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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1050 on: January 16, 2021, 07:07:42 PM »
—- Starship SN9
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal)1/15/21, 1:42 PM
Raptor SN44 was a naughty Raptor.   
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1350151330439036928
⬇️ Photo below

Quote
John Kraus (@johnkrausphotos)1/14/21, 10:42 AM
Starship under the stars
https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1349743604059807746
⬇️ Photo below.
Elon Musk:  Nice shot

< Still aiming for SN9 flight this weekend?
Elon Musk (@elonmusk)1/15/21, 12:41 AM
Two of the engines need slight repairs, so will be switched out

Everyday Astronaut:
When SN8 had to swap a Raptor, it was 26 days between Raptor swapping and flight  :o I might head home for a bit if they’re replacing two
Elon Musk:
We’re making major improvements to ease of engine swap. Needs to be a few hours at most.
<< Need another static fire then I'm assuming?
Elon Musk:
Probably wise

—- 
Eric Berger hears things suggesting a delay before SN9 flight… but as of a few minutes ago, the TFRs for Jan 18+ are still posted.
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/15/21, 3:49 PM
Regarding the fate of Starship prototype SN9, I have begun to hear bits and pieces that are not great news. There's nothing I consider reportable on what has happened, but I would now bet against SN9 flying before February.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1350183316335558661

Quote
Space TFRs (@SpaceTfrs) 1/14/21, 11:36 PM
Brownsville (TX) SpaceX high-altitude flight TFR: From January 18, 2021 at 1400 UTC To January 18, 2021 at 2359 UTC
Altitude: From the surface to space
tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/det…
https://twitter.com/spacetfrs/status/1349938385872449540
Also for Jan 19 & 20.  Issued jan 15.

—-
Brady Kenniston:
Starship SN9 waits for its launch date following three separate static fires in one day. Meanwhile Starship SN10's Aft Flaps are mounted ahead of its rollout to the launch pad following SN9's liftoff:
SpaceX Boca Chica: SN9 Looks Great After Triple Static Fire - SN10 Aft Flaps Mounted
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgAs5fBdXFs&feature=youtu.be
Includes a look inside the new LOX Distiller. When a tank is not just a tank!
⬇️ Screencap below.

 —-
Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/15/21, 10:48 PM
SpaceX is moving quickly to recover from the Starship SN9 hiccup. A Raptor is underneath the vehicle and about to be lifted into place just hours after an engine was removed.
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1350288821682724864
Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) 1/15/21, 11:28 PM
A fresh Raptor Engine waiting to be installed on Starship SN9 earlier tonight. @NASASpaceflight

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/16/21, 2:10 AM
Starship SN9 is swapping out Raptors following issues related to the recent Static Fire test. While a new launch date target is awaited, work continues around SpaceX Boca Chica.
Video & Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by @NGautschi
➡️youtu.be/89h2JHmMOIs 

John Kraus (@johnkrausphotos) took several up-close photos of Raptor SN44 after it was removed:
https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1350196806303559680

https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1350202176489074688

https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1350198513192333322

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1350201503492026371
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1051 on: January 16, 2021, 09:22:12 PM »
—- SLS Green Run hot fire test is moved up
William Harwood (@cbs_spacenews)1/16/21, 3:16 PM
SLS: Good afternoon; NASA has moved up the planned test firing of an SLS first stage booster at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi to 4pm EST, 1 hour earlier than originally planned; NASA TV coverage will begin at 3:20pm: [right now!]
➡️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21X5lGlDOfg
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1350537352247185411

Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight)1/16/21, 3:10 PM
LIVE: SLS core stage hot fire test
The NASASpaceflight team will have our expert SLS writer Philip Sloss on the broadcast for today's crucial test of the core stage along with @ChrisG_NSF and @KSpaceAcademy.
➡️youtu.be/s1bkX9f52NI
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1052 on: January 17, 2021, 12:50:11 AM »
—- SLS Green Run test — aborted
Sat jan 16
At 5:27 pm ET. after several hours of holds/reschedules, the SLS core stage ignited and fired for about 67 seconds of the eight and a half minute test, then shut down after a “Major Component Failure” was detected on Engine 4, just before an important engine gimbal test was to start.

Quote
Wayne Hale (@waynehale)1/16/21, 5:30 PM
Well MCF was not a call this ascent flight director ever wanted to hear: Major Component Failure is detected by the SSME controller.
https://twitter.com/waynehale/status/1350571106038657024
Wayne Hale:
Just to be clear, all that software in the SSME controller is designed to detect a problem and shut down the engine before really bad things happen. Could be instrumentation failure too.

Quote
William Harwood (@cbs_spacenews)1/16/21, 5:40 PM
SLS: Listening to test team audio loop, a controller called out an "MCF on engine 4" a few seconds before the engines were commanded to begin a gimbal steering sequence. "Copy that," the test director replied. "But we're still running, still got 4 good engines, right?"
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1350573760051630081
William Harwood:
SLS: Timing clarification: The "we've got a shutdown" call came almost exactly 30 seconds after the "MCF on engine 4" call, and just a few seconds into what was expected to be a gimbaling test of the main engine nozzles
Wayne Hale:
Again, working off my creaky memory, an engine doesn’t declare it is in shutdown phase until Pc drops below 30% - which can take about 3 seconds. Or that’s the way it used to work - on the shuttle

If this had been an actual flight, it likely would have meant loss of vehicle. Could they have shut down the affected engine and continued to a safe orbit? Or would the launch escape system have activated?

Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/16/21, 5:51 PM
Interesting note here from Wayne about swapping out an engine. I'd think they could do this at Stennis, but the rocket may need to go back to the factory at Michoud.
Kathryn Crowe (@Kat_Cr)1/16/21, 5:37 PM
No matter what the cause of the early shutdown was, the safe shutdown of the stage with an early cut is also by itself a major engineering success - and valuable test data points #GreenRunTest
Wayne Hale (@waynehale)1/16/21, 5:40 PM
Completely concur. Very valuable. Now the discussions will begin as to whether there was enough data collected or if the test needs to be rerun - either way that engine will likely be changed out. Of course the experts will probably tell us at the post test conference shortly 
https://twitter.com/waynehale/status/1350573676282982400
Post test conference has been cancelled.

Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/16/21, 6:35 PM
I'm told it was indeed an engine problem.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1350587464113655811
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/16/21, 5:53 PM
For those of you who were still holding out hope for a 2021 Artemis I launch ... that hope died today. It required shipping the core stage from Stennis in February. That won't be happening.

There has also been a concern that they have already begun stacking the solid rocket boosters, which are only certified for 12 months once assembled.
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1053 on: January 17, 2021, 01:43:31 AM »
Update: SLS press conference in 20 minutes (8pm ET), per nasa.gov

—-
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 1/16/21, 7:03 PM
Even if today's test had been perfect there was no pathway to a Moon landing in 2024. The Mars landing in 2029 is hilarious unless Wicker is low-key announcing full funding for Starship in this tweet.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1350594611455135751

Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) 1/16/21, 6:43 PM

I commend @NASA Administrator @JimBridenstine for his stewardship of NASA & the SLS program. We are still on track to take the first woman to the moon by 2024 & complete a Mars landing by 2029. I know that bipartisan support for this program and space exploration will continue.
https://twitter.com/senatorwicker/status/1350589426498469889 
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1054 on: January 17, 2021, 02:08:10 PM »
—- SLS Green Run abort
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 1/16/21, 8:37 PM
Big takeaway from SLS hot fire news conference: No specifics on what the next steps are. Need to look at data. SLS program manager John Honeycutt did note they had hoped to get 250 seconds of data but only got 60.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1350618338880331780
Eric Berger:
Only real news was a report of a “flash” near engine four in the thermal protection area. No details. The engine section was among the most challenging parts of the core stage design.

< Thank you for asking specifics - my take away is that had lots more data they didn’t want to share because it could lead to negative inferences.  Also Honeycutt had very little specific info for a multi billion dollar program manager - didn’t instill confidence
> ....and they’re already talking about skipping all that and just shipping it to the Cape and do engine swaps there. Someone should tell that in 96 hours a new Congress could drop this whole program if they keep screwing this up.
>> They also talked about not flying a second OFT for Starliner in [that] post launch press conference, so I don’t take forward looking statements at this point too seriously.
< Took a short cut on the wet dress rehearsal. Now thinking of taking another shortcut on the green run test. They’ll keep sweeping problems under the rug until ….

Video: SLS core stage test-firing ends early
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/01/16/video-sls-core-stage-test-firing-ends-early/

NASA studying cause of early end to NASA moon rocket test-firing
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/01/17/nasa-studying-cause-of-early-end-to-nasa-moon-rocket-test-firing/


Even if nothing required fixing or replacement, the quickest the rocket could be “dried out” (the water trapped from the hydrogen/oxygen combustion), and inspected for a retest would be 3 to 4 weeks.  And Stennis requires 5 days to set up the fuel barges, etc. for a test.  Afterward, it would then be another 3 to 4 weeks to “dry out” the rocket again so it could leave Stennis for KSC.  So, the core would likely be at Stennis until April or May even without an engine swap (but they do have extra engines available at Stennis, if needed).

Just a thought about why the rocket did not shut down immediately after the MCF detection:  Given what we’ve seen of Boeing’s (lack of) software prowess in the Starliner OFT (and the 737-MAX), it’s not a stretch to imagine the program was trying to “get the rocket to a safe orbit on the three remaining engines” — without escape coding that said, “look, you are our only flight article, not a prototype, so if anything goes really really wrong, just shut down immediately and save yourself.”


—- Starship: new TFRs posted
7200 feet = 2200 meters
Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/16/21, 2:13 PM Starship SN9 update:
- Flight test Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for the 21st was added today
- Flight test TFRs currently posted for Jan. 19, 20, and 21
- New TFR posted for Jan. 18-21 up to 7,200 ft
- Not sure on the purpose for the 7,200 ft TFR
tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html 
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1350521650542858240
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1055 on: January 18, 2021, 01:37:23 AM »
—-  Starlink launch tomorrow (morning)
1345 GMT.   “Starlink V1.0-L16”
Quote
SpaceX (@SpaceX)1/17/21, 1:45 PM
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 → spacex.com/launches
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1350876908867620864

Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight)1/17/21, 1:47 PM

This will be the first eighth flight of a Falcon booster and the fastest turnaround time between flights (around 35 days).
nextspaceflight.com/launches/reuse…  [ https://t.co/CLAWIlESjq
Wow, fastest turnaround previously was 50 days.  Now 35.


—- Starship
Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/16/21, 10:56 PM
VIDEO: While Starship SN9 repairs continue, SpaceX is making progress on new prototypes. Components for SN17 are already being spotted!
Video & Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Nic Gautschi (@NGautschi).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-gCdbjEiq4&feature=youtu.be
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1350653215033880577

—-
Wondering when the next Starship flight will occur?
Michael Baylor has procured the meme-famous wenhop (and whenhop) urls to serve Starship fans.  ;D
wenhop.com
whenhop.com

—- SpaceX 2004
New article, but features (at least on my feed) a video interview from July 2004: Musk speaking about the future of space transportation and SpaceX.
Elon Musk donates $5 million to education group Khan Academy
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/17/us/elon-musk-khan-academy-5-million-donation-trnd/index.html


—- Virgin Orbit plane-launched rocket successfully orbits smallsats for NASA
Quote
Virgin Orbit (@Virgin_Orbit) 1/17/21, 5:28 PM
Payloads successfully deployed into our target orbit! We are so, so proud to say that LauncherOne has now completed its first mission to space, carrying 9 CubeSat missions into Low Earth Orbit for our friends @NASA. #LaunchDemo2
https://twitter.com/virgin_orbit/status/1350933162398986240

Virgin Orbit confirms the LauncherOne rocket reached a preliminary orbit after releasing from its Boeing 747 carrier aircraft over the Pacific Ocean at 11:39 a.m. PST (2:39 p.m. EST; 1939 GMT).
Virgin’s satellite launcher reaches orbit on second try
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/01/18/virgins-satellite-launcher-reaches-orbit-on-second-try/
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 1/17/21, 2:52 PM
You can count the number of privately developed orbital rockets on a single hand. And this is a first for a liquid fueled, air-launched rocket. Great accomplishment for Virgin Orbit.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1350893744904679424


—— SLS, though
"It is difficult to say what happened Saturday is anything but a bitter disappointment. This rocket core stage was moved to Stennis from its factory in nearby Louisiana more than one calendar year ago, with months of preparations for this critical test."
After a decade, NASA’s big rocket fails its first real test
"It's not everything we hoped it would be."
Eric Berger - 1/16/2021, 10:57 PM
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/nasas-space-launch-system-rocket-shuts-down-after-just-67-seconds/

—- Reference: the Virgin/Chad meme
;D “infographic” at the link.
➡️ https://twitter.com/kekcrypto/status/1350686134884556800
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vox_mundi

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1056 on: January 18, 2021, 01:45:47 AM »
Quote
... Wow, fastest turnaround previously was 50 days.  Now 35.

Soon ...

“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1057 on: January 18, 2021, 02:03:50 PM »
—- Starlink launch moves right
Quote
SpaceX (@SpaceX) 1/17/21, 10:04 PM
Due to unfavorable weather conditions in the recovery area, now targeting Tuesday, January 19 at 8:23 a.m. EST for launch of Starlink
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1351002566994386949

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster set to beat rocket turnaround record by a huge margin
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-booster-record-rocket-turnaround-2021/


—- Starship
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 1/17/21, 8:48 PM
I have received an ‘Alert’ notice and a road closure has been scheduled from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. [Monday]. Possible static fire attempt of the three new Raptor engines on Starship SN9.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1350983378963673090
Pics of notice & schedule at the link.

Quote
Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 1/17/21, 7:21 PM
SpaceX is installing an array of machinery that will eventually provide Boca Chica with onsite propellant, as the future Starships that will benefit from local LOX assemble.
Video & Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Theo Ripper (@theoripper)
➡️youtu.be/ptX80cTKdDQ
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1350961414605828101
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1058 on: January 18, 2021, 03:06:04 PM »
—- Space is hard. Then again, SLS hasn’t left the ground, yet.
Quote
Eric Ralph (@13ericralph31)1/16/21, 8:59 PM
NASA & Boeing, 2017-2020: Green Run is basically a known quantity and will be ez pz thanks to our glorious Heritage Hardware™ - success is all but guaranteed!
NASA after SLS aborts 12% into static fire: "iF yOuRe ExPeCtInG pErFeCtIoN oN a FiRsT tEsT, yOuVe NeVeR tEsTeD bEfOrE"
https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/1350623812568584195

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/16/21, 11:02 PM
"It is difficult to say what happened Saturday is anything but a bitter disappointment. This rocket core stage was moved to Stennis from its factory in nearby Louisiana more than one calendar year ago, with months of preparations for this critical test." arstechnica.com/science/2021/0…
Wayne Hale:
Only a ‘bitter disappointment’ for those with unrealistic expectations who have never participated in rocket testing before. Anybody that has been on this road before knows that this was possible even likely. Should have been prepared for this outcome
https://twitter.com/waynehale/status/1350806205481029633
William Harwood:
@waynehale Absolutely concur.

Eric Ralph:
I'm paraphrasing and it's more on behalf of Boeing, to be fair to NASA. Boeing officials did start to give *slightly* more pragmatic statements in 2020 after months of delays and several stumbles, but only then.  Happy to link multiple instances of extreme confidence :)

Eric Ralph:
@SciGuySpace @cbs_spacenews @waynehale spent a few minutes looking for examples of NASA and Boeing's extreme confidence going into Green Run lol
Eric Ralph:
"The core stage design will remain basically the same. The green run acceptance test gives NASA the confidence needed to know the new core stage will perform again and again as it is intended." - Lisa Bates, NASA SLS manager
spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/27/nas…
Eric Ralph:
“We’re going to move it out of this facility. We’re going to take it to the Stennis Space Center. We’re going to do a ‘green run’ test. We’re going to prove its capability, we’re going to get it to the Cape." - Bridenstine
spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/15/nas…
Eric Ralph:
"“The first vehicle we built is a flight vehicle,” he said. “We didn’t get any prototypes, didn’t get any demonstration vehicles or anything like that. The first one you’ve got to get right. That takes extra time.” - John Shannon, SLS Manager
spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/15/nas…
Eric Ralph:
In Shannon's defense, he did acknowledge that a rocket-side aborted static fire would need to be repeated before NASA would consider CS-1 qualified. But Bridenstine, Honeycutt, and Gilbrech all directly contradicted or tiptoed around his statements. spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/15/nas…

Eric Ralph:
If NASA somehow manages to waive the need for a full-duration Core Stage static fire and moves to ship CS-1 straight to Florida, I'd estimate the odds of an Artemis-1 launch failure to be around 50-75%.
Chris Marshall:
Well if the boosters truly have a 1 year shelf [life] once stacking started then they really are in a difficult position as any further delays will likely cause the launch to exceed that
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1059 on: January 18, 2021, 08:40:49 PM »
—- Starship
Quote
Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/18/21, 1:48 PM
Static Fire test expected to move to Tuesday. Looks like another windy day which is impacting on readiness preps.

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/18/21, 11:41 AM
Starship SN9 is expected to conduct a final Static Fire test today, paving the way for a launch this week.
A review of the test path and the always-fascinating goings-on at SpaceX Boca Chica.
Videos and pictures by Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Words from me.
nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/starsh…  [ https://t.co/Q0QbkThFh6 ]
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1351208079778586661

Just now: updated TFRs indicate a Starship flight no earlier than Wednesday.


—- Starliner OFT reflight
Boeing says it has re-qualified software for the Starliner crew capsule after errors cut short the craft’s first orbital test flight in 2019, setting the stage for an end-to-end simulation before a redo of the demo flight in March. …

Boeing making progress on Starliner software for test flight in March
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/01/18/boeing-making-progress-on-starliner-software-for-test-flight-in-march/


—- Ode to Jim B.
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 1/18/21, 10:56 AM
With just two days left in his tenure, I want to take a moment publicly thank @JimBridenstine for being open, honest, and accessible to the media. He rarely blamed the media, and often acknowledged our role in both publicizing NASA while also keeping the agency honest.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1351196771754631168
~ Saturday night in Mississippi offers a great example of this. It was very cold. He was on stage in a suit, outside, in sub-40° [< 4.4°C] weather. After 22 minutes of a news conference, PIO said OK, I think we're done here. Jim responds, "We're here for them if there are more questions."
~ The news conference went on for about 20 more minutes. He and the others didn't have all the answers for sure, but they took our questions. It was a great Jim moment.
~ On the inside, I'm not certain of how he was as a leader. But publicly, Bridenstine was a great representative of NASA. He supported his agency and built it up at a time when a lot of government was being torn down. Was he perfect? No. But who among us is? Wish him well.

—- ”Phantom Space, Inc.” is aptly named
At least SLS has a rocket, of sorts!  Phantom Space just bragged on Twitter about their progress — using a photoshopped image with their rendered rocket and Phantom Space logo pasted into a NASA factory photo. :o
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/18/21, 11:23 AM
In summary: Phantom Space took a NASA photo of an abort motor (below), inserted a rendering of its Daytona rocket into the photo, and then tweeted about how construction of the rocket pathfinding model was coming. Original tweet, which was deleted:
imgur.com/a/xsTt6Ma     
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1351203481076555781
The CEO was persuaded to take down the tweet — after he retweeted it, claimed the image wasn’t illegal, that yes it was an “animation,” and that he didn’t know.

—- Perseverance 2 ?
Quote
星咲高校地学部航天局 HGCSA (@dedztbh)1/18/21, 9:22 AM
BREAKING: The first Chinese Mars rover is likely to be named Perseverance
https://twitter.com/dedztbh/status/1351173073249169410
[Image: China's first Mars rover name solicitation, submission of name, preliminary evaluation, shortlisted top 10 list ranking...]

星咲高校地学部航天局 HGCSA (@dedztbh)1/18/21, 9:24 AM
CLOSE ENOUGH
⬇️ Image below.
Number 1 on the shortlist:   1 . 弘毅
Hóngyì
As best I can tell:
The second character by itself means “perseverance;” the first character (“great”) is pronounced the same as the color “red” is pronounced, so a sly Mars reference.  Together, they can mean “have a broad and strong mind.”
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1060 on: January 19, 2021, 01:52:23 PM »
—- Launch today Tomorrow! 
Quote
SpaceX (@SpaceX)1/18/21, 9:52 PM
To allow additional time for pre-launch inspections, now targeting Wednesday, January 20 at 8:02 a.m. EST for launch of Starlink
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1351361922218799105

SpaceX set to launch first Starlink mission of 2021
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/spacex-set-to-launch-first-starlink-mission-of-2021/

—- Transporter-1 mission preps
SpaceX drone ship heads to The Bahamas for Falcon 9’s next polar launch
January 18, 2021
Quote
Notably, with drone ship OCISLY and support ship GO Searcher’s recent departure for Transporter-1, SpaceX is in the unique position of having deployed almost the entirety of its substantial rocket recovery fleet. Only GO Navigator (effectively the twin of GO Searcher) is currently in port and even that ship was out at sea supporting the first Cargo Dragon 2 recovery on January 17th. Altogether, six of SpaceX’s seven recovery ships are currently hard at work supporting two separate Falcon 9 launches – a rare but probably increasingly common sight as SpaceX works to complete as many as 48 launches in 2021.

Starlink-16 is scheduled to launch no earlier than 8:23 am EST (13:23 UTC), Tuesday, January 19th and will be broadcast live by SpaceX, as usual. Transporter-1 will follow as few as ~49 hours later, launching NET 9:24 am EST (14:24 UTC) on Thursday, January 21st.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-polar-launch-bahamas-drone-ship/

—- Starship
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 1/18/21, 8:12 PM
The ‘Alert’ notice has arrived and a road closure for [Tuesday] from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. has been posted.  [Fingers crossed] for a Starship SN9 static fire attempt….
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1351336715772956672
Images of the notice and the schedule at the link.

—- Future offshore Starship landing platform?
Quote
Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer)1/18/21, 7:52 PM I've been exploring around the Port of Brownsville while waiting for Starship testing and found an oil rig that appears to be named Deimos, after one of the moons of Mars! Based on job postings and @elonmusk's tweets, I'm willing to bet that SpaceX is involved.
https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1351331758084661252
Jack Beyer:
These two photos were taken months apart - you can see the [“Deimos”] sign is a recent addition. Could this be one of the floating, Superheavy class spaceports that @elonmusk has mentioned SpaceX is building?
https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1351332065283895297
⬇️ Wide photo below; closer ones at the links!

And no, evidence indicates it is not the Shell Deimos rig:
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1351349107453952002

—-
Quote
Julia (@julia_bergeron)1/18/21, 10:17 PM
 Right? Now, imagine a fleet to support them like the crews used to do in the gulf.
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1351368214840807433
Julia:
Me daydreaming of a fleet to support/supply the offshore pads. Fun fact, this is exactly what the #SpaceXFleet did before being contracted to recover boosters and fairings at sea! GO Searcher pictured pre-Dragon days
⬇️ Photo below.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1061 on: January 20, 2021, 01:55:11 AM »
SpaceX bought two floating oil platforms from a bankrupt offshore drilling contractor for a mere $7 million just a decade after completion.
Six months after CEO Elon Musk revealed that “SpaceX is building floating, superheavy-class spaceports” for its next-generation Starship rocket, the company has already purchased and begun converting at least two retired oil rigs.

SpaceX is turning oil rigs into floating Starship spaceports named after Mars’ moons
By Eric Ralph January 19, 2021
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-building-floating-starship-spaceports-phobos-deimos/

SpaceX acquires former oil rigs to serve as floating Starship spaceports
 Thomas Burghardt January 19, 2021
Quote
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.” …
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/spacex-rigs-starship-spaceports/

Aside:  The Boca Chica Starship Production Complex has begun installing equipment to produce propellent for its rockets, eventually in a sustainable manner as will be required on Mars.
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1062 on: January 20, 2021, 01:12:25 PM »
Starlink launch in just under an hour
Quote
45th Space Wing (@45thSpaceWing)1/20/21, 6:53 AM
SpaceX is currently targeting 8:02 a.m. EST for this morning’s Starlink launch!
You’ll be able to view the livestream here: spacex.com/launches/
https://twitter.com/45thspacewing/status/1351860401714196482

—-
With latest Starlink launch, SpaceX to set record for rapid reuse
Weather appears to be good for Wednesday after concerns about recovery on Monday.
Eric Berger - 1/19/2021, 10:41 AM
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/with-latest-starlink-launch-spacex-to-set-record-for-rapid-reuse/

—- Starship
Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/19/21, 2:19 PM
No static fire [Tuesday] in Boca Chica. It has slipped to Wednesday. Temporary Flight Restrictions have also been updated – moving the earliest possible launch date to Thursday.
wenhop.com
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1351610135571927040

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 1/19/21, 3:18 PM

Starship SN9 will wait at least another day for her pre-launch Static Fire test. However, rocket production further down Highway 4 waits for no one!
Say hello to the Forward Dome of Super Heavy Prototype BN2 <--yes, 2.
Picture from Mary (@BocaChicaGal):
forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topi…
➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1351625215990763529
Photo at the link: “B2 forward dome”
 


—- Satellogic and SpaceX Announce Multiple Launch Agreement
Through a series of rideshare launches over the next two years and beyond, the company will be moving from weekly to daily world remaps by 2025 with more than 300 microsatellites in orbit.
  First mission, scheduled for mid-2021, will further expand Satellogic’s industry-leading in-orbit capacity
January 19, 2021
Quote
Satellogic, the first company to develop a scalable Earth observation platform with the ability to remap the entire planet at both high-frequency and high-resolution, today announced a Multiple Launch Services Agreement (MLA) with SpaceX. Through the agreement, SpaceX becomes Satellogic’s preferred vendor for rideshare missions. The first launch, scheduled for June 2021, will deliver Satellogic satellites to Low Earth Orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket.

Today’s agreement with SpaceX will enable Satellogic to maintain and extend their position as the global leader in high-resolution, high-frequency geospatial analytics. Satellogic expects to complete the initial buildout of their Earth Observation Constellation by the end of 2022. At that point the company will have the capacity to deliver weekly, high-resolution coverage of the entire landmass of the planet.

Satellogic provides a disruptive and compelling economic use case to current users of EO imagery, as well the ability to simplify the image collection process, eventually replacing considerably less efficient technologies and solutions such as drones, helicopters, planes, and boots-on-the-ground manpower. “Satellogic’s business model makes them the ideal partner for SpaceX’s rideshare missions. SpaceX’s frequent launch schedule means that Satellogic’s end customers will get the latest satellite technology as soon as it’s ready to launch,” said Tom Ochinero, Vice President of Commercial Sales at SpaceX. “We’re excited to support Satellogic’s ambitions to democratize access to geospatial analytics.”

After completing three launches in 2020, Satellogic’s in-orbit capacity now enables access to up to four daily revisits of any point of interest and the collection of more than 4 million sq. km per day in high-resolution data. …
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210119005117/en/Satellogic-and-SpaceX-Announce-Multiple-Launch-Agreement


—- SLS hotfire abort analysis & teleconference
Quote
Eric Berger:
Heard from a couple of people regarding NASA's update on the SLS Green Run test.
Basic gist is: the engineers developing and testing the vehicle definitely want another core stage hot fire. If there's not one, it will be for political reasons.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1351559211075989505
Green Run Update: Data and Inspections Indicate Core Stage in Good Condition
January 19, 2021
https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2021/01/19/green-run-update-data-and-inspections-indicate-core-stage-in-good-condition/

Eric Berger:
Some more detail here on why NASA is likely to repeat a hot fire test of the SLS rocket. Good news is that the issues observed Saturday all seem addressable.
NASA likely to redo hot-fire test of its Space Launch System core stage
Of 23 test objectives, full data was received for 15 of them.
Eric Berger - 1/19/2021, 1:20 PM
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/nasa-likely-to-redo-hot-fire-test-of-its-space-launch-system-core-stage/

From the Jan 19 NASA Teleconference:
- Shutdown happened due to software parameters set conservatively to protect the rocket during the test, because it’s the only one there is.  If this had been an actual launch, looser software parameters (and redundant hardware) would have allowed a successful continuation of the burn.  The MCF alarm did not cause the abort.
 - When deciding whether to re-do the hotfire test, they must balance the need for complete data with the risks and limits of having only one rocket.  Examples: the propellant tank can only be loaded nine times.  (Have already loaded three times:  two wet dress rehearsals and one hotfire.)  And SRB’s have time limits once stacked.
- Conditions for testing are best at Stennis, so any hotfire tests will happen there, not at KSC.
- Can Artemis 1 launch occur this year? “Too early to say.”
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1063 on: January 21, 2021, 04:31:25 PM »
—- Jan 20, 2021 Falcon 9 Starlink mission
Sunrise —> Day —> Launch: Seamless time lapse and real-time video of today’s liftoff of Falcon 9 and 60 Starlink satellites
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/l1akw5/sunrise_day_launch_seamless_time_lapse_and/
With audio!

Winds were “outside the envelope” for a drone-ship landing, but SpaceX went ahead with the attempt — and the booster hit its mark precisely!
Quote
SpaceX (@SpaceX) 1/20/21, 8:12 AM
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship!
➡️ https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1351880155145273351
Webcast clip: 11 sec

Around the time of the T-E retraction (T minus 4:30 to 3:30, about 17:30 in the Starlink mission launch video), there’s a minute or so of ambient audio where you can really hear the Falcon 9 “breathing.”  Imagine being in a Dragon capsule, listening to that while awaiting liftoff!
➡️ https://www.spacex.com/launches/
Edit: adding permalink: ➡️https://youtu.be/84Nct_Q9Lqw

SpaceX sets new rocket reuse records with successful Starlink launch
January 20, 2021 Stephen Clark
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/01/20/spacex-sets-new-rocket-reuse-records-with-successful-starlink-launch/


—- Transporter-1, polar orbit smallsat mission NET tomorrow
Quote
Jan. 22: Falcon 9 • Transporter 1
Launch window: 1424-1524 GMT (9:24-10:24 a.m. EST)

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Transporter 1 mission, a rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers. Delayed from Dec. 16, Jan. 14, and Jan. 21. [Updated Jan. 19]
https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

Quote
Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com (@SpaceXFleet) 1/21/21, 6:13 AM
Ms. Tree and Chief having finished work at the Starlink LZ and are now cruising south towards the Transporter-1 LZ, near Cuba.
They should arrive around launch time. There are some other ships in the area that may have been hired to babysit the fairing until the catchers arrive. 
https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1352212792401666048
Map at the link.


—- Starship static fire attempts
Quote
Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/20/21, 4:23 PM
They are recycling and then some random car just turned up in the view on the "blocked" road coming off the beach.
youtube.com/watch?v=IHIcC4…
➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1352003931203895297
30 sec webcast clip, with car

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 1/20/21, 5:52 PM
After two aborts today, one of which was due to a car galivanting by, it seems like SpaceX is making a third run at a static fire of its revamped SN9 Starship prototype.
youtube.com/watch?v=IHIcC4…
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1352026121831936000

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 1/20/21, 6:49 PM
Another abort for Starship SN9 during the Static Fire attempt.
Live with Mary (@BocaChicaGal) and NSF bots
youtube.com/watch?v=IHIcC4…
➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1352040671897595906

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 1/20/21, 6:52 PM 

And now they've woken up Hopper, wondering who the new family member is (Test Tank SN7.2).
➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1352041430206849024
Vid clips at the arrow links.

Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal)1/20/21, 9:01 PM
I have received an ‘Alert’ notice for [Thursday]. Another possible SN9 static fire attempt between the hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1352073839036002309


—- Oops
Quote
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/15/21, 3:49 PM
Regarding the fate of Starship prototype SN9, I have begun to hear bits and pieces that are not great news. There's nothing I consider reportable on what has happened, but I would now bet against SN9 flying before February.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1350183316335558661

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/20/21, 2:31 PM
Here to admit my error on this. I'm not sure what miracles were worked on SN9 exactly, but with new TFRs popping up and a probable static fire today, it does look like SN9 will in fact fly sooner than I believed. Happy to lose this bet!
tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/det…
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1351975686953717761



—- New U.S. President Joe Biden’s Oval Office
Quote
Josh Billinson (@jbillinson)1/20/21, 5:21 PM  
Joe Biden has moon rocks in the Oval Office, which feels like an incredible flex that the United States has enough moon rocks to just use some of them for interior decorating
washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/…
https://twitter.com/jbillinson/status/1352018386843299841

Liem Bahneman (@Liembo)1/20/21, 5:58 PM

 Is this them?
➡️ https://twitter.com/liembo/status/1352027771770347525
Photo at the link.
< Does he need more? We can get him more in a few years if he wants more. I think he should have more.
Note: Presidents get to “borrow” items from museums to keep in the White House during their tenure. :)


—- NASA admin in transition
As parting message, Jim Bridenstine leaves Artemis program ‘in good shape’ for Biden’s NASA
https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2021/1/20/22240908/jim-bridenstine-nasa-chief-transition-artemis

Steve Jurczyk becomes Acting Administrator of NASA as Jim Bridenstine shares farewell video
https://spaceexplored.com/2021/01/20/steve-jurczyk-becomes-acting-administrator-of-nasa-as-jim-bridenstine-shares-farewell-video/
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 07:19:50 PM by Sigmetnow »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1064 on: January 22, 2021, 03:43:51 PM »
—- Next launch: Transporter-1.  Now Saturday?
Quote
Eric Berger:
Another confirmation that Transporter-1 launch will slip a day. Interesting note about the total number of satellites too:

Will Marshall (@Will4Planet) 1/21/21, 10:27 PM
This Saturday we're launching 48 SuperDoves w/ @SpaceX!
Fun Fact: it's a record-breaking ride w/ 133 sats! (Beating 104 on PSLV in 2017 where @planetlabs had 88)
Tune in for 06:40PST / 14:40UTC liftoff: spacex.com/launches/ Follow along @planetlabs
https://twitter.com/will4planet/status/1352457949394833409

New Year, New Launches: 48 SuperDoves To Launch With SpaceX
January 21, 2021
Quote
Planet is rocketing into the new year with 48 SuperDoves, our Flock 4s, scheduled to fly on SpaceX’s Transporter-1 mission. This rideshare mission launching out of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida will deliver Flock 4s to a sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 500 km altitude. These 48 SuperDoves bring improvements to image sharpness and quality, plus new spectral bands for analysis. With this launch of 8-band SuperDoves, Planet will continue to provide medium resolution multispectral imagery (3-5m) at a global scale to our customers worldwide.

This marks our sixth launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 and our third launch on their smallsat rideshare program. Just last summer, we successfully launched six SkySats across two SpaceX Starlink rideshare missions and we’re excited to again fly on such a reliable and well-flown launch vehicle.

Follow along on Planet’s Twitter for updates as the launch window nears.
Ad astra! 
https://www.planet.com/pulse/new-year-new-launches-48-superdoves-to-launch-with-spacex/

Quote
Gavin: … The tracking overnight suggests they didn't get tug Hawk hooked up to tow JRTI until [Thursday] morning, probably because of the rough seas we saw during the webcast.
https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1352340284210868227
 
Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/21/21, 2:51 PM
The next Starlink launch is currently NET Jan. 27, per hazard zones. I think it will be a bit tight to turnaround JRTI in time for that launch date. OCISLY is currently occupied with the Transporter-1 launch. …
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1352343128041156608


—- Starship
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 1/21/21, 7:33 PM
I have received the ‘Alert’ notice and a road closure is scheduled between 7 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Another possible SN9 static fire attempt [Friday]. ???
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1352413945173311488
SPadre:
 Prolly 7.2 test, things didn’t look or sound norminal today
Mary:
We don’t receive an ‘Alert’ notice for testing test tanks.

Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/21/21, 1:02 PM
Latest with Starship SN9:
- Static fire Thursday afternoon
- Launch no-earlier than Monday, per Temporary Flight Restrictions
wenhop.com
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1352315542594482179

Old TFRs:
Altitude: From the surface up to and including 7200 feet MSL
Effective Date(s):
From January 20, 2021 at 1200 UTC
To January 24, 2021 at 0600 UTC

New TFRs issued Thursday: for Mon-Wed, Jan 25, 26, 27, Surface to Unlimited.  1400 to 2359 UTC


—— Oops, We meant 9 at Stennis
Green Run Update: Hot Fire Met Many Objectives, Test Assessment Underway
January 21, 2021
Quote
... Currently, the SLS core stage can still be loaded with propellant and pressurized 20 more times for a total of 22 cycles. Rocket stages like the core stage are designed to be loaded with cryogenic propellant and pressurized a specific number of times. These are called cryogenic loading cycles. Before Green Run testing began, SLS had allocated nine cryogenic cycles for testing at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and has used two of those during the hot fire and wet dress rehearsal, with seven cryogenic cycles remaining for additional testing. For the Artemis I Iaunch, NASA is preserving 13 of the remaining 20 cryogenic loading cycles. These can be used for multiple launch attempts, a wet dress rehearsal on the launch pad, and other activities that require propellant loading and tank pressurization
https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2021/01/21/green-run-update-hot-fire-met-many-objectives-test-assessment-underway/


—- Saturday webcast
Quote
Thomas Burghardt (@TGMetsFan98)1/21/21, 12:33 PM
On this week's NSF Live, join John Galloway (@KSpaceAcademy) and myself in welcoming a very special guest: Founder and CEO of @RocketLab, @Peter_J_Beck!
We will be doing Q&A including questions taken from our live chat!
Saturday at 3 PM EST (20:00 UTC): youtu.be/Knk_RuV7mao
https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1352308361136660483

—-
Quote
Peter Beck (@Peter_J_Beck) 1/17/21, 10:25 PM
The new HyperCurie engine for deep space and planetary missions on Photon. Banana for scale, apparently bananas are now recognized units of measure?
https://twitter.com/peter_j_beck/status/1351007738759942145
⬇️ Photo below.


—- Bernie Sanders @ inauguration day photo meme, continued (They’re putting him everywhere.)
Quote
William Harwood (@cbs_spacenews)1/22/21, 9:15 AM
Couldn't resist putting Bernie on the flight deck... Go for launch!
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1352621000941330434
⬇️ Image below
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1065 on: January 22, 2021, 04:22:15 PM »
—- Starship SN9 Static Fire - Jan 22
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/22/21, 9:55 AM
Yesterday's Starship static fire attempt did not go well. However, they're back at it with SN9 early this morning.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1352630887255519232

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/22/21, 9:52 AM

Starship SN9 is very eager this morning. Tri-venting and Siren already. Would be a very rare pre-midday Static Fire.
youtube.com/watch?v=wgwQSs…  [ https://t.co/KLFof9P5Ts ]
➡️ https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1352630887255519232
10 sec “tri-venting” clip at the Twitter link.


Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/22/21, 10:00 AM

STATIC FIRE! Starship SN9 fires up her three Raptors. Very smooth morning pad flow to ignition.
Looks and sounded very good. Let's hope the data was good to approve launch next week.
SN9 Status: … ➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1352632161065693184
20 second vid at the link.

⬇️Image below from: https://twitter.com/pabloplataa/status/1352632587668365312
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1066 on: January 22, 2021, 09:11:01 PM »
—- 133 customer satellites plus 10 Starlink satellites
Quote
SpaceX (@SpaceX) 1/22/21, 12:38 PM
Falcon 9 and 143 spacecraft are vertical on pad 40 ahead of tomorrow’s launch of the Transporter-1 mission, the first dedicated SmallSat Rideshare Program mission; SpaceX's 42-minute launch window opens at 9:40 a.m. and weather is 60% favorable → spacex.com/launches
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1352672040164093955
Photo at the link.

Quote
Eric Berger:
According to SpaceX, the Transporter-1 mission launching Saturday will have 133 commercial and government spacecraft (including CubeSats, microsats, and orbital transfer vehicles) and 10 Starlink satellites.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1352656159413575684


—- Future spaceport arrives!
Quote
Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) 1/22/21, 2:18 PM
And there she is, the other SpaceX Oil Rig, Phobos, that will be used as a floating spaceport for Starship!
The road to Mars runs through Pascagoula, Mississippi.

https://twitter.com/thefavoritist/status/1352697265765441537
⬇️Photo below. 2 other, more distant pics at the link.

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/22/21, 2:29 PM

Phobos confirmed!
NSF Live: ➡️https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ_qX5PFlyg
 
➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1352700046551244809
15 sec extreme closeup vid at the Twitter link. People on board!

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/22/21, 2:36 PM

Mars is getting closer, literally.
➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1352701601220190209
25 sec vid, medium view
 
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1067 on: January 23, 2021, 01:39:49 PM »
Launch scheduled in two hours, 9:40am ET (14:40 UTC)
(But, rain is approaching the Cape. :-\ )
—- Transporter-1 launch
Quote
Elon Musk:
Given so many other companies are depending on this mission, it is getting even more scrutiny than a Starlink flight 
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1352795367050416129

SpaceX to set record for most satellites launched on a single mission
Party in the payload bay: 143 total satellites deployed in a dozen waves.
Eric Berger - 1/22/2021, 4:08 PM
Quote
"This is the result of SpaceX dramatically cutting the cost of access to launch," Mike Safyan, vice president of launch at Planet, said in June. "It's significant. They cut the price so much we could not believe what we were looking at." …

There seems to have been a fair amount of interest in the program, which offered a very low price of $15,000 per kilogram delivered to a Sun-synchronous orbit. …

Weather is a moderate concern for Saturday's launch attempt, which is scheduled for 9:40am ET (14:40 UTC) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. According to forecasters, there is a 40 percent chance of weather violations due to thick clouds and cumulus clouds. …

A webcast should begin about 15 minutes before the launch window opens on Saturday morning:
➡️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSIcspDHbu0
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/spacex-to-set-record-for-most-satellites-launched-on-a-single-mission/

—-
Quote
Harry Stranger (@HarryStrangerPG)1/22/21, 8:49 PM
@SpaceX droneship Of Course I Still Love You spotted amongst the clouds yet again by Sentinel-2 @ 2021-01-22 15:55:20 UTC.
Once again thanks to @SpaceXFleet for helping me with the find! 
https://twitter.com/harrystrangerpg/status/1352795515545546752
⬇️ Image below.


—- Future Spaceport Phobos
Quote
Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) 1/22/21, 4:56 PM
A whole new meaning to the “Moon to Mars” initiative.
And just like Deimos, Phobos is sporting her new name proudly! …
https://twitter.com/thefavoritist/status/1352736872481644544
⬇️ Photo below; “Phobos” in steel letters on the railing.


—- SLS :o
Before shortened NASA SLS rocket engine test, officials predicted only a 50 percent chance of complete success
Chris Davenport, The Washington Post
In the private briefing, officials provided more detail, saying that the movement of the engines, known as “gimbaling,” was “much more vigorous” than previous gimbal tests in which the engines were not ignited…

In the private briefing, officials said the [MCF] warning would have triggered an abort of an actual launch “just as it would have stopped a [Space] Shuttle launch,” according to the briefing participant’s notes. “You want to launch with full redundancy.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/19/nasa-sls-hotfire-test-artemis/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1068 on: January 23, 2021, 03:36:15 PM »
SCRUB! Due to weather (electrical fields).  Backup is 10am ET tomorrow; weather looks better then.

Quote
Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com (@SpaceXFleet)1/22/21, 7:33 PM
SpaceX recovery fleet status as of Jan 22nd!
JRTI droneship tracking towards an arrival at Port Canaveral on Sunday 24th.
Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief will shortly be arriving at the Transporter-1 fairing recovery site. 
https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1352776360075399170
⬇️ Image below.

—-
Quote
Spaceflight (@SpaceflightInc) 1/23/21, 9:13 AM
Let's take a peek inside the stack of #SXRS3 #Transporter1. It's a beauty. #Launchday 
https://twitter.com/spaceflightinc/status/1352982798290751488
⬇️ Photo below.

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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1069 on: January 24, 2021, 03:15:09 PM »
Launch window opens at 10am ET, about 45 minutes from now.

Quote
Julia (@julia_bergeron)1/24/21, 7:51 AM
It's launch day! Catch up on all you need to know about today's SpaceX #Transporter1 mission with an article by @Falcon_1e then join the conversation and watch along with the NSF crew.
Article: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/transporter-1-rideshare-program-debut/

Forum: forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topi… [https://t.co/fbnxqb4xkB ]

Stream: ➡️youtu.be/uXcnyGHL8Vg 
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1353324625070067713

SpaceX’s webcast:  ➡️https://youtu.be/ScHI1cbkUv4

Ben Cooper:  Transporter-1
https://twitter.com/launchphoto/status/1352983832853667841
⬇️ Photo below.

Quote
Sara Spangelo (@sara_spangelo)1/22/21, 8:36 PM
Thanks for the ride!  @SwarmInternet is putting up 36 of the world's smallest two-way satellites, literally doubling our constellation overnight!
https://twitter.com/sara_spangelo/status/1352792302851244032

Jonathan McDowell tries to identify all the satellites in the Transporter-1 photos:
https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1353004017497075714
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1070 on: January 24, 2021, 03:32:39 PM »
—- Drone ship port protection
Quote
Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 1/23/21, 9:57 AM
It's a SpaceX Drone Ship Bumper.
NSF FleetCam is all-seeing.
youtube.com/watch?v=Wvxgbq…  [ https://t.co/jDgBfVsvbq ]   
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1352993945035407367
1min webcast clip on Twitter. Not your pleasure-boat-size bumper!

—- Starship
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal)1/23/21, 1:31 PM
Meanwhile, at SpaceX Boca Chica Starship SN10 took a peek out of the high bay as Starship SN12’s aft section was being scrapped.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1353047715270205440
Photos at the link.

Quote
Brendan (@brendan2908)1/22/21, 8:04 PM
The current status of SpaceX's Starship & Superheavy prototypes. 23rd January 2021
https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1352784291172737024
⬇️ Infographic below. Click to embiggen.

Rafael Adamy:
So I'm assuming SN13 is the test tank being built supposedly with thinner steel skin, and SN14 will be another test tank to validade the new puck design, which has the downcomer attached and external CH4 manifold in the center.
SN15 will be an interesting full prototype!


—- Cool video of Starship fuel flow
Quote
Corey (@C_Bass3d) 1/23/21, 10:08 AM
New Video! This video is a remake of a video I made a while ago, but this one shows more detail and does a better job of showing the fuel movement during an actual flight. …
https://twitter.com/c_bass3d/status/1352996635601735681
Clip at the Twitter link, full 3-min video:

Animated Starship Plumbing Diagram V2 - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KycyWcxWTcY&feature=youtu.be

Blue: Liquid Oxygen
Red: Liquid Methane

Corey:
 It's the puck design that is currently on SN9. There's no[t] enough information of the new design to accurately model yet.

—- NSF webcast with Rocket Lab CEO
Quote
Thomas Burghardt (@TGMetsFan98)1/23/21, 5:35 PM
A huge thanks to @Peter_J_Beck for joining us on the show today, we had an absolute blast!
If you missed it, you can check out the replay right here: ➡️youtu.be/Knk_RuV7mao
https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1353109067963789312

—- Russia
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/23/21, 11:50 AM
Apparently a "visa war" between Russia and the United States has expanded to engulf NASA's small office in Moscow. This group plays a critical role in facilitating NASA-Roscosmos relations, so this is unfortunate.

Katya Pavlushchenko (@katlinegrey)1/23/21, 2:38 AM
The sources say, the candidate for the position of head of the NASA mission in Russia didn’t receive a diplomatic visa “in response to a similar move by the US against a number of Russian diplomats”.  ria.ru/20210123/nasa-… 
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1352883303041409029
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1071 on: January 24, 2021, 06:02:31 PM »
—- Transporter-1
January 24, 2021
On-time lift-off. Successful deployment of 133 customer satellites and 10 Starlink satellites (world record!). Polar orbit, only the second from Florida in 50 years.  Successful booster droneship landing.  Both fairing halves recovered. 
And, no cows in Cuba were harmed in the making of this achievement. ;)

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket snags world record for most satellites launched at once
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-snags-satellite-launch-record/

SpaceX webcast screengrabs below (click to embiggen):
1) Trajectory south (the normal track to northeast is shown in white).  The Starlinks deployed on the next orbit, shown in blue, over Canada.
2) T+ 1:08  The white dot on the left side of this view… is the moon!
3) Empty satellite dispensers remain attached as the Starlinks are about to deploy.

Watch a replay at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ScHI1cbkUv4&feature=youtu.be
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blu_ice

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1072 on: January 25, 2021, 03:24:13 PM »
Progress on Starship is pretty impressive.

Sigmetnow do you know when Spacex is planning to start test flights on the booster stage also? That will be impressive to watch.

Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1073 on: January 25, 2021, 05:16:07 PM »
Progress on Starship is pretty impressive.

Sigmetnow do you know when Spacex is planning to start test flights on the booster stage also? That will be impressive to watch.

I believe the last word from Elon Musk (this month) was “a few months.”
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1074 on: January 25, 2021, 05:18:22 PM »
—- Starship flight today? 
Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/25/21, 10:41 AM
A Starship SN9 is currently continuing preparations for a potential flight test this afternoon. A final decision on whether or not they are going for it should be made in the next hour or two.
Live coverage:
youtube.com/watch?v=lPRfJx… [ https://t.co/3OWSM3dHpk ]
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1353729624086204422

Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/24/21, 8:22 PM
Marine hazard notices are up for Starship SN9's test flight. The launch could occur as soon as Monday, Jan. 25. All necessary closures have now been scheduled for the flight! … 
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1353513581417963520
Image: Marine Notice, at the link.

—-
A small version of the SpaceX droneships’ landing bullseye has been added to the Boca Chica restaurant floor, with a new name.
Quote
RGVAerialPhotography (@RGVaerialphotos)1/24/21, 8:29 PM
"Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory"
Mentioned in the book " Look to Windward" by Iain M. Banks has been painted on the deck of the new SpaceX restaurant!
@elonmusk is this the name of the restaurant or of a future drone ship?

(01/24/2021, 2100ft msl)
#spacex
https://twitter.com/rgvaerialphotos/status/1353515265800155136
⬇️ Aerial photo below.


—- Booster B1051-8 returns to port for the eighth time, after Jan 20 Starlink mission
Quote
Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 1/24/21, 5:01 PM
This booster has flown to space on eight (orbital) missions and successfully landed after each launch.
Never mind the obvious economics of reuse, I wonder if we could work out the total payload mass launched by B1051 so far?
➡️youtube.com/watch?v=gnt2wZ…   [ https://t.co/lzdAJXnIy6 ]
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1353462861205549056
At the Twitter link: 45 sec booster close-up as droneship sails by. B1051-8.


—- Boeing Starliner OFT-2
Launch update: @NASA and Boeing are now targeting March 25 for the launch of Starliner’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 to the @Space_Station.
NASA and Boeing Target New Launch Date for Next Starliner Flight Test
January 25, 2021
Quote
NASA and Boeing are targeting no earlier than Thursday, March 25, for the launch of Starliner’s second uncrewed flight test as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) is a critical developmental milestone on the company’s path to fly crew missions for NASA. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is designed, built, tested and flown by a team committed to safely, reliably and sustainably transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

The target launch date is enabled by an opening on the Eastern Range; the availability of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket; steady progress on hardware and software; and an International Space Station docking opportunity.

The company recently mated the spacecraft’s reusable crew module atop its brand-new service module inside the Starliner production factory at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Teams are working to complete outfitting of the vehicle’s interior before loading cargo and conducting final spacecraft checkouts.

Boeing also recently completed the formal requalification of Starliner’s OFT-2 flight software. Teams conducted a full software review and several series of tests to verify Starliner’s software meets design specifications. Boeing also will complete an end-to-end simulation of the OFT-2 test flight using flight hardware and final versions of Starliner’s flight software to model the vehicle’s expected behavior before flight.

The OFT-2 mission will launch Starliner on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, dock to the space station and return to land in the western United States about a week later as part of an end-to-end test flight to prove the system is ready to fly crew. …
https://starlinerupdates.com/nasa-and-boeing-target-new-launch-date-for-next-starliner-flight-test-2/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1075 on: January 25, 2021, 05:26:27 PM »
Just now:
Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight)1/25/21, 11:22 AM
.@thejackbeyer reports that Boca Chica beach is being cleared by law enforcement for Starship activities – the best sign yet that SpaceX is pressing forward with a potential test fight this afternoon.

LIVE: youtube.com/watch?v=lPRfJx…  [ https://t.co/3OWSM3dHpk ]
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1353740053768409093
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1076 on: January 25, 2021, 09:52:36 PM »
—- No SN9 flight today
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 1/25/21, 3:01 PM
No evacuation today = no SN9 flight today.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1353795253178937345
⬇️ Photo below.

Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight)1/25/21, 1:42 PM
Winds in Boca Chica are currently around 30 knots. Conditions need to improve for a Starship test flight today to be possible.
...
The wind is the primary issue preventing a flight today. Starship SN9 should be in good shape for Tuesday's launch window which opens at 8 am Central.

Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight)1/25/21, 3:41 PM
The Temporary Flight Restriction for today's Starship SN9 test flight has been canceled. Restrictions remain in place for Tuesday and Wednesday launch attempts.
tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1353805124322217984


=======
Falcon 9 re-use
Quote
...  This booster has flown to space on eight (orbital) missions and successfully landed after each launch.
Never mind the obvious economics of reuse, I wonder if we could work out the total payload mass launched by B1051 so far? ...

Answer, per Chris Bergin, Jan 25: Over 100 tons!
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1077 on: January 26, 2021, 02:29:09 PM »
—- Starship flight delay
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 1/25/21, 9:40 PM
There is no plan to evacuate the residents of Boca Chica [Tuesday]. We will have to wait and see if the planned road closure gets cancelled. No hop [Tuesday]. #wenhop ? continues.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1353895524307521538
At the link: image of the “Step out of your house when you hear the siren” notice for jan 26.

Quote
Elon Musk (@elonmusk)1/26/21, 5:37 AM
 We’re hoping for FAA approval of a test flight tomorrow afternoon
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1354015481217359878
The assumption is he means for Wednesday.

—- Starlink news
Quote
Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog)1/25/21, 5:36 PM
BREAKING — Starlink download speeds to increase from 100 megabits per seconds to 10 GIGABITS per second — a 100x speed increase.
From anywhere on Earth. From the middle of nowhere, from the top of a mountain.
Holy cow. This is big.
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1353834034237870082
Michael Sheetz:
SpaceX says it plans to increase Starlink's download speeds from ~100 Mbps currently to 10 Gbps in the future:
Michael Sheetz:
SpaceX dismissed Amazon's $AMZN protest of the modification as "attempts to stifle competition", saying Amazon makes "misleading claims of interference" and emphasizing that the competing Project Kuiper network represents "still nascent plans"
Michael Sheetz:
SpaceX also emphasized an "ongoing commitment to space safety," saying its operations are transparent to other satellite operators, implemented automated collision avoidance, and Starlink satellites passively decay (i.e., fall out of orbit) faster due to "higher drag:"
At the links: slides from the presentation with details.

Quote
Elon Musk (@elonmusk)1/26/21, 5:47 AM
It does not serve the public to hamstring Starlink today for an Amazon satellite system that is at best several years away from operation
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1354018055014260738
Elon Musk: These also have laser links between the satellites, so no ground stations are needed over the poles
Elon Musk:  All sats launched next year will have laser links. Only our polar sats have lasers this year & are v0.9.


SpaceX's first Starlink satellites in Polar Orbit feature 'Space Lasers'
Quote
SpaceX founder Elon Musk shared on Sunday evening that the 10 Starlink satellites deployed over the weekend feature ‘laser links.’
–“These also have laser links between the satellites, so no ground stations are needed over the poles,” he stated via Twitter. SpaceX engineers call these inter-satellite links "space lasers."

The lasers will enable the Starlink satellites to communicate – link – with one another without the need for ground stations. However, SpaceX is in the process of building ground stations in some areas around the world because it currently operates approximately one thousand satellites in low Earth orbit that do not feature laser links to communicate, only two satellites deployed last year feature the space laser communication technology. “All sats [satellites] launched next year will have laser links. Only our polar sats have lasers this year & are [version] v0.9,” Musk shared yesterday.

SpaceX Senior Program Reliability Engineer Kate Tice, shared in September that they tested a pair of satellites in orbit that feature space lasers. “The Starlink team completed a test of two satellites …that are equipped with our inter-satellite links which we call called 'space lasers',” she said. The space laser feature will significantly speed-up data transfer rate. The data speed increases because light travels faster in the vacuum of space compared to fibre-optic cables, so, information sent through inter-satellite lasers will arrive significantly faster. “With these space lasers, the Starlink satellites were able to transfer hundreds of gigabytes of data,” she shared last year. …
https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/starlink-lasers


—- Cargo Dragon 2.0 — looks roomy!
Quote
Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) 1/25/21, 1:39 PM
Shortly after the CRS-21 Cargo Dragon splashed down on Jan. 13, SpaceX unloaded time-sensitive science experiments while on its ship GO Navigator and flew the research cargo via helicopter to NASA's Kennedy Space Center for processing.

Photos [⬇️ Below] : SpaceX / NASA's Isaac Watson
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1078 on: January 26, 2021, 05:17:12 PM »
—- Not Tom Cruise
First private space flight now said to be scheduled in a Crew Dragon for next January — which makes more sense than this fall, which is Crew-3 launch time.
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/26/21, 9:25 AM
If Ax-1 launches in January, 2022, it would mean that Crew Dragon will fly four crewed missions within a 15-month timespan. That is a significant ask of a program originally intended to fly one mission per year.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1354072881441992709

Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson will train as Lopez-Alegria's backup.
Axiom Space names first private crew to launch to space station
The crew of the first entirely-private orbital space mission will include the second oldest person to launch into space, the second Israeli in space, the 11th Canadian to fly into space and the first former NASA astronaut to return to the International Space Station.
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-012621a-axiom-space-ax1-crew-announce.html

Axiom announces 1st private mission to International Space Station
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/travel/story/axiom-announces-1st-private-mission-international-space-station-75482441
ABC news will be following their training.


—- Boeing’s Twitter Oops
SpaceX news: Boeing under fire for tweet of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon ‘Our perspective’
Quote
… Crew Dragon became the first American-built spacecraft since the Space Shuttle’s 2011 retirement to fly US astronauts into orbit from US soil.  The historic launch marked a major accomplishment for SpaceX, particularly since Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsule has not yet completed its orbital testing phase.

It comes, therefore, as no surprise that Boeing has caught the ire of SpaceX fans yesterday when the official Boeing Space Twitter account mistakenly shared a photo taken inside of the SpaceX Crew Dragon.

In a tweet that has since been deleted, Boeing shared a photo taken by astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley during the return of SpaceX’s Demo-2 flight.

The image features a view of Kazakhstan through one of Crew Dragon’s portholes. …
https://bigworldtale.com/science/spacex-news-boeing-under-fire-for-tweet-of-spacexs-crew-dragon-our-perspective/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1079 on: January 27, 2021, 03:36:01 PM »
—- Starship:  no hop today
Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/26/21, 6:25 PM
The road closure for Wednesday has been canceled, ruling out Starship testing or a flight test. The earliest that Starship SN9 could fly is now Thursday.
(wenhop.com)
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1354208957472989186

Wind gusts over 40mph are forecast

Quote
Space TFRs (@SpaceTfrs) 1/27/21, 8:45 AM
CANCELLED: 1/5672 - BROWNSVILLE, TX, Wednesday, January 27, 2021 UTC
Altitude: From the surface to space
tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/det…
Update:This TFR has been withdrawn.
https://twitter.com/spacetfrs/status/1354425184309178370

—-
Quote
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 1/26/21, 4:09 PM
 Waiting for FAA review …
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1354174713103319043
< Just launch and call it a UFO
<< Genius

—-
SpaceX’s most important Super Heavy booster part makes first appearance
Quote
Unlike Starship, which relies on a small central ‘thrust puck’ fit for three sea-level-optimized Raptor engines and plans for three larger vacuum-optimized engines that will attach to the side of its hull, Super Heavy’s current design iteration features as many as 28 sea-level Raptors. Aside from CEO Elon Musk revealing that Super Heavy would have a central cluster of eight engines, the precise configuration has been a mystery.

The reality, as recently captured in photos above by NASASpaceflight photographers and contributors Mary (BocaChicaGal) and Jack Beyer, appears to be a much larger donut-shaped ring with space for eight gimballing Raptor engines. The remaining 20 Raptor engines would then be installed – possible mounted to the skirt, the thrust dome, or both – in the space left between the thrust donut and Super Heavy’s skirt.

Either way, the structures behind the two rings of engines will have to withstand at least 6600 metric tons (14.5 million lbf) of thrust at liftoff – approximately twice the thrust of Saturn V and Soviet N-1 rockets and more than three times the thrust of SpaceX’s own Falcon Heavy. Holding eight Raptors, the donut structure and dome recently pictured for the first time will also have to singlehandedly stand up to 1600 tons (3.5 million lbf; two Falcon 9s’ worth) of thrust while gravity, acceleration, and some 2500 tons of supercooled liquid oxygen push in the opposite direction. …
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-super-heavy-booster-most-important-part/amp/


—- Next Falcon 9 launch
Quote
Emre Kelly (@EmreKelly)1/26/21, 12:49 PM
SpaceX now targeting no earlier than Saturday, Jan. 30, for 18th Starlink launch. Hazard area in effect from 0709 to 0827 ET with liftoff set for ~0725 ET. Should be a nice launch with sunrise just a few minutes before.
https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/1354124353022132224

Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com:
I would suspect the delay to be due to droneship availability but that's just speculation on my part.


—- Next Falcon Heavy launch
Quote
Eric Ralph (@13ericralph31) 1/26/21, 7:58 PM
SpaceX has begun shipping the first of three new Falcon Heavy boosters east from McGregor! It would also appear that SpaceX installed its nosecone in Texas, for some reason.
https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/1354232216365146112

KLFY NEWS 10 (@KLFY)1/26/21, 12:14 PM
SPOTTED IN LAFAYETTE: Louisiana State Police confirms that a SpaceX stage 1 reusable rocket made a pit stop in Lafayette today at the Epic Family Entertainment Center at I-10 and Ambassador Caffery.
https://twitter.com/klfy/status/1354115544237170690
⬇️ Photo below.
Possibly three FH launches this year.  Currently NET May.


—- Starlink animation
Quote
Flight Club (@flightclubio) 1/26/21, 12:54 PM
All #Starlink sats from L1 to L10 (roughly 600 satellites)
There have been another ~400 launched that aren't even included in this graphic because they haven't all reached their operational orbits yet!
Pretty clear how great the coverage is getting in the higher latitudes!
https://twitter.com/flightclubio/status/1354125474541219840
⬇️ Image below; Animation at the link.

< Are we still able to see starlink trains after they launch or has that been mitigated?
Flight Club (@flightclubio)1/26/21, 1:03 PM
When they are orbit raising, they are visible. But once they reach their operational orbit, the sunshades [come] into effect and become difficult to see. So if you wanna spot em, you need to look for the ones that have only recently launched (in the last 2 months or so)

Flight Club (@flightclubio)1/26/21, 2:18 PM
@firstfedora Yeah this visualisation is built primarily for viewing the satellites from the ground, so it shows illumination.  I just repurposed it here



—- AX-1
Axiom Space unveils two investors will fly on the first fully-private SpaceX crew mission to the ISS
Quote
AX-1 is '100% not a vacation'
While space tourism is an emerging sub-sector of the space industry, Axiom's private passengers do not put themselves in that category.
"We absolutely do not believe that we're space tourists," Connor told CNBC.

López-Alegría similarly emphasized that the 10-day mission "is 100% not a vacation for these guys."
"They're really focused on having this be a mission to promote a benefit to society, so they each are working on flight programs," Lopez-Alegria said. "They're teaming up with various institutions, hospitals and other research entities, as well as to do outreach while they're up there."

Each of three have research missions they will be conducting on behalf of other organizations. Connor is collaborating with the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Meanwhile, Pathy is working with the Canadian Space Agency and the Montreal Children's Hospital. Finally, Stibbe is working on behalf of the Ramon Foundation and Israeli Space Agency.

"I've volunteered myself to be a test subject," Connor said. "We're not going there to be spectators; we're going there to do research and hopefully add some value for people." …
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/01/26/axiom-space-unveils-ax-1-crew-for-fully-private-spacex-mission-to-iss.html

Quote
Peggy Whitson (@AstroPeggy) 1/26/21, 10:24 AM
Not the first time I have backed up @CommanderMLA ! The next best thing to flying in space is training for it! Looking forward to the commercial evolution @Axiom_Space
https://twitter.com/astropeggy/status/1354087760735444996
⬇️ Photo below.

Quote
Laura Seward Forczyk (@LauraForczyk) 1/26/21, 5:13 PM
I'm of 2 minds about the @Axiom_Space Ax-1 mission:

1) Private investment in private spaceflight by early adaptors will stabilize & grow the industry and encourage potential customers.
2) That particular crew will not inspire the general public and will not be household names.

Laura Seward Forczyk:
Ax-1 will be big news in our space community and will be a blip in the general news. But it's not the kind of mission that will inspire the general public to pursue space or think of spaceflight differently. But the wealthy individuals of the crew will influence their circles.
Laura Seward Forczyk:
And, of course, the lack of diversity, which we've been grumbling about for a couple months.
https://twitter.com/lauraforczyk/status/1354190699550433280


—- Space Force dumps Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman
Eric Berger:
The U.S. Space Force paid $531 million to Northrop Grumman for <checks notes> "limited rights to data and hardware" for a rocket that is never going to fly.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1354415732394766342

Space Force officially ends launch partnerships with Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman
January 26, 2021
Quote
The Air Force supported the development of Northrop Grumman’s OmegA launch vehicle and Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. Neither was selected for the Phase 2 launch services procurement so the Air Force ended agreements with both companies.
From October 2018 through December 2020, Blue Origin was paid $255.5 million and Northrop Grumman got $531.7 million.


WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force on Dec. 31 officially terminated launch technology partnerships signed in October 2018 with Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman.

The Air Force awarded Launch Service Agreements to Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman and United Launch Alliance. These were six-year public-private partnerships where both the government and the contractors agreed to invest in rocket development and infrastructure required to compete in the National Security Space Launch program.

The plan from day one was to discontinue the LSAs with companies that did not win a National Security Space Launch procurement contract. Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman lost to ULA and SpaceX, which were selected in August 2020. The Space and Missile Systems Center confirmed in a statement to SpaceNews that the LSAs with Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman ended in Dec. 31, 2020. …
https://spacenews.com/space-force-officially-ends-launch-partnerships-with-blue-origin-and-northrop-grumman/


—- Boeing reports $8 Billion loss
The only profitable division, Defense, Space and Security, is tied to government contracts.
Boeing stock drops after loss widens to more than $8 billion, misses expectations by wide margin
Jan. 27, 2021
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/boeing-stock-drops-after-loss-widens-to-more-than-8-billion-misses-expectations-by-wide-margin-2021-01-27?mod=home-page
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1080 on: January 28, 2021, 03:29:57 AM »
—- Starship SN9 flight — Thursday?!
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 1/27/21, 8:52 PM
Boca Chica Village residents have been asked to evacuate by 8 a.m. tomorrow. I can hardly wait to leave and watch Starship SN9 fly.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1354608270728704002

TFR for jan 28:  https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_1_7363.html
From the surface up to Unlimited.  1400 UTC to 2359 UTC
Another for January 29

The marine hazard zone has been published for Starship SN9's test flight. The window is from Jan. 28 through Feb. 5.
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1354526226250035200


—- Next Starlink launch
TFRs issued for Jan 30, 31 and Feb 1
https://twitter.com/spacetfrs/status/1354455381762838531
Currently targeting Jan 30 @ 1224 GMT (7:24 a.m. EST)

—- Sirius SXM-7 dies
Quote
.@SIRIUSXM's new SXM-7 satellite, built by @Maxar & launched by @SpaceX just 6 weeks ago, suffers major payload failure, feared total loss. Insured for $225M.
https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/1354478752730853380

Sirius XM Says Does Not Expect Satellite Radio Service To Be Impacted By Adverse SXM-7 Events
Quote
In a regulatory filing, the company said that during in-orbit testing of SXM-7, some events occurred and caused failures of certain SXM-7 payload units.
The company added that at an evaluation of SXM-7 is underway and the full extent of the damage to SXM-7 is not yet known.

Sirius XM said it does not expect its satellite radio service to be impacted by these adverse SXM-7 events. The company's XM-3 and XM-4 satellites continue to operate and are expected to support its satellite radio service for several years. Further, the company's XM-5 satellite remains available as an in-orbit spare. Construction of the SXM-8 satellite is underway, with the satellite expected to be launched into a geostationary orbit later this year.

Sirius XM said it has purchased insurance policies covering SXM-7 through launch and the first year of in-orbit operation and the aggregate coverage under those insurance policies is $225 million.

The company has notified the underwriters of these policies of a potential claim with respect to SXM-7.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/sirius-xm-says-does-not-expect-satellite-radio-service-to-be-impacted-by-adverse-sxm-7?amp


—- SLS, or…
The [previous] administration left Biden with a rocket dilemma
"NASA needs to go back and look at what the options are to go to the Moon."
Eric Berger - 1/27/2021
Quote
By spending the entire last decade developing a large, expensive rocket that can be used a single time, NASA has largely ignored technologies that might enable a more sustainable space transportation system. Until recently, the space agency had not been investing in reusable space tugs to move cargo between the Earth and the Moon, harvesting water resources from the Moon and asteroids, and storing and transferring propellant in space. These technologies—in concert with low-cost launch—are likely to be the breakthroughs that facilitate space travel in the 21st century. Instead, Congress has told NASA to look backward rather than forward. …
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/the-trump-administration-left-biden-with-a-rocket-dilemma/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1081 on: January 28, 2021, 02:23:31 PM »
—- SN9 today!
Quote
Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 1/28/21, 8:10 AM Starship SN9 10KM test flight.
Pending FAA approval (expected) and acceptable weather.
Overview:
     Starship SN9 hoping to hop on Thursday
     https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/starship-sn9-speedy-recovery-static-fire-launch/

It's "Good Morning Starship" with (Mary @BocaChicaGal) and the NSF gang.

    LIVE: Starship SN9 Flight Test
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5kVZlnHZ3o&feature=youtu.be

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1354778799364308994

Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight)1/28/21, 8:18 AM
SpaceX teams are working on removing the straps from Starship SN9's flaps – a good sign that launch is still go for today.
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1354780981916356611
⬇️ Image below.
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1082 on: January 28, 2021, 07:03:20 PM »
Starship wen hop?

The TFR for today has been cancelled.  The FAA.gov website (before it crashed) briefly posted that the Starship flight today has been scrubbed.  BUT, SpaceX flexed SN9’s flaps, the pad has been cleared, etc.  So perhaps some other testing is happening.

The TFR for tomorrow, Jan 29 is still posted.
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1083 on: January 28, 2021, 09:12:24 PM »
—- Starship today: Elon is not amused
The FAA website posted that the Starship SN9 test flight has been postponed until tomorrow. 
⬇️ Image below.  Record is now archived.

Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight)1/28/21, 1:13 PM
Boca Chica residents are being told that SpaceX is working with the FAA to still fly today. 
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1354855033666297857

Quote
Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/28/21, 12:45 PM
FAA publishes SN9 is scrubbed.
Kinda baffling to say the least why the FAA would be borking on a test flight that SpaceX has already conducted with SN8 (to a higher altitude).
SpaceX has cleared the pad anyway.

Elon Musk (@elonmusk)1/28/21, 1:43 PM
Unlike its aircraft division, which is fine, the FAA space division has a fundamentally broken regulatory structure.
Their rules are meant for a handful of expendable launches per year from a few government facilities. Under those rules, humanity will never get to Mars.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1354862567680847876

Quote
The FAA has emphasized its new streamlined commercial launch regulations, Part 450, intended to support higher launch rates and reusable launchers, although those rules are still in the process of taking effect.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1354864890721271810

Quote
Irene Klotz (@Free_Space)1/28/21, 2:47 PM
From what I've been told, required data for FAA safety assessment of @SpaceX 10km SN9 flight from Boca Chica was not fully submitted by compliance personnel.

RGVAerialPhotography (@RGVaerialphotos)1/28/21, 1:33 PM
Reason for delay
“FAA is basically giving SpaceX a hard time with the licensing because of the engine swap, it is technically a new vehicle.”
https://twitter.com/rgvaerialphotos/status/1354860131335475200
< Source?
RGVAerialPhotography:  Can’t disclose

Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 1/28/21, 2:56 PM
Elon Musk is apparently working the phones with the FAA right now to try and secure approval for the 10km attempt.
I have no idea what happens next, but they're preparing to load propellant into Starship SN9.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1354880986866208769

Quote
"Your rocket is important to us, please continue to hold and we will answer your call as soon as possible"
https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1354885890028564489
« Last Edit: January 28, 2021, 09:19:02 PM by Sigmetnow »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1084 on: January 29, 2021, 02:30:31 PM »
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 1/28/21, 5:28 PM
I have received an ‘Alert’ notice for [Friday] and there’s a road closure scheduled from 8 a.m - 2 p.m. I have been asked to evacuate by 8 a.m. [Friday] morning. Please Starship SN9 hop ….
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1354919301812277250
[Image at the link.  But it’s just an “outside your house” evac.]

—- Starship, Jan 29
Quote
Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) 1/29/21, 7:42 AM
“SPACEX STARSHIP ROCKET LAUNCH CANCELLED FOR TODAY” says the FAA’s latest Operations Plan Advisory.
 fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp
But the TFR for today is still up—for now.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1355134170360664064

Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight)1/29/21, 7:35 AM

We are aware of the FAA website claiming the launch has been canceled, but the roads are already closed for testing and teams are working into pad clear ops. We are going live in case until we know more.
< Maybe a static fire to satisfy FAA's concerns?

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/29/21, 8:04 AM
So the FAA is saying today’s Starship launch is canceled. And yet SpaceX is proceeding with resident evacuations and clearing Boca Chica Beach. Happy Friday everyone!

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/29/21, 7:50 AM
Pad clearing, roadblocks in effect, and the local evacuation is still on.
Let's hope the FAA woke up on the right side of the bed this morning.
➡️ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FpQwQx4Q_Dc&feature=youtu.be

SpaceX, Elon Musk clash with the FAA over Starship launch license delays
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-faa-clash-starship-launch-license-delays/amp/

As of now, the old Surface to Unlimited TFR is still posted for today.  But SpaceX might do another wet dress rehearsal (or a static fire) for practice, like yesterday, if the FAA flight permit does not come through.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2021, 02:38:01 PM by Sigmetnow »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1085 on: January 29, 2021, 04:19:53 PM »
—- Starship SN?
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal)1/29/21, 9:49 AM
I have been informed that I may return home to Boca Chica Village. No Starship SN9 flight attempt today. #WenHop continues.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1355166172690472960

It is doubtful there will be a hop over the weekend, because Boca Chica prefers to keep the beaches open then.

But, of interest, SN10 has been moved out of the high bay....


—- Next Starlink launch
Quote
Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow)1/29/21, 10:03 AM
SpaceX appears to have aborted a Falcon 9 static fire test on pad 39A this morning after loading propellants into the rocket.
The launcher is packed with around 60 more Starlink internet satellites for liftoff in a couple of days.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/01/29/falcon-9-starlink-v10-l17-mission-status-center/
https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/1355169675076907008
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1086 on: January 29, 2021, 10:27:56 PM »
—- SpaceX is officially now targeting Feb. 1 for Starship SN9's test flight.
SpaceX:
“As early as Monday, February 1, the SpaceX team will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 9 (SN9)….”
https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/

—- SpaceX is rolling Starship SN10 out to the launch site!
Quote
Elon Musk (@elonmusk)1/29/21, 3:44 PM
Starship SN9 & SN10
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1355255403945332737
⬇️ Photo below.

⬇️ A Screencap below.
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal)1/29/21, 1:14 PM
Starship SN10 is about to leave the production site.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1355217649353953283
⬇️ Photo from earlier today, below.

—- An Eric Berger rant
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/29/21, 9:11 AM
So what's really going on with Elon Musk and the FAA? From the outside we don't know. And without more information, it is difficult to decide who is "right" and who is "wrong" when it comes to FAA approval of the Starship SN9 launch. That said, here is some insight into Musk...
~ When he feels like he's been wronged by someone, be it a competitor or the government, Musk will fight back with everything he's got. In this case, it seems pretty clear that Musk feels the FAA is wrongly withholding approval for SN9.
~ He has sued the government on multiple times. He has lashed out at government officials. Musk feels justified in these actions (and indeed, sometimes he is) because the system is set up to prevent the kinds of disruptions he is bringing about.
~ Bottom line: hopefully cooler heads prevail and this gets resolved. As a bonus, Musk may force the FAA to become more responsive to future licensing. Worst case? The FAA decides it needs three years for an updated environmental assessment of Boca Chica. faa.gov/news/updates/?…
~ So what happens now with Starship? Hopefully Musk and Wayne Monteith of the FAA get on the same page, resolving these problems. It's good to raise the issue of streamlining launch licensing. At the same time, SpaceX needs to make sure it's following the FAA rules in effect.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1355167210017353732

—-
Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/29/21, 10:58 AM
Sorry.


Quote
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)1/15/21, 3:49 PM
Regarding the fate of Starship prototype SN9, I have begun to hear bits and pieces that are not great news. There's nothing I consider reportable on what has happened, but I would now bet against SN9 flying before February.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1350183316335558661


—- Crew-2 and Crew-3
Quote
NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew)1/29/21, 2:06 PM
Launch Alert @NASA and @SpaceX are targeting no earlier than April 20 for the launch of the second crew rotation mission with astronauts to the @Space_Station.
The Crew-2 mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at @NASAKennedy. Learn more: go.nasa.gov/2NRezZz

Crew-2 is expected to arrive at the station to overlap with the astronauts that flew on @NASA's @SpaceX Crew-1 mission.
The Crew-1 astronauts are scheduled to return in late April or early May. The Crew-2 astronauts will return in fall 2021: go.nasa.gov/2NRezZz

Additionally, @NASA and @SpaceX continue preparations for the launch of the Crew-3 mission — currently targeted for fall of this year.
go.nasa.gov/2NRezZz 
https://twitter.com/commercial_crew/status/1355230938364522501
Photos at all three tweets.
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crandles

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1087 on: January 30, 2021, 12:40:55 AM »
Musk in trouble with regulators again?

Quote
The so-called mishap investigation was opened that week, focusing not only on the explosive landing but on SpaceX’s refusal to stick to the terms of what the FAA authorized, the two people said. It was unclear what part of the test flight violated the FAA license, and an FAA spokesman declined to specify in a statement to The Verge.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/22256657/spacex-launch-violation-explosive-starship-faa-investigation-elon-musk

Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1088 on: January 30, 2021, 02:38:38 PM »
Musk in trouble with regulators again?
Quote
The so-called mishap investigation was opened that week, focusing not only on the explosive landing but on SpaceX’s refusal to stick to the terms of what the FAA authorized, the two people said. It was unclear what part of the test flight violated the FAA license, and an FAA spokesman declined to specify in a statement to The Verge.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/22256657/spacex-launch-violation-explosive-starship-faa-investigation-elon-musk

I did not have “Recalcitrant FAA” on my Bingo card as a reason for the first two Starships sitting together at the launch site.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX violated its launch license in explosive Starship test, triggering an FAA probe
SpaceX’s upcoming test launches are getting extra scrutiny
Joey Roulette Jan 29, 2021, 5:56pm EST
Quote
“The FAA will continue to work with SpaceX to evaluate additional information provided by the company as part of its application to modify its launch license,” FAA spokesman Steve Kulm said Friday. “While we recognize the importance of moving quickly to foster growth and innovation in commercial space, the FAA will not compromise its responsibility to protect public safety. We will approve the modification only after we are satisfied that SpaceX has taken the necessary steps to comply with regulatory requirements.” …
https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/22256657/spacex-launch-violation-explosive-starship-faa-investigation-elon-musk

—- StarshipS!
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 1/29/21, 5:21 PM
We’ve all been waiting for 2 Starships at the launch site and what a beautiful sight it is. SN10, SN9 and the SN7.2 test tank.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1355280015710019585
⬇️ Photo below.

⬇️ Screencap below: note people hauling on the wires to help turn and align the Starship. (The crane can rotate the ship as well as lift and move. The planned flight trajectory determines the ship’s alignment on the launch stand — don’t want to head out to sea upside down.)

Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal)1/30/21, 8:25 AM
The only thing better that sunrise with a Starship is sunrise with two Starships.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1355507433783910403
⬇️ Photo below.

Quote
Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) 1/29/21, 5:52 PM
Looks like no raptors are currently installed on Starship SN10. https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1355287694579011587
[ Two Closeups of bottom of SN 10 at the link.]

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 1/29/21, 6:19 PM
Cryoproof, then install engines
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1355294612324114432


—- Next Starlink launch
Quote
Emre Kelly (@EmreKelly) 1/29/21, 11:27 PM
SpaceX is now targeting no earlier than 0640 ET Monday, Feb. 1, for the 18th launch of Starlink.
Weather 60% favorable. Moderate risk of upper-level wind shear; high-risk drone ship recovery weather. 
https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/1355372077348499460
« Last Edit: January 30, 2021, 02:45:43 PM by Sigmetnow »
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crandles

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1089 on: January 30, 2021, 03:17:53 PM »
If the investigation was launched anything like a week after SN8 flight, then presumably Musk will have known about this. Which means his statements about new engines meaning SN9 being technically a new vehicle looks like he was being deceptive to make his fans think FAA are fussing about a technicality. Is the reason for this to make his fans put pressure on the FAA with criticism? Gives the impression of disrespecting regulators. Does such pressure work or make them more likely to dig their heels in?

Musk is known for his views that with innovation, best thing regulators can do, most of the time, is get out of the way. That didn't work well with 737-Max.

Is an attitude by a regulated organisation of taking liberties, one of the times when regulators should make more effort to ensure there is proper adherence to rules and intention to do so?

Does it all give the impression of Musk handling it badly?
Or is it just an over fussy FAA?

Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1090 on: January 30, 2021, 06:00:24 PM »
If the investigation was launched anything like a week after SN8 flight, then presumably Musk will have known about this. Which means his statements about new engines meaning SN9 being technically a new vehicle looks like he was being deceptive to make his fans think FAA are fussing about a technicality.
...

Did Musk say that about the engines?  I thought that statement was from “an undisclosed source.”
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1091 on: January 30, 2021, 06:05:38 PM »
Eric Berger:
There have been lots of questions about the FAA and Starship over the last 24 hours. Here, I try to answer some of them:

What’s really going on with Elon Musk, the FAA, and Starship?
In the end, it's likely that cooler heads will prevail.
Eric Berger - 1/29/2021, 4:39 PM
Quote

If SpaceX got permission for SN8 in December, what is the holdup for SN9?
While the high-altitude flight profile for SN9 is similar to the flight made by SN8, it is expected to go only to 10km instead of 12.5km. A mission-specific launch approval must account for every change in details, requiring new analyses, and an updated safety corridor. Perhaps something happened during the SN8 flight that captured the FAA's attention and provoked extra scrutiny. It is also possible that a significant issue arose between the flights of SN8 and SN9. …
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/whats-really-going-on-with-elon-musk-the-faa-and-starship/


Jared Zambrano-Stout
Quote
[The above article] is an excellent overview from @SciGuySpace about the situation with the SpaceX licensing issues. I would like to add some additional commentary to this as a former Deputy Chief and Acting Chief of Staff in the office.

To start with, it is highly unusual for a launch license or an experimental permit to be issued on the “day of” for a launch. I can think of only a handful of times it has occurred.

I would note that most of the time, launch companies prefer to have their licenses or experimental permits in hand and ready to go before setting a hard launch date. There are many reasons for that, but certainly Thursday is a good example of why.
For example, I doubt ULA or Virgin Orbit/Galactic or Blue Origin have ever had this issue...

Additionally, as far as I am aware, the FAA has never “Denied” a launch license or experimental permit that would trigger an appeal process. Typically FAA will put the approval on hold and wait for the applicant to cure the application rather than deny it.
There are a lot of reasons why the FAA does this, but the short answer is that it is much easier to cure an application and just get on with the launch than it is to deny it and then go through the appeal process. After all, FAA is in the business of licensing launches.

Finally, it is important to remember than every launch licensed by FAA comes with indemnification from the taxpayer. FAA isn’t just licensing to protect public safety, they are licensing on behalf of the taxpayer to ensure we won’t have to pick up the tab if something goes wrong.
This indemnification puts the taxpayer on the hook for potentially BILLIONS of dollars if a SpaceX vehicle destroys a bunch of property. Congress still has to approve the payments, but what is the point of having indemnification if Congress doesn’t back it up.

When I was at FAA, I never thought folks at AST were intentionally slowing anything. They take their job seriously and are trying to ensure that things happen safely and that the industry succeeds. They have a statutory mandate to encourage, facilitate, and promote the industry.
The process can always be better, of course, but I think it is a mistake for the industry to publicly beat up on the agency that is working hard to carry out the laws and authorities that Congress has entrusted to it to faithfully execute.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1355328716050755586.html
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1092 on: January 30, 2021, 06:12:18 PM »
—- SN10 rollout video
We are now in double-digit Starship numbers! 8)
Quote
Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist)1/30/21, 10:24 AM
With Starship SN9's flight delayed to no earlier than Monday, SpaceX took the opportunity to rollout SN10! For the first time we see two Starship prototypes on the pad at once.
Video from Mary (@BocaChicaGal), Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) and NSF Robots
➡️youtu.be/6kjyYvYzPYI 
https://twitter.com/thefavoritist/status/1355537419429408774


—- OMG
Quote
Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer)1/30/21, 12:00 PM
Starships SN9 and SN10 at SpaceX’s South Texas launch site, as seen from the air. 
https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1355561527479316481
⬇️⬇️⬇️ Photos below. Click to embiggen!
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crandles

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1093 on: January 30, 2021, 07:49:14 PM »

Did Musk say that about the engines?  I thought that statement was from “an undisclosed source.”

Sorry I was confused.

Seems to have come from
https://twitter.com/RGVaerialphotos/status/1354860131335475200

Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1094 on: January 31, 2021, 07:46:59 PM »
—- Starships await
Quote
Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 1/31/21, 12:08 PM
Starship SN9's launch date is now to be determined as SpaceX waits for FAA approval. The closure in Boca Chica for Monday has been canceled. Closures are still scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, but these could also be for SN7.2 or SN10 testing.
nextspaceflight.com/starship/
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1355925934952435712

—-
Quote
Adrian Aguilar (@SpxAdrian)1/29/21, 5:40 PM
SN10 is just massive compared to everyone who was around it
➡️ https://twitter.com/spxadrian/status/1355284804921647111
At the link:  20 sec closeup slow pan up Starship on a noisy roll-lift

—- ;D
Quote
Norminal News (@NorminalNews) 1/29/21, 9:46 PM
Traffic chaos on Boca Chica State Highway 4 as SpaceX continues mass roll out of Starship prototypes.
https://twitter.com/norminalnews/status/1355346743412580354
⬇️ Image below: photoshop of NSF webcast


—- Next Starlink launch: Tuesday?
Quote
Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)1/31/21, 9:57 AM
The next Starlink mission is now NET Tuesday:

Raul: Another postponement to Feb 02 11:19 UTC according to NOTMAR message.
https://twitter.com/raul74cz/status/1355890380131213314

Quote
Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com (@SpaceXFleet)1/31/21, 9:06 AM
Ms. Tree, Ms. Chief and GO Quest are all docked in North Carolina this morning holding for improved weather offshore.

NCSpaceOps (@ncspaceops)1/31/21, 8:57 AM
.@SpaceX fairing catching sisters GO Ms Chief & GO Ms Tree arrived in the Port of Morehead City overnight. They’ll be hanging out here until dispatched to support the forthcoming #Starlink mission(s) @SpaceXFleet #spacex #spacexfleet #nc #NorthCarolina #carteretcounty
https://twitter.com/ncspaceops/status/1355877786297237509
Photo at the link.


—- Crew-2
Quote
Megan McArthur (@Astro_Megan)1/29/21, 5:39 PM
80 days to our planned launch date! But who's counting??
https://twitter.com/astro_megan/status/1355284419557421056
⬇️ Photo below.


—- NASA delays HLS decisions
NASA delays moon lander awards as Biden team mulls moonshot program
NASA needs more time to pick its ride to the moon
Joey Roulette January 31, 2021
Quote
NASA last week quietly delayed its plan to award two high-profile crewed lunar lander contracts, moving the finish line back two months for a crucial program under the Trump administration’s hasty timeline to get astronauts on the moon in 2024. With short funding from Congress and a new administration focused on more pressing national issues, the move was expected. …
https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2021/1/31/22258815/nasa-moon-lander-awards-biden-spacex-blue-origin-moonshot

:'(  I was really looking forward to a Moonship update in February.  But this may help explain why we haven’t seen any progress on the white mock-up at Boca Chica.
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1095 on: February 01, 2021, 04:02:31 AM »
—- Next Starlink launch
Quote
SpaceX (@SpaceX)1/31/21, 9:16 PM
Static fire test complete – targeting Tuesday, February 2 at 6:19 a.m. EST for launch of 60 Starlink satellites from LC-39A; team is keeping an eye on launch and recovery weather
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1356063929462472709

Quote
Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com (@SpaceXFleet) 1/31/21, 5:33 PM
Overdue recovery fleet status map!
Both active droneships are en-route to the Starlink LZ as SpaceX prepares for two Falcon 9 missions in one week.
https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1356007758911438848
SpaceX ship locations map at the link.


—- Starship
Quote
Christian Davenport (@wapodavenport) 1/31/21, 3:55 PM
Hearing that the earliest for SpaceX SN9 flight is Tuesday, pending FAA approval. Which matches what @nextspaceflight reported re road closures in Boca Chica. Also hearing FAA has spent the weekend working to get license approved.
https://twitter.com/wapodavenport/status/1355983127139786754

TFRs for testing, Mon-Thurs
Quote
Brownsville (TX) SpaceX temporary restriction: From February 01, 2021 at 1500 UTC To February 04, 2021 at 0030 UTC
Altitude: From the surface up to and including 7200 feet MSL
https://twitter.com/spacetfrs/status/1355979424898945025

TFR for flying, Tues Feb 2
Quote
Brownsville (TX) SpaceX high-altitude flight TFR: From February 02, 2021 at 1400 UTC To February 02, 2021 at 2359 UTC
Altitude: From the surface to space
https://twitter.com/spacetfrs/status/1355990243879612417

—-
Quote
RGVAerialPhotography (@RGVaerialphotos)1/31/21, 5:10 PM
Starship SN9 & SN10
Thanks for making the future so exciting!
https://twitter.com/rgvaerialphotos/status/1356001907429564420
Aerial vid: 1 min steep turn around launch site.

—-
Quote
Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) 1/31/21, 8:59 PM The moon rises between both Starships as they wait for their test campaigns. SN10 was pressurized overnight for a small test as Tankzilla prepares to leave the launch site.
Video & Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal) & Robotic Camera Team

➡️ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MiVah5eaCjI&feature=youtu.be
 
https://twitter.com/thefavoritist/status/1356059553901772802
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1096 on: February 01, 2021, 10:35:41 PM »
—- Starship flight:  Moving forward
Quote
Christian Davenport (@wapodavenport)2/1/21, 12:15 PM
Now hearing the FAA could approve the SpaceX modification to its license for SN9 as early as today, possibly "within the next couple of hours." Could see Starship fly as soon as tomorrow.
https://twitter.com/wapodavenport/status/1356290209667837961

—- Starlink flight: Moving right
Quote
SpaceX (@SpaceX)2/1/21, 11:34 AM
Due to rough weather in the recovery area, now targeting no earlier than Wednesday, February 3 at 5:57 a.m. EST for launch of Starlink
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1356279692202897408


—-  Inspiration4: first all-civilian space mission, will orbit Earth in a Dragon capsule
Eric Berger:
Per an NBC news release, SpaceX is about to announce that tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman will lead the first all-civilian space mission. This four person mission on Crew Dragon will be named Inspiration4.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1356348663921074179

Quote
SpaceX (@SpaceX)2/1/21, 4:29 PM
Announcing the first commercial astronaut mission to orbit Earth aboard Dragon →  https://www.spacex.com/updates/inspiration-4-mission/index.html
SpaceX:
This mission enables access for everyday people who dream of going to space
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1356354006814060547
Photo at the SpaceX website link.

World’s First All-Civilian Mission to Space Will Usher in New Era of Commercial Space Exploration
Inspiration4 Mission Will Be Commanded by Tech Entrepreneur and Pilot Jared Isaacman, Who Donates All Crew Seats and Invites the Public to Participate
February 01, 2021 04:05 PM EST
Quote
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Plans for the world’s first all-civilian mission to space were announced today from SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, CA. The mission is being targeted for the fourth quarter of this year and will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 37-year-old founder and chief executive officer of Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR) and an accomplished pilot.

Named Inspiration4 in recognition of the four-person crew’s mission to inspire support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and send a humanitarian message of possibility, the journey represents a new era for human spaceflight and exploration. Isaacman is donating the three mission seats alongside him to crew members who will be selected to represent the mission pillars of leadership, hope, generosity and prosperity.

Said Isaacman, “Inspiration4 is the realization of a lifelong dream and a step towards a future in which anyone can venture out and explore the stars. I appreciate the tremendous responsibility that comes with commanding this mission and I want to use this historic moment to inspire humanity while helping to tackle childhood cancer here on Earth.”

The mission will launch from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and will be carefully monitored at every step by SpaceX mission control as the spacecraft orbits the planet every 90 minutes along a customized flight path. Upon conclusion of the multi-day journey, Dragon will reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a soft water landing off the coast of Florida. …
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210201005905/en/World%E2%80%99s-First-All-Civilian-Mission-to-Space-Will-Usher-in-New-Era-of-Commercial-Space-Exploration


—- Russia “Movie In Space” project
Quote
Tony Quine (@tonyquine)2/1/21, 10:55 AM
Sources close to Roscosmos are telling me that VV Putin has signed-off the Russian 'Movie in Space' project. Timeline to find the actress who will go into space is imminent.
Updated article soon. Original link below.
https://twitter.com/tonyquine/status/1356269931990540290

November 2020
Russia looks for actress to steal Tom Cruise space movie thunder
By Tony Quine
Quote
Russia’s not-too-subtle effort to upstage Tom Cruise’s plans to film the first ever feature film in Earth Orbit have taken a major step forward, with more details announced jointly by the Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos and Channel One TV, from Moscow.
https://spacesleuth2.blogspot.com/2020/11/russia-to-send-actress-into-space.html

—- Pentagon, NASA Knock Down Barriers Impeding Joint Space Projects
The growing collaboration between civilian and military projects—once rare—comes as threats from Russia and China grow
By Feb. 1, 2021 8:51 am ET
Quote
Large and small contractors [including SpaceX] are maneuvering to take advantage of opportunities to merge military and nonmilitary technologies.

Eventually, … civil-military cooperation is expected to extend to defending planned NASA bases on the lunar surface, as well as protecting U.S. commercial operations envisioned to extract water or minerals there. …
https://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-nasa-knock-down-barriers-impeding-joint-space-projects-11612187500?redirect=amp#click=https://t.co/JN0yPYOo2g

—- SLS
Green Run Update: NASA Proceeds With Plans for Second Hot Fire Test
January 29, 2021
Quote
NASA plans to conduct a second Green Run hot fire test as early as the fourth week in February. …
After the second hot fire test, it will take about a month to refurbish the core stage and its engines.

Conducting a second hot fire test will allow the team to repeat operations from the first hot fire test and obtain data on how the core stage and the engines perform over a longer period that simulates more activities during the rocket’s launch and ascent. …
https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2021/01/29/green-run-update-nasa-proceeds-with-plans-for-second-hot-fire-test/
« Last Edit: February 01, 2021, 10:41:20 PM by Sigmetnow »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1097 on: February 02, 2021, 12:06:16 AM »
—- Inspiration4 teleconference
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 2/1/21, 5:46 PM
Takeaways from call on Inspiration4:
• Jared Isaacman seems super-likable, a real space cadet
• Musk emphasizing this is a step toward lower cost spaceflight
• Musk says he will go to space one day, but not on this mission
• Mission will use Resilience, help fund Starship
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1356373297987002368

Inspiration4 (@inspiration4x) 2/1/21, 4:12 PM
Plans for the world’s first all-civilian mission to space were announced today from @SpaceX’s headquarters.
 Follow us for the latest news on the mission, crew training and preparation. #Inspiration4
https://twitter.com/inspiration4x/status/1356349767442444288

EB:
Inspiration4 mission will air a commercial during the first quarter of the Super Bowl to promote the mission and seek to raise additional funds for St. Jude.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1356365437504811011

EB:
Important to note about this SpaceX mission: They have always been a vertically integrated company, and would love nothing more than to contract and conduct independent human spaceflight missions, much like with the Falcon 9 smallsat rideshare program.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1356352013894901764

EB:
Musk says NASA has been briefed on this mission and is supportive. Plan is to use the Crew Dragon spacecraft currently on orbit, Resilience
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1356370053550247938

EB:
Medical restrictions? Elon Musk says if you can go on the Hulk ride at Universal Studios in Florida, you should be fine.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1356370513870934019

EB:
Sounds like preparation for the mission will include preparation on a mountainside: In the snow, with the four-person crew inside a tent smaller than Crew Dragon.
Issacman: "I will introduce a very stressful situation."
"Everyone's got to eat a giant bean burrito," Musk quips.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1356369493031845893

EB:
Elon Musk: "I will be on a flight one day, but not this one."
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1356371274432454657

EB:
Jared Isaacman says this flight "absolutely" will be diverse. It is important to him. The crew member who is an "ambassador" for St. Judes is a woman, and she's just as excited about the mission as he is.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1356372040102670338

Michael Baylor:
Musk: We do not anticipate any difficulties with FAA licensing [of Insipration4].
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1356370909196558336

Michael Baylor:
Musk says that the Inspiration4 mission is a stepping stone towards opening up access to space for all. Must have people that are willing to pay the high prices initially in order to eventually make it available for everyone.
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1356366826595176451
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1098 on: February 02, 2021, 01:27:16 PM »
—- Starship launch today!?
Quote
Mary (@BocaChicaGal)2/2/21, 1:16 AM
Boca Chica Village residents have been asked to evacuate for a possible Starship SN9 flight attempt on Tuesday February 2nd. Good luck Starship SN9.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1356486716027269120

SpaceX’s next Starship launch go for Tuesday attempt after licensing dispute
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-sn9-launch-faa-license-delays/amp/

Quote
Christian Davenport (@wapodavenport) 2/2/21, 6:32 AM
Confirmed: The FAA late last night granted SpaceX its launch license modification for the SN9 Starship flight. It appears from reports on the ground that they are proceeding with a launch attempt today.
https://twitter.com/wapodavenport/status/1356566130056433664

⬇️ Image below from recent FAA ATCSCC Advisory
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Sigmetnow

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Re: SpaceX
« Reply #1099 on: February 02, 2021, 03:15:36 PM »
Quote
Space TFRs (@SpaceTfrs)2/2/21, 9:00 AM
Special notice:
FDC 1/9224 (surface to space) has just activated over the SpaceX R&D facility in Boca Chica, TX in support of the SN9 Starship prototype flight attempt.

The window will remain open for 10 hours.

Visit rocketlaunch.live for more details as they develop. 
https://twitter.com/spacetfrs/status/1356603282060242950
⬇️ Image below.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.