• Starship IFT-4, soon

    From Alain Fournier@alain245@videotron.ca to sci.space.policy on Tue May 21 20:35:18 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for
    testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Snidely@snidely.too@gmail.com to sci.space.policy on Tue May 21 22:45:21 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    Alain Fournier explained :
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    Launch is NET "after Memorial Day", from the usual sources, with S29
    just having rolled back from the Wet Dress Rehersal to complete tile
    work.

    SpaceX has ask the FAA to approve a launch license while the IFT3
    mishap investigation still open, arguing that the failures were each in
    a flight portion that did not represent a safety hazard.

    /dps
    --
    "It wasn't just a splash in the pan"
    -- lectricbikes.com
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Running Man@runningman@writeable.com to sci.space.policy on Wed May 22 14:07:29 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On 21/05/2024 20:35 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for
    testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    I'm still waiting for the incident report of the last flight. I'm very interested in how SpaceX's resolving the issues of Starship's uncontrolled tumbling. I'm also curious why Super Heavy failed to relight all of its engines during the landing burn, since SpaceX is doing this almost on a weekly basis with Falcon 9.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alain Fournier@alain245@videotron.ca to sci.space.policy on Wed May 22 15:33:35 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On 2024-05-22 10:07 a.m., The Running Man wrote:
    On 21/05/2024 20:35 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for
    testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    I'm still waiting for the incident report of the last flight. I'm very interested in how SpaceX's resolving the issues of Starship's uncontrolled tumbling. I'm also curious why Super Heavy failed to relight all of its engines during the landing burn, since SpaceX is doing this almost on a weekly basis with Falcon 9.

    In my opinion, both Starship's and the booster's erratic behaviour can
    be corrected by a software update. The software used for Falcon 9 can't
    be used for Starship and its booster, so even though SpaceX has much experience on controlling spacecrafts, they still need to write new code
    and glitches happen in new code. I'm not much concerned about the IFT-3 problems.


    Alain Fournier

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alain Fournier@alain245@videotron.ca to sci.space.policy on Wed May 22 15:32:57 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On 2024-05-22 1:45 a.m., Snidely wrote:
    Alain Fournier explained :
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for
    testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    Launch is NET "after Memorial Day", from the usual sources, with S29
    just having rolled back from the Wet Dress Rehersal to complete tile work.

    Translation: NET means "not earlier than"; Memorial Day is a US code
    word for the last Monday of May (in this case May 27).

    SpaceX has ask the FAA to approve a launch license while the IFT3 mishap investigation still open, arguing that the failures were each in a
    flight portion that did not represent a safety hazard.

    I agree with SpaceX about that.


    Alain Fournier

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Snidely@snidely.too@gmail.com to sci.space.policy on Fri May 24 00:20:48 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    Alain Fournier explained :
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    Elon has just (as in May 23rd sometime around the launch of Starlink
    6-63) twixxed that "Flight 4 in about 10 days", so expect Jun 01 or 02.

    /dps
    --
    As a colleague once told me about an incoming manager,
    "He does very well in a suck-up, kick-down culture."
    Bill in Vancouver
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Snidely@snidely.too@gmail.com to sci.space.policy on Fri May 24 21:47:09 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    Watch this space, where Snidely advised that...
    Alain Fournier explained :
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for testing >> activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    Elon has just (as in May 23rd sometime around the launch of Starlink 6-63) twixxed that "Flight 4 in about 10 days", so expect Jun 01 or 02.

    Apparently target is now June 5th.

    -d
    --
    "ThatrCOs where I end with this kind of conversation: Language is
    crucial, and yet not the answer."
    Jonathan Rosa, sociocultural and linguistic anthropologist,
    Stanford.,2020
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Running Man@runningman@writeable.com to sci.space.policy on Sat May 25 04:54:50 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On 22/05/2024 15:33 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    On 2024-05-22 10:07 a.m., The Running Man wrote:
    On 21/05/2024 20:35 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for
    testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    I'm still waiting for the incident report of the last flight. I'm very interested in how SpaceX's resolving the issues of Starship's uncontrolled tumbling. I'm also curious why Super Heavy failed to relight all of its engines during the landing burn, since SpaceX is doing this almost on a weekly basis with Falcon 9.

    In my opinion, both Starship's and the booster's erratic behaviour can
    be corrected by a software update. The software used for Falcon 9 can't
    be used for Starship and its booster, so even though SpaceX has much experience on controlling spacecrafts, they still need to write new code
    and glitches happen in new code. I'm not much concerned about the IFT-3 problems.


    Alain Fournier


    <https://www.spacex.com/updates/#flight-3-report>

    According to this update both the boostback burn and the roll-control loss were due to filter blockages.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Niklas Holsti@niklas.holsti@tidorum.invalid to sci.space.policy on Sat May 25 12:06:32 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On 2024-05-25 7:54, The Running Man wrote:
    On 22/05/2024 15:33 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    On 2024-05-22 10:07 a.m., The Running Man wrote:
    On 21/05/2024 20:35 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for
    testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    I'm still waiting for the incident report of the last flight. I'm very interested in how SpaceX's resolving the issues of Starship's uncontrolled tumbling. I'm also curious why Super Heavy failed to relight all of its engines during the landing burn, since SpaceX is doing this almost on a weekly basis with Falcon 9.

    In my opinion, both Starship's and the booster's erratic behaviour can
    be corrected by a software update. The software used for Falcon 9 can't
    be used for Starship and its booster, so even though SpaceX has much
    experience on controlling spacecrafts, they still need to write new code
    and glitches happen in new code. I'm not much concerned about the IFT-3
    problems.


    Alain Fournier


    <https://www.spacex.com/updates/#flight-3-report>

    According to this update both the boostback burn and the roll-control loss were due to filter blockages.


    But they don't say what kind of stuff was blocking the filters. Hm.

    For IFT-4, they say that there are "operational changes including the
    jettison of the Super HeavyrCOs hot-stage adapter following boostback to reduce booster mass for the final phase of flight." What, so that part
    will fall into the ocean and not be reused? This is a surprising
    departure from earlier principles. Perhaps it is only a temporary
    work-around.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alain Fournier@alain245@videotron.ca to sci.space.policy on Sat May 25 09:12:53 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On 2024-05-25 12:54 a.m., The Running Man wrote:
    On 22/05/2024 15:33 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    On 2024-05-22 10:07 a.m., The Running Man wrote:
    On 21/05/2024 20:35 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for
    testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    I'm still waiting for the incident report of the last flight. I'm very interested in how SpaceX's resolving the issues of Starship's uncontrolled tumbling. I'm also curious why Super Heavy failed to relight all of its engines during the landing burn, since SpaceX is doing this almost on a weekly basis with Falcon 9.

    In my opinion, both Starship's and the booster's erratic behaviour can
    be corrected by a software update. The software used for Falcon 9 can't
    be used for Starship and its booster, so even though SpaceX has much
    experience on controlling spacecrafts, they still need to write new code
    and glitches happen in new code. I'm not much concerned about the IFT-3
    problems.


    Alain Fournier


    <https://www.spacex.com/updates/#flight-3-report>

    According to this update both the boostback burn and the roll-control loss were due to filter blockages.

    Interesting. Thank you.


    Alain Fournier

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alain Fournier@alain245@videotron.ca to sci.space.policy on Sat May 25 09:23:19 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On 2024-05-25 5:06 a.m., Niklas Holsti wrote:
    On 2024-05-25 7:54, The Running Man wrote:
    On 22/05/2024 15:33 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    On 2024-05-22 10:07 a.m., The Running Man wrote:
    On 21/05/2024 20:35 Alain Fournier <alain245@videotron.ca> wrote:
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for
    testing activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests. >>>>>

    Alain Fournier

    I'm still waiting for the incident report of the last flight. I'm
    very interested in how SpaceX's resolving the issues of Starship's
    uncontrolled tumbling. I'm also curious why Super Heavy failed to
    relight all of its engines during-a the landing burn, since SpaceX is >>>> doing this almost on a weekly basis with Falcon 9.

    In my opinion, both Starship's and the booster's erratic behaviour can
    be corrected by a software update. The software used for Falcon 9 can't
    be used for Starship and its booster, so even though SpaceX has much
    experience on controlling spacecrafts, they still need to write new code >>> and glitches happen in new code. I'm not much concerned about the IFT-3
    problems.


    Alain Fournier


    <https://www.spacex.com/updates/#flight-3-report>

    According to this update both the boostback burn and the roll-control
    loss were due to filter blockages.


    But they don't say what kind of stuff was blocking the filters. Hm.

    For IFT-4, they say that there are "operational changes including the jettison of the Super HeavyrCOs hot-stage adapter following boostback to reduce booster mass for the final phase of flight." What, so that part
    will fall into the ocean and not be reused? This is a surprising
    departure from earlier principles. Perhaps it is only a temporary work-around.

    Indeed, it is a surprising departure from earlier principles. I don't
    think that would be only a temporary work-around if they do so to reduce
    mass. IFT-4 having no payload, they don't really need to reduce mass, so
    they don't need to do it at all now. Perhaps this piece of hardware gets severely damaged during flight (during hot-staging) and it is easier to
    build a new one for each flight than to redesign it to survive intact.


    Alain Fournier

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Snidely@snidely.too@gmail.com to sci.space.policy on Tue May 28 20:23:33 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On Tuesday, Snidely exclaimed wildly:
    Alain Fournier explained :
    They are ordering some road closures for SpaceX a week from now for testing >> activities.

    https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.28.2024-Press-Release-on-Order-of-Closure-Related-to-SpaceX-Flight.pdf

    I've been told launches typically occur a few days after these tests.


    Alain Fournier

    Launch is NET "after Memorial Day", from the usual sources, with S29 just having rolled back from the Wet Dress Rehersal to complete tile work.

    It actually didn't roll back, hanging out next to the OLM while the
    suction cups were being applied. (Harbor Freight has similar suction
    cups sold as being for lifting countertops.)


    The second WDR has now been completed, and we may be on track for June
    5th.

    SpaceX has ask the FAA to approve a launch license while the IFT3 mishap investigation still open, arguing that the failures were each in a flight portion that did not represent a safety hazard.

    /dps
    --
    "What do you think of my cart, Miss Morland? A neat one, is not it?
    Well hung: curricle-hung in fact. Come sit by me and we'll test the
    springs."
    (Speculative fiction by H.Lacedaemonian.)
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Niklas Holsti@niklas.holsti@tidorum.invalid to sci.space.policy on Tue Jun 4 12:51:26 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On 2024-05-25 16:23, Alain Fournier wrote:
    On 2024-05-25 5:06 a.m., Niklas Holsti wrote:

    [ snip ]

    For IFT-4, they say that there are "operational changes including the
    jettison of the Super HeavyrCOs hot-stage adapter following boostback to
    reduce booster mass for the final phase of flight." What, so that part
    will fall into the ocean and not be reused? This is a surprising
    departure from earlier principles. Perhaps it is only a temporary
    work-around.

    Indeed, it is a surprising departure from earlier principles. I don't
    think that would be only a temporary work-around if they do so to reduce mass. IFT-4 having no payload, they don't really need to reduce mass, so they don't need to do it at all now. Perhaps this piece of hardware gets severely damaged during flight (during hot-staging) and it is easier to build a new one for each flight than to redesign it to survive intact.


    There is some good discussion by "CSI Starbase" in this video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytl1efG1sBw

    The main suggestion is that fixing other issues by additions to the
    booster HW increased booster mass so much that the LOX header tank
    capacity became insufficient for booster recovery. The header tanks are already built for the next few boosters and cannot easily be made
    larger. Discarding the hot-stage adapter, to reduce mass, may thus be a work-around for this header-tank issue, and may not be needed for future boosters with larger LOX header tanks.

    The video also presents evidence that the hot-stage adapter actually
    tore itself loose during the last minutes of IFT-3 booster flight. This
    may have been a factor in the booster's attitude-control problems during
    its return.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alain Fournier@alain245@videotron.ca to sci.space.policy on Tue Jun 4 08:43:42 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    On 2024-06-04 5:51 a.m., Niklas Holsti wrote:
    On 2024-05-25 16:23, Alain Fournier wrote:
    On 2024-05-25 5:06 a.m., Niklas Holsti wrote:

    -a-a [ snip ]

    For IFT-4, they say that there are "operational changes including the
    jettison of the Super HeavyrCOs hot-stage adapter following boostback
    to reduce booster mass for the final phase of flight." What, so that
    part will fall into the ocean and not be reused? This is a surprising
    departure from earlier principles. Perhaps it is only a temporary
    work-around.

    Indeed, it is a surprising departure from earlier principles. I don't
    think that would be only a temporary work-around if they do so to
    reduce mass. IFT-4 having no payload, they don't really need to reduce
    mass, so they don't need to do it at all now. Perhaps this piece of
    hardware gets severely damaged during flight (during hot-staging) and
    it is easier to build a new one for each flight than to redesign it to
    survive intact.


    There is some good discussion by "CSI Starbase" in this video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytl1efG1sBw

    The main suggestion is that fixing other issues by additions to the
    booster HW increased booster mass so much that the LOX header tank
    capacity became insufficient for booster recovery. The header tanks are already built for the next few boosters and cannot easily be made
    larger. Discarding the hot-stage adapter, to reduce mass, may thus be a work-around for this header-tank issue, and may not be needed for future boosters with larger LOX header tanks.

    The video also presents evidence that the hot-stage adapter actually
    tore itself loose during the last minutes of IFT-3 booster flight. This
    may have been a factor in the booster's attitude-control problems during
    its return.

    Thank you. The "CSI Starbase" video is cool.


    Alain Fournier

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Snidely@snidely.too@gmail.com to sci.space.policy on Tue Jun 4 11:17:40 2024
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy

    Alain Fournier scribbled something on Tuesday the 6/4/2024:
    On 2024-06-04 5:51 a.m., Niklas Holsti wrote:
    On 2024-05-25 16:23, Alain Fournier wrote:
    On 2024-05-25 5:06 a.m., Niklas Holsti wrote:

    -a-a [ snip ]

    For IFT-4, they say that there are "operational changes including the >>>> jettison of the Super HeavyrCOs hot-stage adapter following boostback to >>>> reduce booster mass for the final phase of flight." What, so that part >>>> will fall into the ocean and not be reused? This is a surprising
    departure from earlier principles. Perhaps it is only a temporary
    work-around.

    Indeed, it is a surprising departure from earlier principles. I don't
    think that would be only a temporary work-around if they do so to reduce >>> mass. IFT-4 having no payload, they don't really need to reduce mass, so >>> they don't need to do it at all now. Perhaps this piece of hardware gets >>> severely damaged during flight (during hot-staging) and it is easier to >>> build a new one for each flight than to redesign it to survive intact.


    There is some good discussion by "CSI Starbase" in this video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytl1efG1sBw

    The main suggestion is that fixing other issues by additions to the booster >> HW increased booster mass so much that the LOX header tank capacity became >> insufficient for booster recovery. The header tanks are already built for >> the next few boosters and cannot easily be made larger. Discarding the
    hot-stage adapter, to reduce mass, may thus be a work-around for this
    header-tank issue, and may not be needed for future boosters with larger
    LOX header tanks.

    The video also presents evidence that the hot-stage adapter actually tore >> itself loose during the last minutes of IFT-3 booster flight. This may have >> been a factor in the booster's attitude-control problems during its return.

    Thank you. The "CSI Starbase" video is cool.


    Alain Fournier

    Zack doesn't do many videos, but he does excellent videos.

    /dps
    --
    Trust, but verify.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2