IncongruousGoat

For RSS/RO/RP-0 , I typically use payload names from ancient Greek history and mythology. So, things like Eratosthenes: LEO weather/science satellites Homer: Communication satellites Selene: Lunar flyby/orbit/impactor/lander probes Jason: Early interplanetary probes Herodotus: Survey/mapping satellites Prometheus: Mercury-based crewed craft Artemis: Gemini-based crewed craft Daedalus: Apollo-based crewed craft and so on and so forth, with each individual payload getting a number after the name for the launch number. Boosters get named after birds of prey (Kite, Osprey, Hawk, etc.) and upper stages get songbirds (Canary, Sparrow, Bluejay, etc.).

I think you missed the point of my comment. I know it's physically possible to launch to the ISS and to polar and sun-synchronous orbits from Boca Chica. The problem is the launch corridor (i.e. the possible debris zone) is in a problematic location for a lot of potential launch azimuths. Remember, even SpaceX's rockets are not all that reliable, and neither the U.S. nor Mexico want dangerous rockets flying over their territory and important seaways. It's not an issue of physics and engineering so much as an issue of politics and regulations.

I think we're all freaking out a little (or a lot, as the case may be).

They might be able to dogleg, but it would be one heck of a high delta-V maneuver, and it could easily mess with their ability to RTLS, or even do a droneship landing. And, while GTO may be a big part, it just doesn't seem like enough of a big part. I just wish we knew more about the whole thing.

Boca Chica question- launching from BC, it looks like the only available launch corridor is directly east, over the Gulf of Mexico. Which begs the question-what the heck is SpaceX expecting to launch from that site? They can't reach the ISS, they can't reach polar or sun-synchronous orbit. They can reach GTO, but that's only a part of the launch market and not worth the investment of building a whole private launch complex.

Zombies condemning entire lands... billowing ash and dust... no sun, only darkness... This is all becoming very Dark Souls.

Surface area isn't actually adequate to prove that a given set of circles can be packed into a certain space, especially with circles of disparate sizes, because no packing is optimal, which means not all available surface area is used. For circles of uniform radius, hexagonal packing is optimal, but this isn't necessarily the case for circles of non-uniform radius. You are correct, however, in saying that the area remaining can be calculated using the circle area formula. But this is definitely off-topic. Maybe I should start a circle-packing thread...

Actually, the important thing here is circle packing, which isn't quite the same as surface area.

Holy moly. 20 returned already? Wonder when we'll have more boosters returned than thrown away.

Real Plume (mod) overhauls the engine sounds to make them more realistic and more awesome, on top of making the engine plumes more realistic and more awesome. I'm not sure if that was what you were looking for, but it does help with the sound.

Oh no. On top of the krakens and magic boulders and everything else, they have YoSaffBridge to deal with? Not shiny at all.

What kind of particles, I wonder? Dust? Soot? Leftover slag from a weld? Yellowcake? I guess we'll never know...

CRS-13 webcast is up! T-15 hours and counting...

I'm guessing that it's because, that way, cleaning the soot off is one less thing they have to do. Remember, this is a booster the size of a small building we're talking about here. Cleaning the soot off is a non-trivial task.

That's... uh... wow. Congrats. The IRL time this must have taken to fly...

I second that motion

I've been listening to this on repeat all day: And no, I don't know why.

It would seem we have found Schrodinger's lock. Click

They could, but that would mean more tooling and a different tank production line, all of which are expensive. And since SpaceX's whole shtick is doing things cheap by using the same exact stuff over and over, they're unlikely to set up such a production line.

Because the barge landing is much more impressive, and because FH isn't going to be launching any payloads so light that the core can RTLS.

It's just a glitch with KSP, as far as I know. Shows up in my game too.

I would assume so, just to demonstrate the capability.

Well, yes. I was talking about how much of that difference is attributable to Delta-IV Heavy using hydrolox boosters and a hydrolox core, as opposed to New Glenn's methalox booster.

"We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add our technological and biological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile." Someone, it would seem, hasn't been watching enough Trek.

Those aren't high-energy, though. The idea with a high-energy upper stage is really light tanks, low TWR, and a really high specific impulse, none of which are possible in atmosphere. Plus, it's debatable how much of an advantage that lends it in terms of payload to GTO specifically, considering that it loses by a mile to New Glenn in payload to LEO.