Thread: SpaceX - On to Mars

Originally Posted by Edmond

Actually, is there a fallback that it can still operate if one fails?

Takovers is the man to ask.

However, some have allegedly suggested one or two possibly.

Above 7 they have to ditch the steerage class passengers.

At 1:32 there is a black circle on the rocket, just above the venting gasses.

Coincident or a hidden feature?

Originally Posted by tomcat

...of course, once plasma engines are developed, such elaborate constructions will no longer be necessary...

None of the envisioned new propulsion systems will be capable of launching from Earth. They are purely in space propulsion that can fly only orbit to orbit between planets. They will be efficient but low thrust.

What do you mean with plasma engines? Ion drives like Hall thrusters or do you think of nuclear drives?

I hope for direct fusion drives. Maybe they can develop fusion that can directly produce thrust. I may be too optimistic.

A phantastic photo by BocaChicaGal. It is the thrust puck for a 33 engine booster. This puck has 13 engines in the center. Additional there will be an outer ring of 20 engines that thrust directly to the rocket skin. A beautiful piece of equipment. Forged, then machined.

Elon Musk has said, this is the final configuration for the booster. But with SpaceX final means only until the next change.

Things are moving forward at Boca Chica. One of the many daily videos of NSF forum about the progress of launch preparation and building the factory. They already have everything to build first and second stage of Starship. What they are doing now is to streamline and speed up production. They are really preparing for producing Starships at a rate that has only been done in the 2060ies for ICBMs on the height of the cold war. With a highly reusable vehicle this means they are preparing for multiple launches a day. A capability that is needed only for a full settlement drive of Mars.

Robert Zubrin, a very active proponent of going to Mars and founder of the Mars society, said this is not an expedition to Mars, this is D-day. An invasion, sending an endless stream of people and material to Mars for building a self sustaining City on Mars.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

B8 will have 33 engines

Da balls on dis guy.

Some news of recent days. The problems with production of Raptor seem solved. Production and tests go very well. The new factory in McGregor, Texas, for rapid mass production is being outfitted with production equipment. They are full steam ahead presently in Hawthorne, California, and expect to have the 33+ Raptor 2 engines needed for a new Starship booster by end of January, or maybe mid February.

In a recent interview Elon Musk again praised the Russian RD-180 engine that powers the US Atlas V rocket as the best engine in the world. But it will be surpassed by the new Raptor design with 300 bar pressure in the combustion chamber and unprecedented thrust/weight ratio. Elon also said Raptor was inspired by Russian methane engine development, that made it to the test stand, but never into operation due to breakdown of the Soviet Union.

A video on the progress of Starship during the year 2021. Almost half an hour but worth watching.

Elon Musk will do a presentation about the Starship status. Thursday local Texas time, 8:00AM Friday Thailand time. No link to a life stream yet, but it will be live streamed for sure. Will probably pop up some time at the SpaceX YouTube channel.

SpaceX - YouTube

Friday 3:00AM CET, will need an alarm to get up at that time.

I hope for photos of the new Raptor 2 engine. Expect info about the HLS Starship that will land people on the Moon for NASA.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

that will land people on the Moon for NASA.

Any info on the astronaut selection?

Or than 1 needs to be a 'person of color' and one needs to be a woman (as opposed to the 4 best astronauts - be them all of one gender or race)?

This is a SpaceX presentation on Starship. Astronaut selection is a matter for NASA. NASA may or may not be present, I don't know.

It is too early yet for SpaceX missions with their own crew.

Impressive.

Space

The Cost of Space Flight Before and After SpaceX


January 27, 2022

ByBruno Venditti


Article/Editing:

• Carmen Ang
  
  

Graphics/Design:

• Sam Parker
  
  

Originally Posted by Edmond

Any info on the astronaut selection?

Or than 1 needs to be a 'person of color' and one needs to be a woman (as opposed to the 4 best astronauts - be them all of one gender or race)?

Nasa has already assembled a team for the Artemis Missions, here they are:


They are the usual collection of pilots with PhDs, so I don't think that there will be any difficulty putting together as diverse a crew as you want.

^ Yes, the pool were put together sometime ago.

I believe that 4 will be chosen.

Instead of choosing the best four (whatever their race and gender are), they have been directed that one must be a woman, and one must be a person of colour.


Will be interesting seeing the final selection and knowing their details etc. Gonna be a helluva mission. :-)

The Orion capsule will have 4 crew. But only 2 will land on the Moon. That will make the selection interesting.

Originally Posted by Edmond

Instead of choosing the best four (whatever their race and gender are), they have been directed that one must be a woman, and one must be a person of colour.

Does that concern you? You do not believe in affirmative action? Or more likely see chance to stir those that don't!

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Does that concern you?

Concern, as a word, would be a bit strong.


In a mission where the lives of all onboard rest on the abilities of each other, obviously the 4 most able candidates should be chosen, regardless of race and gender.

Predetermining that one must not be of a certain race/gender, even if they are more able than the other candidates, and then putting the lesser able candidate in a position where everybody's lives are in their hands, highlights the issues with over-PC woke-ism.


So no real feeling of concern, it's a just a bit of a pity that Nasa has come to not basing their selection on the best, due to politics.

Originally Posted by Edmond

So no real feeling of concern, it's a just a bit of a pity that Nasa has come to not basing their selection on the best, due to politics.

All of these astronauts are very thoroughly vetted and selected. They are all part of "the best". So no concern about ability here. Final downselect is indeed political, as already expressed in the name of the program. Artemis is the sister of Apollo.

They have been working for days on stacking Starship again. First time using the tower arms. The arms are called chopsticks. The whole tower with all the service arms is called Mechazilla.

All gearing up for the presentation tonight. Photos and a video on Elon Musks twitter account. Coverage from SpaceX camera drones buzzing around at the launch site.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk

Several groups are live streaming. No doubt we will get excellent YouTube videos uploaded in the next days. A great timelapse of stacking from Michael Baylor on twitter already.

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/...62106042593284

Originally Posted by Takeovers

All of these astronauts are very thoroughly vetted and selected.

Without doubt.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

They are all part of "the best". So no concern about ability here.

What are the Final 4, so to speak, chosen on?


I would have presumed the 4 best candidates would usually be chosen, but happy to admit I'm wrong if not.

Originally Posted by Edmond

What are the Final 4, so to speak, chosen on?

I said it in my prevous post. Final select is political.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Final select is political.

That's my (minor) gripe.

Potentially, a better candidate missing out on a life changing, one in a trillion opportunity to walk on the moon, simply because of their race/gender is... poo.

A screengrab from the LabPadre live stream today. Very nice shot of the Starship engines. 3 vac engines with the big nozzles and 3 sea level engines at the center.

A picture from Elon twitter

They are facing some problems.

No approval by the FAA to use this launch site yet. Hopefully by end of this month, but there have been delays before.

The tank farm is built from tanks of SpaceX own design, same as the rocket tanks. Oxygen tanks and nitrogen tanks are approved and in use. But no approval for the methane tanks. SpaceX is presently working on modifications.

Inofficial info says the rocket presently stacked has some flaws and is no longer considered flight worthy by SpaceX. Nothing official though. Design is constantly in flux still. The next improved design will use improved Raptor engines, the Raptor 2 design and will hopefully fly as soon when FAA gives the green light. Also more engines. Fan calculations show the new version will reach and exceed the target lift capacity of 150t to LEO. Over 200t of propellant with the tanker version.

Hoping for good pictures of the new engine on todays presentation.