Space and Science BS Thread

Famous last words after someone pressed a button.

 

True...

 

Big news for Florida.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CWYryy9vZJo&pp=0gcJCbIJAYcqIYzv

Though I doubt they’ll launch from SLC 37 by the end of next year given this is just the EIS and construction isn’t even approved let alone begun, and Pad 2 is still not operational after more than a year of construction. I’d be stoked if they could launch from 39A by then. That’s really fast but I doubt it can be done(at SLC37) if they start by losing another 3 months to the process. It might be possible at a site with coastal surface bedrock but not in Florida. It takes repetition to build speed. Several, not just a few. By the time they’re working on #5 or 6 they’ll have it dialed and likely have fewer drastic iterations to account for. Fully reusable is the only way they’ll launch 100+ per year before Robert’s Rd is fully online.

 

Damn, Ship 36 explodes during a fueling test. Looks like a bad weld.

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





Two frames from right before the kaboom.

 

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1935660973827952675

Okay so overpressure event which caused the weld failure.

 

So does Spacex verify “proof” numbers or take manufacturers data as GE?

 

No clue, quick search says at one point they sourced from Cimarron (now Hanwha Cimarron) but they could have brought it in house. I'd assume some level of NDT/verification?

 

This is going to mess with the timeline since there isn’t any other place to sf ships or cryo proof them now that the sub orbital pad is gone. There has to be a plan for a sister facility to Massey’s at The Cape but it won’t help in the near term. Given that fewer pumps, vaporizers, tanks and other GSE are needed in total at Massey’s than at the launch site it shouldn’t take as long to replace as it’s taking for pad 2 to be fitted but off the top of my head it might be 6 months to resume.

 

My bet is less than 2. Especially if they've already got equipment ready for a test site at the cape. Just throw that on a barge and ship it to Texas for install.

 

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2506/SagittariusTrip_Rubin.png

https://www.livescience.com/space/a...first-images-taken-with-worlds-largest-camera

 

Jack at NSF felt the same but there’s a lot more than just the tanks and plumbing. I’d be happy if it fell in between but my innate pessimism says longer.

 

Even without references for scale, cannot fathom what it was like for Stafford and Cernan during their pericynthion. Guess SR71 crews have the closest relatable experience?

 

That mission is so under recognized.. And Collins gets all the attention for being the loneliest man…

 

https://x.com/thejackbeyer/status/1938342841195040888

 

Speaking of unexpected events:
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/26/spacex-crane-collapse-in-texas-being-investigated-by-osha.html