Comments on: SpaceX to refly Starship prototype #15 next?

By: Edward

Edward — Fri, 14 May 2021 22:02:22 +0000

pawn noted: “The data that they do have may show some irregularities and to think that it landed without exploding makes it a “success” is a very limited viewpoint.”

True. It shows that it can be done, but it does not show that it has been done well. As with the Falcons, SpaceX will likely be refining the design, methods, and operations for many flights. The word is that orbital operations could cost as little as $2 million, so once SpaceX starts to orbit its test units, they could fly them often, at a high cadence, in order to improve Starship at relatively low cost.

Improving reliability will help make Starship safe for human transport, the real goal of the project.

By: pawn

pawn — Fri, 14 May 2021 13:13:25 +0000

It does make some sense in repeating the flight if SpaceX was not satisfied that SN15 operated as intended. They have very little data to establish what performance envelopes exist.

The data that they do have may show some irregularities and to think that it landed without exploding makes it a “success” is a very limited viewpoint. The idea that they need to “freeze” their code or configuration because it worked once doesn’t hold up very well.

Every bit of data at this point is valuable.

By: Jeff Wright

Jeff Wright — Fri, 14 May 2021 07:52:59 +0000

Elon has filed an orbital flight as per Next Big Future…whatever that entails

By: Mike Borgelt

Mike Borgelt — Wed, 12 May 2021 21:29:09 +0000

Skunk Bucket, I think it will do SSTO with no payload or fuel for return.

By: Skunk Bucket

Skunk Bucket — Wed, 12 May 2021 19:16:54 +0000

Do we know just how high a Starship can climb? (This would be assuming it took off with as much propellent as its three engines could lift, then kept all three lit – within any gee limit / max Q limit – until fuel in the main tanks ran out.)

By: Herman D Hurt

Herman D Hurt — Wed, 12 May 2021 17:32:53 +0000

Gotta love the SpaceX team and Musk’s drive for excellence no matter the number of RUDs in order get us back in space, moon, Mars, etc.
If NASA were as bold…(I know, right?!?!) we would have an established moon base and lunar industrial parks! But, it is NASA. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

By: Herman D Hurt

Herman D Hurt — Wed, 12 May 2021 17:32:07 +0000

Gotta love the SpaceX team and Musk’s drive for excellence no matter the number of RUDs in order get us back in space, moon, Mars, etc.
If were as bold…(I know, right?!?!) we would have an established moon base and lunar industrial parks! But, it is NASA. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

By: geoffc

geoffc — Wed, 12 May 2021 16:27:32 +0000

As noted in the article, the key indicator of reflight, would be new set of legs arriving to be installed. Good news is they are sort of big, and easy to spot, by all the tank watchers out there.

However, they might simply be mounting it on the stand, since with its hold downs, it is safer to leave there, inspect, possibly remove the Raptors than back at the build site.

Only time will tell, or a good leak from an employee.

The issue wiith flying higher, is the FAA permitting. They are limited to 10K by the permit, and changing that might be more time consuming than they want.

On the other hand, they will need to change that permit eventually, so might as well start now…