Space and Science BS Thread

Does this mean they have 5 years to launch it
https://x.com/sciguyspace/status/1872739438134284556?s=46

 

Hah, hah! I’d assume it’s good for the same launch profile for that period but likely also with vastly fewer launches than SH over that time.

 

They aren’t really comparable since IFT7 is still just a functional but non payload carrying prototype(a banana doesn’t count). SH is a frequent flyer but it’s still proving concepts rather than doing any actual work. More fun to watch it doing that and it’s potential is far greater but it would be more accurate to compare New Glenn to the entire line of Starships only after both are doing the job of lifting payloads to orbit.

 

To be fair, Blue Ring Pathfinder is also a test payload.. not a banana, but NG-1 isn't carrying anything useful to orbit, either.

https://www.blueorigin.com/news/blue-ring-pathfinder-payload

 

Since BO isn’t forthcoming on BE-4 production rates we probably won’t know how many get produced until they’re mounted on either Vulcans or NG’s and enjoying a photo op. And I haven’t heard which gets prioritized or to what extent. Vulcan has a backlog of missions but NG has the Kuiper Constellation to put up. I’m really curious what the turnaround will be for the next few launches of each one.

 

I'd imagine that contractual deliveries to ULA has priority over internal projects, or at least there's a penalty clause.

That said, hasn't been a peep about the ULA sale yet, and I'm sure that if BO does (finally, eventually) buy ULA then those contracts are null, or 'Hey we have a (reusable) NG available instead of a vulcan, is that okay, to their customers. But if it's sold to sierra space, then they'd likely hold them to the contracts.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMGiNKcVSek

Check 1:43 on the video..

 

Ooooooh deets on IFT 7 (NET Friday the 10th)

Block 2 Starship upper stage
10 Starlink simulators to be deployed (and reenter)

more at https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/01/...oyment-engine-reuse-during-starship-flight-7/

 

Also reuse of a raptor from FT-5 (B-12) now installed on B-14.

 

Couldn’t make it out…

 

Ooops
https://x.com/djsnm/status/1875780498787856886?s=46

 

Aerial of a post-splashdown Ship-31 just floating there. Looks like it survived splashdown after all, or at least the back half did.

 

IFT-7 pushed until next week.

 

https://x.com/spacex/status/1877058790933102702?s=46

 

NG1 wx delay, NET Jan 12 (WX)

https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1877164715597574314?s=46&t=rkm5-7WvKcj4sK36hRUReA

 

https://x.com/blueorigin/status/1878196372274286673?s=46&t=rkm5-7WvKcj4sK36hRUReA

NET 1AM Monday EST

 

https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1878281148893102238

NET Wed for IFT7. (1600 local)

Also Blue looks to be delayed to Tues.

 

Or... not (wrt blue)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOEPTWQrN7A