I agree, somehow switching to prioritize a manned version of dreamchaser (more quickly) would make for a much better investment and provide a superior LEO capability.

Rocketlab news is pretty good, separately:

Quote:

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As for Electron's future reusability prospects, the company is planning on flying the first flight-proven engine on an Electron launch later this year and the first full booster re-flight in 2024. The most recent Electron that was recovered showed positive results in new waterproofing methods and was recovered from the ocean using a new hoisting method, expediting the process.

Founder and CEO Peter Beck also provided new information regarding Neutron, the company's new medium-lift rocket currently in the design and testing phases.

As we reported not too long ago, the Neutron design has been slightly modified, Beck mentioned they made the changes a few months ago based on customer feedback and through their testing analysis program. The landing legs are now optimized for barge landings, and the fairing section is being changed from 4 segments to 2 to allow for simpler mechanisms.

The company has completed the stage 2 carbon composite qualification tank, with testing expected to begin in Q3, and completed the cryogenic tank test stand. The company has begun the Earthworks for Launch Complex 3 and is grading the launch pad area ahead of construction.

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YellowPot_97 said:

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Virgin's first tourist mission at 10:00 this morning

https://www.youtube.com/live/h7D8kPNU7eo?feature=share

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Bumped from the last page

YellowPot_97 said:

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YellowPot_97 said:

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Virgin's first tourist mission at 10:00 this morning

https://www.youtube.com/live/h7D8kPNU7eo?feature=share

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Bumped from the last page

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Looch in 30 years!

Only 23 billion years before the solar system formed. And 15 billion years before the Milky Way was formed.

ETA: 65 million earth masses..

It's estimated to be 50 times the mass of our Sun and millions of times brighter 🤯https://t.co/qQpuEBDkjY

— Latest in space (@latestinspace) August 10, 2023

How tf do they discern a single star from that. I don't get it

4x slow motion footage of drop and ignition from today’s @virgingalactic Galactic 02 mission. @NASASpaceflight

Rewatch our stream here: https://t.co/WjVdH5Nv9u pic.twitter.com/zwsJkEQ0yr

— Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) August 10, 2023

will25u said:

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Only 23 billion years before the solar system formed. And 15 billion years before the Milky Way was formed.

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The Universe is 13.8 billion years old, so Earendel isn't quite that old. Because of the expansion of the universe, objects seen from 13.8 billion years ago can be as far as 46 billion light years away.

Sea Speed said:

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How tf do they discern a single star from that. I don't get it

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edit: sorry, I misread your question, but for anyone wanting to know how to calculate the distance of a star...

From the star's spectrum. By examining absorption lines in the spectrum they can determine what the star light's wavelength should be, and then see how far it's been redshifted due to the stretching of space between there and here.

The redshift value (z) is 6.2 which can be calculated using


Using this formula



you can calculate the distance

Sea Speed said:

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How tf do they discern a single star from that. I don't get it

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It's all about ball bearings these days.

It would, unless something has changed, also lead to the two LV redundancy NASA wants/needs, correct? I'm out of the loop, but my understanding is that manned dreamchaser will launch external of a fairing sitting on top of the LV with a payload adapter at the base like the early shuttle concepts, and that the only real difference is the adapter on top of the booster between a Falcon and a Vulcan

It would be interesting to see if the adapter would work with a recoverable booster version of the F9, with curre t relaunch rates they could dedicate 2-3 boosters to the project and probably launch 20+ times with just those.

It would also mean that the vehicle would not be dependent on Vulcan, and the adapter/flight profile would be the only real flight test hardware when certifying Vulcan to carry it manned.

Yes and no. Sierra decided to parter significantly with Blue origin/Boeing for LIFE/launches, though adapting it to go on an F9 shouldn't really be that difficult.



The nasa collaboration on the unmanned side will help them with the manned one ("DC-200 series"), which I am dubious will be more than 20-40 percent common, but whatever. The Vulcan "Cert 2" mission probably won't happen before May, and they have not divorced themselves from the Vulcan's, as of yet, though I am sure they've had discussions/exploratory talks with Rocketlab/SpaceX etc. Even still, I doubt an FH ever conducts a manned launch, and spacex doesn't really have the 'inventory' to invest in a lengthy manned development with Sierra for F9, even if the money's there.

Sierra Space hosted its third official Dream Chaser training for @NASA astronauts. The three astronauts – Mike Barratt, Matt Dominick and Jeanette Epps – are members of NASA’s #SpaceX #Crew8 mission and may be the first to welcome Dream Chaser to the ISS.https://t.co/qjH33Nm5Rk pic.twitter.com/WOgxA8txLQ

— Sierra Space (@SierraSpaceCo) August 4, 2023

Earendel is a really interesting name - got to think we've got some Tolkien fans in the astronomy community.

For those who don't know, Earendil was Elrond's dad, who sailed across the ocean with a star (silmaril) in his ship.

I didn't realize it would take a FH for the manned version, that kind of changes things!

BREAKING: A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft has blasted off on Russia's first moon mission in nearly 50 years - AP

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 10, 2023

I was promised there would be no math here!!!

Ha, I'm waiting for the orbital mechanics lessons to kick off

I understand how it works, but the math yall are discussing is so far over my head you might as well be speaking ancient greek.

NVM.... Texags doesn't like Greek

Caliber said:

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NVM.... Texags doesn't like Greek

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I think there needs to be a moratorium on "star" related names in the industry. It gets confusing.

Starliner - Boeing rocket which has lost over $1.1 billion on a fixed contract with NASA.

Starship - SpaceX rocket we all follow with delight on the thread

Starbase - SpaceX launching pad in South Texas.

Starlab - Planned successor to ISS being worked on by US company Voyager Space in a joint venture with Airbus.

Starhopper - SpaceX test vehicle back in 2018

and "X" related names

Good video from Scott Manley breaking down the Chandrayaan-2 landing failure.

It's possible there's cracks in the concrete after the Booster 9 static fire.

You can see the blue, red and yellow markings possibly indicating the locations of those cracks. pic.twitter.com/6kkA4fEqxG

— RGV Aerial Photography (@RGVaerialphotos) August 12, 2023

Here's a civil engineers take

https://x.com/csi_starbase/status/1690863337897177089?s=61&t=_kupzxtr0zazslneBuCB2w

Good video, also posting just to see if x links are able to be posted yet?

YouTube in case:

That guy's content is outstanding, but unfortunately I do the hour to spend on it right now. The bits and pieces I watched demonstrate a high degree of confidence and trust in SpaceX's engineering.

Nice static test comparison video.

The engines don't extend past the end of the starship hull, iirc, so I am not sure you need flater dome.

Isn't this similar to the deluge system with the angled central water jets. The goal here is to get the exhast moving sideways and this sharp angle will push the central sea…

— Sean McClain (@Mcclainseanm) August 17, 2023

I hope they get it stacked shortly.

nortex97 said:

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SpaceX is targeting NET August 31st for the second flight test of Starship!

📷: Me for @SuperclusterHQ pic.twitter.com/UeMkFbRaEk

— Jenny Hautmann (@JennyHPhoto) August 16, 2023

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So what are the odds it actually goes on that date? I understand flights get scrubbed for weather and other mechanical issues - - so not that, but is this tentative or literally scheduled?

Premium said:

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So what are the odds it actually goes on that date? I understand flights get scrubbed for weather and other mechanical issues - - so not that, but is this tentative or literally scheduled?

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It says No Earlier Than... So could be months still. But they *usually* shoot for around that date.

I personally just take that to mean 'we are shooting for September.'