Science Space Exploration megathread - Page 265

**DaFace** · 03:36 PM

Since a number of cool things are happening in space exploration these days, we'll widen the scope of this thread a smidge. Conversation about all things space exploration are welcome, whether it be from NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin, or anyone else. Chances are most of the discussion will still be about SpaceX since they love to make things public and fun, but nothing's off limits. I'll eventually get around to modifying the OP to include resources for other companies too, but in the meantime, feel free to post any cool stuff you run across.

Lists of Upcoming Missions

Spoiler!

How to Watch a Live Launch

Spoiler!

Where to Learn More

Spoiler!

Glossary

Spoiler!

Space discussions tend to get a little bogged down in jargon, so here's a list of terms you might encounter. (Others, please let me know of others that should be added.)

ASDS - Autonomous Spaceport Droneship - The "barges" that they sometimes land rockets on.
Dragon - The cone-shaped capsule that sits at the top of the rocket for ISS-bound launches that holds the cargo (or, in the future, humans).
F9 - Falcon 9, the name of the rocket itself.
FH - Falcon Heavy, the three-booster version.
GTO - Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, a type of orbit that will eventually result in the satellite orbiting the earth as it turns so that it seems to be in the same spot from the ground (such as DirecTV or Dish satellites). These types of launches are particularly challenging because they require a lot of power to get them into the right orbit, leaving very little fuel left for landing.
HIF - Horizontal Integration Facility - the building near the launch pad where they put all of the pieces of the rocket together before rolling it out to the pad.
ISS - The International Space Station
JRTI - Just Read The Instructions, the name of the "barge" that they land on for west-coast launches.
LEO - Low Earth Orbit, a fairly low orbit shared by many satellites and ISS. These launches usually require less power to achieve the proper orbit, so the first stage can often be landed back on land rather than on a drone ship.
LZ1 - Landing Zone 1, basically a big open slab of concrete at Cape Canaveral where the first stage will attempt to land (for some launches).
NET - No Earlier Than, basically the date they're hoping to launch, but rocket launches have a tendency of getting delayed.
OCISLY - Of Course I Still Love You, the name of the "barge" that they land on for east-coast launches.
RTLS - Return to Landing Site, a mission where the first stage comes back and lands at LZ1.
Starship - SpaceX's next-generation rocket (and spacecraft) that will hopefully one day take us to Mars. Starship is the "second stage" that will carry cargo or people, but also refers to the whole system. (It's confusing, but think of it like the Space Shuttle, which was both the shuttle itself and the entire launch system.)
Super Heavy - The giant booster that will carry Starship to space.

MagicHef · 01-31-2021, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kstater

I get being pissed at FAA, but if it’s just paperwork, why aren’t they (Space X) treating every test as a new bird?

They did consider SN9 as a new bird, but had to re-consider it as a new bird again after they swapped some engines, even though it had not flown. It seems they didn’t know this until after it was on the pad and ready to fly.

*Just my understanding and may be wrong*

**Donger** · 01-31-2021, 03:35 PM

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021...-and-starship/

**Donger** · 02-01-2021, 02:26 PM

Hydrae · 02-01-2021, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Elon Musk, serving up SciFi pictures in real life! That is so very cool.

**Donger** · 02-01-2021, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Elon Musk, serving up SciFi pictures in real life! That is so very cool.

Fingers crossed that SN9 flies tomorrow, but isn't SN10 kinda in close proximity?

**DaFace** · 02-01-2021, 04:15 PM

This is neat. Someone want to chip in and pay for me to take a ride?

Announcing the first commercial astronaut mission to orbit Earth aboard Dragon → https://t.co/MbESvnakAD pic.twitter.com/ukLsjFfRjk
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 1, 2021

MagicHef · 02-01-2021, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Fingers crossed that SN9 flies tomorrow, but isn't SN10 kinda in close proximity?

They seem to have a level of confidence that I'm not sure I'd share.

**DaFace** · 02-01-2021, 04:24 PM

You can enter to win a trip on Dragon here if you are in the mood to donate:

https://www.prizeo.com/campaigns/l/i...n=Inspiration4

**Donger** · 02-01-2021, 04:40 PM

Ugh:

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/2...tion-elon-musk

SpaceX’s first high-altitude test flight of its Starship rocket, which launched successfully but exploded in a botched landing attempt in December, violated the terms of its Federal Aviation Administration test license, according to two people familiar with the incident. Both the landing explosion and license violation prompted a formal investigation by the FAA, driving regulators to put extra scrutiny on Elon Musk’s hasty Mars rocket test campaign.

unlurking · 02-01-2021, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Ugh:

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/2...tion-elon-musk

SpaceX’s first high-altitude test flight of its Starship rocket, which launched successfully but exploded in a botched landing attempt in December, violated the terms of its Federal Aviation Administration test license, according to two people familiar with the incident. Both the landing explosion and license violation prompted a formal investigation by the FAA, driving regulators to put extra scrutiny on Elon Musk’s hasty Mars rocket test campaign.

Yeah, these theories confuse me. Did they assume SpaceX could guarantee a landing? Doesn't make sense to me. Also saw someone saying it was because wreckage was found up to 4km away. Which is well within the 5mi exclusion zone. So again, doesn't make sense. I don't doubt that the FAA may believe they violated something, but the complete lack of transparency is annoying as ****.

EDIT: The FAA considering SN9 a completely new vehicle after two engines were swapped out makes the most sense to me, but I really haven't been paying much attention.

MagicHef · 02-01-2021, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlurking

Yeah, these theories confuse me. Did they assume SpaceX could guarantee a landing? Doesn't make sense to me. Also saw someone saying it was because wreckage was found up to 4km away. Which is well within the 5mi exclusion zone. So again, doesn't make sense. I don't doubt that the FAA may believe they violated something, but the complete lack of transparency is annoying as ****.

EDIT: The FAA considering SN9 a completely new vehicle after two engines were swapped out makes the most sense to me, but I really haven't been paying much attention.

I also read a theory that the SN8 flight did not conform to the approved envelope. Not sure which theory, if any, is correct.

unlurking · 02-02-2021, 08:30 AM

SpaceX has a green light from the FAA, and Starship SN9 is free to fly

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021...pe-sn9-to-fly/

Molitoth · 02-02-2021, 10:50 AM

TODAY IS GOING TO BE THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN FEEL IT

**Donger** · 02-02-2021, 01:17 PM

Seeing some tank farm activity, fellas!

MagicHef · 02-02-2021, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Any idea where the landing area is in relation to this picture?

06-01-2014, 09:40 AM
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $1546899	Space Exploration megathread Since a number of cool things are happening in space exploration these days, we'll widen the scope of this thread a smidge. Conversation about all things space exploration are welcome, whether it be from NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin, or anyone else. Chances are most of the discussion will still be about SpaceX since they love to make things public and fun, but nothing's off limits. I'll eventually get around to modifying the OP to include resources for other companies too, but in the meantime, feel free to post any cool stuff you run across. Lists of Upcoming Missions Spoiler! General lists: https://nextspaceflight.com/ http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ SpaceX specific list: https://spacexnow.com/upcoming.php How to Watch a Live Launch Spoiler! SpaceX: https://www.youtube.com/user/spacexchannel ULA: https://www.youtube.com/user/UnitedLaunchAlliance RocketLab: https://www.youtube.com/user/RocketLabNZ NASATV will also cover some launches (primarily ISS resupply missions): https://www.youtube.com/user/NASAtelevision Where to Learn More Spoiler! Some cool pics... https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacex/ https://www.instagram.com/spacex/?hl=en Twitter feed is usually interesing... https://twitter.com/SpaceX https://twitter.com/elonmusk The SpaceX sub is a great source of info... https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/wiki/index And for a more forum-style discussion board... http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php#c17 And there are plenty of YouTube channels with great content... Joe Scott - Lost of "future" discussion. Some about rockets and space. Much that goes beyond. Scott Manley - Super smart dude (engineer) who reviews a lot of major events in space exploration. Frazer Cain (Universe Today) - Podcast-style videos that go in-depth into space topics. Tim Dodd (Everyday Astronaut) - A "random dude" who got really into space (particularly SpaceX). He's a great resource for simple explanations of this stuff, as well as live hosting launches. USLaunchReport - Lost of videos of the more mundane stuff (e.g., booster recovery operations). Not a ton of commentary. NASASpaceFlight - Live hosting of most launches including a ton of video of Starlink operations. Glossary Spoiler! Space discussions tend to get a little bogged down in jargon, so here's a list of terms you might encounter. (Others, please let me know of others that should be added.) ASDS - Autonomous Spaceport Droneship - The "barges" that they sometimes land rockets on. Dragon - The cone-shaped capsule that sits at the top of the rocket for ISS-bound launches that holds the cargo (or, in the future, humans). F9 - Falcon 9, the name of the rocket itself. FH - Falcon Heavy, the three-booster version. GTO - Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, a type of orbit that will eventually result in the satellite orbiting the earth as it turns so that it seems to be in the same spot from the ground (such as DirecTV or Dish satellites). These types of launches are particularly challenging because they require a lot of power to get them into the right orbit, leaving very little fuel left for landing. HIF - Horizontal Integration Facility - the building near the launch pad where they put all of the pieces of the rocket together before rolling it out to the pad. ISS - The International Space Station JRTI - Just Read The Instructions, the name of the "barge" that they land on for west-coast launches. LEO - Low Earth Orbit, a fairly low orbit shared by many satellites and ISS. These launches usually require less power to achieve the proper orbit, so the first stage can often be landed back on land rather than on a drone ship. LZ1 - Landing Zone 1, basically a big open slab of concrete at Cape Canaveral where the first stage will attempt to land (for some launches). NET - No Earlier Than, basically the date they're hoping to launch, but rocket launches have a tendency of getting delayed. OCISLY - Of Course I Still Love You, the name of the "barge" that they land on for east-coast launches. RTLS - Return to Landing Site, a mission where the first stage comes back and lands at LZ1. Starship - SpaceX's next-generation rocket (and spacecraft) that will hopefully one day take us to Mars. Starship is the "second stage" that will carry cargo or people, but also refers to the whole system. (It's confusing, but think of it like the Space Shuttle, which was both the shuttle itself and the entire launch system.) Super Heavy - The giant booster that will carry Starship to space. Last edited by DaFace; 12-10-2020 at 03:36 PM..
Posts: 52,036

01-31-2021, 03:35 PM	#3962
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $9889900 VARSITY	https://arstechnica.com/science/2021...-and-starship/ __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 182,231	1 0

02-01-2021, 02:26 PM	#3963
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $9889900 VARSITY	__________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
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02-01-2021, 04:15 PM	#3966
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $1546899	This is neat. Someone want to chip in and pay for me to take a ride? Announcing the first commercial astronaut mission to orbit Earth aboard Dragon → https://t.co/MbESvnakAD pic.twitter.com/ukLsjFfRjk — SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 1, 2021
Posts: 52,036

02-01-2021, 04:24 PM	#3968
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $1546899	You can enter to win a trip on Dragon here if you are in the mood to donate: https://www.prizeo.com/campaigns/l/i...n=Inspiration4
Posts: 52,036

02-01-2021, 04:40 PM	#3969
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $9889900 VARSITY	Ugh: https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/2...tion-elon-musk SpaceX’s first high-altitude test flight of its Starship rocket, which launched successfully but exploded in a botched landing attempt in December, violated the terms of its Federal Aviation Administration test license, according to two people familiar with the incident. Both the landing explosion and license violation prompted a formal investigation by the FAA, driving regulators to put extra scrutiny on Elon Musk’s hasty Mars rocket test campaign. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 182,231

02-02-2021, 08:30 AM	#3972
unlurking MVP Join Date: Aug 2003 Casino cash: $7737309	SpaceX has a green light from the FAA, and Starship SN9 is free to fly https://arstechnica.com/science/2021...pe-sn9-to-fly/ __________________
Posts: 10,620

02-02-2021, 10:50 AM	#3973
Molitoth Mahomes Fanboi Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $2654969	TODAY IS GOING TO BE THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN FEEL IT
Posts: 19,495

02-02-2021, 01:17 PM	#3974
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $9889900 VARSITY	Seeing some tank farm activity, fellas! __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 182,231