SPACE - random thread about space stuff

[jztemple2]

NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission is on track, but questions remain about Artemis 3

Where questions begin to arise is with the moon-landing Artemis 3 mission, NASA officials said, hinting that a new mission plan may be necessary if SpaceX isn't ready for the landing.

December 2025 is still the target launch date, but NASA is awaiting more information from SpaceX and the readiness of the company's next-gen Starship system, which has been tasked with landing the Artemis 3 astronauts near the moon's south pole. NASA officials were recently at Starbase, SpaceX's Starship hub in South Texas, to go over schedules and readiness expectations.

Starship made its first space attempt in April, a test flight that ended with the system spinning out of control and being remotely detonated over the Gulf of Mexico. In June, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said the company would likely be ready to launch again in six to eight weeks. The eight-week mark has since passed, though SpaceX has been gearing up for launch, performing a static-fire test recently with the booster that will fly the next mission.

The timeline for that flight also depends on the results of an ongoing review of the first launch that's being conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. And acing a single test flight won't be enough to pave the way for Artemis 3: NASA needs to see multiple successful launches of Starship before putting astronauts on the vehicle.

I've had a long day and it's hot outside, so I don't have the energy to go back through all the pages of this thread to quote where I mention a lack of confidence regarding SpaceX and their plans to from a more conventional Falcon 9 to the whole honking Spaceship plus Super Heavy Booster to do a moon landing. And the article quoted above doesn't even address the plan SpaceX has (and needs) to refuel the moon lander in earth orbit from other launches.

[Kraken]

NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission is on track, but questions remain about Artemis 3

Where questions begin to arise is with the moon-landing Artemis 3 mission, NASA officials said, hinting that a new mission plan may be necessary if SpaceX isn't ready for the landing.

December 2025 is still the target launch date, but NASA is awaiting more information from SpaceX and the readiness of the company's next-gen Starship system, which has been tasked with landing the Artemis 3 astronauts near the moon's south pole. NASA officials were recently at Starbase, SpaceX's Starship hub in South Texas, to go over schedules and readiness expectations.

Starship made its first space attempt in April, a test flight that ended with the system spinning out of control and being remotely detonated over the Gulf of Mexico. In June, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said the company would likely be ready to launch again in six to eight weeks. The eight-week mark has since passed, though SpaceX has been gearing up for launch, performing a static-fire test recently with the booster that will fly the next mission.

The timeline for that flight also depends on the results of an ongoing review of the first launch that's being conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. And acing a single test flight won't be enough to pave the way for Artemis 3: NASA needs to see multiple successful launches of Starship before putting astronauts on the vehicle.

I've had a long day and it's hot outside, so I don't have the energy to go back through all the pages of this thread to quote where I mention a lack of confidence regarding SpaceX and their plans to from a more conventional Falcon 9 to the whole honking Spaceship plus Super Heavy Booster to do a moon landing. And the article quoted above doesn't even address the plan SpaceX has (and needs) to refuel the moon lander in earth orbit from other launches.

SpaceX’s biggest immediate hurdle is getting permission to launch again. Their recent test inspired confidence in the launch pad overhaul and I believe they’re champing at the bit to start failing fast again. If the government won’t let them do that, then they ain’t gonna make it.

I don’t mean to belittle the government’s legitimate role in protecting people and the environment, but if SpaceX can’t meet it’s milestones, that’s going to be a big reason why.

[jztemple2]

I don’t mean to belittle the government’s legitimate role in protecting people and the environment, but if SpaceX can’t meet it’s milestones, that’s going to be a big reason why.

Well, SpaceX certainly didn't pick the best location for their launch facility if one is considering risk to people and the environment. And IMHO Musk didn't help his cause with the very casual attitude about that first Starship launch. “Success maybe, excitement guaranteed!” indeed.

[Hrdina]

"’3-2-1, haven't I heard that number before? Of course! Countdowns!’ And I live in the countdown capital. Now I know what area code I want," Osband said at the time.

He filed a petition for testimony before the Florida Public Service Commission and not only did the commissioners love the idea, but so did the audience at the meeting, he had said.

Huh, I deal with a lot of phone calls from (321) because my company's HQ is in Melbourne. I had never made the mental connection between (321) and a countdown. It seems obvious in hindsight!

I don’t mean to belittle the government’s legitimate role in protecting people and the environment, but if SpaceX can’t meet it’s milestones, that’s going to be a big reason why.

Well, SpaceX certainly didn't pick the best location for their launch facility if one is considering risk to people and the environment. And IMHO Musk didn't help his cause with the very casual attitude about that first Starship launch. “Success maybe, excitement guaranteed!” indeed.

I don't think this situation is not too surprising, and that casual attitude goes far deeper than just that first Starship launch.

[jztemple2]

I don't think this situation is not too surprising, and that casual attitude goes far deeper than just that first Starship launch.

Yup, but there are a lot of investors who are going to be mighty unhappy if the launch permit for the next Starship launch is delayed or canceled because of what happened on the first launch. Of course since Musk has voting control of SpaceX, there isn't a lot they can do about it.

[Isgrimnur]

Want to pwn a satellite? Turns out it's surprisingly easy

AWS and Microsoft's Azure now offer Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) to communicate with LEO satellites, so communication is simply a matter of plonking down a credit card.
...
One surprising result was that the larger the satellite (and thus more expensive to build and launch), the more vulnerable it was. Larger machinery typically used more commercial off-the-shelf components and was thus more vulnerable since the code base was public, whereas smaller CubeSats tended to use custom code.

[jztemple2]

From the article Starship Update: Booster 9 wearing a crown, construction, and HLS test article

The next immediate step necessary for HLS test flights – or any other Starship missions for that matter – is the second test flight of the full Starship system.

Road closures – each from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM CDT and only meant for vehicle testing – have now been issued, with the primary closure being on Monday, Aug. 21 along with backup closures on Tuesday, Aug. 22 and Wednesday, Aug. 23. In addition, the US Coast Guard has now issued a hazard zone for launch activities on Aug. 31.

[jztemple2]

A look inside Blue Origin's New Glenn facility at the Kennedy Space Center:

[Max Peck]

Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft suffers technical glitch, space agency says

An "abnormal situation" occurred at Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft on Saturday as it was preparing to transfer to its pre-landing orbit, Russia's national space agency Roskosmos said.

The Russian spacecraft is scheduled to land on the south pole of the moon on Monday, part of a big power race to explore a part of the moon which scientists think may hold frozen water and precious elements.

"During the operation, an abnormal situation occurred on board the automatic station, which did not allow the manoeuvre to be performed with the specified parameters," Roskosmos said in a short statement.

Specialists are analysing the situation, it said, without providing further details.

[Kraken]

That's too bad. I don't imagine that Roscosmos has the same kind of remote troubleshooting capabilities that we've come to expect from NASA.

[Isgrimnur]

“The apparatus moved into an unpredictable orbit and ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the moon,”

[jztemple2]

“The apparatus moved into an unpredictable orbit and ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the moon,”

Did it go through a portal? Even if it went through a portal it had to come out through another portal. Did anyone check out the other side of the moon?

[Holman]

The moon! The moon is to blame!

[Kraken]

Should've known it was a total loss when they announced a problem. Russia doesn't acknowledge problems it can solve. As I understand it, they lost the mission because they don't have a deep space tracking network, or access to one, so they couldn't monitor the engine firing in real time.

[Kraken]

This idea blew my mind for a few minutes. "Lookback time" is a thing distinct from distance.

When we observe Earendel’s light, we are looking at light the star emitted 12.9 billion years ago. We call this the lookback time. That’s just 900 million years after the Big Bang. But because the universe has also expanded rapidly in the time it took this light to reach us, Earendel is now 28 billion light-years away from us.

Maybe everybody already knew this, but it's novel to me. If it's going to take us 28 billion years to reach an object 13B LY away, we had better leave right now, because by the time we get there it will be 50B LY away and o crap, we will never get there will we?.

I mean, I know the universe is expanding. That's why it's so hard to lose weight. But this is the first time I've seen it presented like that.

[jztemple2]

Two years ago these folks did a test flight from our local airport for a six hour unmanned flight. Seems they are getting serious...

https://twitter.com/gpallone13/status/1 ... 03904?s=20

More info, Space Perspective building balloons in Titusville to elevate tourists to the edge of space

Imagine watching dawn break from 100,000 feet above ground level, with the brilliant sun peeking above Earth's blue atmosphere into a deep-black starry sky with "incredible colors playing across the surface of the planet."

That's how Space Perspective founder and co-CEO Jane Poynter envisions the experiences of her company's future space tourists, who are booking $125,000 trips aboard high-altitude balloons with pressurized "space lounge" capsules furnished with cocktail bars, wi-fi and luxurious appointments.

"It's just this incredibly beautiful, contemplative, extraordinary moment of experiencing our planet in a way that, to date, only astronauts have seen," Poynter said.

This sci-fi vision is taking tangible shape in Titusville. Tuesday morning, a host of officials will conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Space Perspective's balloon-manufacturing facility — a 700-foot-long building — at Space Coast Regional Airport. The event starts at 11 a.m.

Poynter labeled the building "the world's only high-volume space balloon manufacturing facility," and she described its size and scale as "a little mind-boggling." At high altitude, the hydrogen-filled polyethylene balloons will expand into a teardrop shape measuring 350 feet in diameter. That's wider than the length of a football field.

"We lay out the balloon material on these really long tables that are 600 feet long," Poynter said of the Titusville manufacturing facility.

[jztemple2]

And more info on the space balloons, Space Perspective unveils balloon manufacturing facility supporting tourism missions

During a passenger flight, customers will either launch from land or aboard Space Perspective’s Voyager ship to begin their six-hour flight. Eight passengers aboard the Spaceship Neptune capsule will ascend at a rate of 12 miles per hour until apogee at about 100,000 feet is reached.

The balloon and capsule will take another two hours to make their descent to an oceanic splashdown where the capsule and balloon will be picked up by a recovery vessel.

MacCallum said they will begin their test campaign with the first uncrewed flight targeting later in 2023 with crewed flights taking place in 2024.

[Kraken]

I wish I had $125k to spend on that. I clearly remember that when I was in my late 20s, I declared that if space tourism became a thing by the time I got old I would spend all of my retirement savings for the chance to do it because I would rather have one peak experience than a long dotage. Now that I'm actually old dotage looks more appealing, and space tourism ain't all that yet. $125k won't even buy you weightlessness, never mind the zero-g hotel room or moon motel that I had envisioned back then.

If that balloon ride were $2,500, I'd be all over it.

[Max Peck]

Just think of the ticket price as half of what it would have cost to dive to the Titanic (prior to 18 June 2023, obviously). It's a bargain!

[stessier]

Cool - India made a soft landing on the moon!

[raydude]

Cool - India made a soft landing on the moon!

Congratulations India!
Looks like I couldn't post the video at a certain time:
https://www.youtube.com/live/iojgLAXo-Ds?feature=share

[jztemple2]

Was having lunch today at Fishlips at Port Canaveral and across the channel was this, a SpaceX booster, no doubt just back from the Starlink Group 6-10 launch on August 17th. That makes this booster B1067, which just completed its thirteenth launch . No wonder it looks a bit sooty!

[Daehawk]

I hope that balloon has parachutes in case of balloon failure.

[jztemple2]

Good stuff on the upcoming Starship flight in this video:

[jztemple2]

Good informational video:

[jztemple2]

And a video that shows what's going on at the Cape:

[Kraken]

I don't like that guy because he talks too fast to play at 1.25 speed.

[em2nought]

Cool - India made a soft landing on the moon!

Congratulations India!
Looks like I couldn't post the video at a certain time:
https://www.youtube.com/live/iojgLAXo-Ds?feature=share

Way to go India! I prefer Thai curries though.

I think I can almost get to space for cheaper than $125,000 with some weather balloons and a lawn chair.

[jztemple2]

SpaceX just did an apparent static fire on the Superheavy booster, the link below is to the live feed, I've forgotten how to edit it so that it works from here



This is the link, just do a copy and paste

Code: Select all

https://www.youtube.com/live/vSDS93-WiB0?si=3HcvbjeiX1mox8wy&t=10225

[Zaxxon]

Summary says all engines lit, all but 2 lasted the full duration. So improvement but still not perfection.

[Punisher]

I hope that balloon has parachutes in case of balloon failure.

I believe they have a partnership with Party Box to have unlimited access to their extra stock of party balloons just in case.

[Kraken]

I hope that balloon has parachutes in case of balloon failure.

I believe they have a partnership with Party Box to have unlimited access to their extra stock of party balloons just in case.

If you ever launched model rockets you know that streamer recovery is a thing. I can imagine that the balloon is huge enough to double as an effective streamer for the relatively small gondola. It wouldn't be a gentle landing but it might be survivable.

[Punisher]

I hope that balloon has parachutes in case of balloon failure.

I believe they have a partnership with Party Box to have unlimited access to their extra stock of party balloons just in case.

If you ever launched model rockets you know that streamer recovery is a thing. I can imagine that the balloon is huge enough to double as an effective streamer for the relatively small gondola. It wouldn't be a gentle landing but it might be survivable.

Perfect! I'm sure party box has those too!

Spoiler:

[Zaxxon]

Cool little piece explaining how SpaceX initially tried to solve the wrong problem, leading them to a method of fairing recovery that 'worked,' but not well.

Why did SpaceX give up on “catching” falling fairings?

Since moving to just fishing the things out of water, they are now drowning in fairings.

It had a far simpler system, with a standard recovery vessel and crane to fish the fairing halves out of the ocean. This allowed the company to go from a low success rate of catching fairings to a 99 percent success rate of recovery. They could be rapidly refurbished and turned around for additional launches within weeks.

But this created a new problem of sorts. Where to put them all?

"We have more fairings than we have space," Dontchev said. "Fairings are a thing we don't even come close to talking about when it's time for launch. They're always ready, no problem."

[raydude]

Since I work on the Psyche mission as part of the GRNS instrument team I was given the option of registering myself and up to 3 people for invites to view the launch about 3 months ago. The NASA official invites just came in today. I'm going to the Psyche launch! Wooooo!

[Isgrimnur]

Since I work on the Psyche mission as part of the GRNS instrument team I was given the option of registering myself and up to 3 people for invites to view the launch about 3 months ago. The NASA official invites just came in today. I'm going to the Psyche launch! Wooooo!

[jztemple2]

Since I work on the Psyche mission as part of the GRNS instrument team I was given the option of registering myself and up to 3 people for invites to view the launch about 3 months ago. The NASA official invites just came in today. I'm going to the Psyche launch! Wooooo!

And a Falcon Heavy launch too. Very cool! I'll be standing out in my yard watching.

[Hrdina]

Since I work on the Psyche mission as part of the GRNS instrument team I was given the option of registering myself and up to 3 people for invites to view the launch about 3 months ago. The NASA official invites just came in today. I'm going to the Psyche launch! Wooooo!

Awesome! Go Psyche!

There have been a couple of dozen launches of spacecraft I've worked on (one of which resulted in an explosion), but I've never been able to attend any of them.

[jztemple2]

SpaceX stacks Ship 25 and Booster 9, prepares for flight

SpaceX has rolled out Ship 25 to the launch site and stacked it on top of Super Heavy Booster 9, bringing back a fully stacked Starship rocket to Starbase since April 20.

Several important additions have been made to Ship 25 ahead of this stacking and should make the vehicle ready for flight. SpaceX now eyes the last few days of preparations ahead of Starship’s second test flight, pending regulatory approval.

[Kraken]

I hope they have reason to believe that the FAA will give them a thumbs-up quite soon, it being hurricane season. Can't just leave the world's biggest experimental rocket sitting on the pad indefinitely.