posted 01-30-2021 04:26 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by SkyMan1958:
On the other hand, the FAA complaining about an explosion...

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posted 02-01-2021 05:51 PM               

Plus, at an aircraft of that era would not have an approved fire extinguisher fitted as OEM equipment, additional documentation would be required to install an approved extinguisher, requiring more paperwork, forcing an amendment to the initial approval to fly that encompasses the supplemental type certification of such an extinguisher.

posted 02-02-2021 08:15 AM               

Prior to SN8 test launch in December 2020, SpaceX sought a waiver to exceed the maximum public risk allowed by federal safety regulations. After the FAA denied the request, SpaceX proceeded with the flight.

As a result of this non-compliance, FAA required SpaceX to conduct an investigation of the incident. All testing that could affect public safety at the Boca Chica, Texas, launch site was suspended until the investigation was completed and FAA approved company's corrective actions to protect public safety. The corrective actions arising from the SN8 incident are incorporated into the SN9 launch license.

posted 02-02-2021 08:45 PM               

The video shows these steps, however, it appears from my lounge chair engineering and judgment department that the timing of these events did not align with the Δ earth was getting bigger.

posted 02-03-2021 08:41 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by oly:
The video shows these steps...

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posted 03-03-2021 03:58 AM               

Starship launch [March 3]. Window opens at 9am.

There will be a live feed of the flight test available here that will start a few minutes prior to liftoff. Given the dynamic schedule of development testing, stay tuned to our social media channels for updates as we move toward SpaceX's third high-altitude flight test of Starship!

posted 03-03-2021 11:11 AM               

From Elon Musk (via Twitter):

Launch abort on slightly conservative high thrust limit. Increasing thrust limit and recycling propellant for another flight attempt today.

posted 03-03-2021 02:19 PM               

Third time's the charm! A beautiful soft landing of Starship on the landing pad at Boca Chica!

posted 03-03-2021 02:30 PM               

From Elon Musk (via Twitter):

RIP SN10, honorable discharge.

posted 03-03-2021 03:42 PM               

A view of SN10 just after landing.

posted 03-03-2021 09:54 PM               

Also, somewhat radically solves the problem of what to do with the flown test vehicle.

posted 03-04-2021 04:05 PM               

We positioned a camera focusing exclusively on the landing pad to capture all the action during the last few moments of descent. The rest was history.

Cameras continued rolling through the 9 minutes or so after landing into the ground explosion.

Additional remote camera views including interviews and what it was like to experience this historic moment from Isla Blanca park coming soon.

posted 03-05-2021 11:17 AM               

The lifelike machine is a Boston Dynamics "Spot" robot, which SpaceX has apparently renamed Zeus, according to photos that show the name printed across a red doghouse where the robot lives.

Zeus has been spotted inspecting SpaceX landing sites before. It's not clear what exactly the mechanical pooch was doing at the SN10 explosion site, but Zeus is most likely outfitted with cameras and sensors to collect data, since approaching wrecked rockets can be unsafe.

posted 03-06-2021 08:39 AM               

Thrust was low despite being commanded high for reasons unknown at present, hence hard touchdown. We've never seen this before.

Next time, min two engines all the way to the ground and restart engine 3 if engine 1 or 2 have issues.

posted 03-09-2021 03:02 PM               

SN10 engine was low on thrust due (probably) to partial helium ingestion from fuel header tank. Impact of 10m/s crushed legs and part of skirt. Multiple fixes in work for SN11.

posted 03-14-2021 09:46 PM               

Military aircraft also have a survivable ejection window, with the chances of survival decreasing with lower altitudes and downward velocity vectors.

Any system designed to save the crew needs to A) get the crew clear of the vehicle, and B) slow their descent to a survivable velocity.

With the Starship in the freefall configuration, it is a passive body falling earthward with little to go wrong until the flip maneuver is executed.

Once the flip maneuver has begun, a fault needs to be detected and identified, the ejection vector is changing rapidly, and the altitude is below survivable altitude for all but self-righting zere-zero systems, which add a substantial weight per passenger.

A survival capsule could be a better idea than individual seats, but this introduces the structural design and weight changes that would be significant, but again, by the time a fault with the rocket systems used for flip and landing is detected, the vehicle is at a low level, descending into it's own fireball. The crew would have to be jettisoned quite a distance from an exploding Starship to survive.

A capsule requires a structure that can be torn apart easily along a prescribed pathway and still withstands the structural loads of rocket flight.

posted 03-16-2021 12:25 AM               

In most cases these flights are done in configurations that just prove the thing can fly, the landing gear is not retracted, and the speed is kept below the max gear extended operating speed. Altitudes are restricted to recognized safe limits, and the machines are flown manually because the automated systems have not been tested.

I have always found the requirement to wear chutes on these flights somewhat useless because if one of these machines suffered a failure whereby the crew needed to bailout, extracting one's self from an out-of-control hulk would be difficult. I guess it is a case where to have is better than to have not.

In the case of Starship, the development would most likely follow that of Dragon, where the system is fully automated, and the crew would assume manual control only in an emergency. The system was test flown and qualified before the crew were introduced into the program, and the emergency abort system caters to a small window of opportunity of the flight profile. The crew would probably not be introduced into the picture until the main system had completed systems qualifications.

posted 03-16-2021 07:51 PM               

On March 3, Starship serial number 10 (SN10) completed SpaceX's third high-altitude flight test of a Starship prototype as it successfully ascended, transitioned propellant, and reoriented itself for reentry and an active aerodynamic controlled descent. SN10's Raptor engines reignited to perform the vehicle's landing flip maneuver immediately before successfully touching down on the landing pad.

Test flights such as SN10's are about improving our understanding and development of a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration interplanetary flights, and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond.

posted 03-18-2021 06:39 PM               

First Super Heavy Booster

posted 03-20-2021 04:44 PM               

Common goals, shared vision. NASA astronauts learning about the SpaceX Starship — one element in a growing worldwide field of deeper space exploration systems with sights on the moon and Mars.

posted 03-26-2021 01:00 PM               

There will be a live feed of the flight test that will start a few minutes prior to liftoff. Given the dynamic schedule of development testing, stay tuned for updates as SpaceX moves toward its fourth high-altitude flight test of Starship.

posted 03-29-2021 11:07 AM               

From Elon Musk (via Twitter):

FAA inspector unable to reach Starbase in time for launch today. Postponed to no earlier than tomorrow.

posted 03-30-2021 08:57 AM               

Looks like engine 2 had issues on ascent and didn't reach operating chamber pressure during landing burn, but, in theory, it wasn't needed.

Something significant happened shortly after landing burn start. Should know what it was once we can examine the bits later today.

At least the crater is in the right place!

posted 04-26-2021 08:32 PM               

Starship SN15 static fire completed, preparing for flight later this week.

posted 04-29-2021 05:18 PM               

FAA Authorizes Starship SN15, SN16 and SN17

The FAA has authorized the next three launches of the SpaceX Starship prototype. The agency approved multiple launches because SpaceX is making few changes to the launch vehicle and relied on the FAA's approved methodology to calculate the risk to the public. The FAA authorized the launches on Wednesday, April 28.

Prior to the launch of SN15, the FAA will verify that SpaceX implemented corrective actions arising from the SN11 mishap investigation. For the launch of SN16 and SN17, SpaceX may be subject to additional corrective actions if any new mishap investigations were to occur.

Background

• "Risk to the public" refers to the requirement that SpaceX ensure the risk meets regulatory requirements.

• If SpaceX proposes to change how public risk is calculated for any of the three authorized launches, a new FAA safety analysis and license modification will be required.

• The SN11 mishap investigation remains open. The FAA has analyzed and adjudicated public safety related concerns for return to flight and issued a favorable public safety determination to allow the licensing process to proceed.

• As a condition of the SpaceX license, an FAA safety inspector is required to be on site in Boca Chica, Texas, for all Starship launches. The FAA safety inspector is expected to arrive on site on April 29 to support a possible launch this week.

posted 05-05-2021 04:49 PM               

As early as Wednesday, May 5, the SpaceX team will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 15 (SN15) – our fifth high-altitude flight test of a Starship prototype from Starbase in Texas.

SN15 has vehicle improvements across structures, avionics and software, and the engines that will allow more speed and efficiency throughout production and flight: specifically, a new enhanced avionics suite, updated propellant architecture in the aft skirt, and a new Raptor engine design and configuration.

Similar to previous high-altitude flight tests of Starship, SN15 will be powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN15 will perform a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent.

The Starship prototype will descend under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of two forward and two aft flaps on the vehicle. All four flaps are actuated by an onboard flight computer to control Starship's attitude during flight and enable precise landing at the intended location. SN15's Raptor engines will then reignite as the vehicle attempts a landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down on the landing pad adjacent to the launch mount.

Given the dynamic schedule of development testing, stay tuned for updates as we move toward SpaceX's fifth high-altitude flight test of Starship!

posted 05-05-2021 06:18 PM               

Starship landing nominal!