darthgently

I think they are supposed to better guarantee props flow under strange inertial conditions. I’m thinking that if they are going this route they need to have less symmetry in the plumbing so that none of the pipes has the same resonant frequency as any other so any resonance in isn’t amplified back to it by the others. This could perhaps be done by welding on various weights at various points along the pipes without much added weight. I’m just having armchair fun and am not being critical nor think I have any real answers

Well played

SpaceX seems very certain it is a resonance issue in the new plumbing. I’m thinking they probably have simulation or sensor data reasons for zeroing in on this. [snip]

I don’t see how NRHO will remain the only lunar launch to rendezvous target. Seems like we will want at least a secondary (unmanned ?) station in a faster circular polar orbit in the same plane as NRHO that would have additional emergency life support and medical supplies, perhaps some emergency delta-v in the form of long shelf life small SRB+Ion/PV stages that can be docked to and utilized after accidental loss of main props or similar. So no waiting for Gateway to tiptoe down from apoapsis; rather launch to rendezvous with the faster orbiting emergency station fast and head back to LEO in the case of a medical emergency, for example.

I might be confusing props leaks for RCS but I thought I was seeing RCS trying to correct attitude. And this might explain the active off center engines not accounting for the reconstructed rotation entirely

We mostly just watch him pwn himself these days

I think you are correct. That would explain the curved border that keeps bouncing around on the left. Still, even the reflected radiant heat through the mirrors would be tough stuff.

This got me interested so I asked grok and found out smooth vs ribbed nozzles flex more because they are less rigid. Like 10mm of flex versus 1 or 2mm. Also much of that flex e see in this vid (looks more than 10mm) probably goes away once the reflected acoustic energy near the launch mount and ground diminishes. Some of that apparent flex may be optical distortion from heat but it does look structural and not merely optical

OMG. I have seen the light What is this camera case glazing made of?

Interesting mostly informed speculations:

This is interesting. There was a deeper side effect that trashed sensors or code. Or maybe valves just stuck open. The RCS seemed to be trying to correct the spin so the software seemed to be getting some attitude data but I wonder if data that the fact that several engines were kaput at that point was available. It is like it still considered things being under balanced thrust or something. Maybe a secondary thrust balance calculation based on attitude changes is needed if not there

Exactly. There is likely an optimization of a cost and learning function that minimizes cost while maximizing iterative learning and I wouldn’t be shocked if SpaceX was in that ballpark.

To keep things science-based, it is plausible that SpaceX isn’t failing enough to optimize iterative learning according to experts in learning

Previous test flights revealed this also, iirc, didn’t they? Not as dramatically. We definitely saw propellant dropping dramatically on Flt 7 via the UI after the leak I think it is time to secure Starbase the way the Cape is secured. A lot of crazies out there.

This is debatable. Many think the announcer was just reading off a timeline script. Eventually we may find out

This is the prototype test version. Not the riding version. But the shields are there

I could see internal debris clearing many sections but getting lodged in the narrow heat exchanger passages in the nozzles also. Which would create hot spots from decreased cooling. Maybe? If the heat exchangers in the vacs are narrower it might favor lodging there also

What puts small holes in things? What puts small holes in Russian ISS modules? The possibilities are endless.

If that image is corrected for actual vertical it looks like the software selected a bit of a slope to land on. Who knows? We need more info!

Ahem, thrice

Speculation is all we have right now, Well, there is not speculating. At least not out onto the thin twigs of super-speculative speculation. Crewed? Someone is going to die? Please. That is far beyond these test flights and you know it. Don’t be a FUD monger. You seem better than that

You are getting way out onto the thin twigs of speculation there

Was it a sea level raptor you saw the spot on?