RCgothic

Ouch. Less controlled than last time on landing.

Wow, that's a pretty bleak assessment.

Yikes. The way that sounds they're lucky the site is still operating.

Trick of the light. I count the same number of highbay corrugations either side all the way up.

Downselect has been delayed.

Reuters have now picked up on it, and a few others, but they're both still quoting TheVerge.

I genuinely don't know. We could certainly do with a lot more transparency over launch licenses.

There's a pretty hostile article in TheVerge which suggests part of the holdup for SN9 is SN8 violating the launch licence, requiring a subsequent review. Not sure how much of this to take seriously, as they're also pretty negative about the landing explosion when it wasn't even expected that the rocket would get that far. https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2021/1/29/22256657/spacex-launch-violation-explosive-starship-faa-investigation-elon-musk

Yes, I expect it will look even worse than F9.

Nope, the landing pad is above Starhopper.

Welp: Who knows what's going on.

And if we're talking about EOR, Falcon Heavy can send 32t if it meets that cargo in orbit. And 32t is conveniently 2x reusable F9 launches. Which might be, say, 1) Dragon with the trunk used as a mission endurance module, and 2) An LLO insertion/return stage based on Dragon XL.

I wasn't meaning to comment on the FAA situation. I meant: "The rocket has to be able to survive a hot fire abort. All engines have to be producing expected thrust before lift off. Therefore I'd be amazed if the rocket doesn't have launch clamps that are only released after ignition."

The standard comeback is that Orion can brake 14t of cargo into NRHO and dock it, so more of that 14t can be payload can be cargo than an equivalent un-comanifested 14t payload. But as FH can throw much more than 14t to TLI and therefore systems to brake and dock, that's a bit irrelevant

A hot abort is basically a static fire. I'd be amazed if the rocket is released before all engines verified.

No attempt today.

1 fixed engine in the middle wouldn't interfere with the gimbaling at all. If it were a 310t version that's another ~3.5% Gross Launch Weight.

That layout is just begging for one in the middle!

The southern dogleg is probably for RTLS missions. In other news B1 gets a new ring and with flight termination system installed #WenHop could be today!

One thing I've just noticed - B1051 has now overtaken B1049 as flight leader!

Sure you can. The first module just has to include a manipulator arm.

Crew Starship can't go to TLI without refuelling, and there's a large obstacle to crew rating it. It's a long pole. Capsule on top of an expendable starship is the easiest and fastest way to put crew on it, and it keeps Orion and the Artemis archeture basically as-is without starting again from scratch.

ok, may have spoken too soon...

They wouldn't need header tanks on an expendable starship because it's not landing anywhere. They're pretty easy to leave out. Expendable Starship has already been mooted, and for Orion it'd be even easier because no fairing is required, just a stage to spacecraft adaptor which is not difficult to make from stainless steel.