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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
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https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/13663586735224995882 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!
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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.
