SpaceX Starship updates (thread 2) [launch in March]

[Dr Mordrid]

We may be getting a Starship launch date soon

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1628092269872947201

Jeff Foust @jeff_foust (Space News)

Gary Henry, senior advisor for national security space solutions at SpaceX, says at a Space Mobility panel that both the Starship booster and pad are in "good shape" after static fire test earlier this month. The test was the "last box to check" before the first orbital launch.
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He adds the company still needs an FAA launch license but expects that in the "very near future." Tells the audience to expect some "must-see TV" sometime in March.

[Dr Mordrid]

Elon Musk @elonmusk
This test is at ~50% throttle. Launch attempt next month will be at ~90%.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1624412830446534656

20230211_100123.jpg

[Dr Mordrid]

[Dr Mordrid]

Super Heavy 33 engine static fire attempt Feb 9 (tomorrow)

https://twitter.com/joroulette/status/1623391088701480963

[Dr Mordrid]

Starship 27 gets a Starlink Gen 2 "PEZ dispenser" payload door. Note the remove before launch tags.

https://twitter.com/cosmicalchief/status/1621364472727076865

20230203_020842.jpg

[Dr Mordrid]

Starship's mass to orbit has been updated

Falcon 9 can do 22.8* metric tons. Falcon Heavy can do almost 63.

Reusable: 150 metroc tons
Expendable: 250 metric tons

https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/

SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket – collectively referred to as Starship – represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. Starship will be the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the ability to carry up to 150 metric tonnes to Earth orbit reusable, and up to 250 metric tonnes expendable

[Dr Mordrid]

SpaceX targeting 33 engine Super Heavy static fire next week.

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1618989574616743936

[Dr Mordrid]

Cape Canaveral Space Force Base pad LC-40 enhancements;

Cargo Dragon infrastructure will be added for use this fall, Crew Dragon upgrades later. New launch tower, etc.

This gives SpaceX redundancy in case pad LC-39A is out of commission. It would also give them the capability to launch two Dragons in a short period of time. With them having to expand their fleet with another Crew and Cargo Dragon they need the extra capacity.

Sometime this spring they will launch the Polaris Dawn mission, during which they will attempt to beat Geminis 1400 km low earth orbit altitude record, and do spacewalks which will introduce their new extra vehicular activity space suit. Apparently a major upgrade which should lead to their Moon and Mars Starship suit.

https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1618307887549276161

[Dr Mordrid]

Well, well...

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/new-nasa-partnerships-to-mature-commercial-space-technologies-capabilities

SpaceX will partner with NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, to capture imagery and thermal measurements of its Starship vehicle during orbital re-entry over the Pacific Ocean. With the data, the company plans to advance a reusable thermal protection system, which protects the vehicle from aerodynamic heating, for missions returning from low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars.

[Dr Mordrid]

When are we (Earth) sending 3 or more dudes (or women) to place other than space station, IE equalizing or exceeding Apollo program achievement from 50+ years ago?

Returning to the Moon has several reasons; economic, scientific, geopolitical, and military.

Economic: a Gateway station in lunar orbit can be a gateway to everywhere else in the solar system. The recently discovered water ice on the lunar surface and other resources can be used to produce fuel etc. for those trips, and some outfits want to do other businesses there - including tourism. ESA is hot on a "lunar village" outpost.

It's also a near-space locale with a significant gravity well, which helps if those people want to stay a while. Microgravity impairs the functioning of the cell's mitochondria causing grief. There are mitigations in the lab, but even 1/6 G helps.

Science: Apollo only landed at a few mid-latitudes and probes have found some very interesting things that need close up examination with M1 eyeballs. There's also the possibility of lunar pole and far side observatories.

Geopolitical: like ISS, cooperation for the lunar Gateway spreads costs and leverages skills worldwide. The US has big, cheap to fly rockets and a growing fleet of spacecraft types. Italy & France make good habitat modules, other parts of Europe and Japan make good instruments. Russia can offer their upcoming Oryel spacecraft (replaces Soyuz) and Angara 5 launcher, etc.

Military: China has made it abundantly clear their military space program sees the Moon as strategic platform, and hints they want cis-lunar space and much of the far side for themselves.

For its part, Russia has been testing space based antisatellite weapons in Geostationary orbit, where most big commsats live, presenting a threat to allied military and commercial satellites.

Russia's actions and China's recent and numerous lunar colonialism statements are a major reason the US pulled the trigger on creating the US Space Force after 40+ years of discussing it. They'll be called "Guardians."

Do not be surprised if the US & allies field numerous space platforms/mini-stations in cis-lunar space, and adds high-speed nuclear powered "Space Guard" spacecraft to go with them. Project DRACO

https://beta.sam.gov/opp/471584e16391415da6e5dc08c33e9aa4/view#attachments-links

And no, a change in administration won't change this. Biden's incoming defense people also see the risk of Chinese space colonialism.

https://spacenews.com/bidens-defense-nominee-embraces-view-of-space-as-a-domain-of-war/

Biden’s Defense nominee embraces view of space as a domain of war

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for defense secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers Jan. 19 that China is the United States’ “most concerning competitor” and in written testimony identified space as a growing national security concern.

“If confirmed, I will ensure the space domain is carefully considered across the range of upcoming strategic reviews,” Austin said in a statement submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
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“Chinese and Russian space activities present serious and growing threats to U.S. national security interests,” Austin stated. “While Russia is a key adversary, China is the pacing threat.”

[UtwigMU]

When are we (Earth) sending 3 or more dudes (or women) to place other than space station, IE equalizing or exceeding Apollo program achievement from 50+ years ago?

[Dr Mordrid]

Buckle your seat belts,

Starship sea launch platforms 'Phobos' & 'Deimos'

Elon Musk hinted about sea launch platforms for Starship last June,

Elon Musk ✓ @elonmusk
SpaceX is building floating, superheavy-class spaceports for Mars, moon & hypersonic travel around Earth

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1272972228326379520

NSF's Michael Baylor (nextspaceflight) discovered twin sea platforms have been bought by "Lone Star Mineral Development LLC," which is either a SpaceX subsidiary or a leasing company. Price: $3.5 million each,

Nailing it down; Lone Star was incorporated just before the sale, and the officer for Lone Star Mineral Development LLC is listed as Bret Johnsen - SpaceX's CFO

In their previous life they were Enesco 8500 and Ensco 8501, identical ultra-deepwater semi-submersibles. Deimos is in Brownsville, Phobos in Galveston.

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:753950/mmsi:636013222/imo:8768787/vessel:ENSCO_8500

Ensco 8500
ENSCO_8500.jpg

Twitter thread,

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1351442452410863617

[Dr Mordrid]

Oh, my...

coming up: two on their pads at once

RGVAerialPhotography @RGVaerialphotos
Jan 2, 2021
With SN10 nearly complete and repairs being done at the landing pad, do you think this is something we will get to see in the next few weeks?
#spacex #starship #Bocachica
(2100ft msl, 01/01/2020)

20210102_200803.jpg
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Elon Musk ✓ @elonmusk
Yes

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1345521261246496769

[Dr Mordrid]

Overlook Horizon @OLHZN
Dec 23, 2020
Replying to @elonmusk
It was absolutely amazing! Any major changes needed to keep up the header tank pressure in SN9?
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Elon Musk ✓ @elonmusk
Minor

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1341916523288555520

[Dr Mordrid]

SpaceX test recap with a few new camera angles

"Next up: SN9"