Maybe we'll get one launch today. Having two in one day would have been epic!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Targeting launch of SAOCOM 1B at 7:18 p.m. EDT tonight. Falcon 9 and SAOCOM 1B are vertical on SLC-40. Weather continues to be 40% favorable for liftoff <a href="https://t.co/jCIYnIc8Ju">pic.twitter.com/jCIYnIc8Ju</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1300038419108605953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What needs to happen to make launches as reliable as air travel, where only severe storms delay or cancel flights?

Commercial flights get delayed and canceled all the time over mechanical issues.

I haven’t looked up numbers, but it seems that the likelihood of a commercial flight being significantly delayed is much lower than for a launch.

You said "air travel, where only severe storms delay or cancel flights." So, the only isn't accurate. They do have mechanical delays and cancellations.

I'd imagine that on a per flight basis, rockets are much more prone to mechanical delays.

Particularly ULA...

T-55:00

T-15:00

Feed is live:

https://www.spacex.com/launches/

Wow, great video of the boost back burn.

And fairing separation! Never seen that before from the ground.

And stuck the landing

Amazing

It's weird seeing the southern polar orbit. I wonder if they are going to try to catch the fairing halves? Maybe over Cuba?

LMAO

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Falcon 9 first stage lands at Landing Zone 1 to complete this booster’s fourth flight <a href="https://t.co/tUtAcKmIFn">pic.twitter.com/tUtAcKmIFn</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1300470390213365761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now targeting Thursday, September 3 at 8:46 a.m. EDT for launch of Starlink from Launch Complex 39A, pending Range acceptance — team is using additional time for data review</p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1300520230855172096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Could be a busy day tomorrow!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Starship SN6 150-meter hop now set for Sept. 3 with backup opportunities on Sept. 4 and 5.<br><br>SN7.1 prototype testing begins Sept. 6 with additional testing opportunities on Sept. 7 and 8.<a href="https://t.co/6u2msVb0b8">https://t.co/6u2msVb0b8</a> <a href="https://t.co/12LKDVk3dB">pic.twitter.com/12LKDVk3dB</a></p>&mdash; Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1300512635247501312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And the latest Starlink mission is still scheduled for 8:46am EDT

SN6 hop test scheduled for today:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JQB31yXJCo8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Oh, and the Starlink12 mission was a complete success.

Pretty cool to watch, but I'm itching for the higher test flights.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AKA-r2lt8uc?start=6195" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Just ****ing unbelievable watching it happen.

Another angle:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jVcn2yQReDI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Just imagine 31 (or 28) of those Raptor engines igniting at once...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Second 150m flight test of Starship <a href="https://t.co/ROa0kQZXLI">pic.twitter.com/ROa0kQZXLI</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1301718836563947522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That looks very sci-fi like.

What are they using for fuel with that thing? That flame looks different to me.

Raptor burns liquid methane and LOX.

Thanks. It looks more like a cutting torch than anything else. :D

No flames on the side of the engine this time. Seems like an improvement.

Yes, I noticed that too.

Very cool! First time I've ever seen the boost back burn:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lXgLyCYuYA4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Oh, and I'm not saying that the thing that flies off at 0:42 is an alien. But, it's an alien.

VERY COOL! Rep...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SN8 Starship with flaps &amp; nosecone should be done in about a week. Then static fire, checkouts, static fire, fly to 60,000 ft &amp; back.</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1304836575075819520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Elon Musk, head of SpaceX, has announced via Twitter that the company's SN8 rocket will take a test flight sometime next week. The plan is for the rocket is to soar up to 60,000 feet (18,300 meters) and then return to Earth in a controlled landing.

SN8 is one in a line of SpaceX's Starships that are predecessors to vehicles for missions to the moon and Mars. SN5 and SN6 recently completed tests of 500 feet each, which the company calls short hops, before returning to Earth. They were meant to test the integrity of the steel walls of the rocket. Both were launched at SpaceX's launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, and both had just one Raptor engine pushing them into the air. SN7 was intentionally destroyed in a test tank to determine the strength limits of the design. SN8 will launch from the same site and will have three of the Raptor engines to give it the power needed to reach the much higher altitude. The test next week will be the first time three of the Raptors will be tested together as a single unit.

Before the rocket can be launched, it must first undergo a few more tests. They are called static fires (in which the rocket is held down as the engines fire) and ground checkouts. SN8 (unlike its predecessors) will also be fitted with flaps to assist with steering and a nosecone, which will be used in the future to hold cargo or people. The addition of both, Musk notes, will give the rocket a look much like the final design. The plan also calls for turning off the three engines during the initial stage of a descent and controlled landing—the rocket will perform a belly flop routine to slow its descent for several minutes and then the engines will be restarted, allowing the rocket to land in an upright position.

Musk has suggested in the past that his Starships will be able to carry as many as 100 people at a time to the moon (or 100 tons of cargo). The ultimate goal, however, is carrying people and their cargo to Mars and back.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DdTYMry7fq0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It will be ridiculously impressive if they pull that off on the first attempt.

WTF is that thing at 0:49? Seriously.

Are there any rough estimates of the price or a real price for a seat to go in to outer space?

My dad lives out in the boonies. He can't wait to get starlink internet. 100mbps down for $80/mo. in the middle of nowhere. Just 2 years ago he was paying the phone company $70/mo. for .5mbps down.

“You can tell it’s real because it looks so fake, honestly.” - Elon Musk

Did people actually buy that crap? It looked like a video game. But not a state of the art one. More like a Sega Saturn.

Are you talking about his Tesla Roadster being launched on the first Falcon Heavy?

Sept. 17

Falcon 9 • Starlink 12

Launch time: 1817 GMT (2:17 p.m. EDT)

Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 13th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 12.

thanks for picking up the reins Donger.

Yep....Tesla Roadster. Couldn't believe they tried to pass that off as real.

What makes you think that Musk's Roadster was not launched?

ROFL

Oh please, please tell us more.

Let it go please.

T-4 hours 15 minutes

T-2 hours

Still time for you to board Dong.

Have you watched the stream?

T-15:00

https://www.spacex.com/launches/

El scrubo...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Standing down from today&#39;s Starlink launch due to recovery issue; vehicle and payload remain healthy. Next launch opportunity is tomorrow, September 18 at 1:57 p.m. EDT, but we are keeping an eye on weather</p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1306655390713536513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sept. 26 Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-44

Launch time: 0414 GMT (12:14 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. Delayed from June and Aug. 26. Scrubbed on Aug. 27 by pneumatics issue. Aborted at T-minus 3 seconds on Aug. 29. [Sept. 22]

Sept. 27 Falcon 9 • Starlink 12

Launch time: 1443 GMT (10:43 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 13th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 12. Scrubbed on Sept. 17 due to recovery weather. [Sept. 22]

Sept. 28 Falcon 9 • Starlink 12

Launch time: 1422 GMT (10:22 a.m. EDT)

Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 13th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 12. Scrubbed on Sept. 17 due to recovery weather. Delayed from Sept. 27. [Sept. 25]

And scrubbed:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Standing down from launch of Starlink due to weather; will announce a new target launch date once confirmed</p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1310585610688540675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I suck at this. We need DaFace back.

I dunno. You seem like you're doing a pretty good job to me.

You're doing a fine job... We all really appreciate you keeping this going.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now targeting Wednesday, September 30 for Falcon 9’s launch of GPS III Space Vehicle 04 for improved launch and recovery weather</p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1310774956104364032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sept. 29/30

Falcon 9 • GPS 3 SV04

Launch time: 0155-0210 GMT on 30th (9:55-10:10 p.m. EDT on 29th)

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the U.S. Air Force’s fourth third-generation navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The satellite is built by Lockheed Martin. Delayed from October, December, May, July and August. Moved forward from Sept. 30. [Sept. 22]

You are doing just fine, thanks Donger. We do need DaFace back for this thread, but that isn't an indictment on how you have been doing.

YES!!!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: We’re now targeting 2:40am ET Saturday, Oct. 31, for the launch of the <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Crew-1 mission to send astronauts to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>. Here is the latest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaunchAmerica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LaunchAmerica</a> update: <a href="https://t.co/UXtCHLq247">https://t.co/UXtCHLq247</a> <a href="https://t.co/szkUUQMVv1">pic.twitter.com/szkUUQMVv1</a></p>&mdash; Kathy Lueders (@KathyLueders) <a href="https://twitter.com/KathyLueders/status/1310731112176467968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Nah, that dude's a dick. :)

But seriously, I don't really think you guys have been missing anything. "DaFace" might have added some color commentary, but otherwise it looks like Donger's been keeping up on the major news.

Apparently n00bs can't use thumbs...

I wonder if they scheduled the DEMO-1 launch around viewing times to get the publicity. Makes sense that the next one would just go when they need to go, but kind of sucks that it'll be in the middle of the night for most people.

BTW, I'm finding the "Next Spaceflight" app to be very solid to help keep track of launches. They're aiming to launch the Delta IV Heavy again tonight, though it's been scrub after scrub after scrub for them lately.

Banned for being a mult.

You banned your own mult? That's harsh!




j/k Welcome back!

Thanks. I'm probably still going to be relatively scarce compared to before, but this thread is kind of my baby, so I'll try and pop in often enough to at least post the stuff I think is interesting.

So on that note, the Delta IV Heavy launch keeps getting scrubbed, which keeps forcing SpaceX to bump their launches back. But here's a super cool shot of both F9's patiently waiting for their turns to fly.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Targeting Thursday, October 1 at 9:17 a.m. EDT for launch of Starlink. Due to a conflict on the Range, now targeting launch of GPS III-4 on Friday, October 2; 15-min window opens at 9:43 p.m. EDT <a href="https://t.co/VVhhatjBbh">pic.twitter.com/VVhhatjBbh</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1311142615723638784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Boom

Welcome back, Skipper!

Looks like the Delta IV Heavy is still scheduled for tonight at 11:54pm EDT. Then again, a bird might land on it and scrub it...

And we thought SpaceX scrubbed a lot. It's been crazy watching them try and get that thing (D4H) off the ground. Hopefully they can get it in the air tonight just to clear the range for everyone else!

They should just transfer the payload to a Falcon Heavy.

:)

Looks like ULA might actually get off the ground tonight. Maybe.

Their stream is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssnh8KznSeM

I'll be watching to see if Tim Dodd does a hosted stream, personally.

Late night launch. Like!

And possibly another in the morning.

Welcome Back.

Feed went live...but it is still on the howlin' wolf screen.


edit: nvm...live for realz now.

Here we go...

4 minutes...

It's a bit confusing. T-minus counts down to the point that they CAN launch. They have a built in 15 minute hold. That's where we are.

A+ bump!

NOW 4 minutes.

Ha. Just wait until launch.

LOL...that going to be a scrub?