Posted on 11/19/2023 12:21:39 PM PST by TomEd
I saw the Apollo XVII launch. Shortly after midnight, from across the Indian River. A second sunrise, as the world's largest kerosene lantern illuminated clouds and water in a brownish light. Several hundred thousand people went wild, shouting, cheering, dancing, weeping with wild joy.
We did not know that the politicians had pulled the plug on the dream.
The next time I had that mixture of elated emotions was when the faring came off to reveal ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH9OGQADzkA
The second launch was better. But ended more spectacularly. It was nice to see all engines firing. (Wonder if they reinforced the concrete on the launch pad? There was speculation that the 33 Raptor engines had torn up the pad and debris knocked out a few.) Sorry to see the booster go up again and Starship had to go, too.
The pad is in good condition and with some minor repairs is ready to go again - perhaps next month.
https://www.youtube.com/@MarcusHouse
Am I right that they had to do extensive repairs to it after the April launch?
That’s correct. In April, it was badly damaged. They redesigned it and built to the new design.
This is why we have "test flights". They are not intended to be successful but intended to reveal flaws that can then be improved upon for future test missions.
People don't realize just how successful SpaceX is. The Falcon 9 project has already launched 70 successful missions in 2023, with 12 flights a month planned for 2024. The Starship project now has two test flights behind it, with many more planned.
SpaceX has now launched over 5,000 Starlink satellites into orbit and they are only just beginning. Elon Musk is quietly gaining control of the entire internet (as Starlink will soon offer global access to internet/cellular communications at super fast speeds). This will outperform current land-based communications infrastructure.
Thank you all for information!
The SpaceX facility near me has been especially noisy with rocket engine testing lately. There was one a couple of days ago that felt like a mini-earthquake ‘round here.
I’m pulling for ya, Starship.
Welcome neighbor. Yep, we had one a few nights ago. Shook the house. Normally they are during the day so the latest one was a bit odd, timing wise.
Yep. I’m not generally in house-shaking range, just usually a low rumble, but that one a couple of evenings ago had things lightly trembling on shelves. I said, “Geez, Elon, that’s a little loud.” LOL
I’d love to know what they are cooking up right now, maybe a new block version. I’m out of the space program now, but I still have connections that talk to Elon.
Am I right that they had to do extensive repairs to it after the April launch?
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Yes you are; they modified a lot of stuff and installed the water deluge system, which seems to have done the trick for the 2nd launch.
At times, during President Trump’s first 4 years, SpaceX was testing/launching different parts of Starship ONCE A MONTH. Now, the Hussein/Biden Regime slows everything down. There were several Drive-By Media stories that SpaceX/Starship was failing over and over. Horsepuckey! When SpaceX wanted to find out how strong a fuel tank was, they kept filling it until it ‘failed.’ It failed spectacularly, and then they knew the limits, how not to fail. Real science.
Recently SpaceX has received a contract from......the European Space Agency (ESA). The historic ESA rocket, Ariane 5 has been retired, and the Ariane 6 is behind schedule, and way too expensive. It is NOT reusable. SpaceX is reusing rockets over and over and over. One first stage has launched 18 TIMES! Instead of billions per launch, SpaceX can launch for so much less. SpaceX even launched for a Starlink competitor. OneWeb is similar to Starlink, providing internet via satellites. OneWeb’s constellation will be much less, maybe 800 total. When the Ariane rockets ceased launching, SpaceX agreed to launch some of the OneWeb satellites. OneWeb probably saved over a billion dollars with that one launch.
Decades ago, NASA decided not to pursue reusable rockets. Even with the incredible success example of SpaceX, NASA is still not pursuing reusability. Hopefully, NASA will cease spending $$$ that way, and just hire companies like SpaceX to do it well.
The booster separated & did the flip but not all engines restarted and those that did cut off. The flip probably screwed up the fuel flow and may have damaged the engines. The auto disconnect from the LOX feed on the side of the booster also leaked.
The second stage was nominal for a couple of minutes but a plume started & the LOX volume started to fall more quickly than normal, which would indicate a leak somewhere.
It will take several iterations to get right. I believe the second stage was the largest single vessel to ever reach space.
Word on the Internet is this rocket has been “given permission” to punch through the firmament. Make of that what you will.
It was alright.
Musk put in a steel plate and a water deluge system to protect the pad from the immense heat of the exhaust.
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