Space transportation general: Stage Separating into a new year edition.
This general is here because spaceflight is increasing exponentially. We are up to at least a launch per week and we are now in the midst of flight testing an industry revolutionizing fully reusable
super heavy lift launch vehicle.
Upcoming launches:
>https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/2025-launch-schedule/
SpaceX livestreams on Twitter/X:
>https://x.com/SpaceX
Upcoming NASA operations:
>https://www.nasa.gov/launchschedule/
SpaceX Mars goal.
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1740847084646040048
>https://youtu.be/921VbEMAwwY
>https://www.spacex.com/human-spaceflight/mars/
Starbase 24/7 streams
>https://www.youtube.com/live/mhJRzQsLZGg
>https://www.youtube.com/live/60YnbafD6vY
Old Starbase tour
>https://youtu.be/t705r8ICkRw
>https://youtu.be/SA8ZBJWo73E
>https://youtu.be/9Zlnbs-NBUI
>https://youtu.be/3Ux6B3bvO0w
Newer but less quality starbase tour
>https://youtu.be/aFqjoCbZ4ik
>https://youtu.be/InJOlT6WdHc
Latest news on Artemis.
>https://youtu.be/aFqjoCbZ4ik
IFT-7 (B14/S33) NET Jan 11th according to recent documentation NASA filed with the FAA.
>https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2024-2595-0001
Crazy to think its been 30 years since pic related.
>NASA releases long-term strategy for robotic Mars exploration
https://spacenews.com/nasa-releases-long-term-strategy-for-robotic-mars-exploration/
I work at Blue. Looking to eventually jump. If you were single/ no debt would you work at a European space company?
Thailand signs Artemis Accords
>https://spacenews.com/thailand-signs-artemis-accords/
>>2028242Why not? Its probably not going to be as good as something in the US but still ehy not?
MUSK DENOUNCES ARTEMIS AS A JOBS PROGRAM!!!
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1871997501970235656
>>2028242Yes absolutely. It won't be as impressive but it would be an adventure
>>2028723Based. I hope they revamp the whole program.
Starship 33 is rolling out to the Starbase Launch complex for Starship test flight 7.
IMG_7919
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We keep getting blue balled with delays.
>>2030609The final hour approaches, perhaps tonight's the night. Hopefully the hydrogen doesn't leak and it makes it to orbit, and the first stage makes it back.
>>2030609It's happening!!
>>2030290>>2030609We are witnessing a Clash of the Titans
Added 25 minutes again, they really are teasing this thing.
>>2030723I get that he wants to make sure it doesn't fail but come on, you are either ready or you aren't.
>>2030732At this point it would've been better to just push the date another day or two.
>>2030736Is it too tinfoil hat to think they knew it wasn't ready and did this "attempt" for validation.
>>2030737They are doing another "attempt" tonight at the same time, we'll see what happens.
>>2030937It made it to orbit! First stage didn't make it.
>>2030953Thats what insurance is for!
>>2030957Bezos didn't seem to agree
>>2030953At least the payload made it! Couldn't see because of clouds but I watched the stream. Looks like the booster failed during the entry burn. Pretty decent for a maiden launch.
New Glenn is way slower off the pad than Starship.
There's a hole in the ship.
Today - Our @vast Haven-1 space station qual article on its stand in Mojave, CA. Vast is focused on bringing back space station manufacturing to the - enabling a rapid and low cost commercial space station future, including the successor to the ISS.
>>2030976It was insane how slow NG was. I wonder if that will be a positive or negative performance wise.
>>2031017too bad he wasn't on board
hole
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>>2031017Clearly there's more hole than ship now. Noticed this hole during the launch, knew something wasn't right. Perhaps this had something to do with it.
>>2031016I vaguely remember a Scott Manley video from way back talking about Starship's 1.5:1 takeoff thrust ratio. He mentioned a benefit because there's a penalty for every second you are fighting Earth's continuous 9.8 m/s/s.
>At a quick glance, Super Heavy Booster 14’s Raptor engines seemed to have fared much better during Flight 7’s landing than Booster 12’s did during Flight 5.
>Raptor 314 previously flew on Flight 5, and became the first Starship hardware to be re-flown!
IMG_7975
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I’ll be going to Spacecon 2025 Should I document it here?
The Space Shuttle was a white elephant. A complete waste of NASA funds and held back space exploration for decades. Along with being the deadliest spacecraft ever.
My mind will not be changed.
Just in: Finland signed Artemis Accords
>>2028216>simpEDS redditor tourist
>>2030270Won't happen, Artemis is a jobs program because Congress wants it to be a jobs program, and Congress won't give up its pork jobs
>>2031342By the time STS actually became a real vehicle, there was nowhere for it to go. Space Station Freedom was completely unfeasible.
Chopsticks being installed on 2nd tower.
NASA's SPHEREx space telescope, scheduled to launch into orbit later this month
>>2031917Because it isn't a good idea anymore.
>>2031950>STS actually became a real vehicleIt was never a real vehicle. Too big for a reusable crew vehicle, not enough payload to be a useful cargo hauler. The Saturn V rocket, a previous generation system was cheaper per launch and could get more payload to orbit. To the order of $100-200 million per launch.
If the Saturn V + Skylab combo was used for the ISS, you could build a space station of roughly equivalent volume in 3 launches. Plus you could use an SV for large outer solar system probes
>https://x.com/Firefly_Space/status/1894044670570762301
Earth rise, Earth set, repeat! Blue Ghost's third and final lunar orbit maneuver is complete! Early this morning, our GhostRiders performed a 16-second burn with our RCS thrusters to enter a near-circular low lunar orbit. Up next, we'll perform a 19-second Descent Orbit Insertion at our 100-km perilune to begin our descent to Blue Ghost's final destination, Mare Crisium, on March 2.
Footage below captured by Blue Ghost shortly after our second lunar orbit maneuver. More to come soon!
SPB inside Neutron's Hungry Hippo fairing.
>https://youtu.be/fMHLvoWZfqQ
Everyday Astronaut just released his long form deep dive into the Apollo program!!
>>2033505thats what happens when you spend 75% of your payload on some retarded orbiter
Blue Ghost is landing on the Moon in a few minutes!
https://www.youtube.com/live/ChEuA1AUJAY
https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1mrGmPXmpRzKy
It's launch day!
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1896292787600908747
https://www.youtube.com/live/s49TLd7VOmc
https://www.youtube.com/live/L_4gAtrfi6w
https://www.youtube.com/live/nAlPb6NrCVo
https://www.youtube.com/live/vr_q3Dua0D8
>>2035543Better work today
>>2035547Another attempt today!
>>2035754>>2035759https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1lPKqMQbAWLKb
Blue Ghost landing on the moon.
When you can fire anyone at the FAA they won't hold up your license for silly things like spreading debris over thousands of miles.
u_turns
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>>2035766>>2035772Meh why isn't it a TFR anyway.
Does intuitive machines just like landing sideways? Why did they get mogged so hard by Firefly
https://x.com/Arianespace/status/1897707959448223799
>On March 6 #Arianespace successfully launched with #Ariane6 the CSO-3 satellite for DGA & CNES on behalf of
Armee_de_lair Armees_Gouv
>Arianespace guarantees independent access to space for France and Europe, meeting a strategic priority.
NASA commissioned this painting for Artemis.
>>2035881would love to get this as a poster
>>2035881NASA really likes the Robert McCall style
https://youtu.be/2c1VB44Ll90
Relativity update on Terran R
NASA punch launch!!!!
>https://www.youtube.com/live/BqBUQoPW0Aw
>https://www.youtube.com/live/BqBUQoPW0Aw
>https://www.youtube.com/live/BqBUQoPW0Aw
>>2035952Same
>>2036049Honestly its pretty inspiring.
Lockheed Martian LM 400 launch in 2 days
padb
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The booster QD structure for pad b is huge.
Highbay is getting disassembled to make way for the gigabay.
>>2037258I shouldn't be sad but I'm kinda sad. End of an era.
Looks like SpaceX had a breakthrough
I didn't follow the launch but what the hell was that flight path so it was visible above the entirety of Europe? They sent a Falcon 9 above North Africa? And where did the 2nd stage fall, could it reach the Australian coast as always or did it crash somewhere else?
>>2033760This picture reminds me of the old railway workers... I hope there will be some explorations in the future!
Nobody watches the launch with 4 astronauts who paid their seat?
(actually it was the Chinese who paid for everything)
Milestone reached on the road to Neutron's first launch Stage 2 qualification is now complete, proving out the stage's design, operations, and readiness for flight.
Next Starship launch is a re-flight of booster 14.
Preliminary budget has NASA's science budget cut in half. Funding eliminated entirely for all future space telescopes including those already finished.
Support added for water cooled ramps in flame trench. The big pipe structures were also rolled to pad b last night.
>Trump Praises Hubble, Promises America Will Lead the Way in Space Exploration
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/trump-praises-hubble-promises-america-will-lead-the-way-in-space-exploration/
>>2037402Very nice im jealous of your view and I believe it was a spy satellite so location makes sense. As for the second stage I don't think it would have gotten all the way to Australia
>>2038135That is pretty incredible.
Captured the starlink group 12-23 launch. Footage is a bit shaky because the tripod is crap.
>>2039125Honestly this looks pretty good and it's always great to have amateur footage. Especially to combat flat earth fags.
New Stoke space engine picture. Going pretty well
Big things are happening.
https://www.interlune.space/press-release/space-resources-company-interlune-unveils-full-scale-prototype-of-excavator-for-harvesting-helium-3-from-the-moon
Pad B OLM rolled to launch site.
Welcome to the Artemis Accords, Norway
Norway has become the 55th nation to commit to the safe and peaceful exploration of space. go.nasa.gov/3SFySac
https://www.spacex.com/updates
Big report by SpaceX. Flight failures were unique.
looksok
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Its over, but the plasma show was pretty
>>2041623Essentially all they seem to get out of this project is pretty lights in the sky for the cameras.
NEW UPDATE ON MARS!
>SpaceX: The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary: an update from Elon Musk on SpaceX's plan to reach Mars
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1928185351933239641
Lots of new info, lots of rehashing of things we've heard a thousand times before. Some notables:
New look at integrated hot-stage hardware for next booster variant
Want to be producing 1000 ships a year, currently capable of making ~25 in Starbase
Want to attempt a Ship catch in the next 2-3 months
Tons of info on Raptor V3
Will demonstrate propellant transfer early next year
New renders of V3 Ship + Booster, including redesigned Booster aft + alternate grid-fin layout
Attempt to fly V3 Ship + Booster by the end of this year
V3 Ship and Booster will unlock the ability to settle Mars, gradual performance increases from there like F9
New Render of Payload bay doors on Lunar Cargo Starship
Says they have 18 months remaining to launch a Starship to Mars in the 2026 window - 50/50 chance to meet that goal
Tons of Mars Renders + Plans, want to roughly quintuple number of ships sent to mars with each transfer window
If Cargo landings with Optimus in 2026 + 2028, first Humans in 2030.
>>2041623>>2041696It was a very good test, Booster tested the vulnerable angle perfectly, they got past SECO and they got data on the door and telemetry data for most of the flight. Pretty solid ending for the V2 Starship desu.
9th flight test write up.
Jared Isaacman dropped from NASA Administrator consideration having been found to have associated with the wrong people.
>>2042168Reading between the lines I'd say he refused to commit to one or more of: politicising NASA, taking a chainsaw to the science programs, and booting the Canadian, woman, and black dude from Artemis 2.
>>2042169Honestly then fuck him, we don't need to fund a shit load of dei departments in our science programs and the private sector will get us there anyway.
You know, times like this, I'm glad that /stg/ gets almost totally ignored. /sfg/ is completely unusable right now.
Oh yeah, there's supposed to be a flight on the 15th or 16th judging by Elon's hope for a launch cadence every 2-4 weeks, though I've read that apparently the FAA has requested a mishap investigation even though the debris was within the limits.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/faa-requires-spacex-to-investigate-starship-flight-9-mishap
As for failures, remember guys,
Flight 1: Exploded
Flight 2: Exploded
Flight 3: Lost control
Oblivion, Pope, Revenge of the Sith aren't the only repeats this year.
Rocket Lab successfully launched a new Electron rocket. This 3D-printed stuff seems pretty cool, I hope it cheapens the rocket market.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD0qIdUOYnU&t=1274
gigitty
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Gigabay in Texas is going to be massive, 11x the footprint of the Megabays.
>>2042261Yes it is a graveyard but it helps to keep up with the industry.
>>2042414Ih this looks promising. They're always up to interesting things. I hope they can keep market share.
>>2030290You can shit on Elon Musk all you want, but fuck if that isn't mankind's future in the process
boom
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SpaceX is blowing up Starships on the ground now.
>>2045222They should rename it to Reach-a-stable-orbit-Ship, maybe that'll help.
>>2045246Already proved orbit...
>>2044253It's truly ground breaking.
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAue1QljRg4
AXIOM Ax-4 Mission!!!! get in!!!
>>2045997NASA link
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4TT_1e6rkM
Starting to look like Elon might get his ass sent back to South Africa. In that case SpaceX would get nationalized.
Redesigned fuel transfer tube for Starship!
>>2047050Not going to happen.
