Space and Science BS Thread

I wonder how long they’ll continue using cherry pickers to perform work on ships in the high bay. It seems slow, awkward and a bit dangerous. And what will they do when they get to crewed vessels?

 

https://x.com/sierraspaceco/status/1788539900897251405?s=46
https://x.com/martiandennis/status/1788590173649018953?s=46

 

I hadn’t heard of any recent setbacks. Any details?

 

Setbacks? On the contrary- here’s the press release linked above:
https://www.sierraspace.com/press-r...vents-space-transportation-with-dream-chaser/

 

You had mentioned reports of delays in the first of the posts I quoted so I was asking about that.

 

Is that a long term parking facility?

 

A month or so ago I saw BO push back on the second Vulcan launch saying it wasn’t all on their end but that the payload was delayed too. If it’s not posted here, I don’t have more info now.

 

Why would they need that? It’s not waiting on an SLS anymore and has an October 2024 launch date.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Clipper

 

My bad. I mistakenly thought it was launching on New Glenn.

 

Yikes!!

In development since 2012 and with 7, yes 7 BE-4s for the first stage, a parking lot would certainly have been needed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Glenn

 

https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1788665490056835419?s=46

 

https://x.com/talkotitusville/status/1788676069265961449?s=46

 

Surprising this wasn’t done before the tower was added.

 

I get the feeling that they put shielding and clamp architecture on there that the computer models told them they would need. After after the first 3 launches, they replaced what they needed to with the existing design, but it took until after flight 3 for them to have the upgraded design and shielding built and delivered. That's imo, but it seems to fit. RGV Aerial and CSI Starbase have noted the design changes in the past couple of flyover vids.

Hmmm. Interesting that they're using LC-12 to do that and not one of the empty lots near their Roberts Road facility. Unless they didn't want to move the tank around that much.

I'm pretty sure S26 has been cryo'd. It does not, as far as I know from a couple of days ago, have Raptors. However, it may have received them in Megabay 2 in the past day or so.

I want to see S26 launched as the tanker test article, if only to make all the S26 haters hopping mad.

 

Should be pretty cool depending on clouds.

 

Roberts Road is on the Nasa side. 12 is obviously on the Cape side. Seems to be much less oversight on the Cape side. 12 is the wild West out there.

 

I saw a recent vid showing S26’s cryo test last year along with a single engine SF test(were they removed during its stay in the rocket garden? I don’t think it was in the mega bay long enough for reinstalling them.) but if it still has engines it might be used to test the new pad/trench at Massey’s. If it’s just being used to test the transport/test fire stand then starting in the mega bay and ending up on the pad at Massey’s would make a good dry run and even allow them to get as far as connecting the SQD there.

 

11 months in a row….
https://x.com/nasaclimate/status/1788950421068743084?s=46

 

You know, I did forget that S26 did the one engine SF. I don't want S26 to be a pathfinder...I want it to FLY!!!

 

I’m with you on that. I guess it boils down to whether it can be brought up to include enough of the later modifications to allow it. For flight I think at minimum it would need significantly upgraded thrusters and some longer term power storage. But at this point I’d be happy just seeing it on the mystery stand mated to another ship to ground test fuel transfer hardware fitment.