The SpaceX Thread
- Thread starter daveklingler
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- aerospace rockets satellites spacex
Beginning with the Starlink launch today, all SX missions will we streamed on twitter. No more Youtube.
Blah. I like casting launches into the TV vs watching on a phone, not seeing an easy way to do that. Maybe they'll YT simulcast for the big launches.
Ugh. Guess no more launches for me 
Well now isn't that something. Im about to go view the launch tonight and want to stream the cast while we watch. Does anyone else have a steam with the onboard camera views,? NASA?
+1 - monopolistic bullshit
NSF did a good job filling in for the SpaceX stream. Might be annoying watching starship launches though.
Got to mainline a day at KSC visitor center, then watched the f9 launch over the water as close as possible, and the reentry burn, then visited the last f9 booster sitting on the droneship in the port, and an hour and a half later watched the crew-6 reentry streak across the sky while eating key lime pie. Good day.
I guess I’ll just put up with Tim Dodd’s stream for notable things (like Starship, I expect that will continue) since he usually mirrors the official stream during the important parts.
And will he mirror the X stream? If yes, what will be the quality/stability of the stream? I'll bet on NSF or LabPadre streams for a better coverage.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/08/faa-starship-grounded-corrective-action.htmlWell, now we see what the FAA wants before the next Starship launch. It's not clear how much of that is things that have already been done.
No details, because proprietary and export controlled subject matter
No details, because proprietary and export controlled subject matter
Complete text from that site (spoilered for size below), replacing parentheses with brackets where they were causing problems. At the risk of seeming like ChatGPT (but it seems wrong to just dump the quote and run), the corrective actions seem to be:
- leak mitigations and improved testing on both engine and booster hardware
- significantly expanded Super Heavy’s pre-existing fire suppression system in order to mitigate against future engine bay fires
- enhanced and requalified the Autonomous Flight Safety System [the flight termination device] to improve system reliability.
- significant upgrades to the orbital launch mount and pad system including significant reinforcements to the pad foundation and the addition of a flame deflector
- hot-stage separation system, in which Starship’s second stage engines will ignite to push the ship away from the booster
- new electronic Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system for Super Heavy Raptor engines making them fully electric (it sounds like this just means no hydraulics control them?)
Probably most of them, and probably no unstacking.
View: https://twitter.com/SpaceAbhi/status/1700201198941515881
EllPeaTea posted screenshots of the action items and their status in the FAA/SpaceX front page thread. I didn't want to copy it (and I am not entirely sure where they sourced it) but it sounds like they have finished everything needed for now and six items are for future flights.
It came straight from the horse's mouth
View: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1700789411279966339
I literally don't remember how I signed up for these notifications. Just came in.
"Dear Interested Party:
SpaceX conducted a test flight of the Starship/Super Heavy at Boca Chica, TX on April 20, 2023. As a result of that launch, SpaceX completed a mishap investigation with FAA oversight; this investigation analyzed the launch, mishap events, and corrective actions. Before it is authorized to conduct a second Starship/Super Heavy launch, SpaceX must obtain a modified license from the FAA that addresses all safety, environmental, and other regulatory requirements. As part of that license application determination process, the FAA will review new environmental information, including changes related to the launch pad, as well as other proposed vehicle and flight modifications. The FAA will complete a Written Reevaluation (WR) to the 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) evaluating the new environmental information, including Endangered Species Act consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If the FAA determines through the WR process that the contents of the PEA do not remain valid in light of the changes proposed for Flight 2, additional environmental review will be required. Accordingly, the FAA has not authorized SpaceX’s proposed Flight 2.
The FAA will provide updates with notification of any license determination or results of additional environmental review.
Thank you,
The FAA SpaceX Boca Chica Project Team
Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation | SpaceX Boca Chica, c/o 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031"
"Dear Interested Party:
SpaceX conducted a test flight of the Starship/Super Heavy at Boca Chica, TX on April 20, 2023. As a result of that launch, SpaceX completed a mishap investigation with FAA oversight; this investigation analyzed the launch, mishap events, and corrective actions. Before it is authorized to conduct a second Starship/Super Heavy launch, SpaceX must obtain a modified license from the FAA that addresses all safety, environmental, and other regulatory requirements. As part of that license application determination process, the FAA will review new environmental information, including changes related to the launch pad, as well as other proposed vehicle and flight modifications. The FAA will complete a Written Reevaluation (WR) to the 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) evaluating the new environmental information, including Endangered Species Act consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If the FAA determines through the WR process that the contents of the PEA do not remain valid in light of the changes proposed for Flight 2, additional environmental review will be required. Accordingly, the FAA has not authorized SpaceX’s proposed Flight 2.
The FAA will provide updates with notification of any license determination or results of additional environmental review.
Thank you,
The FAA SpaceX Boca Chica Project Team
Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation | SpaceX Boca Chica, c/o 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031"
I'm not sure, but after some searching I found a post from NasaSpaceFlight forums that claims it was from commenting on the PEA (I think the preliminary environmental assessment). I wasn't able to find if there was a way to sign up for notifications outside of having commented during that period.
Elmo’s IAC talk was a nonevent - I don’t think he shared any new info about anything material. https://www.space.com/spacex-elon-musk-starship-expectations-second-flight
Does autocorrect like Sesame Street, or does Mr. Musk have a new nickname?
/// OFFICIAL MODERATION NOTICE ///
Look, we're not in the Soapbox, but we are supposed to focus on science and technology. Let's strive to avoid the shit that was done to (some, many of (?)) us in school and be better than that.
EDIT: Just clarifying that I don't think a mild swipe at someone akin to Musk is the same, just I would rather we focus in here on the engineering, tech, and science
EDIT2: accidentally a word
EDIT: Just clarifying that I don't think a mild swipe at someone akin to Musk is the same, just I would rather we focus in here on the engineering, tech, and science
EDIT2: accidentally a word
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It is interesting that they only way to have a profitable comm network LEO constellation is to basically first build a profitable launch company and launch your own satellites.
Both are questionable, right? SpaceX isn't really profitable as a commercial company because of its heavy reliance on a legacy market to begin with (with lots of 'at any cost' military and public payloads) and Starlink is kind of an inherently fucked business model with their finances really only working at very high subscription prices (and retention) compared to ground-based internet that is probably better.
I'm not saying either SX or SL aren't useful or profitable, just that there are some very specific circumstances that they need to be profitable, crucially circumstances that rely heavily on non-competitive circumstances.
I question your economic analysis.
1) The SpaceX launch segment is VERY profitable despite being both the cheapest and most reliable ride to orbit. Your 'legacy market' comment makes no sense - least not with considerably more detail and support.
2) Starlink was never intended to compete with high speed ground-based internet. It is meant to compete with GEO internet, which offers much poorer service. Outside some edge cases, Starlink prices are very competitive against GEO internet.
To expand on 1) They also increased the market They're doing more launches than anyone else by a huge margin, and not only their own stuff. Their current status is "if you build it, we'll put it into space for you". The market shifted between very few satellites all pushing for launches, to everyone gets a ride, and it's cheaper than everyone else.
*You may have to ride-share if you don't mind, but that'll be cheaper too.
*You may have to ride-share if you don't mind, but that'll be cheaper too.
I don't think I'm convinced a LEO constellation from an outside company would be profitable even if they got SpaceX to launch them.
Starlink is definitely going to be in a position of advantage over challengers, unless Musk does what he did with twitter and turn something that operates similar to a utility into a space to platform what he favors. Unfortunately, I think it is entirely realistic he would think to block services or content that are competitors to his owned interests or various geopolitical views on the Starlink service. We already saw his willingness to engage in this type of behavior by compromising service with regards to Ukraine.
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Idk. Maybe a 10% cost advantage for internal vs external costs. And SpX has published prices for launch (with extra costs added on for high oversight/choosing boosters/etc (aka gov customers)) . I doubt that they'd go platform-like.
So.. you'd need a fast iterating, cost optimized constellation with other compelling features .. say.. 'free with prime'. Which... is shooting themselves in the foot by not using SpX launchers.
Falcon 9 resupply mish to the ISS in ten minutes, if anyone's bored. (It beats Thursday Night Football for sure.)
edit: Successful launch and RTLS. Nice view of the 'nebula' resulting from the second stage and boostback exhaust plumes hitting each other.
edit: Successful launch and RTLS. Nice view of the 'nebula' resulting from the second stage and boostback exhaust plumes hitting each other.
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Darn; I was hoping for a scrub (because I'll be in Orlando starting tomorrow and I really want to see an RTLS launch/return in person).
Will be keeping an eye out for the O3b launch Sunday afternoon, though-- hopefully it's clear enough to see.
Will be keeping an eye out for the O3b launch Sunday afternoon, though-- hopefully it's clear enough to see.
I have a vested interest in that resupply mission. The ILLUMA optical terminal is on that mission. Turning the ISS into the death star.
I mean, it basically says Illuminati right in the name...Jewish space laser?