Cool, thanks for the bump. Hopefully it'll show up on PBS streaming (since I don't even bother with an antenna these days, and PBS isn't on Hulu).

SpaceX’s ‘Starhopper’ bursts into flames during static fire test

SpaceX’s test vehicle, a small-scale demonstration craft for some Starship components, caught fire after what appears to be a fuel leak or dump following an otherwise successful static fire test last night. It’s not clear why the craft suddenly burst into flames, or whether it was seriously or even superficially damaged.

The “Starhopper,” as SpaceX has been calling it, is a much smaller-scale version of the Starship craft the company has in development, meant to test them out in a live-fire environment and even perform short flights called hops — hence the name. It’s being assembled and operated at SpaceX’s facilities in Boca Chica, Texas.

https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/17/sp...tic-fire-test/

<iframe width="738" height="414" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JKyZ_7ZjabU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yeah, that looked pretty intense. Thankfully, seems like the damage was relatively light, though.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Regarding Starhopper in South Texas, hearing from multiple sources that the &quot;fireball&quot; during Tuesday night&#39;s test caused no significant damage. Some minor repairs may be needed. SpaceX will proceed cautiously, with the &quot;hop&quot; test coming perhaps in days or few weeks.</p>&mdash; Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1151853085750439937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Launch tonight, though weather is looking a bit iffy.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Falcon 9 and Dragon are vertical ahead of tonight’s resupply mission to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>. Weather is 30% favorable for the instantaneous launch window at 6:24 p.m. EDT, 22:24 UTC→ <a href="https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z">https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z</a> <a href="https://t.co/S5t9KxvmAG">pic.twitter.com/S5t9KxvmAG</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1154041225458024448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There's a storm threatening, but for the moment we're still on...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">T-30 minutes until Falcon 9 launch of Dragon; team is monitoring weather conditions. Webcast will go live ~15 minutes before liftoff → <a href="https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z">https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1154147803020419072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Scrubbed. Tomorrow's not looking much better, but we'll see.

Where is it launching from?

CCAFS in Florida.

LightSail 2 Successfully Deploys Solar Sail

The Planetary Society’s LightSail 2 spacecraft has successfully deployed the large, aluminized Mylar sail it will use to raise its orbit solely with sunlight.

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason...loys-sail.html

In case anyone's bored, they're probably going to test Starhopper in the next 5-10 minutes. Everyday Astronaut is live streaming it.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aChE86D0c_A" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hopper has hopped!

Watching..

It's tough to see, but you can definitely catch the top of the dome rising above the smoke.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">STARHOPPER HAS HOPPED! <a href="https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpacePadreIsle</a> stream:<a href="https://t.co/KylvHIDFp7">https://t.co/KylvHIDFp7</a> <a href="https://t.co/QqyCP3yYhk">pic.twitter.com/QqyCP3yYhk</a></p>&mdash; Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1154599505121226752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

If you just tuned in, go back about 5 minutes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MAN, THAT WAS COOL! I wish I could’ve stayed there and saw it, but it was still amazing to watch nonetheless!<br><br>��: <a href="https://twitter.com/Erdayastronaut?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Erdayastronaut</a>’s stream ft. <a href="https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thejackbeyer</a>! <a href="https://t.co/xlXjr2LgqE">pic.twitter.com/xlXjr2LgqE</a></p>&mdash; Tyler Gray (@TylerG1998) <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerG1998/status/1154599190657490945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>