Space Travel & Exploration

[Nerraw]

Starliner gets delayed again: https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/0...ound-problems/

[PACOX]

Every time I forget about Starliner it pops back up in the news just to tell us it's being pushed back.

[Nerraw]

Space drama of the week; Boeing is being sued for stealing stuff: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/07/wils...-projects.html

[PACOX]

Vulcan Centaur completed its last test before first flight.

[PACOX]

Starship has begun testing SN25 for its next full Starship stack. Test was aborted during an attempt to fuel the craft. Looked like something was venting out of the side.


Might link the article later but NASA is starting to pay more attention to delays that might push back an operational Starship. The article highlighted concerns about the FAA being too bureaucractic, which makes sense because the reason why NASA is supporting commercial options is to get around government regulations. Of course there are concerns surrounding some decisions Musks has made.


Artemis 3 is still some time away but we're approaching a window where Starship can comfortably be ready for it versus crunch time that threatens to delay the mission.

[Nerraw]

Visualization of the Falcon 9 launch cadence over the past 15 years: https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1668399552771297285

- - - Updated - - -

Odds comments for a NASA official to make considering everything going on: https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/0...gency-no-good/

[Nerraw]

Mars Sample Return is looking pretty expensive right about now: https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/0...sticker-shock/

[PACOX]

Sn25 did a static fire yesterday. This one looked better than the previous one buts the public really don't know know to interpret 6 engines burning for a second.

[cubby]

Sn25 did a static fire yesterday. This one looked better than the previous one buts the public really don't know know to interpret 6 engines burning for a second.

Good stuff. Can't wait for the next test launch.

[Nerraw]

Good stuff. Can't wait for the next test launch.

An estimated 6 weeks until pad and ship are ready. So let's say 8 weeks. Add to that the fact that we don't know about the FAA's progress. I'd say Q4 to be safe.

[cubby]

An estimated 6 weeks until pad and ship are ready. So let's say 8 weeks. Add to that the fact that we don't know about the FAA's progress. I'd say Q4 to be safe.

That works for me (although no one has called to ask...). I also recall that SpaceX has a way of getting those pesky FAA issues set aside when they are ready for a launch.

[Nerraw]

That works for me (although no one has called to ask...). I also recall that SpaceX has a way of getting those pesky FAA issues set aside when they are ready for a launch.

I also forgot about the lawsuit. It's not gonna lead to anything, but I have no idea what kind of delays it'll impose.

[Nerraw]

https://twitter.com/csi_starbase/sta...89776128573440

First (gaseous) test of the Starship water deluge system.

[Nerraw]

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/...07026556502016

Aaaand the first test with actual water!

[Pann]

That is really impressive! I assume that at some point they will test it alongside a static fire test, can't wait!

[Nerraw]

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/sta...23347336110080

Business-end of Booster 9 as it's being lifted onto the launch mount.

[Nerraw]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1684685769406046210

I guess we now know why they put Booster 9 back on the launch mount. Time for a steamy Friday!

[Nerraw]

Remember all the shit falling out of the air for miles around after the Starship test? It was beach sand.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/new...h-18266534.php

[Pann]

Ooh... Booster 9 has completed a chill and spin test of its Raptor engines, a static fire test will hopefully be happening soon.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1687551185509888000

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/...82431094349824

[Pann]

The static fire test could be happening today!