CatastrophicFailure

Oh yeah? Oh yeah? Well... I got a like from Elon Musk’s mom once..!

Ah.

Sorta Like naming an online bookstore after a rain forest?

You’re too late, I got the same email weeks ago, and I’ve already claimed it. Should be getting my transfer any day now. Could really use it too, I keep getting all these “credit alerts,” must’ve forgotten to pay a bill somewhere...

Solution: always be under thrust. I’m not sure if the original Grasshopper or F9R did any engine-off coasting from altitude, but it’s a safe bet the StarHopper will not— it doesn’t need to. Starship won’t do a hover-slam like a Falcon booster, the engine(s) will come on for the final flip to tail-down, and presumably be running until touchdown. This hopper obviously doesn’t have any of the other needed aerodynamic hardware for unpowered descents either.

Today, I actually played KSP for the first time in a couple months. Too little time, getting the new and old machines set up right, real life drama, and a good helping of Murphy’s law (the thing, not the show). But also, my wife discovered Skyrim on the new computer, so my time May continue to be limited. Rockets are great and all but sometimes you just have to split a brigand’s skull in twain to maintain a happy homelife.

Starship: *lands safely from orbit* ElonMusk: "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"

So, no more pure silver Starship, I guess.

TWEETSTORM! STARSHIP II CONFIRMED! ONE-ENGINE HOPS CONFIRMED! MOST COMPLEX ENGINE EVER CONFIRMED! ... ok, maybe that's a bit much... Super-Methane-Sweat-Cooling still a go:

When ElonTime becomes real time.

...be a shame if someone... cancelled it...

... (I’m on an airplane and images aren’t loading right, but +1 anyway)

This has been asked here enough that even I can answer, that answer being either “no” or “this, we do not speak of. Because reasons.”

Sooooooooo... The bombshell dropped on the aerospace community today by Jim Bridenstein is that NASA is now considering flying the first Orion mission, EM-1, “on schedule” in mid 2020 by using currently available commercial launch vehicles. So that basically means Delta IV Heavy and/or Falcon Heavy. It would require two launches, one to launch Orion itself into LEO, one to launch a transfer stage for TMI that Orion would first dock with. Most realistic scenario thus is Orion flying on DIVH then docking to a nearly-full FH upper stage. Thoughts, guys? Does a Falcon US have enough oomph to send Orion around the Mün? Is it even theoretically possible to turn a FH around quickly enough, using the one pad of course, to do both launches? Which has its own spate of problems, but...

Yeah, they were all putzing along on the winding mountain road I was trying to enjoy a nice spirited drive on. Linky?

You’ve spent too much time on the “don’t click this” thread, now even your keyboard clicks.

*points to shiny sci-fi suborbital rocket being built in field next door*

Behold, it comes.

Would it be a Rule 2.2 violation to suggest a prescription sleep aid administered under the supervision of a medical professional?

Bugrit! Millennium hand and shrimp.

Figures. The one time I’m not in WA.

SFN saying ArabSat 6 (next Falcon Heavy launch) now delayed until April. Currently the next scheduled SpaceX launch, so that means nothing else in March at all.

This thread is not dead. Just when I thought the next chapter and February were both kicking my S here comes March all, “‘ello, guv’na!” and kicks me right square inna fork. Got some bad news this weekend, the kind that necessitates sudden cross-country travel and no expense spared. Wrestling your own Krakens is easy, having to watch a loved one wrestle theirs and they can’t tag you in, that’s hard. So, no February update, obviously, and March is looking mighty shaky too. But I’ll keep plugging away where I can.