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30 minutes ago, sevenperforce said:

I don't remember WDRs before the single-engine static fires. I guess with three Raptors bolted on there, they are a little more cautious.

There's a LOT of plumbing under there.

They had a closure during the day today, but they pulled it (weather is cruddy, apparently, so maybe weather related).

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4 hours ago, sevenperforce said:

That's a step in the right direction.

I don't remember WDRs before the single-engine static fires. I guess with three Raptors bolted on there, they are a little more cautious.

Firing three Raptors at once is gonna be a BIG step, I reckon it’ll take a few tries before everything is just right. IIRC it took a while for the first SN single static fire, too. 

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A quick comparison between SN4 (RIP) and SN8's engine bays:

SN4-with-raptor.jpg

Starship-SN8-triple-Raptor-SN32-SN39-SN3

Seems like there's a lot more plumbing around SN8's engines, probably because they moved the COPVs in to make space for the aft flaps outside (you can see them around the edges). The landing legs look essentially the same, hopefully the bigger landing legs are on their way soon.

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14 hours ago, tater said:

 

Haven't watched the whole thing, but I saw a couple of summary videos and the main takeaways appear to be:

  • Timeline has slipped by around a year so no cargo launch to Mars in 2022 (I always thought that was a bit unrealistic). SpaceX is now shooting for the first flight to Mars in 2024.
  • 80-90% chance of Starship/Super Heavy reaching orbit in 2021, but several RUDs are expected testing Starship landings from orbit.
  • Orbital refuelling tests will probably begin in 2022. 
  • Prototype of the Lunar Starship may fly in 2023.
  • SpaceX are also working on laser communications between Earth and Mars (including relays for coverage during solar opposition) and construction robots for Martian bases.
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So, resuming: they expect the beginning of the Starship flights not before the KSP-2 release.

A question: If KSP-2 gets re-delayed, will it shift the Starship schedule due to the absence of development software?

Edited by kerbiloid
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57 minutes ago, kerbiloid said:

So, resuming: they expect the beginning of the Starship flights not before the KSP-2 release.

A question: If KSP-2 gets re-delayed, will it shift the Starship schedule due to the absence of development software?

No.  You misread that.

Starship should fly before ksp 2 releases.  With luck it will reach orbit before KSP 2 releases.  (If they are really lucky and/or KSP 2 sees further delays, they might land one from orbit before KSP 2 is ready to launch).

However Martian colonisation flights won't launch until after the KSP 2 release.  (If KSP 2 sees further delays, then the lack of development software might delay Starship colonisation flights to Mars.  KSP 1.10 is good for orbit, but for colonisation, you want KSP 2).

Edited by AVaughan
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1 hour ago, kerbiloid said:

So, resuming: they expect the beginning of the Starship flights not before the KSP-2 release.

A question: If KSP-2 gets re-delayed, will it shift the Starship schedule due to the absence of development software?

lol

 

2 hours ago, RealKerbal3x said:

laser communications between Earth and Mars

I know this offers better bandwidth than radio, but are there any other advantages? Also, what would a setup like this look like? I'm guessing my whiteboard laser pointer won't cut it. ^_^

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1 hour ago, SOXBLOX said:

I know this offers better bandwidth than radio, but are there any other advantages? Also, what would a setup like this look like? I'm guessing my whiteboard laser pointer won't cut it. ^_^

Less electromagnetic interefence? Lesser power losses due to laser comm using a coherent beam?

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8 hours ago, SOXBLOX said:

I know this offers better bandwidth than radio, but are there any other advantages? Also, what would a setup like this look like? I'm guessing my whiteboard laser pointer won't cut it. ^_^

Lower power requirements, too, I believe. You can save a lot of energy when you are pointing your signal directly at a receiver, rather than vomiting it into the void. The square-cube law is a harsh mistress.

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