Even though SLS really needs to die, that sucks pretty bad. It's almost certain SLS won't fly in 2021 now.

Even though the programs are in dramatically different places, it's also striking how different it is for Starship vs. SLS. Starship finds some issues? Swap a couple of engines. Hopefully fly in a week. SLS finds some issues? Back to the drawing board. Hopefully fly next year.

Kind of flew under the radar that Virgin managed to get to orbit yesterday! That doesn't sound like much, but they're only the third private company to do so (I think), and no one has ever done it from under a jet before. Pretty cool.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Looks like the blue skies went to black!” We are overjoyed to share this new video of our Launch Demo 2 flight. The adrenaline is still flowing after we aced this flight and delivered satellites for nine different <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> and university teams exactly to their target orbit. <a href="https://t.co/nVX21hXywi">pic.twitter.com/nVX21hXywi</a></p>— Virgin Orbit (@Virgin_Orbit) <a href="https://twitter.com/Virgin_Orbit/status/1351265749562626050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As a sign of things to come, SpaceX appears to have purchased two oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and named them Phobos and Deimos (moons of Mars). Doesn't take a rocket scientist (pun intended) to figure out that these will likely be involved in Starship down the road.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Following up on <a href="https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thejackbeyer</a>&#39;s find, I can confirm that Deimos and Phobos are the names of two oil rigs purchased by SpaceX – likely for conversion to support Starship operations.<br><br>ENSCO 8500 and ENSCO 8501 were the previous names of the rigs. They are nearly identical twins.</p>&mdash; Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1351442201134264321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

(more info if you click into the full thread)

Makes complete sense. Those rigs are semi-submersibles. Or, half sunk. Or, half floating?

:)

Is the thought to launch from them, or catch the booster?


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Complete conjecture, but most likely both. Recent Twitter ramblings from Musk suggest they're trying to figure out how to basically catch the boosters on the launch pad itself so they can just fuel them up again and be ready to launch with a new payload.

Well that would be badass

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Just to be clear, catch and launch the Super Heavy, land the Starship. :D

I slept through this one, but launch #8 for a booster!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Falcon 9 launches Starlink to orbit – the eighth launch and landing of this booster <a href="https://t.co/zyj8ZdDFql">pic.twitter.com/zyj8ZdDFql</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1351913896274128898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ZJghIk7_VA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Possible SN9 static fire with the two new engines today:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqkE8Q5e2d8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You can tell how softly it sets down there. When watching the launch last week it was hard to tell if that soft landing worked or if the puff of dust was from the force of the landing.

Definitely looks like a hell of a fun ride. Out of my price range though. :(

Seems like SN9 doesn't want to fly...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Starship SN9 Static Fire testing during a foggy day in Boca Chica.<br><br>Looked short and lacking the usual power of a normal test. Potential abort during the firing?<br><br>➡️<a href="https://t.co/3JwGoYpjN4">https://t.co/3JwGoYpjN4</a> <a href="https://t.co/wrMUPF15kd">pic.twitter.com/wrMUPF15kd</a></p>&mdash; Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1352387315809845248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">STATIC FIRE! Starship SN9 fires up her three Raptors. Very smooth morning pad flow to ignition. <br><br>Looks and sounded very good. Let&#39;s hope the data was good to approve launch next week.<br><br>SN9 Status:<a href="https://t.co/Q0QbkThFh6">https://t.co/Q0QbkThFh6</a><br><br>➡️<a href="https://t.co/KLFof9P5Ts">https://t.co/KLFof9P5Ts</a> <a href="https://t.co/fs7KK78WYb">pic.twitter.com/fs7KK78WYb</a></p>&mdash; Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1352632161065693184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>