Space and Science BS Thread

Boeing's looking good, I would say closer to October than April as far as having it ready for launch.


X Strongback on the move this am from 39A towards the Space Force side maybe for some refurb

Edit...or to pickup a booster from the port

 

Oooo…

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1498339914869575683?s=21

 

Ahhhhh,,,
https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1498363798993965056?s=21

https://twitter.com/rgvaerialphotos/status/1498373956717395974?s=21

https://twitter.com/spacepadreisle/status/1498399056556699648?s=21

 

Blue and others are really snatching up a ton of the talent that has gotten Jacobs and SLS to where they are today. It'll be interesting to see if when the processing contract(Comet) gets re-bid this fall if 1)Jacobs remains the prime and 2) they can lure any of that talent back with competitive wages.

 

Hey @2008taco & @Hunterdc1 :

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1498405911047847942?s=21

 

Very cool…

https://twitter.com/nasahistory/status/1498432832091435010?s=21

 

Will they be adding tower height once it’s on site, bringing it back in, or only using it for Starship minus super heavy launches for now?

 

That or at most 4 weeks until they postpone it again. I’m betting on another delay, there’s something they’re not happy about. Or maybe just slow readers.

 

https://twitter.com/launchphoto/status/1498659327917187074?s=21

 

I’m thinking there’s gonna be pressure to put this baby to bed in order to move on to building the capacity to overwhelm any chance of Roscosmos remaining solvent.

 

House Space Subcommittee-

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1498700146950955011?s=21
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1498700585239031820?s=21

 

SpaceX has orbit capabilities, while Boeing won't launch before I die and BO is still barely making it above 80km. Experience may have talked in the golden days of NASA, but it may not count for much now.

 

Ouch is right, not $1B per but $16.4B total and it’s substantially old parts and tech not fundamentally new or a “research” program where you expect to just sink the money with unknown returns. Granted the use of existing stuff was mandated but that was supposed to accelerate the progress but it’s been even slower than when they were originally developed.

 

AND and...SLS is not exactly reusable, so that is probably close to 16.4B down the drain ocean when all said and done.

 

I’d like to think they could use that threat but starship wouldn’t be the vehicle used anyway. It’s the biggest assed rocket in history so the FAA decision should be informed rather than a pawn to induce pressure. Announcing contracts for a more immediately available option would do more in that regard as well as especially transferring what would have been payments to Roscosmos to that option. Solidarity with ESA and other global players would add more teeth as well. Would it be possible to wu the Chinese away from dogfaceboy since he’s proven himself unreliable?

 

I suspect the tipping point for cancelling SLS will come when humans fly around the moon on Starship. Even if they launch and land in a dragon capsule because SS/SH aren’t human rated yet, as long as SS will get them to the moon and back, there’s the entire use case for SLS gone. Anything it can do, SS can do, far quicker and cheaper. Just a matter of time, regulatory approval, and an as-of-yet-unknown number of RUD’s to get there.

 

Time’ll tell..

 

Luring Red China away from their longtime ally?

 

Strange bedfellows indeed but even having the conversation would chap his hide and they aren’t exactly allies.

Contract up to $3.49 billion for 9 launches with a proven system. Starting from scratch to boot and the price per is going down.
https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/28/n...w-contract-by-three-missions-for-900-million/

 

Maybe they aren't exactly allies when it comes to space travel. But everywhere else they are.

Plus, China has their own launch capabilities, doesn't go to the ISS, and thus doesn't need Roscosmos or Soyuz.