SpaceX reveals picture of fully assembled suborbital Starship hopper
Capitalism in space: SpaceX has released pictures of the fully assembled suborbital Starship hopper, planned for its first test flights in the coming months. The image on the right is not a simulation, but the real thing.
In tweets by Elon Musk, he also revealed that they hope to have an orbital prototype of Starship built by June, with the Super Heavy booster beginning construction in the spring. More information here.
This is unquestionably an ambitious schedule, but the contrast with the development of SpaceX’s manned Dragon capsule, slowed absurdly by the government shutdown and NASA’s bureaucracy, highlights clearly the fundamental reason why SpaceX refused government money for the development of Super Heavy/Starship. By using private funds, SpaceX is free to proceed at its own pace, which is fast, rather than waiting for permission from the bean-counters sitting in NASA offices who have no real idea how to build anything.
It is likely they will not meet this schedule. It is also likely that they will also get this done in a time frame far faster than anyone expects.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
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Capitalism in space: SpaceX has released pictures of the fully assembled suborbital Starship hopper, planned for its first test flights in the coming months. The image on the right is not a simulation, but the real thing.
In tweets by Elon Musk, he also revealed that they hope to have an orbital prototype of Starship built by June, with the Super Heavy booster beginning construction in the spring. More information here.
This is unquestionably an ambitious schedule, but the contrast with the development of SpaceX’s manned Dragon capsule, slowed absurdly by the government shutdown and NASA’s bureaucracy, highlights clearly the fundamental reason why SpaceX refused government money for the development of Super Heavy/Starship. By using private funds, SpaceX is free to proceed at its own pace, which is fast, rather than waiting for permission from the bean-counters sitting in NASA offices who have no real idea how to build anything.
It is likely they will not meet this schedule. It is also likely that they will also get this done in a time frame far faster than anyone expects.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Elon Musk and his team are simply amazing.
I have to laugh with joy at how rapidly this test rocket was put together. NASA would still be forming a committee about forming more committees, by contrast.
Note the small houses in the background and the American flag placed on this silver test vehicle. It really does look like it was ripped from the pages of a 1950s science fiction novel — but it’s happening now, finally!
And in Heaven, Robert Heinlein smiles.
And in Heaven, Robert Heinlein smiles.
And so does Jim Baen!
Wait…you mean this thing (in the picture) that looks like they’ve been building a silo in an Iowa cornfield is THE vehicle they will actually put on top of a candle? I just hope a bird doesn’t hit it.
Starship is cool, but with a 9 meter fairing diameter and Saturn V class payload capacity why aren’t we building an 8 meter optical replacement for Hubble to launch on the Super Heavy? At the least some philanthropic billionaire should fund the University of Arizona mirror lab to work on an appropriate light weight prototype of the optics. Or might WE perhaps kick off such an endeavor by starting a Go Fund Me campaign?
MDN asked, “Why aren’t we building an 8 meter optical replacement for Hubble to launch on the Super Heavy?”
Simple answer: NASA and the federal government’s bureaucracy feels threatened by it and therefore wants nothing to do with it. In fact, they are threatened by it, because it will clearly demonstrate the utter waste and uselessness of SLS, which is what is financing many of the jobs in that bureaucracy. If SLS goes away, so do those jobs.
Gent, silos withstand bird strikes just fine, don’t they?
FCC license applications reveal that SpaceX plans two separate test regimes with this hopper: low-altitude tests under 500 meters lasting about 100 seconds as often as three times per week & high-altitude tests under 5 km lasting about 6 minutes as often as once per week. These will be gentle flights which shouldn’t rip off too many of those stainless sheets.
there is a second Hubble mirror on display in a museum.
If permission is given the original Hubble could be copied and the electronic optics upgraded to today’s best.
They could even double the number of gyro’s and keep half off as back ups for later.
Or add more fuel this time.