASAspaceflight, shared photographs and short videos of the cryogenic proof tests, shown below. Testing is expected to continue throughout the month.

More at link.

[Cyber Liberty]

I'd like to see a launch of that huge one that's taller than the Saturn V.

[Elderberry]

Everyday Astronaut
@Erdayastronaut

Join @elonmusk
 and I as we walk through Starbase and talk about some updates to @SpaceX’s #Starship! We talk about chines, grid fins, cold gas thrusters, see the High Bay and Pez dispenser… and this is just part 1 of 4, so you’re in for a treat!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ux6B3bvO0w&feature=youtu.be

[Idiot]

Everyday Astronaut
@Erdayastronaut

Join @elonmusk
 and I as we walk through Starbase and talk about some updates to @SpaceX’s #Starship! We talk about chines, grid fins, cold gas thrusters, see the High Bay and Pez dispenser… and this is just part 1 of 4, so you’re in for a treat!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ux6B3bvO0w&feature=youtu.be

I saw that last night.  Worth the watch.

[Elderberry]

"One Of The Biggest Improvements": Elon Musk Fixes Starship Rocket After YouTuber's Query

NDTV by Bhavya Sukheja May 17, 2022

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/one-of-the-biggest-improvements-elon-musk-fixes-starship-rocket-after-youtubers-query-2982535

Improvement to the new ship is to use excess gas from the Starship's main engines for manoeuvring thrusters instead of separate cold gas thrusters.

A YouTuber's intelligent question helped Elon Musk to make a vital change to a new SpaceX rocket.

Everyday Astronaut, a YouTuber with around 1.25 million subscribers, was first invited to SpaceX's Starbase facility at the end of last year. However, after being invited back earlier this month, Elon Musk revealed that a question the YouTuber had asked actually led to changes being made on one of the newest rockets.

One of the improvements to the new ship is to use excess gas from the Starship's main engines for manoeuvring thrusters instead of separate cold gas thrusters. This correction was made after Everyday Astronaut's query asked of Musk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ux6B3bvO0w

[Elderberry]

Watch a spectacular dawn launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with 53 Starlink satellites

SpaceflightNow


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z592O3lS0Kc

[Elderberry]

SpaceX Starship SN24 passes cryogenic proof test –Full-stack is 'only a few weeks away,' says Elon Musk

Tesmanian by Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo June 02, 2022

https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/sn24-testing

SpaceX aims to accomplish launching the first Starship to orbit this year. An orbital flight test will provide engineers with vital insight to advance Starship's development. The two-stage launch vehicle which consists of the spacecraft and the enormous Super Heavy rocket that is destined to become the world’s most powerful operational launch vehicle, right next to NASA's retired Saturn V rocket that launched Apollo astronauts to the Moon over half a century ago. NASA has awarded a contract to SpaceX to develop a lunar-optimized Starship Human Landing System (HLS) to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2025.

Starship is actively under development since 2019, SpaceX has launched and landed the spacecraft multiple times but has never launched a Starship to orbit. The company planned to conduct the debut orbital flight attempt in 2020, however, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) delayed SpaceX’s plans due to the ongoing environmental assessment at the Starbase launch site in Boca Chica Beach, Texas. The assessment is expected to be completed by June 13th, after roughly 11 months. If the FAA approves, SpaceX will be able to apply for a spaceflight license to launch the first full-stack Starship/Super Heavy to orbit this year.

SpaceX plans to use the Super Heavy Booster 7 prototype to propel the Starship SN24 prototype to orbit. Engineers have been manufacturing and ground testing the vehicles to prepare for the orbital flight. The rocket will be equipped with 33 methane-fueled Raptor V2 engines capable of generating over 16 million pounds of thrust. On Tuesday, May 31st, SpaceX founder Elon Musk shared that engineers would fully-stack SN24 and Booster 7 soon. He said a full-stack is “only a few weeks away” and “all Raptor 2 engines needed for first orbital flight are complete & being installed,” he wrote via Twitter on May 31. Local Boca Chica residents have captured photos of the Raptor V2 engines arriving at the rocket factory for installation. 

More at link.

[Elderberry]

Jeff Bezos finally realizes why SpaceX's Raptor is BETTER than his best engine


SPACEX FANS 6/11/2022


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

[Elderberry]

Elon Musk reveals 33 Raptor 2 engines on Super Heavy rocket that will power Starship

https://www.aroged.com/2022/06/13/elon-musk-reveals-33-raptor-2-engines-on-super-heavy-rocket-that-will-power-starship/



Aerospace company SpaceX is gradually approaching the first orbital test launch of the Starship, which will be conducted from a site in Boca Chica, Texas. This will happen after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completes an environmental review. In anticipation of this event, the head of SpaceX Elon Musk published An image showing 33 Raptor 2 engines mounted on the Super Heavy launch vehicle of the Starship system.

The message accompanying the picture says that each of the 33 Raptor 2 engines develops 230 metric tons of thrust. Previously, Musk also reported that the Raptor 2 developed a record pressure of 300 bar in the working chamber. Since SpaceX installed all 33 engines on the launch vehicle, this means that they have all been tested and the company’s engineers have not identified any problems.

The installation of the engines was the next step on the way to a full-fledged test of the rocket, during which the fuel and propulsion systems will be tested. Unlike other rockets that use 2-4 engines, Starship’s super-heavy system is significantly more complex. However, SpaceX has considerable experience in this, since it was Elon Musk’s company that was the first to create a reusable system, the first stage of which is equipped with 9 engines and is successfully used in multiple launches.

[Idiot]

Elon Musk reveals 33 Raptor 2 engines on Super Heavy rocket that will power Starship

https://www.aroged.com/2022/06/13/elon-musk-reveals-33-raptor-2-engines-on-super-heavy-rocket-that-will-power-starship/



Aerospace company SpaceX is gradually approaching the first orbital test launch of the Starship, which will be conducted from a site in Boca Chica, Texas. This will happen after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completes an environmental review. In anticipation of this event, the head of SpaceX Elon Musk published An image showing 33 Raptor 2 engines mounted on the Super Heavy launch vehicle of the Starship system.

The message accompanying the picture says that each of the 33 Raptor 2 engines develops 230 metric tons of thrust. Previously, Musk also reported that the Raptor 2 developed a record pressure of 300 bar in the working chamber. Since SpaceX installed all 33 engines on the launch vehicle, this means that they have all been tested and the company’s engineers have not identified any problems.

The installation of the engines was the next step on the way to a full-fledged test of the rocket, during which the fuel and propulsion systems will be tested. Unlike other rockets that use 2-4 engines, Starship’s super-heavy system is significantly more complex. However, SpaceX has considerable experience in this, since it was Elon Musk’s company that was the first to create a reusable system, the first stage of which is equipped with 9 engines and is successfully used in multiple launches.

Cool!

[Elderberry]

Ep225 SpaceX Starbase IGNITING Starship Booster Engines!

What about it!? 6/25/2022

SpaceX getting ready for Raptor ignition on Booster 7. Mechazilla 2 at the Cape is close to stacking. NASA SLS gets green light for Moon shot! Let’s dive right in!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcjqSFMOV3U&t=1s

[Idiot]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jul/06/elon-musk-twins-children-shivon-zilis

Elon Musk fathered two children last year with Shivon Zilis, a top executive at his artificial intelligence company Neuralink, new court documents show.

The world’s wealthiest man now has nine known children, including five children with his first wife, Justine Musk, and two with the singer Claire Boucher, known professionally as Grimes.

Court documents obtained by Insider and published on Wednesday showed that Elon Musk and Zilis filed a petition to change their twin babies’ names to “have their father’s last name and contain their mother’s last name as part of their middle name”.

The petition was filed in Austin, Texas, where the babies were born, and was approved by the judge. Zilis reportedly gave birth in November, weeks before Musk and Boucher had their second child via a surrogate.


That's one way to populate Mars I suppose....ughhhhh.

[sneakypete]

No big deal. It ain't like he can't afford to provide for them.

[Idiot]

No big deal. It ain't like he can't afford to provide for them.

  Have to be some messed up kids, since he's never home.  Look at the first set of twins, one of them decided he was a she.

[Elderberry]

Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Raptor Engine!

 Everyday Astronaut 7/9/2022

Today we’re getting up close and personal with SpaceX’s Raptor 2 engine with Elon Musk. We get into all sorts of details on this engine including how exactly it’s been upgraded and simplified compared to Raptor 1.

This video has a ton of fun details on some fairly technical stuff, so be sure and watch my "Why don’t rocket engines melt" video -
https://youtu.be/he_BL6Q5u1Y - so you know what we’re talking about with some of the cooling techniques as well as my video on engine cycles -
https://youtu.be/Owji-ukVt9M - so you understand how the Raptor’s full flow staged combustion cycle works and why it’s advantageous!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7MQb9Y4FAE&t=30s

[Elderberry]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

SpaceX: Here's Why Starlink Poses No Orbital Hazard

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

SpaceX Starship attempts first landing catch !!

SpacePadre 11/13/2022

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

[Idiot]

SpaceX Starship attempts first landing catch !!

SpacePadre 11/13/2022

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

[Cyber Liberty]

SpaceX Starship attempts first landing catch !!

SpacePadre 11/13/2022

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

[Kamaji]

SpaceX Starship attempts first landing catch !!

SpacePadre 11/13/2022

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

[Elderberry]

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]

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!