SpaceX

[cognitivebias2]

If reusable configuration launches 70% of payload, why use 50% in your calculation?  Refurbishment cost also way overstated.  Begin with the end in mind?

[Sigmetnow]

Put the Elon-hating aside, and it’s easy to see SpaceX’s success is forcing the entire industry to follow their lead:

If reusable rockets are not worth the trouble and have no significant benefits, then why are Russia, ESA, China, ULA, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab…, and many more, ALL spending millions developing new rockets to switch over to that model as quickly as they can?

Edit:  Using expendable rockets to go to space is like throwing each airplane away after only one flight.  Reusability is key.

[Sigmetnow]

—- Starship
Mary reports road closure and Static fire “alert” notice received for Monday
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1363677618537701377

Mary:
All the concrete has been poured for the landing pad. Hopefully, Starship SN10 will fly as early as this week.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1363621263814524929
Photo at the link: the pad. Featuring: cement smoother guys!

Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) 2/21/21, 8:11 PM
Crews pour concrete at the Landing Pad in preparation for Starship SN10's maiden flight. SpaceX is making the pad wider & thicker. SN10's flight could occur early as this coming week as crews test its aft flaps.
Video & Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal)

SpaceX Boca Chica: Starship SN10 Tests its Flaps for Flight - Concrete Poured at the Landing Pad - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYmh2OQSq6A&feature=youtu.be

<With rapid curing additives you can load concrete in a few hours.
This is commonly done with freeway repair etc.
Won't reach the maximum strength as slow cure would, but this isn't a bridge beam or anything, just a slab on grade, so you just make it a little thicker to compensate

—-

Mary:
An aft flap has been deployed on SN10.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1363526146864812033
Photo at the link.

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 2/21/21, 4:25 PM
Good chance of flying this week!
Chris B - NSF:
Excellent! So that answers the landing pad concrete cure timeline! 
SPadre:  SNX
< Damnit. We should have been calling it that this whole time. Talk about a missed opportunity

Eric Berger:
Assuming a good static fire test early this week, and FAA clearance, it looks like SN10 flies before the end of February.

SpaceX Starship ready to find out if third time’s the charm later this week
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-sn10-third-times-the-charm/amp/


—- Sandy Munro at SpaceX Boca Chica

Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) 2/19/21, 1:01 PM
Sandy Munro on his Elon Interview: After our interview finished Elon said "we are having a design review if you wanna stick around." We spent 2 hours at the design review. I was blown away. I've seen dozens of CEO's. I've never seen a CEO ever that knew more about a product.
https://twitter.com/sawyermerritt/status/1362824563705413632
2-minute clip at the Twitter link; 9 minute excerpt here:
Visiting SpaceX & Meeting Elon Musk [Munro Clip]



The full video:  https://youtu.be/S2yVZA3yDhA&feature=youtu.be
Mostly recounting their cross-country Tesla trip (their first in an EV). 
Then, talking about how they sat in on the SpaceX design meeting:
34:56 Visiting SpaceX & Meeting Elon
44:48 Returning Home. 
Published on Feb 19, 2021

​—-
ICYMI:
Here’s the Boca Chica interview itself.  Sandy Munro visits Boca Chica Texas to chat with Elon Musk. They mostly talk about Tesla:  production, mega-castings, Model 3 Seats, structural battery packs, MBA’s, short-Sellers and more.  Published on Feb 2, 2021

Elon Musk Interview: 1-on-1 with Sandy Munro
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YAtLTLiqNwg&feature=youtu.be

[Sigmetnow]

—- Inspiration 4
Representing the mission pillar of Hope, #Inspiration4 has named its first crew member – a cancer survivor and physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

World’s First All-Civilian Mission to Space, Inspiration4, Names Second Crew Member
Hayley Arceneaux, physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and pediatric cancer survivor, to represent Hope on historic flight Two remaining seats on mission still available to the general public until February 28
February 22, 2021

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space, has announced its second crew member, Hayley Arceneaux of Memphis, TN, a 29-year-old physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® who was treated as a child for bone cancer at St. Jude. Arceneaux joins Inspiration4 mission commander Jared Isaacman. She will occupy the mission seat representing Hope.
…
The mission name Inspiration4 recognizes the four-person crew’s purpose – to send a humanitarian message of possibility and inspire support for St. Jude – and represents the pillars of Leadership, Hope, Generosity and Prosperity.
…
The remaining two seats representing Generosity and Prosperity are available to the general public through February 28, with details available at the mission website, Inspiration4.com. The Generosity crew seat can be secured by a member of the public who enters for an opportunity to join the flight to space. The Prosperity seat is available to any deserving entrepreneur who utilizes the new Shift4Shop eCommerce platform to submit their idea and be selected by a panel of distinguished judges. The Shift4Shop platform is designed to empower entrepreneurs to build and grow successful eCommerce businesses. …

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210222005280/en/World%E2%80%99s-First-All-Civilian-Mission-to-Space-Inspiration4-Names-Second-Crew-Member
 
Nice to see that we’re progressing from “only professional astronauts and the rich get to go to space” to “the rich buy seats for others to go to space.”  Like Yusaku Maezawa’s Dear Moon mission.  Inspiration 4 will fly on a SpaceX Crew Dragon; Dear Moon on a Starship.

[Neven]

[Sigmetnow]

The Definitive Guide To Starship: Starship vs Falcon 9, what's new and improved?
Everyday Astronaut
https://everydayastronaut.com/definitive-guide-to-starship/

[Sigmetnow]

—- Starship
FAA clears SpaceX Starship prototype for third launch and landing attempt
By Eric Ralph February 22, 2021

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already cleared Starship serial number 10 (SN10) for flight, cutting short any potential licensing drama facing SpaceX’s latest high-altitude Starship launch efforts.

Less than three weeks ago, Starship serial number 9 (SN9) lifted off from SpaceX’s South Texas launch facilities after a tedious week or so of opaque licensing ‘issues’ only vaguely touched upon by the FAA. The regulatory body never actually offered an explanation for why it publicly dragged SpaceX through the coals in January and February for purported “launch license violations” during Starship SN8’s December 8th launch debut, nor why the FAA only brought up those claimed issues more than a month after the fact.
…
SpaceX has already filed temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) with the FAA for possible SN10 launch attempts on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, suggesting that the company hopes to turn Starship around for flight as few as 24-72 hours after a successful static fire. Stay tuned for updates as SpaceX works to conduct its third Starship launch before the month is out.

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starship-third-launch-landing-faa-clearance/

Temporary Flight Restrictions have been posted for Starship SN10's test flight. Opportunities are Feb. 23 through Feb. 25.
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1363881725554688006
Surface to unlimited

Mary:
An “Alert” notice has been delivered and a road closure has been scheduled for [today] February 23 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Another static fire attempt….
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1364022127402262529

Chris B - NSF:
Some resources to keep you occupied in the meantime!

The latest Starship/Super Heavy round-up by me.
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/02/starship-sn10-launch-super-heavy-waiting/

And Mary's latest daily video from today:
➡️https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zC6rOdmz3SY   

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1364023580967763971


—- Turtles all the way down

nomadd (@nomadd13) 2/21/21, 10:53 PM
@elonmusk We returned about 1500 of the turtles that people, including SpaceX employees rescued from freezing temperatures. About 35 miles off shore, to nice warm 61F water. They survived thanks to a SpaceX supplied generator. 

https://twitter.com/nomadd13/status/1363698396587044865
Photo at link: scads of turtles on the rescue center floor


—- SLS Green Run hot fire retest delayed

Eric Berger:
NASA confirms the rumor I posted earlier, that the SLS Green Run test hot fire will be delayed from February 25 due to a malfunctioning valve.

The last time there was a valve issue with the SLS it delayed the Green Run test by about six weeks. I don't know if there will be a similarly long delay this time.

?:  Now "NET February 4th, 2022" launch date?
Eric Berger:
There is no official information. I have also heard the earliest likely date is February, 2022, but NASA is not going to confirm anything until after the hot fire test.

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1363965116488777728

Green Run Update: NASA Investigating Valve Performance Before Second Hot Fire
February 22, 2021

NASA’s is reviewing the performance of a valve on the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket before proceeding with a second hot fire test at the agency’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

During checkout preparations over the weekend, engineers determined that one of eight valves (a type of valve called a prevalve) was not working properly. This valve is part of the core stage main propulsion system that supplies liquid oxygen to an RS-25 engine. During the first hot fire, all four liquid oxygen valves performed as expected as did the four liquid hydrogen valves. NASA and the core stage lead contractor Boeing will identify a path forward in the days ahead and reschedule the hot fire test that was originally scheduled for Feb. 25. …

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2021/02/22/green-run-update-nasa-investigating-valve-performance-before-second-hot-fire/

[Sigmetnow]

—- Wen hop
SpaceX now targeting no earlier than Thursday, February 25th, for a flight test of Starship prototype SN10, judging by current TFRs.

—  Starship Static fire yesterday!
Two clips:
➡️ https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1364352262160572421

➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1364350540193423363

Possibly another Static fire today, Feb 24:

Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 2/23/21, 7:15 PM I have received another “Alert” notice for tomorrow and a road closure has been scheduled. Possible static fire test tomorrow?

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1364368340597186560

—-
TFRs from surface to unlimited are posted for Feb 25, 26 — and 27, Saturday, which is unusual. 
Wed and Thurs TFRs are cancelled.

Of note is that the restricted area has changed somewhat. 
Different flight profile?
⬇️ See below: newer is on right.

—-

Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) 2/23/21, 7:57 PM
SpaceX receives Raptor engine SN52 from McGregor, TX and ships back Raptor SN43. Meanwhile Super Heavy BN1 waits for a new ring section in the High Bay.
Static Fire video coming later tonight!
Video & Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal)
➡️youtu.be/bOEGEN0qrls 

https://twitter.com/thefavoritist/status/1364378988236316674

—-Starship Seaports

< Any further details on the Rigs?
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 2/23/21, 6:53 AM
I hope we don’t go bankrupt building them!

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1364181510295744514


—- Next Starlink launch

SpaceX (@SpaceX) 2/24/21, 7:25 AM
Static fire test complete – targeting Sunday, February 28 at 8:37 p.m. EST for launch of Starlink from LC-39A

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1364552086629842947

Emre Kelly (@EmreKelly) 2/23/21, 4:09 PM
Falcon 9 and its Starlink payload went vertical at 39A about an hour ago. ...
➡️ https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/1364321537487175682 [30 sec time lapse. Raising the rocket ]
< Is there any reason for stopping movement around 60°?
Emre Kelly:
Yes, lunch break.
JK I have no idea, but it does happen every time.

—-

Gavin Cornwell (@SpaceXFleet) 2/23/21, 1:59 PM
Starlink V1 L17 is tentatively set for NET Feb 28th at 8:37pm EST.
Of Course I Still Love You droneship should depart in the next 48 hours if the schedule holds.
This will be the the third time a droneship has been sent out for this mission. Third time lucky?

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1364288846586871808

—-

Julia:
It looks like SpaceX has woken up the Roberts Road site at KSC. I am unsure if this is going to be a Starship related facility or general use.
There is no public access and no bus tours running so images like this are rare. It will be interesting to see how they use the space.

Leo (@TerminalCount) 2/24/21, 4:46 AM
SpaceX's Roberts Road facility is taking shape.
Not known exactly what this site is for, but possibly Starship production-related; either way, it's great for the Cape launch sites.
Image from spsam, but original author unknown.

https://twitter.com/terminalcount/status/1364512116846264320
⬇️ Photo below.

—-
Eastern Range discusses drive toward “airport model” operations, eyes increased launch demand
written by Justin DavenportFebruary 23, 2021

A few years ago, the @45thSpaceWing set a goal of supporting 48 launches per year from Florida. As they aim to meet that this year, the Range now looks to adopt a more "airport-like" model over the next 9 years.

The entire Eastern Range is looking at a projected cadence of 60 launches per year in the near future, with that number increasing to upwards of 96 launches a year by 2030, if not more.

To this end, Mr. Cabana, Brig. Gen. Purdy, and Mr. Monteith discussed the “range of the future,” including a pivotal swing toward a more airport-like model of launch support that would routinely be capable of supporting one to two launches per day. …

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/02/eastern-range-airport-model/


—- China’s next heavy lift rocket

Larry Teds (@LarryTeds) 2/24/21, 7:24 AM
It is confirmed that Chinese government has officially approved Long March 9 super heavy launcher, which is going to power crewed lunar exploration, Mars sample return and crewed Mars exploration missions.
~ Maiden flight is scheduled by 2030. Next step is to make CZ-9 reusable.
~ LEO 140+ tons, LTO 50+ tons
Larry Teds:
Source: CCTV interview with Wu Yanhua, deputy director of CNSA: “Now the state has decided to develop Long March 9. Its main purpose is for (if any) crewed lunar landing or crewed Mars landing missions.”
➡️ https://twitter.com/larryteds/status/1364553735330963456
[Clip at the link includes render of rocket launch.]
Larry Teds:
Xi was shown yesterday about CZ9. It is the most official render.
https://twitter.com/larryteds/status/1364556559007682565
Photos at the link.

[vox_mundi]

... Third time lucky?

[Sigmetnow]

... Third time lucky?

...

I think even the indefatigable crew of Tug Hawk might mutiny at six attempts.

[Sigmetnow]

—- Starship
SLS:  Engine valve problem.  Several weeks delay.
Starship: Engine is suspect after static fire. Swapped for a new one, next day.   

   Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) 2/24/21, 12:43 AM
   SpaceX ignites Starship SN10's Raptor engines for the first time! It is unknown if the test was successful.
   Mary received a notice that testing may occur on Feb. 24th as well.
   Video from Mary (@BocaChicaGal) and the NSF Robotic Camera Team
   ➡️youtu.be/XE9K3W0ojjk
    https://twitter.com/thefavoritist/status/1364450800244830208

Elon Musk @elonmusk) 2/24/21, 2:12 AM
One of the engines is suspect, so we’re swapping it out
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1364473175279620096

Mary (@BocaChicaGal)2/24/21, 11:44 AM
 Raptor SN? is headed to the launch site.
➡️ https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1364617190352314373
⬇️ 5 sec trundle down the road at the link. Screencap below.

~ Interesting that there was no visible SN# on the nozzle.
~ There’s nothing better than passing a Raptor on the highway at Boca Chica.

< I *LOVE* how @SpaceX carries this around so unceremoniously. If this was @NASA there'd be road closures, police bikes, a full escort, an airtight container, a documentary about the logistics, etc... 

—-
Zeus out for a stroll around the new landing pad.  1 min vid.

Dayton Costlow (@DaytonCostlow) 2/24/21, 3:26 PM
The full video. 

➡️ https://twitter.com/daytoncostlow/status/1364673154224824321


—- Human Landing System

Marcia Smith (@SpcPlcyOnline) 2/24/21, 10:51 AM
At Spaceport Summit, NASA's Mark Kirasich says NASA is "down to the wire" in downselecting the HLS contractors. Will be "in next few weeks." Tough choice because three "incredible" proposals.
https://twitter.com/spcplcyonline/status/1364603780923346950
Eric Berger:
During an interview last week Steve Jurcyzk said the decisions likely would be made in mid-late April.

> Waiting for #Starship to stick a landing maybe?
< What’s the odds that those who are not selected continue their designs for their own purposes?
Eric Berger:
The odds of SpaceX continuing are 100 percent. The other companies are much lower.
<< I agree re SpaceX. After all NASA already awarded them a Lunar *Cargo* contract. Only difference been Lunar HLS Starship and Lunar Cargo Starship would be the inclusion of life support system for humans in the former.
<<  But, IIRC, since the Moon, not Mars, is the off-Earth body that interests Jeff Bezos the most, isn’t it a possibility that he (Bezos) would contract the others in the “National Team” to continue assisting BO in developing the HLS anyway?

[Sigmetnow]

A longish think piece on private astronaut flights, the democratization of space and what that means for the future of NASA.

“We at NASA should always be doing the next thing, the thing where the profit motive is not as evident and where the barriers to entry are still too high for the private sector to really make a compelling business case.”  — Phil McAlister, NASA’s director of commercial spaceflight.

“A necessity, it will allow NASA to work as a specialist entity and allow for more innovation and modernisation of future flight hardware as well as an ability to work without diplomatic influences pulling and prying missions to breaking point.” — David Alan Rodgers

As private companies erode government’s hold on space travel, NASA looks to open a new frontier
Christian Davenport
Feb. 25, 2021

The four astronauts who will fly aboard a SpaceX mission by the end of the year will be a bunch of private citizens with no space experience. One’s a billionaire funding the mission; another a health care provider. The third will be selected at random through a sweepstakes, and the last seat will go to the winner of a competition.

In the new Space Age, you can buy a ticket to orbit — no need to have been a fighter pilot in the military or to compete against thousands of other overachievers for a coveted spot in NASA’s astronaut corps.

In fact, for this mission, the first comprised entirely of private citizens, NASA is little more than a bystander. It does not own or operate the rocket that will blast the astronauts into space or the capsule they will live in for the few days they are scheduled to circle the Earth every 90 minutes. NASA has no say in selecting the astronauts, and it will not train or outfit them — that will all be done by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The money to pay for the flight also will not come from NASA — or any other government account. The cost of the project is being born by a billionaire, Jared Isaacman, who has set it up as a fundraiser for St. Jude’s Research Hospital and a promotional device for his business, Shift4Shop, which helps businesses set up websites and process payments.

This is the new look of human space exploration as government’s long-held monopoly on space travel continues to erode, redefining not only who owns the vehicles that carry people to space, but also the very nature of what an astronaut is and who gets to be one.

And it comes as NASA confronts some of the largest changes it has faced since it was founded in 1958 when the United States’ world standing was challenged by the Soviet Union’s surprise launch of the first Sputnik into orbit. Now it is NASA’s unrivaled primacy in human spaceflight that is under challenge.

Thanks to NASA’s investments and guidance, the private space sector has grown tremendously — no entity more than SpaceX, which according to CNBC is now worth $74 billion. The commercial space industry is taking on ever more roles and responsibilities — flying not just cargo and supplies to the International Space Station, but even NASA’s astronauts there. The private sector will launch some of the major components of the space station NASA wants to build in orbit around the moon, and private companies are developing the spacecraft that will fly astronauts to and from the lunar surface.

Space enthusiasts, including NASA, see enormous benefit in the shift — a new era of space exploration that will usher in a more capable and efficient space industry. But the changing dynamic also has left NASA, which for decades has set the pace for the American space project, with an uncertain role, a development NASA’s Safety Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel warns could have consequences for years to come.

The growth of companies like SpaceX has "tremendous upside potential — and are accompanied by equally tremendous challenges for managing the risk of human space exploration,” it said in its annual report, released last month. “NASA leadership in human space exploration is still preeminent, but the agency’s role is evolving with critical implications for how risk and safety will be managed.” 
 
…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/02/25/nasa-space-future-private/#click=https://t.co/GXrB4rL8Sx

[Sigmetnow]

—- Starship
TFRs now for Fri, Sat, Sunday!
Brownsville (TX) SpaceX high-altitude flight TFR:
From February 28, 2021 at 1400 UTC To March 01, 2021 at 0030 UTC
Altitude: From the surface to space
https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.jsp

—- SpaceX Spaceports at sea

< How long until you think the Deimos and Phobos rigs will be operational?
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 2/24/21, 2:24 AM
One of them may be in limited operation by end of year

<< How will Starships be transported to the floating platform? Will these launch platforms be stationed permanently in the gulf?
Elon Musk:
They will fly there from our launch site.
Stationed around the world. 

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1364476185359642626

Surprise! Elon Musk Says SpaceX's Floating Oil Rig Platforms May Be Operational This Year
https://interestingengineering.com/elon-musk-spacexs-floating-oil-rig-platforms-this-year


—- Next Starlink launch
KSC TFRs listed for Sunday and Monday night,
SpaceX: Static fire test complete – targeting Sunday, February 28 at 8:37 p.m. EST for launch of Starlink from LC-39A
0137 GMT on 1st (8:37 p.m. EST on 28th)

Gavin Cornwell (@SpaceXFleet)n2/25/21, 9:05 AM
SpaceX is set to reuse a fairing half for the FOURTH time on the upcoming Starlink mission.
They might not catch it every time (or even need too!) but the fairing recovery programme has been a major success.
spacex.com/launches/

< Recovery & re-use is an amazing goal. But is it at the point where it can be considered successful already? Those ships and crew must be $$$.
Gavin Cornwell:
Each fairing costs $3 million dollars to manufacture. Ignoring the cost of refurbishment, ships and crew they saved $9 million by reusing this half four times.

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1364939456155770881


—- Starlink testing

Elon Musk (@elonmusk)2/24/21, 8:25 PM
You might see much higher download speeds on Starlink at times. Testing system upgrades.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1364748430883631111

Elon Musk says SpaceX ‘will double’ Starlink satellite internet speeds later this year
   “Speed will double to ~300Mb/s & latency will drop to ~20ms later this year,” Musk said in a tweet on Monday.
   Musk added that Starlink will reach customers around “most” of the Earth by the end of 2021, and is expecting to have complete global coverage “by next year.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/22/elon-musk-spacex-will-double-starlink-internet-speed-later-this-year.html


—- NASA Commercial Crew, Feb 24

The @SpaceX Crew Dragon has officially been in space for more than 100 days!

The Crew-1 mission launched on Nov. 15, 2020 & arrived at the @Space_Station on Nov. 16, carrying Shannon Walker, @AstroVicGlover, @Astro_illini & @Astro_Soichi. They will return in late April/early May. 

https://twitter.com/commercial_crew/status/1364677313208537088

[Sigmetnow]

—- Engine swap after dark

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 2/25/21, 12:15 AM
Out on launch pad, engine swap underway 

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1364806085610147844
⬇️ Photo below. Click to embiggen.
Musk explained in the Joe Rogan webcast that they are still testing the best way to attach the black heat tiles to Starship, and the spacing required to deal with cryo-temperatures (and eventual reentry temps) as the steel expands and contracts.  However, unlike Space Shuttle tiles, most Starship tiles will be identical.

[Sigmetnow]

—- Wen hop
Static fire!  New Brownsville TFRs issued for Mon, Tues, Wed, March 1-3.

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 2/25/21, 5:58 PM
STATIC FIRE! Starship SN10 fires up her three engines after a record Raptor swap turnaround.
The big question is if it was a good test. If so, the launch could be just days away.
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) and the bots views:  youtube.com/watch?v=-OYh9C… 

➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1365073626588999695
15 sec clip of the SF at the link.

—- Next Starlink launch

Gavin Cornwell (@SpaceXFleet) 2/25/21, 12:38 PM
Ms. Tree is missing two arms!
That would explain why the Dragon recovery ships have been reconfigured for fairing recovery.
I wonder if they are planning some upgrades or other work?
[Photo at the link.]

~ With the fairing catchers now semi-armless, GO Searcher and GO Navigator are learning how to recover fairings.
colin (@c_fletcher22) 2/25/21, 3:47 PM
SpaceX practicing scooping fairings from the water on @NASASpaceflight Fleetcam! …
➡️ https://twitter.com/c_fletcher22/status/1365040805119995913
[ 19 sec Twit-Vid is 2x timelapse ]

Gavin Cornwell:
With the Dragon recovery ships now temporarily fairing recovery ships that means SpaceX needs a new temporary Dragon recovery ship.
Confused?
Hello, GO America! That's a very nice Dragon mock-up you have. Welcome to the recovery fleet!
Via Fleetcam: youtu.be/gnt2wZBg89g
https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1365043855708610568
Photo at the link.

GO Searcher and GO Navigator are outbound from Port Canaveral to conduct fairing recovery for the upcoming Starlink mission. …
https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1365331037639872522
Photos at the link.

—— ”Wow. Blue Origin delays maiden flight of New Glenn [heavy lift rocket] until no earlier than Q4 of 2022.”

Just A. Tinker:
Let me get this straight, @blueorigin is putting off #NewGlenn's maiden flight because they didn't get a government contract they wanted?  I think we drop them out the 'New Space' category then!  Hey, @JeffBezos, if you REALLY want to settle Cislunar space, get your butt in gear!
Ken Kirtland IV:
Yup. The entire appeal of Blue Origin was that funding and economics were not much of an equation due to Bezos cash. It's pretty clear they just want to be a traditional launch provider / defense contractor.

Dave F:
Anybody know how many NGs they're currently constructing? If this one, eventually, files, but goes kaboom, do they have another to play with?
OK I'm willing to be corrected, but with the limited images & what some have said, they appear to be designing a 'flight ready' rocket. As you say, it's complicated yet they haven't even tested the first stage landing. Even NS's test program is best described as 'patchy'.
Why spend money/time designing everything to the nth degree if it's likely to RUD. There's definitely something to be said for SpaceX's quick iteration of sending 'aerosol cans' 40k ft into the air.

< So more than likely Starship would be first methalox to orbit.
< Musk already said, that same like SN1-10 prototypes, Super heavy prototypes will start with fewer engines as they plan overall. If first Starship with booster will be some scaled down version they can beat Vulcan to orbit. But not with massive 34 Raptors version.

Sotiris:
The entire Starship program according to Musk is going to cost 2-3 Billion. BO spend 1/3 of that on the launch pad alone

https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1364969591152214029

    New Glenn’s Progress Towards Maiden Flight

News Feb 25, 2021
As major progress is being made on the New Glenn launch vehicle and its Cape Canaveral facilities, the schedule has been refined to match the demand of Blue Origin’s commercial customers. The current target for New Glenn’s maiden flight is Q4 2022. The Blue Origin team has been in contact with all of our customers to ensure this baseline meets their launch needs.
…
This updated maiden flight target follows the recent Space Force decision to not select New Glenn for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Launch Services Procurement (LSP). 

https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-glenns-progress-towards-maiden-flight

New Glenn - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Glenn
In February 2019, Blue Origin indicated that no plans to build a reusable second stage are even on the company's roadmap.
By December 2020, Blue Origin indicated that the engine delivery to ULA would slip to summer 2021, and ULA disclosed that the first launch of the New Glenn competitor ULA Vulcan would now be no earlier than 4Q2021.


—- Virgin Galactic SpaceShip

Eric Berger:
Wow. This is a serious and unexpected delay.

Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) 2/25/21, 4:10 PM
Virgin Galactic, in its earning release just posted, says it’s now targeting May (!) for its next rocket-powered SpaceShipTwo test flight. (Remember this was going to be earlier this month.) investors.virgingalactic.com/news/news-deta… [ https://t.co/IuTaBZ4Tpo ]

The company says in the presentation for that upcoming call that it will roll out the next SpaceShipTwo, “SpaceShip III”, on March 30. Flight tests begin in the summer. investors.virgingalactic.com/files/doc_fina… [ https://t.co/U1ov038aRg ]

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1365046437181030402


—- Reusable Upper Stage?

Washington-based startup raises $9.1 million. Stoke Space Technologies—the Renton, Washington-based company founded by veterans of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space venture—has attracted $9.1 million in seed investments for extending rocket reusability to new frontiers, GeekWire reports. The first goal will be to develop a new kind of reusable upper stage, Stoke co-founder and CEO Andy Lapsa told the publication.

High-powered advisers ... "That's the last domino to fall in the industry before reusability is commonplace," Lapsa said. "Even right now, I think space launch is in a production-limited paradigm." Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, an adviser to Stoke, goes so far as to say that the team reminds him of the Wright brothers. "Stoke has the right idea about ultra-low-cost access to space, and similar to the first manned flight, will change the world of transportation and national security forever," he said.

—- SLS Green Run update

SLS launch delayed until 2022. During a recent call with reporters about the SLS core stage Green Run test, NASA's Tom Whitmeyer discussed the schedule for the Artemis I flight. In an ideal world in which nothing went wrong, he said, the mission could launch in October 2021. That was unlikely to happen, he acknowledged. And since then, things have already gone wrong, such as with the prevalve issue....

Never tweet while drunk ... Sources have told Ars that the realistic "no earlier than" date for Artemis I inside NASA is now February 2022, and this presumes a successful Green Run hot fire test in early March. We're getting perilously close to the now somewhat infamous prediction I made in 2017 on Twitter—that the rocket would first launch in 2023.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/rocket-report-new-glenn-finally-gets-a-date-sls-hot-fire-slips-to-march/
— Eric Berger

Jeff Foust:
The update is... they’re still working on the valve problem, and won’t set a new date for the test until troubleshooting is done. [But that new date is likely to be no earlier than the middle of March.]

NASA_SLS (@NASA_SLS) 2/26/21, 11:48 AM
Green Run Update: @NASA and Boeing, the core stage prime contractor, continue to examine a liquid oxygen valve inside the #Artemis I core stage’s engine section in order to identify repairs needed before a second Green Run hot fire test. 

Green Run Update: NASA Inspecting Valve, Continuing Hot Fire Preparations
https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2021/02/26/green-run-update-nasa-inspecting-valve-continuing-hot-fire-preparations/

[Sigmetnow]

—- Starship

Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) 2/26/21, 2:03 PM
A Raptor Engine labeled “Under Doge” (serial number unknown) was delivered to the Starship build site in Boca Chica just now, and Raptor SN56 (green nozzle) took its place on the Raptor van, presumably headed back to Hawthorne or Mcgregor. 

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1365376972658892801
Photos at the link.

—-
⬇️ Status of Starship and Superheavy Prototypes— infographic below
Click to embiggen.

—- SpaceX Sea Fleet

Gavin Cornwell(@SpaceXFleet)2/27/21, 6:13 PM
SpaceX recovery fleet status as of Feb 27th!
OCISLY droneship has arrived at the landing zone for the Starlink mission.
GO Searcher/Navigator are still en-route for fairing recovery. ...

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1365802218855821317
Locator map at the link.  Weather looks good for the upcoming launch.

—- Crew-1 aboard the ISS — interview

.@VP Harris: What was your first spacewalk like?

NASA astronaut @AstroVicGlover: "The first time that I did just sit back and look down at the Earth, I just wanted to do that for the rest of the seven hours that I was outside – it was pretty amazing."

➡️ https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1365742926211538948
Vid at the link: Victor Glover: as the first, I work to make sure I am not the last.


—- HLS
So, at least two, but not all three.
NASA says maintaining competition a priority for lunar lander procurement
Jeff Foust February 25, 2021
https://spacenews.com/nasa-says-maintaining-competition-a-priority-for-lunar-lander-procurement/


—- Boeing's safety culture

Christian Davenport (@wapodavenport) 2/26/21, 1:08 PM
NASA says that the assessment of Boeing's safety culture, ordered in the wake of the flawed OFT-1 mission, has been postponed until after OFT-2 because of Covid. That’s a delay of more than a year. The agency says it will complete the review before Boeing’s crewed flight test. 1/  …

https://twitter.com/wapodavenport/status/1365363224581988354


—- SLS Green Run delay — the second prevalve issue
Eric Berger:
From this article it sounds like NASA is not yet sure how extensive the repair work will be for a second prevalve issue on the SLS core stage. Test fire possible by mid-March, but could be weeks later.

Second prevalve issue delays completion of SLS Core Stage Green Run campaign
written by Philip Sloss February 26, 2021

Fixing the problem with this second balky prevalve will take some time because engineers needed to get “under the hood” access to the vehicle, which was already closed out for the Hot-Fire test when the new problem was discovered. In order to get hands on the prevalve, work access needed to be re-established. …

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/02/prevalve-issue-delays-sls-green-run/

[Sigmetnow]

How much do rockets pollute? | Everyday Astronaut


Published on Mar 20, 2020
TIMESTAMPS!
00:00 - Intro
06:00 - WHAT ACTUALLY COMES OUT THE FLAMEY END OF A ROCKET?
16:15 - WHAT DO DIFFERENT ROCKETS EMIT?
29:10 - WHY ROCKET EMISSIONS ARE UNIQUE
31:50 - ROCKET VS AIRLINERS
41:50 - ROCKET LAUNCHES VS AIRLINER FLIGHTS TOTALS
45:10 - ROCKETS VS EVERYTHING
48:20 - HOW CAN ROCKETS BE IMPROVED?
51:35 - SUMMARY

Article version:
https://wpcstagingeverydayastronaut.wpcomstaging.com/rocket-pollution/

CO2 emissions from all commercial aviation in 2018 totaled 918,000,000 tonnes of CO2. Compare that to the 22,780 tonnes from the aerospace industry in that same year, and we realize that you would have to fly 40,300 times more rockets per year to equal the output of airliners.

[Sigmetnow]

—- Starlink launch in just under an hour.
Look out seagulls, here we come!

William Harwood (@cbs_spacenews)2/28/21, 7:44 PM
F9/Starlink 20 (V1-L17): The rocket's first stage, making its 8th flight, will attempt to land on the "Of Course I Still Love You” droneship; if successful, it will mark SpaceX’s 75th booster recovery; the most recent landing try 2/15 was unsuccessful

https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1366187569982156800

Watch:
https://www.spacex.com/launches/index.html

The NSF team:
LIVE: SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4jNH1W36xU&feature=youtu.be

[Sigmetnow]

SCRUB!

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 2/28/21, 8:38 PM
Launch scrubbed at T-1 minute, 24 seconds. Next launch attempt could come Monday night, at 8:15pm ET
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1366201220558381062

William Harwood:
F9/Starlink 20 (V1-L17): SpaceX originally planned to launch this rocket in late January, but undisclosed technical issues combined for multiple delays; the main engines were test fired twice, most recently last Wednesday morning to clear the way for this evening's attempt
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1366201592857452549

[Sigmetnow]

—- Or not

Gavin Cornwell (@SpaceXFleet) 2/28/21, 8:25 PM
Troublesome rocket is finally ready to fly for 8th time 

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1366197813529350144
Although the rocket was said to be “healthy,” SpaceX did mention the camera on the first stage was not operating.

—- Starship wen hop

Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 2/28/21, 7:52 PM
I have just received an update that Starship SN10 will not fly until Wednesday March 3.
Tomorrow’s attempt has been cancelled. No hop tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1366189604001488901

—- SpaceX has fans of SpaceX fans!

Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 2/28/21, 11:41 AM
Raptor SN47 delivered with a special message “Wen Hop? Much Wow.” You gotta love these guys!
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52398.0 

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1366066118373371904
⬇️ Photo below.  Not subtle with the number label this time, either.

Gavin Cornwell:
Peak meme has been achieved

[Sigmetnow]

—- Next Starlink launch
The KSC TFR for today has been cancelled. Another has been added for tomorrow, Tuesday.
March 02, 2021 at 0030 UTC To March 02, 2021 at 0308 UTC

Falcon 9 B1049.8's launch from KSC 39A with the L-17 Starlink mission is now in a 48 hour scrub turnaround stance.
New NET (No Earlier Than) March 2 at 19:53 Local, per KSC notices. …

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1366412437117939717

—- Benji Reed explains the Falcon 9 [“seagull”] RUD.
A failure in one of the fleet’s highest-flight-time engines. The engine-out capability of the Falcon 9 allowed the mission to complete successfully, but the engine that failed was one of the three that are used for the return trip, so the rocket did not have the ability to land on the drone ship.

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 3/1/21, 1:27 PM
Falcon 9 B1059.6 landing failure update. A Merlin engine boot (a life leader) developed a hole and sent hot gas to "where it wasn't supposed to be" and shut down during first stage flight. Not enough thrust for landing.
➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1366455049036136450
2min, Benji Reed speaking from SpaceX

Michael Baylor:
Benji Reed (SpaceX): Notes that by flying Falcon 9 rockets so often, they are learning more about the launch vehicle. ...
Reed stressed that this particular component was a flight-leading piece of hardware. They will fix this issue moving forward with updated refurbishment processes.
Boots are the flexible seals around the engines to prevent thermal damage to engine bay components.
➡️ https://twitter.com/spacecoastpix/status/1366456224858841089
[Photo, with “boots” labelled]
< So this must have been on one of the engines which re-light for landing. So if the failed boot had been on an outer engine, the stage could have landed, is that correct?
<< Yes

Wut?:
A cover designed to protect part of the engine failed and resulted in hot exhaust gas getting to the engine. The engine shut down and the remaining engines made up for the loss during the ascent — but without all three landing engines, the stage didn't have enough thrust for a controlled landing, and the rocket ditched.

SpaceX (@SpaceX) 2/28/21, 8:33 PM
Last month, Starlinks were deployed to the Wise County Public School District in rural Virginia, where ~40% of students and teachers did not have internet access at home, helping to broaden connectivity in the area 

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1366199790741065729


—- Starship: Thermal Protective System
SpaceX received an $8.5 million AFRL contract to refine thermal manufacturing technologies to enable low cost, high volume production of next generation TPS
The objective is to refine thermal protection system manufacturing technologies to enable low-cost, high volume production of next generation TPS.
https://beta.sam.gov/opp/5cf429cfee974c0ca229abd9f134e1bf/view?keywords=afrl&sort=-modifiedDate&index=&is_active=true&page=1

—- Blue Origin
Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket is delayed for years. What went wrong?

Instead of crawl-walk-run, Bezos asked his engineering team to begin sprinting toward the launch pad. The engineering challenges of building such a large rocket are big enough. But because New Glenn is so expensive to build, the company needs to recover it from the outset. SpaceX enjoyed a learning curve with the Falcon 9, only successfully recovering the first stage on the rocket's 20th launch. Blue Origin engineers will be expected to bring New Glenn back safely on its very first mission. …

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/so-what-really-happened-with-blue-origins-new-glenn-rocket/

   —-
“In 2004, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos met for a meal to discuss space.
It was one of their few in-person interactions.
The conversation they had perfectly captures the different approaches they've taken to space exploration.
Here's the story  …”
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1366405443136856068.html


—- Rocket Lab announces a new, bigger rocket, and plans to go public on the NASDAQ.

Rocket Lab (@RocketLab)3/1/21, 6:56 AM
After more than 3 years of delivering reliable access to orbit, Rocket Lab is planning to go public on the @Nasdaq. Space is open for business.
Rocket Lab:
Introducing Neutron – our new 8-ton class reusable rocket tailored for mega constellations, deep space missions and human spaceflight. Learn more: bit.ly/3sBZTwb

➡️ https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1366358673522499588
2 min vid.  Peter Beck eats his hat. Literally.
They said they’d never make a big rocket.  They lied.

Rocket Lab Unveils Plans for New 8-Ton Class Reusable Rocket for Mega-Constellation Deployment
The advanced new rocket, Neutron, will transform space access by delivering reliable and cost-effective launch services for satellite mega-constellations, deep space missions and human spaceflight
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/

Neutron features a reusable first stage designed to land on an OCEAN PLATFORM, enabling a high launch cadence and decreased launch costs for customers.
https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1366358998874791936

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 3/1/21, 1:31 PM
Talked to @Peter_J_Beck about Neutron. Some additional details:
• 8 tons to LEO is reusable
• plan is to propulsively land
• not talking pricing yet, but "highly competitive"
• no composite structures, definitely "metallic"
• avionics, computers, IMUs directly form Electron
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1366456012291604483

I can’t wait for their wacky drone ship and rocket names!


—- Dragon Crew-2 to the ISS

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 3/1/21, 12:45 PM
At the outset of today's call on the Crew-2 mission, NASA's Kathy Lueders notes that this will be the third human mission in less than a year on Crew Dragon, dating back to Demo-2 in May, 2020. "I’m very very proud of our NASA and SpaceX teams for making this happen."

[Even more impressive considering originally they were going to fly NASA to ISS just once a year, alternating SpaceX and Starliner missions.  Additionally, NASA agrees with using a flight-proven first stage and Dragon capsule: the Dragon “Endeavour” that was used for DM-2.]

~ NASA's Steve Stich says they're targeting April 20 for the launch of Crew-2, but that may be adjusted a day or two for optimal launch dates. Goal is to fly this mission and get the Crew-1 mission back on the ground by May 9.
~ NASA's Steve Stich confirms all remains on track to fly a used first stage for the Crew-2 mission in April. Completed a certification review last Friday. This is a huge milestone for reusable rockets—NASA putting its most valuable missions on them.

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1366446443960160258


—- Boeing Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2 delay

Steve Stich (NASA) confirms that OFT-2 will not launch on April 2. The weather event in Texas is the cause of the most recent delay. The new flight date is still under review.
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1366457564284653569

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 3/1/21, 1:40 PM
The mission will definitely be delayed, NASA's Steve Stich says. Declines to offer a range of dates but says April is "a very busy time" on orbit for ISS. Sounds to me like May would be the earliest launch date.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1366458276490207232
< At this point shouldn't NASA just cut their losses with Starliner?
<< The whole point was two independent US based crew launch systems. It's worth persisting with Starliner so that if something grounds Dragon and/or Falcon 9 NASA isn't caught short having to hope there's enough seats available on Soyuz.
> Plus, CmrclCrew contract is *not* cost-plus. Thus while NASA is inconvenienced by sched disruptions, they aren’t pouring more $ into Boeing’s coffers bec of delays; Boeing has to eat add’l costs they incur. (Insert snarky remark that they’ll make it up by further delaying SLS.)
>> At this rate @Peter_J_Beck is going to beat them, lol, but definitely he's going to beat SLS.

[Sigmetnow]

—- Breaking:  SpaceX creating “Starbase, TX”

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 3/2/21, 3:31 PM
Creating the city of Starbase, Texas
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1366848696298561536

Michael Baylor:
The Boca Chica Village area (part of Cameron County) will be incorporated as Starbase, Texas.
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1366852021056278530

Elon Musk:
An area much larger than Boca Chica
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1366859619461570561

< Wait...so he isn't joking?
Michael Baylor: No

—- Also Breaking:  Dear Moon opens candidate registrations for Starship lunar flyby

Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) 3/2/21, 5:07 PM Get your FREE TICKET to the MOON!!
8 crew members wanted. Sign up today!  #dearMoon  dearmoon.earth
https://twitter.com/yousuckmz/status/1366872714628132864

"I'm a little scared ... but I'm more curious," Maezawa says. His enthusiasm is infectious.
Later in the video, Musk says he's "highly confident" Starship will be ready for this flight in 2023. "It's looking very, very promising."
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1366875542264434695

—- Wen hop: Wednesday?

Mary (@BocaChicaGal):
Happy to let y’all know that I have been asked to evacuate for Starship SN10 launch attempt tomorrow. It looks like it will be a beautiful day for a launch. I can’t wait to see SN10 nail the landing!

Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 3/2/21, 2:33 PM
Starship SN10 Wednesday launch status:
- FAA approval ✅
- Temporary Flight Restriction ✅
- Evacuation notice ✅
- Marine hazard zone posted ✅
- Road closure scheduled ❓
- Official confirmation from SpaceX ❓

4 down, 2 to go

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1366833953005477888

—-
TFRs are in place for Wed, Thurs, Friday.
Flight Termination System has been installed!
SpaceX gears up for Starship’s first triple-engine landing attempt

Unlike Starships SN8 and SN9, both of which took anywhere from 6-10 weeks to go from rolling off the factory floor to preparing for their first launch attempts, SN10’s first launch attempt appears likely to occur less than five weeks after the rocket arrived at the launch site. The sequential improvements in efficiency and reliability between those three prototypes is a fundamental part (or goal, at least) of SpaceX’s iterative development process. …

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-next-starship-launch-triple-engine-landing/amp/


—- Next Starlink launch

SpaceX (@SpaceX) 3/2/21, 3:53 PM
Now targeting no earlier than Thursday, March 4 for launch of Starlink due to a Range conflict and unfavorable launch and recovery weather

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1366854158599352320
TFR’s are listed for Thursday and Friday.

—- Crew-2
Crew-2 on schedule for April launch while next Starliner flight delayed
Jeff Foust March 2, 2021

The actual launch date may shift by a few days “to more optimize some of the orbital mechanics and the launch opportunities,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s commercial crew program. The agency is trying to fit the mission in during a window between the mid-April departure of the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft and a “beta cutout” in May when sun angles restrict ISS activities.

That schedule also has to accommodate the return of the Crew-1 mission on the Crew Dragon currently docked to the station. Stich said the goal is to have that spacecraft return to Earth by May 9 to avoid “dark landing opportunities” for the spacecraft’s splashdown.

Neither NASA nor SpaceX see any major challenges to launching in late April, even after the shutdown of a Merlin engine on a Feb. 15 Falcon 9 launch that prevented the booster from landing. “Everybody is on track and ready for an April 20 launch readiness date,” Benji Reed, senior director of human spaceflight programs at SpaceX, said at the briefing. …

https://spacenews.com/crew-2-on-schedule-for-april-launch-while-next-starliner-flight-delayed/

NASA (@NASA) 3/1/21, 12:42 PM
Experts highlight our upcoming @Commercial_Crew launch to the @Space_Station. Tune in to learn more about NASA’s @SpaceX Crew-2 mission launching humans from Florida this spring. …

➡️ https://twitter.com/nasa/status/1366443697278251012
Twitter broadcast at the link.

—- Inspiration4

Cancer survivor Hayley Arceneaux is set to orbit the Earth aboard SpaceX’s Inspiration4

➡️ https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1366436318834810883
Short  video. She has a leg prosthesis, which would disqualify her from being a NASA candidate, but private space industry can establish new rules for their own flights.

—- Elon re Rocket Lab’s new rocket announcement

Elon Musk:
Looks familiar haha. Nonetheless, the right move. Congrats to Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab:
Thanks very much Elon. We've always admired SpaceX and what the team has achieved. We're excited to add Neutron to the family.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1366511383676784642
⬇️ Neutron rocket render below.


—- Like Shuttle Columbia
Falling foam insulation caused Chinese commercial rocket failure
https://spacenews.com/falling-foam-insulation-caused-chinese-commercial-rocket-failure/

—- China Space Station
China preparing to build Tiangong station in 2021, complete by 2022
March 1, 2021

China is gearing up for its next big leap in space exploration: the construction of its modular crewed space station, the Tiangong.
Starting in 2021, the construction of the Tiangong orbital space station is expected to be complete in 2022 after eleven missions, including three launches of different modules, four launches of cargo vehicles and four crewed launches. …

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/china-preparing-to-build-tiangong-station-in-2021-complete-by-2022/

—- America is headed back to space. This time we'll stay there.

In our world, of course, America won the Space Race — and then cut NASA's budget and abandoned human exploration. But don't blame just the politicians. Americans were always more enthused about beating the Soviets than pushing forward the boundaries of science and exploration. Indeed, a 2021 Morning Consult poll found that most Americans see sending astronauts to the moon or Mars as a low priority for NASA, or perhaps as something that should not be done at all.

That's also one reason America will remain a space-faring nation this time around. China has apparently scheduled more than 40 orbital launches in 2021, including launching the core module of a space station. To paraphrase LBJ, I don't believe this generation of Americans is willing to resign itself to going to bed each night by the light of a Chinese Communist moon. Both national security and national pride will demand America match China's ambitions. …

https://theweek.com/articles/969153/america-headed-back-space-time-well-stay-there

[Sigmetnow]

—- Starship wen hop
SpaceX confirms they will live stream the launch:

As early as Wednesday, March 3, the SpaceX team will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 10 (SN10) ...
...
There will be a live feed of the flight test available here that will start a few minutes prior to liftoff. Given the dynamic schedule of development testing, stay tuned to our social media channels for updates as we move toward SpaceX’s third high-altitude flight test of Starship!

https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/index.html

Road closures have been posted for Starship SN10's test flight for Wed, Thurs & Fri.

—- more: dearMoon mission

"I'm highly confident that we will have reached orbit many times with Starship before 2023 and that it will be safe enough for human transport by 2023. It's looking very promising." - @elonmusk

More details:
- 10-12 person crew
- 8 creative individuals to be chosen through a contest
- 6 day mission
- Furthest humans will have ever gone from Earth

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1366877070689624065


—- ”Cool” Mars animation

Slave' Popovski ® (@Pslavi) 3/2/21, 2:53 AM
Rendered out this short animation. Hopefully 1 day mankind will visit. I believe #SpaceX will do it! 6x6 Cybertruck is waiting
➡️ https://twitter.com/pslavi/status/1366658005333237761
[ 30 sec animation ]
Elon Musk:  Cool

—- “LIFTOFF,” Eric Berger’s new book on SpaceX
Eric Berger:
Wired publishes this excerpt from LIFTOFF, which tells the story of how Elon Musk hired Gwynne Shotwell.
“It was a huge risk, and I almost decided not to go,” she said. “I think I probably annoyed the hell out of Elon because it took me so long.”
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1366883404646612999

How Elon Musk Convinced Gwynne Shotwell to Join SpaceX
Ultimately, their management styles were similar: Don’t talk about doing things, just do things.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-elon-musk-gwynne-shotwell-join-spacex/

—- SpaceX beginnings

SpaceX in 2002 vs SpaceX in 2021.
SpaceX in 2002 consisted of less than 20 guys, a carpet and a mariachi band. 

➡️ https://twitter.com/ppathole/status/1366427243291971585
Photos at the link: with the mariachi band;  drone pic of starship

@elonmusk @SpaceX tour back in 2010. 

➡️ https://twitter.com/teslaownerssv/status/1366807186928640000
2 minute vid. Office: Everybody in open cubicles, even Gwynne (“sales”) and Elon.

[Sigmetnow]

—- SN10 Hop Day, Maybe!

Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 3/3/21, 8:09 AM
A lift is currently working on Starship SN10's flight termination system – likely pulling the safety pins. I believe can see them here in Jack's photo (the red remove before flight tags).
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1367099731818676226

Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) 2/28/21, 4:19 PM
Starship SN10 has had its flight termination system installed! This is one of the important final indicators that a test flight is imminent. Check out the red “remove before flight” tags visible on them in the third shot. @NASASpaceflight
https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1366135904277061632

The NSF team is already live with Joel Mary and the bots:

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 3/3/21, 7:55 AM
We're live with Mary (@BocaChicaGal) and bots for Starship SN10's launch.

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1367096332020813829

LIVE: Starship SN10 Flight Test

[Sigmetnow]

Everyday Astronaut is live.

Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) 3/3/21, 10:00 AM
I'm LIVE right at the edge of the exclusion zone for #SN10's launch!!! Our first stream from MARS [Studio B]!!! Come say hi, let's watch @SpaceX land a Starship!!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_jWbqhP5eJI&feature=youtu.be

https://twitter.com/erdayastronaut/status/1367127856816545793

[Sigmetnow]

—- Tank farm activity seen!

“Fueling activity has started in Boca Chica. Starship SN10 launch attempt coming up.”
...
https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1367170273859022849

Barring any holds, this could mean a launch in 30 to 45 minutes.

[Sigmetnow]

Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) 3/3/21, 1:42 PM
SpaceX is still looking to launch Starship SN10 today but had a ground vent valve stuck open when propellant load was about to start, sources tell CNBC. 

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1367183674245021702

[Sigmetnow]

Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) 3/3/21, 2:21 PM
Starship SN10 has reentered the countdown. Launch [expected] within the next 35-45 minutes or so.

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1367193539717652484

[Sigmetnow]

Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) 3/3/21, 2:47 PM
SpaceX is currently targeting Starship SN10 liftoff at about 3:14 p.m. ET, sources tell CNBC.
…
A source adds that the vent valve that was stuck open was preventing SpaceX from chilling the liquid oxygen but is now fixed. 

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1367199945942564866

[Sigmetnow]

Abort at T minus 00:00.1 sec!
“Out of bounds thrust on a raptor engine.”
SpaceX is seeing if they can recycle and launch today.

Their feed is still live:
#https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DDEgFsefrGw

Edit: No launch during this attempt. SpaceX removed the video.

[Sigmetnow]

John Insprucker says that they are going to recycle. Next attempt in about two hours.
5:30pm ET
22:30 UTC ?

[Sigmetnow]

New estimate: 30 to 40 minutes to T-0.  Watch for the tri-vent (three streams of vapor from different places on the rocket), which rather reliably happens beginning around T-12 minutes.
⬇️ Image below from NSF livestream.

William Harwood (@cbs_spacenews) 3/3/21, 3:43 PM
SN10: SpaceX attempted to launch Starship prototype SN10 at 3:14pm EST, but the rocket's three Raptor engines shut down almost immediately when the flight computer ordered a "total thrust abort" due to parameters "outside expected bounds," an engineer said on the flight loop

https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1367213973687443461

It’s impressive that the Raptor engines can light but still be “go for launch” again as soon as fuel is recycled. 
Towards rapid reusability!

[crandles]

Trivent so t-10min

[Sigmetnow]

Soft touchdown!

“Flip ‘n’ Burn!”

Not sure about landing legs, and we have a leaning tower of Boca Chica — but it’s upright!

[Sigmetnow]

And... methane leak?  Not satisfied with a quiet landing, SN10 tries on its own for a second, more impactful flight tonight. And this just happened!

[Sigmetnow]

Gavin Cornwell:
People who wanted to see a successful landing.
VS
People who wanted an explosion.
SpaceX has pleased both groups.

➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1367256923075207172
17 sec:  SN10’s brief second flight.

Note: this was not due to the Flight Termination System.

“Celebratory back flip?”

[vox_mundi]

RUD not included

[Sigmetnow]

Jack Beyer:
SN10 hanging in the air, exactly like bricks don't. Looks like legs did deploy. Valiant effort, lil' leggos.
https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1367260041691205632
Jack Beyer:
https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1367260268712103939

⬇️ Two Jack Beyer photos (more at the links) and an NSF screencap.
Note that many of the heat shield tiles are still attached even after the explosion!

[Sigmetnow]

...

RUD not included

You can see it bounce on landing.

The ascent tracking, in particular, is so good, it looks like the rocket is barely moving.

[Sigmetnow]

Major rapid reuse: less than seven minutes between landing and relaunch!

Elon Musk:  RIP SN10, honorable discharge.

Reminder:  Starlink launch in seven hours!

March 4: Falcon 9 • Starlink V1.0-L17
Launch time: 0824 or 1042 GMT (3:24 or 5:42 a.m. EST)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 20th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink V1.0-L17. Delayed from Jan. 29, Jan. 30, Jan. 31, Feb. 1, Feb. 2, Feb. 4, Feb. 5, Feb. 7, and Feb. 17. Scrubbed on Feb. 28. Delayed from March 2

https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

[vox_mundi]

Air Force Research Lab, NORTHCOM Eye Commercial Internet Sats For Arctic
https://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/afrl-northcom-eye-commercial-internet-sats-for-arctic/

“Communications is incredibly challenging north of 65 [i.e., the 65th parallel] in the Arctic.

“The Air Force plans to prototype and test Arctic Communications capability north of 55-degrees latitude, where many current SATCOM options lose coverage. This effort, which leverages the emerging commercial space internet, will include ground terminal deployments to various DoD Arctic sites, and the funding of limited service capability for the purpose of DoD experimentation,”

The experiments are part of AFRL’s larger Defense Experimentation Using the Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program, nicknamed ‘Global Lightning,’ managed by SDPE, Air Force officials told Breaking D. Global Lightning is testing the reliability of space-based Internet networks to provide high-speed, data-rich communications to aircraft and ground stations, as well as prototyping mobile terminals and  modern, open systems software to use with those networks.

... AFRL has made awards to multiple commercial vendors under the  Global Lightning program, Beal added, including  SpaceX, Iridium, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, SES-GS, Ball Aerospace, O3B and Telesat. However, he sad, “We have not yet announced the contractors for the Arctic portions of Global Lightning, but will do so when able.”

Indeed, AFRL already has tested connecting AC-130s and KC-135s to SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO, between about 100 and 2,000 kilometers in altitude.) SpaceX was awarded a $28 million contract last year for Global Lightning experiments.

[Sigmetnow]

SpaceX successfully launches long-delayed Starlink L-17 mission

SpaceX selected veteran core B1049 for this launch: the oldest booster in the fleet. With a 100 day turnaround from its last mission, this booster tied the fleet record for the most flights at eight—a record previously held by B1051, which will likely make its ninth flight sometime later this month. …

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/spacex-launch-delayed-starlink/

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) 3/4/21, 3:35 AM
Falcon 9 B1049.8 lands on OCISLY after launching her eighth mission!
75th successful landing of an orbital class booster.

➡️ https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1367393326870253570
Vid clip

SpaceX (@SpaceX) 3/4/21, 4:31 AM
Deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed

➡️ https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1367407265901285381
Vid clip

And both (reflown) fairing halves were successfully scooped from the water.

[Sigmetnow]

So cool we can witness these trials — it’s like seeing the early Wright brothers’ attempts at controlled flight.
—- Starship SN10

Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) 3/4/21, 1:40 AM
This is a composite image of SN10's launch and landing. I set this camera to shoot one frame a second, threw out any overlapping shots and stacked them all so we can see the trajectory better.
Become a Patron for downloads and more > patreon.com/join/jackbeyer 

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1367364251233497095
⬇️ Image below.

Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) 3/3/21, 8:04 PM
The amount of translation #Starship #SN10 does during its flip'n'burn is nuts!
Full video coming as soon as I possibly get all of the insane footage we captured downloaded & edited! …

➡️ https://twitter.com/thefavoritist/status/1367279859353944067
Quick timelapse gif.

—-

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 3/3/21, 7:35 PM
Starship SN10 landed in one piece!

< Insane that it only took 3 attempts to do what many considered impossible just two or three years back. We truly are living in the future. Congrats @elonmusk and @SpaceX on this incredible feat.

Elon Musk:  SpaceX team is doing great work! One day, the true measure of success will be that Starship flights are commonplace.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1367272378766614529
 
Starship goes up. Starship goes down. But is the program moving forward?
"One day, the true measure of success will be that Starship flights are commonplace."
Eric Berger - 3/3/2021, 9:20 PM
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/starship-goes-up-starship-goes-down-but-is-the-program-moving-forward/

—-
“Launch and land and re-launch!”
 

[Sigmetnow]

Notes from a [2017] talk given by then head of Software at SpaceX, Jinnah Hosein

On 1-Aug-2017, Jinnah Hosein, who was the head of Software at SpaceX at the time, spoke to my company, Orbital Insight, in Mountain View California, and I took some notes. I've never posted them anywhere, but below I'll post some unpolished bits.
…
it took Elon six weeks to go from "OK let's land on a boat" to actually having a boat.
…
He was buying food for the team; sleeping under their desks. Someone had a mattress next to the hardware simulation table, in case it needed a kick.
Software was ready by end of November....flight got delayed a few times, until early 2015.
Before grid fins, landing accuracy was 5km diameter.
…
Q: Imperial or Metric?
Elon said that people will die if there are any imperial units in the mars program. But for some reason, propulsion engineering is dead set to using imperial. Engine and propellant is still measured in imperial.
…
Falcon 9 is completely autonomous until 1 minute before liftoff until it lands. It's completely autonomous.
They turn off the receiver on Falcon9 about a minute before...so the only command you can give Falcon9 is to blow itself up...but now even that is internal and automatic. So it receives no input.

The select destruct signal is unencrypted.....the security is because the USAF has the loudest transmitter in the world....and it shouts louder than anyone else 'do not blow up...do not blow up'. …

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/lw6yk1/notes_from_a_talk_given_by_then_head_of_software/

—- Next SpaceX launches scheduled
March 7/8: Falcon 9 • Starlink V1.0-L20
Launch time: 0341 GMT on 8th (10:41 p.m. EST on 7th)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 21st batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink V1.0-L20.

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1 L21
Sat Mar 13, 2021 10:06 UTC
LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA

April 20: Falcon 9 • Crew 2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Crew Dragon spacecraft on its second operational flight with astronauts on-board to the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet will launch on the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The Crew Dragon will return to a splashdown at sea. Delayed from March 30.

spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/    nextspaceflight.com/launches/

—-
Elon Musk's Starbase City Backed by Local Official, Citing Jobs, Tourism
County Commish Gives Thumbs Up
https://www.tmz.com/2021/03/05/elon-musk-starbase-city-backed-cameron-county-commissioner-jobs-tourism-space-x/
 
—- Starlink factory in Austin, Texas
SpaceX plans to build a new Starlink equipment factory in Austin, TX, a company job posting revealed. The company noted that the factory is designed for “high volume manufacturing,” specifically to make “millions of consumer facing devices.”
SpaceX is building a factory in Austin, Texas for Starlink satellite internet equipment
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/03/02/spacex-building-starlink-manufacturing-factory-in-austin-texas.html


—-
Virgin Galactic Chairman Cashes Out Entire Personal Stake in Space Tourism Company
“I sold these shares to help manage my liquidity as I fund several new projects starting in 2021. I remain committed and excited for the future of SPCE.”
https://gizmodo.com/virgin-galactic-chairman-cashes-out-entire-personal-sta-1846413520

—- SLS
Eric Berger:
NASA has repaired a valve on the SLS rocket's core stage, and is working toward a mid-March hotfire test of its SLS rocket core stage. Final date to be set next week. (Let's be honest: GREEN Run has to take place on March 17, St. Patrick's Day).

Green Run Update: Engineers Repair Valve for Mid-March Hot Fire Test – Artemis
https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2021/03/03/green-run-update-engineers-repair-valve-for-mid-march-hot-fire-test/

[Sigmetnow]

—- Crew-2 launch date

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 3/5/21, 3:43 PM
NASA and SpaceX have pushed the launch date of the Crew-2 mission from April 20 to NET April 22, likely in search of an optimal launch window. 

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1367938889969713160


——-- Videos! ———

—- SN10 flip’n’burn and landing video, as art.
Clearly shows the three separate engine re-lights

Coop (@Cooper_Hime) 3/5/21, 10:35 AM
An unusual perspective of SN10’s landing. 

➡️ https://twitter.com/cooper_hime/status/1367861307928612879
1 min, Zoomed in, slo-mo, color-enhanced, etc.

—-
Scott Manley does an in-depth post-mortem of the SN10 flight.
He point out the differences between the engines exhaust. And shows that three of the landing legs did not lock into place.
RUSH:  “Rapid Unscheduled Second Hop”
SpaceX's Starship SN10 Successfully Lands After Amazing Flight. Dismantles Itself Spectacularly.



—-

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 3/5/21, 9:58 AM
Really enjoyed this interview with Rob Maurer of @TeslaPodcast. We go pretty in-depth on Elon Musk's management style, balancing SpaceX and Tesla, and how Tesla helped enable Starship.

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1367851981914701827




—-
Evolution of the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft (2004-2020)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUBkbxqvw6w&feature=youtu.be

Premiered Feb 28, 2021
After 16 years of development, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was certified by NASA and the FAA to provide commercial flights to space. There are now multiple flights scheduled to carry civilians to orbit, including the Inspiration4 and Axiom 1 missions.
 Episode 2: Evolution of the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft, tells the story of how the private aerospace company designed, built, and tested both the Cargo and Crew variants of the Dragon Spacecraft, between 2004 and 2020.
00:16 Introduction
02:34 Cargo Dragon Development
04:56 Cargo Dragon Test Flights
07:47 Crew Dragon Development
10:37 Recap/Dragon Comparison
11:35 Crew Dragon Internal Testing
13:09 Crew Dragon Demo Missions
18:36 Conclusion
 SpaceX continues innovating today, working towards a fully reusable rocket called Starship - designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
 Note: The opening sequence of the Starship SN8 hard landing is purely for fun. The Starship program has no relation to any human spaceflight operations conducted by SpaceX using the Dragon capsule.

———-
—- Vandenberg

Gavin Cornwell (@SpaceXFleet) 3/5/21, 11:22 AM
With the launch cadence set to ramp up at Vandenberg, SpaceX is hiring for fairing, droneship, and recovery engineers on the West Coast.
SpaceX has not had a droneship in the Pacific since Aug 2019. These listings suggest that is likely to change soon.
spacex.com/careers/   

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1367873205592014852
Images at the link: two job descriptions.
Does this mean A Shortfall Of Gravitas droneship will appear soon?

—- Phobos Spaceport

BigBoatDriver (@Herbo) 3/5/21, 5:50 PM
Progress pics of the work to Phobos, one of @SpaceX new offshore spaceports.
…
Bridge deck and starboard third of forward house removed. Beginning to remove equipment from the tower

https://twitter.com/herbo/status/1367970731259293699
⬇️ Photo below; more at the link.

[Sigmetnow]

—- Starships, SN10

Tim Sweeney
In rocketry, this is a rare event that might happen once or twice in an engineer's career. The great thing about being a game developer is that you can experience similar things every day just in the normal course of writing and debugging your code.
[⬇️ pic of SN10 at peak RUSH: https://t.co/Z5moBU9JUk
Elon Musk:
Was super fun tbh haha
Elon Musk:
Thrust was low despite being commanded high for reasons unknown at present, hence hard touchdown. We’ve never seen this before.
Next time, min two engines all the way to the ground & restart engine 3 if engine 1 or 2 have issues.

Pranay Pathole:
If the Legs would've deployed properly ... would SN10 have had a softer landing?
https://twitter.com/ppathole/status/1368018149967155206
   [Vid clip; leg deploy, landing; cut to RUSH 
Elon Musk:
This was way past leg loads. They got squashed hard.

https://twitter.com/linkbirdd/status/1368080049287618564
⬇️Pic: Elon amused in front of SN10 wreckage:

Pics and video around the crash site:
➡️youtu.be/Ve9D_YG0QUA   

—-

Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 3/6/21, 8:05 AM
Sunrise with Tankzilla at SpaceX Boca Chica launch site.This is the crane that will lift Starship SN11 onto the launch stand as early as Monday, March 8.

➡️ https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1368185882696708102
Nice sunrise pic at the link.
—-
⬇️ Image below: current status of SpaceX Starships, March 5. Click to embiggen.
 
—- Starlink on the move
SpaceX's New FCC Filing Requests To Operate Starlink 'In Moving Vehicles, Vessels & Aircraft'

SpaceX is already providing Starlink satellite broadband internet in the United States and abroad. With approximately 1,205 satellites in orbit the company is accepting service pre-orders via Starlink.com. Starlink customers use a phased-array dish antenna and Wi-Fi router to receive high-speed internet service from the satellites. The service is currently limited to a specific region and address, the dish antenna cannot be moved far from the specific user location to receive connection. “Your Starlink is assigned to a single cell,” the company says, “If you move your Starlink outside of its assigned cell, a satellite will not be scheduled to serve your Starlink and you will not receive internet.”

SpaceX has plans to make Starlink service available on the move, according to a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing that was published on March 5. SpaceX’s FCC filing requests to operate Starlink terminals ‘in moving vehicles, vessels, and aircraft.’ “The Commission has granted a blanket license for operation of up to one million end-user customer Earth stations [dish antennas]. SpaceX Services seeks a blanket license authorizing operation of such end-user earth stations for deployment as Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations (“VMESs”), Earth Stations on Vessels (“ESVs”), and Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft (“ESAAs”) (collectively, Earth Stations in Motion (“ESIMs”)),” SpaceX wrote in the FCC filing. “SpaceX Services seeks authority to deploy and operate these earth stations (1) as VMES throughout the United States and its territories, (2) as ESVs in the territorial waters of the United States and throughout international waters worldwide, and (3) as ESAAs on U.S.-registered aircraft operating worldwide and non-U.S.-registered aircraft operating in U.S. airspace,” the company told the FCC.

SpaceX also said it “will ensure installation of ESIM terminals on vehicles and vessels by qualified installers who have an understanding of the antenna's radiation environment and the measures best suited to maximize protection of the general public and persons operating the vehicle and equipment.”

If SpaceX receives FCC approval, Starlink will be capable of operating aboard moving vehicles including airplanes and ships out in the ocean where internet communications are not usually available. “Granting this application would serve the public interest by authorizing a new class of ground-based components for SpaceX's satellite system that will expand the range of broadband capabilities available to moving vehicles throughout the United States and to moving vessels and aircraft worldwide,” SpaceX told the Commission, “The urgency to provide broadband service to unserved and underserved areas has never been clearer. U.S. and worldwide demand for broadband services and Internet connectivity continues to increase with escalating requirements for speed, capacity, and reliability and ongoing adaptations for usage."

https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/starlink-vessels
 
—- SpaceX sea fleet returns to port with major loot

Stephen Marr (@spacecoast_stve) 3/6/21, 10:26 AM
Make that two successfully scooped fairing halves! GO Navigator is back, and that’ll make one whole fairing ready to be prepped for another flight.

➡️ https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1368221490701799436
Photos at the link and the thread. “Looks like a spare fairing cradle on the helipad.”

[vox_mundi]

Video: https://mobile.twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1367557287741698049

Zeus has been spotted inspecting SpaceX landing sites before. It's not clear what exactly the mechanical pooch was doing at the SN10 explosion site, but Zeus is likely outfitted with cameras and sensors to collect data, since approaching wrecked rockets can be unsafe for humans.

[Sigmetnow]

It’s a race!   Tug Hawk is slowly bringing OCISLY into Port Canaveral due to tow chain issues, and SN11 is being moved to the launch site.  Which will reach their destination first?

Gavin Cornwell (@SpaceXFleet) 3/8/21, 10:11 AM
SpaceX workers on the small boat have boarded the droneship and inspected the emergency tow line and think it's okay to bring the droneship in shortly.
Apparently, one of the tow chains is dragging underwater but the emergency line should be okay to use.
…
It sounds like the main tow chain between Hawk and OCISLY failed at some point and is now dragging underwater.
The crew was also concerned about damage to the emergency backup line but that is actually okay after inspection by SpaceX workers from the fast boat.

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1368942538380484609

—- Next launch prep

Gavin Cornwell (@SpaceXFleet) 3/7/21, 8:27 AM
Searcher and Navigator are back out to sea - 24 hours after returning - for the next fairing recovery mission.

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1368553796788445189

—- Starships

Mary (@BocaChicaGal)3/8/21, 7:52 AM
This morning Starship SN11 is preparing to roll to the launch site.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1368907487211044866
⬇️ Photo below.
Kerbal Space Academy (@KSpaceAcademy)3/8/21, 8:51 AM
Good Morning from @NASASpaceflight Livestream Control!
@BocaChicaGal and the crew are standing by for the rollout of SN11, expected to move to the test site today. Road closure begins at 9 AM CST.   

Live stream ➡️youtu.be/UynhUVEkpg0

—-
Raptor SN58 was delivered to SpaceX Boca Chica with another message for everyone:
“Much Land Where Box?”
➡️ https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1368275693935722505
Photos at the link.

—- Super Heavy
A heavy duty stand is being moved from the fabrication building to the mid/high bay area.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1368293052503236610

Booster BN1 section has been moved onto the new heavy duty stand at SpaceX Boca Chica. The label reads “BN1 Booster Double”.
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1368598140144779266
Visuals at the links.

—-
Here is the SpaceX Boca Chica launch site construction plan. Looks like there will be two orbital pads, with SpaceX eventually expanding to the south.
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1368353119269224448
⬇️ One image below;  more at this link ⬇️
https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Portals/26/docs/regulatory/PN%20March/Plans_201300381.pdf

—-

Rocket Rundown (@RocketRundown) 3/5/21, 7:20 PM
It really does look like something out of an 80s sci-fi show. Credit: SpaceX

https://twitter.com/rocketrundown/status/1367993398750248962
⬇️ Photos below.

—-
Russian Cosmonauts Are Drilling Holes in the Walls of the ISS

Russian cosmonauts currently stationed on board the International Space Station have started drilling holes near the infamous crack that formed in the station’s Zvezda module, causing air to vent into outer space, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reports.

It may sound counterintuitive, but drilling holes, one on either end of the crack, is a procedure to prevent the crack from growing. The technique, known as “stop drilling,” has been used in aviation, as well as to prevent cracks from widening in windshields and even drum set cymbals.
…
The crack is now being sealed using a special sealant, and it will eventually be covered with a patch. …

https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-cosmonauts-drilling-holes-walls-iss    https://apple.news/Apzt4VhK-QWmJ5uh3bXs2aw

—- The albatross is designed for efficient flying — not landing.

RoyalAlbatrossCam (@RoyAlbatrossCam) 3/6/21, 5:55 AM
3/6 14:56
Flying for the albatross is mainly effortless, landing can be a little bit harder. #RoyalCam chick had a front row seat to a ‘how not to land’ lesson.
Lucky for the somersaulting alby, recovery was quick and only the chick was watching!!
AllAboutBirds.org/Albatross 

➡️ https://twitter.com/royalbatrosscam/status/1368153295634636804
Video clip at the link.   

[Sigmetnow]

—- Starlink

SpaceX:
Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites is targeted for [today], March 9 at 9:58 p.m. EST from Florida. Weather is looking good for launch and landing spacex.com/launches 
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1369100478831677440

Launch time: 0258 GMT on 10th (9:58 p.m. EST on 9th)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 21st batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink V1.0-L20.
https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

—-

Michael Sheetz:
SpaceX wants to connect more than just homes to its Starlink satellite internet:
The company submitted an FCC request to begin installing and operating terminals on "moving vehicles" – from cars and trucks to ships and jets. 
cnbc.com: https://t.co/ekXLqjP1fy

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 3/8/21, 5:24 PM
Not connecting Tesla cars to Starlink, as our terminal is much too big. This is for aircraft, ships, large trucks & RVs.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1369051431903268865


—— One if by land, many boats if by sea…
Surprisingly, SN11 won the race! It was rolled to the launch site yesterday, lifted off by crane (CATO — Crane Assisted Take-Off ) onto pipe stands (possibly to test the landing legs); then the crane lifted it again to Suborbital Launch Mount B. (SN10 launched from Mount A, which is likely still being refurbished.)  SN 11 already has her three Raptor engines installed.  Next: Cryo tests, static fire, launch.

Meanwhile, OCISLY is still waiting offshore, being visited by various boats, due to her tow chain issue.

—- Starship

Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 3/8/21, 6:19 PM
Starship SN11 is almost on the launch stand at SpaceX Boca Chica.

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1369065216353386497
⬇️ Photo below.

Mary (@BocaChicaGal) 3/9/21, 10:54 AM
This morning Raptor SN59 was delivered at SpaceX Boca Chica! The next one to arrive could possibly be SN60!

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1369315769503387648
Photo at link.

—- OCISLY

JohnCn (@JConcilus) 3/9/21, 7:18 AM
Hawk and OCISLY are moving slowly just offshore of the Port Canaveral entrance this morning, and the sun is fully up now. Still no gathering of tugs at Port just yet, but we sure had a beautiful sunrise... 

https://twitter.com/jconcilus/status/1369261368885583873
⬇️ One photo below; additional, wide shots at the link.


—- Russia and China signed a memorandum on the creation of a lunar station
Роскосмос. Россия и Китай подписали меморандум о создании лунной станции - Новости - Госкорпорация «Роскосмос»
https://www.roscosmos.ru/30248/

via web translate:
“The International Scientific Lunar Station is a complex of experimental research facilities created on the surface and / or in the orbit of the Moon, designed to carry out multidisciplinary and multipurpose research work, including the exploration and use of the Moon, lunar observations, fundamental research experiments and technology verification with the possibility of long-term unmanned operation with the prospect of a human presence on the moon.”

[Sigmetnow]

—- More Starlink

Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) 3/9/21, 12:13 PM
In advance of this evening's planned launch, SpaceX says it is beginning Starlink service in Germany and New Zealand this week, and will expand its existing service in the UK.

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1369335457809657859


—- OCISLY & Booster Return to Port

Kyle Montgomery (@Kyle_M_Photo) 3/9/21, 12:08 PM
After over a day of sitting off the coast because of issues with the main tow line Hawk, OCISLY, and B1049.8 are now entering Port Canaveral. 

https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1369334352707022865
Photo at the link.


—- Starship
Word is that Super Heavy Booster BN1 will not fly, but will be cryo tested and static fired.  BN2 should hop, in some fashion.

“Launching from Starbase, Texas.”
https://twitter.com/ercxspace/status/1369051985023033344
⬇️ Fan rendering below.