You are about to action:
Object being modified by the action
Do you want to proceed?
If you wish to action:
Object being modified by the action
Then please send an email request to [email protected].
Looks like all the refinements to the initial batch of Starship prototypes did the trick. SN15 successfully flew its ten kilometer mission and landed safely albeit it with flames shooting out at right angles. So what's the future for this revolutionary space ship? First many more test flights await followed by numerous cargo missions hauling masses of Starlink satellites into orbit. After that moon and mars missions are on the horizon.
Earth's massive gravity well makes it near on impossible to send cargo into space at an affordable price. Thanks to Elon Musk that price has dropped thanks to reusable rocketry. It'd still expensive to haul infrastructure up into orbit but it's getting cheaper making the establishment of a moon base a realistic proposition. With one sixth the gravity the moon has a major advantage over the Earth. Rockets can reach orbit using far less fuel and solar energy can be utilized without atmosphere diluting energy flow. But what if we had virtually no gravity to contend with. In such an micro gravity environment energy required for transport would be minimal and heavy objects have no weight. Massive structures could be build providing customized artificial gravity for people living and working there. Enormous space ships could also be constructed designed to only operate in micro gravity shuttling between space habitats, asteroids and orbiting planets. Initially there would be huge start up costs before a space economy hit critical mass but once it becomes self sustaining mass production will reach such a scale that it will make Henry Ford's head spin.
SpaceX seemed to be making great progress with its development of the revolutionary Starship. Even though a number of prototypes had gone up in flames after landing heavily it appeared we were edging closer to a successful landing. Then SN11 happened and it seemed we'd taken a step backwards. It didn't come close to landing in one piece and made me think we may have to rethink the whole Starship development timetable. Hopefully issues with the first batch of prototypes are addressed in the upgraded SN15 series. Starship is a game changing and we need it to succeed.
Starship prototype SN8 bites the dust on the landing pad after a spectacular test flight showing off its amazing in flight capabilities. This is undoubtedly game changing rocket technology. Good news is little damage to the pad and SN9 waiting in the wings. Elon Musk congratulates test team after identifying low header tank pressure as cause for the crash.
Ignore the corrupt Mainstream media & use alternative news sources
So it looks like the big moment may not be too far off. Mind you it's not the first time I've waited with anticipation for the inaugural 15K Starship flight. Will it happen tomorrow? Maybe. Seems as if Elon Musk is showing a bit more caution in the development of this ground breaking technology. Mind you he has plenty more prototypes on the production line. I wonder how many spare raptor engines he has available?
Well this time SpaceX successfully launched four astronauts into space bound for a three month stint on the ISS. Boeing can just look on and weep as their capsule remains grounded. Meanwhile things aren't going quite as smoothly at boca chica where SN8 Starship had a mishap with at least one of its raptor engines. Fingers crossed Elon can get the problem sorted soon so we can witness the fifteen kilometer flight.
Another 120 starlink satellites launch over two falcon 9 missions. the second landing of the first stage booster was achieved with pinpoint accuracy on the drone ship. SpaceX seems to have got over their launch logjam that recently plagued the. But the best is yet to come in boca chica when SN8 finally lifts off the ground. No longer the flying silo but a stylish space ship complete with flaps and nose cone. Can't wait to see those three raptor engines ignite.
The starlink 13th mission finally lifts off successfully after a number of false starts that has caused Elon Musk to tear his hair out. Hopefully SpaceX can resolve the launch pad issues that have delayed SpaceX's 2020 mission schedule. I am confident Elon will iron out the bugs.
Link to full SpaceX video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0MGgQZIYNk&t=344s&ab_channel=SpaceX
SpaceX has had a frustrating time of late. Many scrubbed launches due to weather and technical glitches. It's so bad Elon Musk himself is going to visit the launch facilities to hopefully find a solution to all the scrubbed missions. SpaceX did launch a cargo ship to the ISS but that hardly compensates for all the aborted missions.
Link to NASA at boca chica
https://www.youtube.com/c/NASASpaceflightVideos/videos
Watch edited highlights of the Starlink 12 launch of an additional sixty satellites on top of the seven hundred sats currently orbiting. Also encouraging news on beta testing the Starlink system by SpaceX employees. When engineer and presenter Kate Tice isn't working at SpaceX she's protecting wolf-dogs on the weekend. Makes my life look dull. The only downer today was the inability to retrieve the fairings. Better luck next time.
Link to full SpaceX Starlink 12 launch coverage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j4xR7LMCGY&ab_channel=SpaceX
Another successful launch for SpaceX this week prior to another Starlink mission in a fews days. This is a unique pola trajectory launch with the most spectacular photography I've seen from spaceX so far. Michael & Andy provided excellent commentary as well. This is an edited video of SpaceX's broadcast. For the full video follow the link below.
Another fifty-eight Starlink satellites are heading into orbit as well as three Sky earth observation satellites after the 90th launch of a Falcon rocket. Been a great month for spaceX. A great hop in boca chica after a flawless Dragon 2 manned mission. Can't wait for the Starship 20K flight coming soon.
Another successful launch by SpaceX capping a great week for the company. First Dragon 2 demo mission returning US astronauts back to earth safely followed by SN5's hop at Boca Chica. Now the deployment of 57 additional Starlink satellites. Meanwhile Bezos appears to be sitting back twiddling his thumbs.
Finally after numerous false starts the SN5 Starship prototype takes to the heavens on its maiden 150 meter hop at Boca Chica Texas. It was fantastic to see the single raptor engine perform so well. There was a huge amount of smoke generated by the launch that would put an asthmatic like me immediately into the ER. However it was a great moment which may be repeated several times before the crucial 20 kilometer flight takes place. Exciting times!
In memory of SN4. I've taken five days of frenetic activity shot by Mary (boca chica gal) at SpaceX Boca Chica facility and added two musical tracks. Looks like the production line is ramping up as Elon constructs two more Starship prototypes simultaneously. Amazing progress before a hopefully one day we'll see a successful 150 meter hop someday. I've sped up the footage X3.
Elon Musk wants to set up a colony on Mars to make humans a multiplanetary species. Sounds good but why not test required technologies on the moon before taking the great leap to another planet. The moon is on our doorstep in space terms and is a logical stepping stone before exploring the solar system IMO. The risks are lower than Mars but the rewards potentially huge.
We're going back to the moon and beyond using a new generation of cheap reliable spaceships that will enable humanity to spread its wings. Exciting times await and I hope to document major and minor achievements space research.