Space and Science BS Thread

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1371995012825763842

July? Wow.

 

July for BN1?

 

No, July for orbital. That's elon time though.

 

NSF link states
EM's looking at SN20/BN3 combo for orbital flight in July.

SN12, 13, and 14 are being skipped over. Next up will be SN15. BN1 and BN2 will be earlier tests presumably mixed in with the SN tests..

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/starship-sn11-spacex-orbital-flight-summer/

No question its Musktime projections..

 

If you wanted to know more about SpX recovery ops.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/spacex-fairing-recovery-octagrabber/

 

So, EM time to orbital means he's tired of hops? Or just that they have learned as much as they can?

 

no, it means he was already supposed to be to orbit last year. Elon time is if EVERYTHING goes right, and everyone working for him is competent. I can tell you, working in the industry, expecting everyone to be competent is a BIG ask...

 

SLS making its last green run was probably a big motivation for his statement.

 

Just under 12 minutes long, Miles O’Brien interviews Andy Chaikin on what 10 photos have taught us about Mars. Puts them in some interesting context..

https://youtu.be/e1eFMzO3iPc

 

Greetings,

The FAA’s public scoping period for its environmental review of SpaceX’s Starship/Super Heavy at Boca Chica proposal ended on January 22, 2021. The FAA received 321 comment submissions. Click here to view a copy of the Scoping Summary Report. We have also posted a copy on the project website. The report provides an overview of the FAA’s scoping process for the project and the comments received during the public scoping comment period.

The FAA is determining the scope of issues for analysis in the Draft EA and will consider comments received during scoping. The FAA will supervise SpaceX’s preparation of the Draft EA. Cooperating and participating agencies will also participate in its development. Once the Draft EA is complete, the FAA will provide the Draft EA for public review and comment.

The EA allows the FAA to determine the appropriate course of action. These determinations may include:

• preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) because the proposed action’s environmental impacts would be significant,
• issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), or
• issuance of a “Mitigated FONSI” providing for mitigation measures to address the proposed action’s environmental impacts.

If the FAA determines the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action would be significant based upon the Draft EA, and those impacts cannot be properly mitigated to less than significant levels, the FAA would publish a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS and conduct additional public scoping. The FAA may make this determination regarding the course of action at any time, including after the Draft EA has been shared for public review and comment.

Please send any questions to: spacexbocachica@icf.com

 

I'm an environmental consultant. While I don't work in TX, the Fed issues associated with putting a new launch facility there are likely to be somewhat substantial. There is practically nothing there now but parks and WMAs, so I don't see how a FONSI will fly (NPI).

Undertaking new projects at Cape Canaveral is a pain. And that's an existing facility...... I have often thought through how difficult it would be to put Canaveral where it is in this day and age. Now I'll get to see :^)

 

Thanks for your perspective

Are the issues mitigated by the fact SpaceX has, according to the FAA, “SpaceX currently holds a license for testing Starship prototypes at the launch site. “

 

I don't know the specifics of what the prior EA entailed but I thought it only looked at rocket testing. I didn't think the FAA was involved. Environmental activists were pretty upset when they had explosions last year.

Also, it's important to keep in mind that SpaceX is not a fed agency like NASA. It is definitely an interesting one for us environmental regulatory nerds to follow.

 

FYI-
https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship/history/

FAA approved F9 and FH, SpaceX trying to upgrade to Starship(SN)/SH(BN)- collectively just Starship.

 

Awesome. All the env documents are there with maps. Looking forward to going through them.

FAA already approved a lot, so they shouldn't have many issues unless they are building extensive new facilities.

 

Here's the thing - the site license is for kerolox launches (F9/FH). Starship, while larger, is methalox, which inherently has lower long term pollution potential.

 

Speaking of which - if you want to comment in favor of spacex, ACOE is having scoping and comments as well. https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Medi...chnologies-inc-spacex-wetlands-cameron-count/

 

Dang. That's a lot of wetland impacts..... Exactly what I was talking about.

 

That’s the fuel component.

There’s quite a few others:
Size
Sound
Impact Area for crashes, explosions
Launch Cadence
and on and on...

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1368353119269224448?s=20

 

Artemis 1 hot fire test in 30 min.
Edit: delayed 30 min.