<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3 months ago, we started building a massive water-cooled, steel plate to go under the launch mount. <br><br>Wasn’t ready in time & we wrongly thought, based on static fire data, that Fondag would make it through 1 launch.<br><br>Looks like we can be ready to launch again in 1 to 2 months.</p>— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1649523985837686784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Quick cruise by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Starship?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Starship</a>’s launch pad to asses the damage. <a href="https://t.co/vInP7s6EZ5">pic.twitter.com/vInP7s6EZ5</a></p>&mdash; Star✦Fleet Tours (@StarFleetTours) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarFleetTours/status/1649485136684109825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tank farm <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ouch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ouch</a> <a href="https://t.co/vrAqWcBMIQ">pic.twitter.com/vrAqWcBMIQ</a></p>&mdash; Star✦Fleet Tours (@StarFleetTours) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarFleetTours/status/1649486432820514827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I kind of love that Starhopper is going to just sit there and take all of this abuse. It'll be a great reminder someday of all the work that went into getting the real thing done.

So that's about six months in non-Elon time.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023...-or-a-success/

What could not be immediately discerned from the ground is that a handful of the Super Heavy first stage's 33 Raptor engines failed in the early moments of the flight. After about two minutes, more engines failed. Before the end, when the rocket reached a peak altitude just short of 40 km, as many as eight engines appeared to have gone out.

As you said DaFace, that's not a good number.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What it’s like to feel the world’s most powerful rocket, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Starship?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Starship</a>, from only 8km [5 miles] away!!! It shook our studio like crazy! Watch the door �� It wasn’t horribly loud, but it was thunderous &amp; earth rattling. It. Was. Amazing! Congrats <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@spacex</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>! Slow mo coming! <a href="https://t.co/cSZVKltdDN">pic.twitter.com/cSZVKltdDN</a></p>&mdash; Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) <a href="https://twitter.com/Erdayastronaut/status/1649141793508716583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Watching live when they showed this shot I thought this don't look right.

How about the James Web Space Telescope causing all of our best scientists to question the theory of the Big Bang; it seems that, again, what the consensus believed about a popular theory is going to require some rethinking.

The science is not, and by the definition of science, ever settled.

Sounds interesting, do you have a link to an article or something about it?

Man, the carnage that thing caused on liftoff is akin to what a MOAB explosion would look like, I'm assuming.

RIP minivan.

I thought it was a QR code..

Makes you wonder if all the shit flying up from the carnage is what damaged the engines.

100% what I think happened, the debris caused some engines to fail

But how could any debris make it back up through the force of the exhaust?

Tons of forces at play there. One possible explanation is that they start up the engines in a sequence rather than all at once, so there would be "dead spots" in the force where the ricochet might be strong enough to get back up in there.

Watch the impacts/splashes in the Gulf. Not sure the distances involved, but dang...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LxhqFVfgbMo?start=260" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Closer shot:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LxhqFVfgbMo?start=160" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Bummer!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...b5ece9c3&ei=37

A mission to the moon has apparently ended in failure

A Japanese startup appears to have failed in its effort to become the first to achieve a privately funded moon landing.
Tokyo-based ispace was attempting to land the Hakuto-R Series 1 lander on the surface of the moon at 9:40 p.m. PT on Tuesday, April 25 (1:40 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, Tokyo time), but it lost contact with the vehicle at around that time.

“At this time, our Mission Control Center in Tokyo has not been able to confirm the success of the lander,” ispace tweeted about 90 minutes after it had hoped to set down the lander.

It added: “Our engineers and mission operations specialists in our Mission Control Center are currently working to confirm the current status of the lander.”.................

Time for another Falcon Heavy launch!! Today at 4:29pm PDT. All three boosters are expendable for this launch.

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, April 27 for a Falcon Heavy launch of the ViaSat-3 Americas mission to geostationary orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Also on board this mission is Astranis's first MicroGEO satellite and Gravity Space’s GS-1 satellite. The 57-minute launch window opens at 7:29 p.m. ET (23:29 UTC). If needed, a backup opportunity is available Friday, April 28 with the same window.

One of the side boosters on this mission previously supported Arabsat-6A, STP-2, COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM2, KPLO, and three Starlink missions, and the second previously supported launch of Arabsat-6A and STP-2.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.

Aww, no dual booster landings? How sad.

Should still be fun, though.

There was a successful Falcon 9 launch of 34 Starlink satellites at 6:40 PDT this morning from Vandenberg AFB. Unfortunately, the marine layer prevented a view of the launch.

They never should have called the lander the Kamakazi.

Weather is looking pretty iffy for FH tonight. Just had a lightning bolt at the pad.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With stormy weather continuing to impact Florida&#39;s Space Coast, SpaceX is now targeting the end of tonight&#39;s launch window at 8:26pm EDT (0026 UTC) for liftoff of a Falcon Heavy rocket on the ViaSat 3 Americas mission. <a href="https://t.co/bnKR6bILaD">https://t.co/bnKR6bILaD</a> <a href="https://t.co/oZ97aCHRvL">pic.twitter.com/oZ97aCHRvL</a></p>&mdash; Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1651714301818728454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Scrub a dub dub.

SpaceX Starship Grounded Indefinitely By FAA

The spacecraft could be out of operation for months as the FAA investigates the cause of last week's launch explosion.

For all of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s enthusiasm about the orbital test flight of Starship, last week’s launch has sidelined the project for the time being.

Shortly after Thursday’s test flight concluded in a ball of flames, reports emerged that the FAA has grounded Starship as it conducts an investigation into the reason behind the explosion—and as others examine the potential health and safety hazards it created.

The FAA confirmed this in an April 20 statement: “An anomaly occurred during the ascent and prior to stage separation resulting in a loss of the vehicle. No injuries or public property damage have been reported. The FAA will oversee the mishap investigation of the Starship / Super Heavy test mission.”

An FAA spokesperson told FLYING that mishap investigations, which are standard in cases such as this, “might conclude in a matter of weeks,” but more complex investigations “might take several months.”

I really hate that framing. It's literally the job of the FAA to investigate mishaps. This is standard operations.

I might be forgetting something, but I can't recall them having two launches so close together from the same area. (They've definitely done it with one on the east coast and one on the west coast.) Pretty impressive.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Two Falcons on two SpaceX pads in Florida. If the weather cooperates, launch windows open 2+ hours apart for these two missions → <a href="https://t.co/bJFjLCilmc">https://t.co/bJFjLCilmc</a> <a href="https://t.co/1BrgYRhZ80">pic.twitter.com/1BrgYRhZ80</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1652002095539580929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That said, weather still looks fairly shitty, so I'd be surprised if both of them go today.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If the weather in Florida holds this evening, which is no guarantee, SpaceX will attempt to launch a Falcon 9 from one pad, and then a Falcon Heavy from a nearby pad 1 hour and 17 minutes later. <a href="https://t.co/VIliZ0oUp5">https://t.co/VIliZ0oUp5</a></p>— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1652065675362328578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Love it. The F9 launch was fine.

Was badass to see in person from Isla Blanca on South Padre. Def made an interesting sound.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P98kU8fJwPM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2vUXyv9KoGE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://i.postimg.cc/DZWZrYQ8/IMG-8538.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/5yL2GYRJ/IMG-8548.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/RCHhqyVY/IMG-8565.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/mD0r8NVV/IMG-8567.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/PrnxDyC5/IMG-8568.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/VLYjMnZn/IMG-8580.jpg

Pushed it an hour:

The 57-minute launch window opens at 7:29 p.m. ET

Jealous. I may make a trip down there just to see the rockets standing there, let alone flying.

Envious!! I've got a trip coming up to San Luis Obispo. Trying to schedule it to see a VSF launch.

FH broadcast is live. T-10 minutes

Abort. Darn.

Sigh

Oh well, at least there is still a draft. :)

Bummer. Hopefully it's something small.

Lots of good details from Elon about the Starship launch issues in this thread:

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/...fb3f8024w&s=19

Going to try the FH launch again today:

SpaceX is targeting Sunday, April 30 for a Falcon Heavy launch of the ViaSat-3 Americas mission to geostationary orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Also on board this mission is Astranis's first MicroGEO satellite and Gravity Space’s GS-1 satellite. The 57-minute launch window opens at 7:29 p.m. ET (23:29 UTC).

One of the side boosters on this mission previously supported Arabsat-6A, STP-2, COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM2, KPLO, and three Starlink missions, and the second previously supported launch of Arabsat-6A and STP-2.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.

Webcast is live. I won't be able to watch, unfortunately...

Neat.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fairing reentry on the ViaSat-3 mission was the hottest and fastest we&#39;ve ever attempted. The fairings re-entered the atmosphere greater than 15x the speed of sound, creating a large trail of plasma in its wake <a href="https://t.co/VgdlH6r3yR">pic.twitter.com/VgdlH6r3yR</a></p>— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1653509582046769156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Not a link; there's various snippets on youtube.

Manned launch this afternoon at 5:37pm ET.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All systems and weather are looking good for today’s Falcon 9 launch of the <a href="https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Axiom_Space</a> Ax-2 mission to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@space_station</a>. Webcast will go live at ~2:10 p.m. ET → <a href="https://t.co/gkJqIgzTh5">https://t.co/gkJqIgzTh5</a> <a href="https://t.co/2tS9fN72rV">pic.twitter.com/2tS9fN72rV</a></p>— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1660240180211531777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

T-30:00

Would be hilariously sad if they have to scrub for one single cloud.

Cool that they're doing RTLS with the booster. I think that's new for crewed launches.

Yep, that's what they said. I wasn't even nervous on this one. Crazy.

Yeah, I saw the other day that the Falcon family has hit 200 successful launches in a row. It's incredible how reliable the system has become.

This is pretty cool. You can watch a supernova unfold in real time starting tonight:

https://www.space.com/new-supernova-...tream-may-2023

Actual site for the feed:

https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2023...n-25-may-2023/

Starlink Group 2-10

By SpaceX
F9 B5
VSFB, SLC-4E

05:27:00, May 31 2023 (UTC)

Just so happens that I'll be in Pismo Beach on business next week!! Can't wait.

Vista Steak and Seafood, you won't regret it..

https://www.vistapismobeach.com/

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, May 30 at 11:02 p.m. PT (06:02 UTC on May 31) for a Falcon 9 launch of 52 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Wednesday, May 31 at 10:48 p.m. PT (05:48 UTC on June 1).

The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff.

And AX-2 is coming home tonight as well:

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

Easy peasy.

Did any of y'all happen to see Dragon's return in the night sky? Must have been pretty impressive.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just streaked across the sky in Tulsa at about 9:55pm. Looks like something re-entering the atmosphere. Pretty neat! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/okwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#okwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/ntTAONhSx0">pic.twitter.com/ntTAONhSx0</a></p>&mdash; Stephanie Ivison (@ivisonphoto) <a href="https://twitter.com/ivisonphoto/status/1663741532418060293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SpaceX Dragon capsule returning from the International Space Station ✨<br><br>📹 <a href="https://twitter.com/JacobWoodsWx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JacobWoodsWx</a> <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/pPtrLpnYQe">pic.twitter.com/pPtrLpnYQe</a></p>&mdash; DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) <a href="https://twitter.com/cb_doge/status/1663760174065016832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Meteor flying over Denny Chimes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. <a href="https://t.co/crn7A7LkBp">pic.twitter.com/crn7A7LkBp</a></p>&mdash; Barstool Bama (@BarstoolAlabama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolAlabama/status/1663748216066564099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Space X Dragon capsule approaching splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico tonight… video from Janet Schrieber <a href="https://t.co/JW8EipG9ht">pic.twitter.com/JW8EipG9ht</a></p>&mdash; James Spann (@spann) <a href="https://twitter.com/spann/status/1663744010735742977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another look at the Space X Dragon capsule approaching splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico… video from Deidra Shepherd in Pine Grove <a href="https://t.co/a5b0q84EZc">pic.twitter.com/a5b0q84EZc</a></p>&mdash; James Spann (@spann) <a href="https://twitter.com/spann/status/1663745276090122240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I wish they would have published the descent track. Would have been pretty cool to see!

:doh!:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Starliner delayed again.<br><br>Boeing has found two new issues via the latest review. <br><br>1) Parachute System - soft links (made of fabric) load limit data wasn&#39;t correct and restest showed failure at a loading point. <br><br>2) Wire harnesses covered in tape. The tape is now determined to be… <a href="https://t.co/UaJJ2JXDhB">https://t.co/UaJJ2JXDhB</a></p>&mdash; Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1664377812684357633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Golden hour at Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas. Every Friday evening I enjoy an Old Fashioned (or three) and dinner at SpaceX.

https://i.postimg.cc/yNsN614d/IMG-9083.jpg
Starbase sign from Highway 4.

https://i.postimg.cc/nL2hCyp1/IMG-9102.jpg

Rocket Garden

https://i.postimg.cc/1tz56vz1/IMG-9104.jpg

That's pretty sweet, man. You live in the area, I assume?

Yessir--we moved down to the Rio Grande Valley from Austin last year, when she started working at Starbase. About 25 minutes from SpaceX, and 30 minutes from South Padre Island.

Impressive photo captured of Falcon 9 today.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some amazing colors and light this morning as Falcon 9 ascended <a href="https://t.co/36Nctut4mk">pic.twitter.com/36Nctut4mk</a></p>&mdash; Ben Cooper (@LaunchPhoto) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaunchPhoto/status/1665821701211398145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

...and touchdown...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Landed another one! Falcon 9 B1077-5 becomes B1077-6 with touchdown on &quot;A Shortfall Of Gravitas&quot;<a href="https://t.co/TR2h27EUja">https://t.co/TR2h27EUja</a> <a href="https://t.co/1damaL95ku">https://t.co/1damaL95ku</a> <a href="https://t.co/ngI9w5mLEf">pic.twitter.com/ngI9w5mLEf</a></p>&mdash; Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1665749564714778631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2023</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/Umx-gjHAXsc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Left Starbase last night and had to briefly vacate Highway 4 to accommodate a couple oversized loads that looked familiar...

<div style="padding:75% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/835018332?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="IMG_9177"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not your average traffic backup... Semitrailers hauled two massive SpaceX tanks through the KC metro Tuesday afternoon: <a href="https://t.co/l1NyHL3S4W">https://t.co/l1NyHL3S4W</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ej5fkBCpAq">pic.twitter.com/Ej5fkBCpAq</a></p>&mdash; FOX4 News Kansas City (@fox4kc) <a href="https://twitter.com/fox4kc/status/1661121835566612481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Crazy visualization of the insane launch rate SpaceX is hitting the days.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rocket reusability enables increased reliability and launch cadence <a href="https://t.co/ijzlhfeXWo">pic.twitter.com/ijzlhfeXWo</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1668399552771297285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

https://i.postimg.cc/BbLwsdX6/IMG-9222.gif
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After delivering 72 spacecraft to orbit, Falcon 9 returns to Earth and completes SpaceX’s 200th landing of an orbital class rocket <a href="https://t.co/7Aw52C97jk">pic.twitter.com/7Aw52C97jk</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1668418954170347521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Starbase never stops. Prepping for static fire soon, and hopefully another orbital test launch in the near future.

<iframe width="777" height="435.5" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YpZ-c46J8Kc" title="StarShip 25 conducts a Spin Prime test. it was the first engine test. #space #starship" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ship 25 completed a flight-like chill and spin of the Raptor engine pumps, stopping just before engine ignition. As a result of the test, cryogenic liquid oxygen formed a visible cloud beneath the ship. This checked out vital systems in advance of the upcoming static fire. <a href="https://t.co/1rMOqlf5qM">pic.twitter.com/1rMOqlf5qM</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1671927404619767808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:500px" data-embed-theme="dark" data-embed-height="500"> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/14h64u8/in_case_you_missed_it_heres_a_spacex_falcon_9/">In case you missed it, here's a SpaceX Falcon 9 hurtling to orbit with the stage 1 coming back in 90 seconds as seen from the onboard camera</a><br> by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Individual-Union-258">u/Individual-Union-258</a> in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/">Damnthatsinteresting</a> </blockquote><script async="" src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

Very cool! I even got the wife to watch.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0-bnaq9BKio?start=2298" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Cool little recap of yesterday's flight.

<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:500px" data-embed-height="500"> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/14n627p/vss_unity_flying_an_italian_air_force_crew_on/">VSS Unity flying an Italian Air Force crew on Virgin Galactic's first operational mission yesterday</a><br> by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/675longtail">u/675longtail</a> in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/">aviation</a> </blockquote><script async="" src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ship 25 completes a six-engine static fire test at Starbase in Texas <a href="https://t.co/wCCrh0RRNA">pic.twitter.com/wCCrh0RRNA</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1673509777819967488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Some great shots of Tuesday's static fire of SN25.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Additional views from yesterday’s Ship 25 static fire <a href="https://t.co/dwdVETLJsV">pic.twitter.com/dwdVETLJsV</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1673808523497721856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/BDjXS0Qjhk">pic.twitter.com/BDjXS0Qjhk</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1673587083267518465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The second orbital test flight should be coming along soon!


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🇺🇸🧹<br><br>-<a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASASpaceflight</a> <a href="https://t.co/RaB7ZM9IW0">pic.twitter.com/RaB7ZM9IW0</a></p>&mdash; Nic Ansuini (@NicAnsuini) <a href="https://twitter.com/NicAnsuini/status/1675254679884689409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Happy Independence Day weekend, y'all!

A real Fairchild 𝑢A741 opamp date code 6920A (May, 1969). These were used on the Apollo 11 mission. Note the large metallization area which is the 30 pF internal compensation capacitor. This device was designed by Dave Fullagar and was probably released in 1968.


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...opamp_6920.jpg

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And there's a FH launch scheduled next week:


EchoStar 24 (Jupiter 3)
Launch Time
Wed Jul 26, 2023 9:04 PM MDT

EchoStar 24 (Jupiter 3) will be the heaviest geostationary satellite ever launched, at just over 9 metric tons.

It has been busy AF down here in Boca Chica. Non-stop activity. Updates from two of the best channels that cover Starbase:

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Hopefully EchoStar's payload doesn't prove to be a waste of hundreds of millions of dollars, as ViaSat's was after their own recent Falcon Heavy Launch.

Northrup Grumman effed up big time on that ViaSat-3 satellite reflector:

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Insurers brace for ViaSat-3 claim

Quote:

https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-c...g?w=4096&ssl=1 A rendering of a ViaSat-3 satellite, the first of which launched April 30, 2023 on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy and suffered an "unexpected event" post launch that has prevented the deployment of the broadband satellite's large reflector antenna. Credit: Viasat

ViaSat and EchoStar relying on SpaceX to launch their previous gen alternatives to Starlink is pretty funny though. Cost for a Falcon Heavy launch is about $100MM. ViaSat-3 was a fully expendable Falcon Heavy launch, while the upcoming EchoStar 24/Jupiter-3 launch will expend the booster only (the side boosters are set to be reused).

"God help us. We're in the hands of engineers."

https://64.media.tumblr.com/3f0b544c...8Wj1rf2nv9.gif


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With the current breakneck rate of progress (S25 and B9 testing, and implementation of the new deluge system for the Orbital Launch Mount) it feels like Orbital Flight Test #2 is probably right around the corner. i.e. Within 30-60 days perhaps. The one wild card is probably the FAA/environmental lawsuit situation. But I suspect Elon Musk has all his bases covered there, too.

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I'd like to catch one of these Starship launches from Rocket Ranch's observation site, which is about as close as you can get...

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...aside from a questionable-at-best viewing location on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande:

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