Random SpaceX Musings

[Scotsman]

When the 2 side boosters landed together after the 2nd flight , It was as though the old Thunderbirds TV series had come true , absolutely magnificent 

 

 

And speaking of Thunderbirds, Some of us UK members of a certain age might just get a kick out of this !

 

 

Edited March 17, 2021 by Scotsman

[Pete Fleischmann]

On 3/11/2021 at 8:41 PM, denders said:

Well, that cell phone in your pocket isn't too far from a Star Trek communicator.  I'm waiting for "Beam us up Scotty", although I'm not really sure I would actually want to be converted to energy and back. 

particle physics says you already are energy-

 

 

[Out2gtcha]

4 minutes ago, Pete Fleischmann said:

particle physics says you already are energy-

 

 

 

You matter!

 

Until you multiply yourself times the speed of light, then you energy.     

[Ayovan]

58 minutes ago, Scotsman said:

When the 2 side boosters landed together after the 2nd flight , It was as though the old Thunderbirds TV series had come true , absolutely magnificent 

 

 

And speaking of Thunderbirds, Some of us UK members of a certain age might just get a kick out of this !

 

 

 Along with some of us Yanks. That was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid. THUDERBIRDS ARE GO!

[Ayovan]

SpaceX does it again.  

 

SpaceX SN15 Starship Sticks Its Landing (msn.com)

 

I do have to admit though, the Starship rocket does look like something from a B rated sci-fi movie, but it works.......

Edited May 9, 2021 by Ayovan

[John1]

11 hours ago, Ayovan said:

SpaceX does it again.  

 

SpaceX SN15 Starship Sticks Its Landing (msn.com)

 

I do have to admit though, the Starship rocket does look like something from a B rated sci-fi movie, but it works.......

Right?   Same goes for those suits the Astronauts are wearing.   Looks like they went to Tractor Supply and purchased a pallet of farmer's high-topped rubber mud boots. 

[Ayovan]

Man, that sure is a whole lot of stainless steel. Elon Musk is supposed to announce plans for the 1st orbital flight of Starship. Sounds like the moon and Mars are getting closer. 

 

EDIT: Missed this. Posted about 6 hours ago. Couldn't find a date for the mission, but FAA has already approved the next 3 rocket flights so I'm sure it will be soon.

 

According to the document, a Starship craft fitted with a Super Heavy booster will lift from the company’s Boca Chica, Texas launch facility. Approximately three minutes into the flight, the booster stage will separate and splash down in the Gulf of Mexico about 20 miles from shore. The Starship rocket will pass over the Straits of Florida before entering orbit and then returning to Earth and attempting to make a soft ocean landing approximately 62 miles off the northwest coast of Kauai. If all goes according to plan, the entire flight from start to finish should take about 90 minutes to complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Ayovan

[alaninaustria]

Just amazing! 

Cheers

Alan

[John1]

I find it amazing how quickly SX can churn out these prototypes.   Again, comparing this to NASA where it would have been years between launches.  

[Scotsman]

Can you imagine the  reaction if NASA lost prototypes at the rate SpaceX did , you can get away with a lot if no one is peering over your shoulder second guessing every decision 

[Ayovan]

3 hours ago, Scotsman said:

Can you imagine the  reaction if NASA lost prototypes at the rate SpaceX did , you can get away with a lot if no one is peering over your shoulder second guessing every decision 

Pretty sure NASA blew up a number of rockets trying to get it right. 

[John1]

3 hours ago, Scotsman said:

Can you imagine the  reaction if NASA lost prototypes at the rate SpaceX did , you can get away with a lot if no one is peering over your shoulder second guessing every decision 

That's the beauty of having the private sector wade into this business.  Elon can have his prototypes blow up every day of the week and the only way he'll stop sending up more is if he decides to stop.   Regardless, the ability to do this work (somewhat) out of the public eye still doesn't minimize how impressive it is that he can rapidly churn out SN's and equip them with Raptor engines.   In the meantime, Arienspace, NASA, the Russians and the rest of the industry lumber along trying to figure out how these guys have turned their world (and business models) upside down. 

Edited May 15, 2021 by John1

[Ayovan]

25 minutes ago, John1 said:

That's the beauty of having the private sector wade into this business.  Elon can have his prototypes blow up every day of the week and the only way he'll stop sending up more is if he decides to stop.   Regardless, the ability to do this work (somewhat) out of the public eye still doesn't minimize how impressive it is that he can rapidly churn out SN's and equip them with Raptor engines.  

Also remember SpaceX is developing much of thier own technology, where as NASA used a lot of existing technology particularly in the earlier years of the space program. Both Redstone and Atlas rockets were exsiting designs for balistic missiles until someone had the bright idea of strapping a man to the nose.

 

Edit: should have included the Titan II rocket as well.

Edited May 15, 2021 by Ayovan

[John1]

Looks like something from a bad sci-fi film, circa 1960.   

 

 

Hard to believe that it took 50+ years to finally surpass the power of the might Saturn V.

[Martinnfb]

Will NASA ever launch again?