Space X

Capt'n Midnight · 24-04-2021 9:28pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

So after nine years of having no launches from American soil and no vehicle to get to the ISS, space x now has two dragon capsules docked to the ISS.

It's been a while since the US had two spacecraft in orbit at the same time.

Itssoeasy · 24-04-2021 9:58pm

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

It's been a while since the US had two spacecraft in orbit at the same time.

Yeah. It’s got to be project Gemini timeframe when they had two in orbit that were both NASA launched. I mean there was the Apollo-Soyuz thing but that’s not the same thing. It may not be Gemini era but since then I’m struggling to think of when there ever a time or a need.

Capt'n Midnight · 24-04-2021 10:34pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Yeah. It’s got to be project Gemini timeframe when they had two in orbit that were both NASA launched. I mean there was the Apollo-Soyuz thing but that’s not the same thing. It may not be Gemini era but since then I’m struggling to think of when there ever a time or a need.

Probably the docking missions with Gemini. Skylab had two docking ports IIRC

The Apollo-Soyuz thing was weird since the docking adaptor was also an air lock since they used different pressures and oxygen levels.

Itssoeasy · 24-04-2021 10:50pm

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Probably the docking missions with Gemini. Skylab had two docking ports IIRC

The Apollo-Soyuz thing was weird since the docking adaptor was also an air lock since they used different pressures and oxygen levels.

Yeah it’s got to be that capt and even the Gemini missions weren’t two geminis hard docking to each other, it was Gemini docking to an atlas-Agena(when it could get itself to orbit that is) and even that went badly wrong once and caused it to spin until Neil Armstrong’s quick thinking of undocking from it and working out a stuck truster on Gemini was the issue. There was two Gemini that got close to each other and flew in formation.

Capt'n Midnight · 24-04-2021 10:59pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

So after nine years of having no launches from American soil and no vehicle to get to the ISS, space x now has two dragon capsules docked to the ISS.

Yeah, but only one of them is brand new

The other one's been round the block a few times.

Itssoeasy · 25-04-2021 12:14am

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Yeah, but only one of them is brand new

The other one's been round the block a few times.

My point was in a relatively short period of time space x have gone from no spacecraft to now three crewed missions and two docked to the ISS. That’s impressive.

Ghost Train · 26-04-2021 11:21am

Not much info on the crew dragon toilet facilities, not a lot of free space with 4 crew when they did their broadcast a few days ago. Doesn't seem to be something that spacex talk too much about

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1291039258497572867?s=19

https://twitter.com/Thom_astro/status/1386331928031334409?s=19

Shlippery · 26-04-2021 10:59pm

Remember SN15? https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1386801847504154624

Static Fire'd!

Flight soon? I imagine they're gonna be super careful after getting the moon gig. Would be amazing if this launched and landed smoothly!

jogdish · 27-04-2021 9:43am

Musk says, launch this week...

AMKC · 27-04-2021 9:53am

jogdish wrote: »

Musk says, launch this week...

Sure he said that last week too and nothing happened.

Westernyelp · 27-04-2021 10:48am

AMKC wrote:

Sure he said that last week too and nothing happened.

He's bound to be right sometime

AMKC · 27-04-2021 4:00pm

Westernyelp wrote: »

He's bound to be right sometime

I think Space X and Elon Musk are been more cautious now because they got the Moon lander contract so they want to do it right hopefully and then progress and get better from there on.

jogdish · 29-04-2021 9:55pm

So SN15/16/17 all now have FAA approval. Handy.

Shlippery · 30-04-2021 9:46am

Potential flight today, No evac notice for Mary yet but they installed the FTS which is usually a good sign.

I think they're waiting on weather for a go/no-go

Itssoeasy · 30-04-2021 7:24pm

The return of crew dragon 1 which was meant to be tonight is being moved to tomorrow due to unfavourable winds.

Ghost Train · 30-04-2021 7:42pm

Shlippery wrote: »

Potential flight today, No evac notice for Mary yet but they installed the FTS which is usually a good sign.

I think they're waiting on weather for a go/no-go

Looking at the videos on YouTube it's now scrubbed for today

Itssoeasy · 02-05-2021 1:38am

And we have undocking of crew dragon from the ISS at 1:35am Irish time. Six and a half hours till splashdown so about 7am Irish time for splashdown.

josip · 02-05-2021 10:56am

All went ok.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/science/spacex-nasa-landing.html

Westernyelp · 04-05-2021 12:16am

Looks like they are going for it tomorrow. Road closures and alerts etc in place. Perfect viewing for Starwars day

Shlippery · 04-05-2021 1:03pm

Starship & Starlink today, exciting.

Woulda been nice for the miserable bank holiday yesterday - today I'll have to be distracted from work!

.42. · 04-05-2021 2:53pm

What are peoples opinions on a successful landing of SN15?

I give it 80%

josip · 04-05-2021 3:33pm

.42. wrote: »

What are peoples opinions on a successful landing of SN15?

I give it 80%

Based on past performance ?

.42. · 04-05-2021 4:28pm

josip wrote: »

Based on past performance ?

Lol. I think SN15 has a lot of upgrades compared to previous SNs

Not sure about the legs.

AMKC · 04-05-2021 4:49pm

Well it has been scrubbed for today so I guess the Force is not with space X. Maybe tomorrow. Certainly taking there time with this one. How long has it been now since SN 11 was launched and crashed in the fog?

Shlippery · 04-05-2021 7:45pm

Scrub a dub dub!

SN11 about a month ago now I'd say!

Hopefully every delay is one more minor thing they can tweak for potential landing success!

Westernyelp · 04-05-2021 9:23pm

Shlippery wrote:

Hopefully every delay is one more minor thing they can tweak for potential landing success!

Weather today id say

AMKC · 04-05-2021 9:54pm

Are Space X incompetent? It's not like they are trying to send this rocket to space they are not even going up very high only 10000km then back again. Yes ok the landing bit is new but that is it.
They should have launched today then 16 tomorrow and 17 on Thursday that would have got the worlds attention and they should be aiming to go higher each time too even if only at 5000km extra each time.

jogdish · 04-05-2021 9:55pm

AMKC wrote: »

Are Space X incompetent? It's not like they are trying to send this rocket to space they are not even going up very high only 10000km then back again. Yes ok the landing bit is new but that is it.
They should have launched today then 16 tomorrow and 17 on Thursday that would have got the worlds attention and they should be aiming to go higher each time too even if only at 5000km extra each time.

Best tweet that Elon, I'm sure no one thought of that.

Capt'n Midnight · 04-05-2021 10:53pm

AMKC wrote: »

Are Space X incompetent? It's not like they are trying to send this rocket to space they are not even going up very high only 10000km then back again. Yes ok the landing bit is new but that is it.
They should have launched today then 16 tomorrow and 17 on Thursday that would have got the worlds attention and they should be aiming to go higher each time too even if only at 5000km extra each time.

Mr Bezos sent New Shepard to 100.5Km six years ago. And to 106km a fortnight ago. And is looking to use other peoples rockets to launch his satellites.

SLS which started life as a shuttle derivative back in the 1970s can be looked at as everything was tested, including using bits that have been to orbit and back OR nothing has been tested because it'll have a payload on the first flight instead of concrete weights.

Besides terminal velocity is what matters at this point in the development. It won't be landing any faster if it goes higher. Unless it goes nose down. And it won't be taking off with extra flammables and extra engines for the extra weight yet. What is it 600 tonnes of propellant max load ? That's about the low end of a Dial A Yield Nuke.

once you get the landing right you can do more tests with more engines and other expensive bits. And they still have to do tests on the first stage too.

AMKC · 05-05-2021 10:42am

jogdish wrote: »

Best tweet that Elon, I'm sure no one thought of that.

Lol.

Do Space X lack confidence then?

They missed a big opportunity yesterday to launch SN15 on Star Wars day and I would say upset or disapointed a lot of people.

jogdish · 05-05-2021 10:53am

AMKC wrote: »

Lol.

Do Space X lack confidence then?

They missed a big opportunity yesterday to launch SN15 on Star Wars day and I would say upset or disappointed a lot of people.

Why would they care, there could be a whole lot of reasons. Starship is only looked at by the likes of us, who will watch regardless and by contractors like NASA, US gov who probably don't care about a day here or there to make sure this or that was working.

Then again, it could just have been weather, who knows. It's annoying as a spectator for sure.

Capt'n Midnight · 05-05-2021 10:57am

AMKC wrote: »

Lol.

Do Space X lack confidence then?

They missed a big opportunity yesterday to launch SN15 on Star Wars day and I would say upset or disapointed a lot of people.

It would only upset the sort of people who got the first space shuttle named Enterprise.

firemansam4 · 05-05-2021 12:08pm

AMKC wrote: »

Are Space X incompetent? It's not like they are trying to send this rocket to space they are not even going up very high only 10000km then back again. Yes ok the landing bit is new but that is it.
They should have launched today then 16 tomorrow and 17 on Thursday that would have got the worlds attention and they should be aiming to go higher each time too even if only at 5000km extra each time.

Im actually thinking the exact opposite, it seems to me there are quite a few problems with these raptor engines, and I wonder why they don't try to work on these issues and develop the technology a bit more first before sending up these prototypes and have them crashing back down again causing more costs and bad publicity for them.

AMKC · 05-05-2021 1:34pm

Looks like today might end up being scrubbed too as its quiet windy out there.

Shlippery · 05-05-2021 3:40pm

Mm..maybe things are better now, apparently sheriff is out clearing the beach and areas.. so some form of activity according to NSF now!

Lets see!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPNvB5ComFw

Crane is up now. Letting flaps breath or FTS time?

Mary off to viewing area! Looks like we're _on_!

jogdish · 05-05-2021 8:32pm

had the stream on since 2pm, I still don't know but seems to be progressing - odd given that the weather was better yesterday ? I see Tim has a co host now, I see cannot get over the revenue !

Shlippery · 05-05-2021 9:15pm

Pad un-clear, and a 'raptor' trailer on the way back.

Not ideal

jogdish · 05-05-2021 9:19pm

Shlippery wrote: »

Pad un-clear, and a 'raptor' trailer on the way back.

Not ideal

Just saw the cars, ouch did not catch that raptor detail.

Westernyelp · 05-05-2021 9:43pm

Shlippery wrote:

Pad un-clear, and a 'raptor' trailer on the way back.

It's just a service trailer. Could be a sensor or a switch

Shlippery · 05-05-2021 9:47pm

Westernyelp wrote: »

It's just a service trailer. Could be a sensor or a switch

Yea, NSF clarified there that it's probs just holding tools. hopefully just a minor blip.

Hopefully they can clear out again and get us back on track..still 3/4 hours left in the window I believe so could be up a while yet!

EDIT: They're all leaving again! woohoo

Farm activity...looks like it's ON!

josip · 05-05-2021 10:11pm

Wind speed 18 knots, I assume that's on the ground.
What's the max wind speed that it can still launch at?

Nee_Loo · 05-05-2021 10:35pm

Marcus House (best stream in my opinion) saying just under half an hour till launch

jogdish · 05-05-2021 10:44pm

Nee_Loo wrote: »

Marcus House (best stream in my opinion) saying just under half an hour till launch

Marcus is pretty good, but I keep coming back to NSF for all the angles. But honestly I get very weary of the banter at times.

What doe we all think on the streams?
NSF/ Everyday Tim / Felix / Marcus / Angry astro

Shlippery · 05-05-2021 10:49pm

Now this, this I like to see.

Mrmoe · 05-05-2021 10:54pm

Prefer NSF for stream, not really a fan of the new Everydayastronaut layout. Marcus House is probably the best for regular news updates.

Looking forward to the launch, hopefully landing in one piece, looking forward to this the most since SN8.

Shlippery · 05-05-2021 10:56pm

I like NSF for the buildup and they're good for interesting questions -but as soon as SpaceX show their stream - I put them up on the TV/.main screen.

Prefer watching the action clean w/ commentary on the official stream then back to NSF for the replays/analysis!

Westernyelp · 05-05-2021 10:58pm

jogdish wrote:

What doe we all think on the streams? NSF/ Everyday Tim / Felix / Marcus / Angry astro

I like Felix. Great enthusiasm. Can't warm to Tim at all.
Marcus House is boring.
NSF undoubtedly the most knowledgeable team.

Shlippery · 05-05-2021 11:17pm

https://twitter.com/BCCarCounters/status/1390066960021524483

23:25 for liftoff according to spreadsheet guy!

Will tonight be the night we get a soft safe landing?

jogdish · 05-05-2021 11:23pm

Shlippery wrote: »

I like NSF for the buildup and they're good for interesting questions -but as soon as SpaceX show their stream - I put them up on the TV/.main screen.

Prefer watching the action clean w/ commentary on the official stream then back to NSF for the replays/analysis!

How do you put the spaceX stream on the TV? I don't see ayoutube channel for them.

josip · 05-05-2021 11:24pm

Up!

Space X

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