No recovery of the first stage. It's like back to the days of NASA 'n stuff..

Some cool stuff coming out from SpaceX this weekend. First, they've got the first crew Dragon test vehicle mounted to the booster and are doing fit tests. They're still a month or so from launching the first test, but the pictures are pretty damn cool (especially the one with the access arm leading out to the capsule).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Preparing to return human spaceflight capabilities to the United States, Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 went vertical at historic Launch Complex 39A in Florida. <a href="https://t.co/igggZdCU9k">pic.twitter.com/igggZdCU9k</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1081405732107370497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Also, they're starting to build the first "hopper" test vehicle for the Starship in Texas. They're hoping to do hop tests in the next couple months. Still likely years away from an actual launch, though.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BocaChicaTEXAS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BocaChicaTEXAS</a> sunrise this morning. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BFSBuild?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BFSBuild</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FogTweet?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FogTweet</a> ��: Maria Pointer <a href="https://t.co/WB5cUCZZtI">pic.twitter.com/WB5cUCZZtI</a></p>&mdash; Cowboy Dan (@CowboyDanPaasch) <a href="https://twitter.com/CowboyDanPaasch/status/1081567268901928961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Starship test vehicle under assembly will look similar to this illustration when finished. Operational Starships would obv have windows, etc. <a href="https://t.co/D8AJ01mjyR">pic.twitter.com/D8AJ01mjyR</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1081576707365064704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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So, a month away from a presumed unmanned Crew Dragon flight?

Roughly. Don't think they've set a specific date yet.

Brilliant!

Hope they spice that up somehow. Right now it looks like a dildo with an American flag slapped on it.

Guess you haven't seen pictures of New Shepherd...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...109878c140.jpg

So, BFR is now "Starship"?

Technically BFS is now Starship. BFR is now Falcon Super Heavy. Wouldn't surprise me to see those change again.

Okay. WTF is BFS? And what is Falcon Super Heavy?

Starship (formerly BFS) is the part in the photo above that will house the crew/payload, travel to Mars, etc.

Falcon Super Heavy (formerly BFR) is the booster that will launch from Earth and then return to land.

It's kind of like F9 vs. Dragon.

Big ****ing Ship. Thats the second stage. Falcon Super Heavy is the booster stage.

Ah okay, thanks.

Honestly, I haven't kept much interest in any of the companies after it turned out everybody was going to continue using old school rocket designs rather than developing newer concepts like aerospikes. I get why (profit, faster time table) but it doesn't really...inspire me, I guess, to pay real close attention. It sort of feels like watching the 60s all over again, which is cool but...it doesn't really feel like we're going anywhere new. Not that I was alive then, of course, but being a child of the 70s, space was always kind of a big deal. Point being that I'm watching launches now (and I do watch sometimes, it's still neat...) that look pretty much like launches I watched forty years ago. Yeah the computer tech is incredibly advanced now and we can land them on ships in the middle of the ocean, but it just feels...old, at a fundamental level to see us still using basically the same kind of engines we had fifty years ago. Or eighty...

Maybe the kid inside 45-year old me just expected us to have a much cooler, much more space-explore-y world than we do at this point in time.

It's really amazing how accurate the art directors on Cat-Women of the Moon were back in 1953...

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2NTsdm5FN...25286%2529.jpg

You care more about engine nozzle design more than reusability?

I get where he's coming from. Things were pretty stagnant for a long time. But what it comes down to is that cost is the barrier to doing crazier stuff, so reusability is as important as the general design.

Yes, agreed. When you look at the cost comparison of a Saturn V launch to BFR, it's insane. Probably a bit of Musk hopeful thinking, but still.

But sure, I'd love to see impulse power and warp drive, too!

Personally, while I loved the shuttle missions, I realized that it was a step forward and a step back. I love this era.

Exactly. It's commercial, so everything comes down to the financial. There's not really anything inspiring there, to me. Which is what I think's been missing since the mid-70's and the end of the Apollo program. Because while I enjoyed the spectacle of the launches and the missions, I didn't like that we wasted an entire generation on the space shuttle, and I'm not sure we're doing much new now. And I don't know what this business version of the space race is going to do for us in terms of space exploration moving forward. Although I think the advances of the Chinese and Indian space programs could spur the US as a nation to do more. Although maybe not with fiscal conservatives in change of the purse strings.

I realize I'm saying this the same week we see the first pictures of Ultima Thule.

I think people will start to get more excited if we can get a base going on the moon (and, eventually, boots on Mars). Until then, I totally get why you'd be underwhelmed (though I personally think this is the most exciting time we've had since Apollo).

I thought this was fun to give a sense of scale to Starship compared to Dragon.

https://i.redd.it/7hmvdc55ms821.jpg

That's impressive.

Thanks again to you for keeping this thread going -- it is always interesting and informative.

I remember being at Cape Canveral right before the Apollo-Soyuz mission and while admittedly the whole West vs East thing added to the story it was indeed exciting because new things were happening that had never been attempted, let alone performed. I think you're right that we need to do new things to get the public to pay attention to space like we did as a nation back then.

Hadn't seen this before today:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uSfo2RBxFEs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

They're rapidly iterating on the design, so that's even a little out of date, but the basic gist is still the same. Most notably, they're planning for Starship to be made of stainless steel at this point, so it'll be very shiny (and look like something from science fiction for sure).

Elon has alluded to giving a full update in a few months.

Happy to. My hope is that, someday, we can broaden this to include all of the cool things happening in Space (Blue Origin most notably), but for now, SpaceX is the one that gives us the coolest stuff to dream about. :)

Yeah, it started off with one "fin" IIRC... Ummm, Elon?

And I hope they don't paint it.

I think he said they can't paint it even if they wanted to. I certainly don't understand the physics behind it well, but as I understand it, stainless steel is a good conductor of heat. So the gist is that the entire thing will be one giant heat shield, and they'll have liquid cooling under the surface to move heat around even more.

Or something like that.

Just unneeded weight, anyway! :)

I'm a sucker for Elon's sense of humor.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/Vl6pIb1q9b">pic.twitter.com/Vl6pIb1q9b</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1082000215425593345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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This is just fan art - not anything official from SpaceX - but it's a cool look at what the finished product MIGHT look like.

https://i.redd.it/4rxtq7l5ne921.jpg

Launch tomorrow morning if anyone's interested. Should be landing on the droneship on the west coast.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Falcon 9 and 10 Iridium NEXT satellites vertical on SpaceX’s California launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Tomorrow’s instantaneous launch window is at 7:31 a.m. PST, 15:31 UTC → <a href="https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z">https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z</a> <a href="https://t.co/z3fv7j11xH">pic.twitter.com/z3fv7j11xH</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1083552402752434177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Starship test flight rocket just finished assembly at the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Texas launch site. This is an actual picture, not a rendering. <a href="https://t.co/k1HkueoXaz">pic.twitter.com/k1HkueoXaz</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1083567087983964160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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https://i.imgur.com/91ajNJQ.jpg

(Note Starman for scale.)

Awesome! Will be driving down Sunset at that very moment...

Might be a little late for a really spectacular show (since it'll be slightly after sunrise), but it should still be fun to watch!

T-5 minutes

That was all nominal.

Another awesome launch. Love how routine it all is now.

I'm kind of going to miss Iridium. They've been a huge supporter of SpaceX, and a lot of the "iffy" launches have been theirs. I bet we'll miss not having them as a mainstay customer.

Why are they losing them? Do they have all the satellites deployed now that they could ever need?

Yep. Iridium is replacing their old network with 75 new satellites at 10 per launch. This was launch #8, so they don't need any more.

I suppose it's possible they might need more down the road, but it'll be a long time.

Unfortunately super overcast so nothing to see from the ground. :(

Wood.

Saw the replay of today's launch. It's amazing how a rocket engine can disrupt a radio signal. I get that it's shake the hell out of everything, but wow...

And a perfectly centered landing.. Woot!

SpaceX’s new test rocket topples over thanks to strong Texas winds

A prototype of SpaceX’s next big rocket fell over and sustained damage in south Texas, thanks to high winds in the area. Images from SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas show part of the vehicle sideways on the ground and slightly crumpled. The damage from the mishap will take a few weeks to repair, according to CEO Elon Musk.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/23/1...ca-chica-texas

Oops

I do wonder about that issue even in the long term. There aren't a lot of good places to store a vehicle that large, so they'll definitely have to figure out how to deal with weather at some point (looks like sooner than later).

SpaceX’s Mr. Steven barely misses Falcon 9 fairing catch

Twitter responses are pretty funny.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One of Mr. Steven’s final West Coast fairing recovery tests before shipping out for the East Coast. Wait for it… <a href="https://t.co/A7q37Gpllu">pic.twitter.com/A7q37Gpllu</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1090400806703001600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-mr-...g-catch-video/

Pretty cool:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A fresh block 5 booster departing SpaceX HQ! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/falcon9?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#falcon9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/oversizeload?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#oversizeload</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rocketroad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rocketroad</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Teslarati?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Teslarati</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/w00ki33?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@w00ki33</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/13ericralph31?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@13ericralph31</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZKLHnY6iZT">pic.twitter.com/ZKLHnY6iZT</a></p>&mdash; TomCross (@_TomCross_) <a href="https://twitter.com/_TomCross_/status/1048483536917823488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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It'd be a trip to see that rolling down the street.

First firing of the new engine. Make sure to turn your volume on for the second video (but not up too loud).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First firing of Starship Raptor flight engine! So proud of great work by <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> team!! <a href="https://t.co/S6aT7Jih4S">pic.twitter.com/S6aT7Jih4S</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1092268892339273730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/yFhNx3fiOD">pic.twitter.com/yFhNx3fiOD</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1092272377889738753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Is that the engine for the "main/first stage"?

They will use Raptor for both Starship (7) and Super Heavy (31). They'll optimize for each vehicle, but I've seen comments claiming this is a non-optimized version.

Here's a fan attempt to sync audio...

https://streamable.com/nl6y7

Correct. At first, they'll use the exact same engine on both. Once the system is up and running, they'll branch them into vacuum-optimized and sea-level-optimized versions. (This same concept is used on the F9, where they're all Merlin 1D engines, but the ones are the second stage are vacuum-optimized - M-Vacs.)

Thanks fellas. Can't wait to see it fly. But I still want another Heavy launch.

Me too. Two coming up, one in March and one in April. Mostly looking forward to DM-1 next month though and DM-2 in June. This is going to be one heck of a year for SpaceX.

I can't wait for this thread to get to the next page, whenever I click on it, it always goes back to post #1970..

Here, let me help...

Same problem here. Come on page 41!

Kind of looking like this is gonna get bumped back (perhaps significantly) FWIW. DM1 has slipped into March, and it'll come off of the same pad as the next FH launch. I can't imagine it'll be quick to turn around the pad for Heavy after DM1, so if I was placing bets, I'd say FH slips into April.

I would imagine they're getting pad turn around times down to a matter of days. Easily a week. I still think we can see both launches in March. I think it's more likely that DM-1 gets pushed to after Arabsat-6A actually. Scheduling issues with ISS seem to be the biggest question mark right now.

It's more about what they can do in the HIF to me. Can they build a FH when they still have DM1 sitting in there? I really have no idea, but that seems like a pretty tight space. Guess we'll see.

DM-1 is now NET March 2nd fwiw.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcre...-launch-dates/

DM-1 has been expected to slip to March since late January. Apparently Roscosmos is rather gabby when it comes to ISS/NASA timelines. lol

The SpaceX HIF has plenty of room for boosters in addition to having an FH already integrated on the TEL. With the Arabsat-6A launch, they don't have the added burden of scheduling ISS, so I can see SpaceX trying to go forward with a FH launch while DM-1 waits in the wings. (Then again, it's more likely my own desire to see another FH launch that I'm looking at it through rose colored glasses.)

https://www.teslarati.com/wp-content...paceX-20c1.jpg

This is almost certainly just the latest example of Elon's insane optimism, but...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This will sound implausible, but I think there’s a path to build Starship / Super Heavy for less than Falcon 9</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1094793664809689089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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On PBS right now, Rise of the Rockets. I think it is the story of private companies and their rockets. Ok, in a few minutes I guess. 8PM CT.

Cool, it's available to stream, too (on PBS Roku at least). I'll give it a watch.

Yeah I should have also added it's NOVA.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting February 21 launch of Nusantara Satu from Pad 40 in Florida.</p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1097662953950564352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Coming up Thursday at 8:45pm Eastern.

So much DM-1, FH, and Starship/hopper news going on, kinda forgot they are doing regular launches still.

I never cared about space. At all. Saw all the movies (right stuff, the Martian, Apollo 13, etc). Still never cared.


Saw “First Man” last weekend. Now I care. Now I finally get it. We need to get to Mars and explore everywhere we can. I was really wrong.

Yeah, same here. March and April should be a lot of fun, but this launch will hopefully get us through an otherwise dull time. :)

I actually haven't ever gotten around to seeing that. I need to put that on the priority list. But yes, space exploration is critical. If we're not exploring, I'm not really sure what the point of life really is.

I hadn't really paid much attention to this launch, but it's got a commercial lunar lander on board. That's pretty interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceIL

In short, it'll take a while to do it due to a very slow method of getting there, but it will theoretically land in a few months.

Some great shots I hadn't seen before:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sX1Y2JMK6g8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

DM-1 has been given an official time of 2:48am EST on March 2nd. I'd skip it if it were just another mundane flight, but I think I have to stay up for that one. :)

FWIW, it'll be very similar to a normal Dragon mission in that it'll go up, dock with ISS, then come back down a few days later with a limited amount of cargo going each direction. The only major thing that's different is that the capsule itself is completely different. They'll obviously be testing all sorts of stuff to make sure all would be well if there were humans on board.

Look for the show "Mars" by National Geographic. Included with Season 2 is a documentary called "Inside SpaceX". It's ~45 minutes and definitely worth the watch. Some amazing footage.

Hulu:
https://www.hulu.com/watch/89dcdca8-...8-49f72521b871

You can also watch directly from the Natgeo site...
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/t...98f709efc1607/

Definitely going to stay up for this. No plans that Saturday so far! Some additional details with scheduling and links to coverage...

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/n...and-broadcasts

Cool! Is that the Dragon 2 Cargo variant, or the Crew variant?

Very cool! Thanks!