Space and Science BS Thread

Woot! Nice to "meet" you here too!

Yes, MedicMutt and I talk a good bit on the NASASpaceflight Starbase Live stream.

 

Small world isn’t it

 

Yep. I know @bagleboy lurks in SBL but I haven't gotten him to talk to me in chat yet.

 

Don't be shy, @bagleboy! Dive right into the fray of conversation at any point if you wish. Quite the great group of space enthusiasts. It would be really cool to possibly see some fellow Tacoma enjoyers down at Boca for a launch if I can finally make it down there!

 

Say what? I’d love to see even a launch from Vandenberg but the closest I’ve come to relevance was seeing Scott Manly at Safeway. I get in enough trouble just poking my nose around here.

 

Pipe up in NSF chat! It's a good time.

After seeing three F9 launches, I have to say unequivocally that it's worth it to witness in-person. One was from right at the Cape, one from MCO airport while waiting for my flight (could easily see the flame ball as it lifted off from the Cape), and then one was from the stern of a cruise ship about 70 miles south of the Cape as we were heading out. Totally wild.

Can't wait to try and make a Starship launch in-person. Gonna be taking the Grand Marquis, though. "It's a real beaut, Clark!"

 

YOU'VE MET SCOTT MANLEY!?!?!?

I'd like to go down to Starbase for IFT-10, but Ohio to south Texas? woof

 

Saw him but that’s it. Not in the habit of approaching people of note unless work calls for it.

 

Well, phooey! I was gonna ask for a pic for proof.

 

New topic!!

I saw STS-122 from the Visitors Center. I was a noob at the time and didn’t know all the available options.

I also saw from afar one of the high inclination Shuttle launches from Haverhill MA back in the day. Vague memories but cool to see nonetheless.

Not related to launches but seeing the Shuttle docked to the ISS was something to see. The ISS’s evolution was amazing to see from the ground.

 

Anyone got the latest on IFT-6?

Looks like tomorrow’s the day:
https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1858557541933879553?s=46
Interesting info from Shotwell but no mention of IFT-6:
https://x.com/sciguyspace/status/1858560300888240213?s=46

 

IFT-6 Twitter special:
https://x.com/spacex/status/1858991247312212112?s=46 (new renders)

https://x.com/spacex/status/1858994002311475519?s=46
https://x.com/spacex/status/1858994574817194040?s=46
https://x.com/spacex/status/1858995728783384815?s=46
Raptor relight test successful!
https://x.com/spacex/status/1859003365382033668?s=46

They’re reporting stripping off over 2,100 heat shield tiles as a test, replaced some others with a steel coating. Also testing out different types of tiles. The ship for IFT-7 will have upgraded shielding.
“Testing beyond perceived limits”

The views of earth through the plasma is amazing..

The fin attachment points are holding up…some heating and minimal burn through after max heating/reentry pressure.
https://x.com/spacex/status/1859009450969075897?s=46
https://x.com/spacex/status/1859010302819684368?s=46
https://x.com/spacex/status/1859010620471079361?s=46

Too bad they went away from the hexagon shaped patches for this one..

Interesting but remember all the stripped down shielding:
https://x.com/csi_starbase/status/1859017865376186719?s=46

 

Wonder if either part sank - at the end of the streams SH was still floating if a bit firey, and the aft end of ship was still afloat having just separated the nosecone a bit.

 

The SpX livestream said both would eventually sink but also said SH (or parts thereof) could be recovered.

 

Why didn't they catch the booster yesterday?

I watched the launch, but had the volume down.

 

The tower originally was go for launch, but then rescinded that order. CSI_Starbase said it might have had to do with the chopsticks.

https://x.com/CSI_Starbase/status/1859074034698183118

 

https://x.com/astro_pettit/status/1859574336186675524?s=46

 

So when does the ISS get some Starlink? That'd be amazing.

 

Cool to see would be closing on the ship as it rises and accelerates. ISS is going so fast booster separation would have to be long past or the station would just zoom by.

 

I believe the ISS is above the Starlink satellites, and the satellites are pointed toward the earth.

Cool idea, though. No communication blackout at any time, in any orbit.