**** Bezos. :(


<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Take our deal or we sue. That’s the offer on the table now from Blue Origin? Remarkable. <a href="https://t.co/AzshsZB5GV">https://t.co/AzshsZB5GV</a></p>&mdash; Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1425623692323835905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>

LMAO

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If lobbying &amp; lawyers could get u to orbit, Bezos would be on Pluto rn</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1425639813416427526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

lol
Sooner or later, you gotta think NASA is going to start publicly responding. I have to imagine some of their engineers are cringing at the thought of having to work with BO.

(sigh)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Expecting some not great news on Starliner&#39;s OFT-2 mission, possibly as soon as this afternoon. It won&#39;t launch this month.</p>&mdash; Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1425907925500014597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ouch. I'm guessing it gets pushed to 2022 at this point.

Yep.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As I noted earlier, Starliner is not launching this month. It may not launch in 2021. <a href="https://t.co/hef7q9NaFS">https://t.co/hef7q9NaFS</a></p>— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1425960899488137220?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

https://starlinerupdates.com/

Makes me think of that Big Bang Theory episode where can't turn a lugnut.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0FiDhFJ2f58?start=19" title="YouTube video player" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>

<iframe width="1110" height="624" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kz165f1g8-E" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'm more interested to see this converted to space based manufacturing. Lot of 3D printing already in "new space". SpaceX has been 3D printing parts for Falcon and Rocket Lab 3D prints its Rutherford engines on Electron. 3D printing the rocket body is new (and still seems a bit insane but cool), but with what SpaceX has done with Starship and sheet metal construction in the last year I'm not sure if 3D printing provides much in the way of cheaper/faster anymore.

I'm still rooting for Relativity though. They and Rocket Lab are my two favorites for surviving the swell of small launch startups. I just think they need to diversify a bit like SpaceX and RocketLab have done. With all these launch service startups beginning to finally come on line, it will be a race to the bottom profit wise. I'd like to see Relativity take their 3D printing expertise and use it in space for building infrastructure. A small POC to build a sealed container with ports to alllow sensors and pressurize would be cool. Or even cooler, do it on the moon using regolith! :D

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We&#39;ve determined <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Starliner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Starliner</a> will return to our factory for deeper-level troubleshooting of four propulsion system valves. With <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a>, we&#39;ve decided to stand down for this launch window to make way for other national priority missions.<br><br>More: <a href="https://t.co/oycWeRz156">https://t.co/oycWeRz156</a> <a href="https://t.co/UzCZN66451">pic.twitter.com/UzCZN66451</a></p>&mdash; Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/BoeingSpace/status/1426218670779420678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

2022, here we come!
:(

I assume that they gave the sticky valves a good whack with a wrench?

I'll be really curious what level of detail comes out of the press conference. I really want to know how a majority of the valves suddenly get stuck on the pad right before launch...

Let's not forget though...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xe4ee56aHSg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Sure, there's no question that shit happens. You would just expect that they would have worked out when issues with valves were part of the problem last time.