*** Official Space Flight Discussion (Non-political Only) ***

[interrobang]

The 8th Starship test is scheduled for this afternoon. Planned for 5:30 CST.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-8

 

[wxman1]

 

[wxman1]

Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower.com)

SpaceX lost another Starship shorlty after launch in Texas during Flight 8 and we're seeing flights now begin to divert/manuever possibly due to the potential risk of debris off the coast of Florida into the Altantic. @flightradar24.com

bsky.app

 

[JP4CY]

Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower.com)

SpaceX lost another Starship shorlty after launch in Texas during Flight 8 and we're seeing flights now begin to divert/manuever possibly due to the potential risk of debris off the coast of Florida into the Altantic. @flightradar24.com

bsky.app

Yikes.

 

[wxman1]

NASASpaceflight.com (@nasaspaceflight.com)

Starship Flight 8: That's not nominal. Ship 34 in a spin.

bsky.app

 

[JP4CY]

1:56:28

 

[Clonehomer]

1:56:28

So….who's holding the bag for all of these failures? Is this SpaceX shareholders, or do we pay for each test flight?

 

[KidSilverhair]

Mission Control: “That’s not good.”

You think?

 

[besserheimerphat]

Honda hails successful test of reusable rocket as it looks to get into the space business

Japan's second-biggest carmaker, Honda, has successfully tested an experimental reusable rocket, the company says, as it seeks to expand into the space sector.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[CascadeClone]

So….who's holding the bag for all of these failures? Is this SpaceX shareholders, or do we pay for each test flight?

My understanding (could be wrong, someone correct me if so) is that SpaceX pays for their R&D. Its not specifically paid for by the USG on a dedicated R&D contract.

That said, SpaceX gets a chunk of their revenue from USG contracts to put sats in space, ferry flights to ISS etc. But its not directly linked. And most of SpaceX rev now comes from Starlink subscriptions.

It's just R&D. No different than Merck spending on a drug that eventually doesn't help. A Starship explosion is probably cheaper than the drug failure. Just with more exploding.

 

[Cyclonepride]

So….who's holding the bag for all of these failures? Is this SpaceX shareholders, or do we pay for each test flight?

Probably depends on who/what the launch is for and how the contract was written.

I think you're going to have more failures the more you push the technology, and one of NASA's downfalls was becoming risk averse in a field where that really limits what you can potentially accomplish.

 

[CascadeClone]

Honda hails successful test of reusable rocket as it looks to get into the space business

Japan's second-biggest carmaker, Honda, has successfully tested an experimental reusable rocket, the company says, as it seeks to expand into the space sector.

www.cbsnews.com

All of this reminds me of this bad boy, the OG. I got to see this live many moons ago out at White Sands.

 

[wxman1]

Seems as though the locals are growing tired of it.

 

[JP4CY]

Honda hails successful test of reusable rocket as it looks to get into the space business

Japan's second-biggest carmaker, Honda, has successfully tested an experimental reusable rocket, the company says, as it seeks to expand into the space sector.

www.cbsnews.com

Had no idea Honda was in this market.
They make small aircraft that I knew were popular.

 

[Letterkenny]

Seems as though the locals are growing tired of it.

I don't know, I'd pay good money to watch one of the launches. An explosion would be an even more impressive show.

 

[simply1]

Seems as though the locals are growing tired of it.

Wonder what that sounded like, yeesh.

 

[KidSilverhair]

Seems as though the locals are growing tired of it.

Didn’t they just vote to create their own Elon-company-town down there?

 

[besserheimerphat]

Probably depends on who/what the launch is for and how the contract was written.

I think you're going to have more failures the more you push the technology, and one of NASA's downfalls was becoming risk averse in a field where that really limits what you can potentially accomplish.

That's part of it - higher tech requires expanding the envelope, which is messy. It gets complicated when the agency is funded by tax dollars, and people want to see a return on their investment. That will drive towards more conservatism (which actually INCREASES costs).

I don't mind SpaceX blowing up rockets because it's beneficial for learning. I just wish it weren't so disastrous for the environment and disruptive to the locals. There are better ways than just building bigger fireworks...

 

[Letterkenny]

That's part of it - higher tech requires expanding the envelope, which is messy. It gets complicated when the agency is funded by tax dollars, and people want to see a return on their investment. That will drive towards more conservatism (which actually INCREASES costs).

I don't mind SpaceX blowing up rockets because it's beneficial for learning. I just wish it weren't so disastrous for the environment and disruptive to the locals. There are better ways than just building bigger fireworks...

Disruption to the locals I understand. That's definitely an issue. I don't agree that it's "disastrous for the environment". Bear in mind, every rocket ever built either lands in the ocean, or blows up on land, other than the space shuttle (booster still went into the ocean) and the falcon 9 boosters. I'd argue that if (and that's a big IF) Starship is successful, it'll be more environmentally friendly long term due to not throwing rocket parts into the ocean every flight.

 

[Turn2]

Disruption to the locals I understand. That's definitely an issue. I don't agree that it's "disastrous for the environment". Bear in mind, every rocket ever built either lands in the ocean, or blows up on land, other than the space shuttle (booster still went into the ocean) and the falcon 9 boosters. I'd argue that if (and that's a big IF) Starship is successful, it'll be more environmentally friendly long term due to not throwing rocket parts into the ocean every flight.

SpaceX accused of dumping polluted Starship wastewater in Texas for years

The bombshell allegations may violate the EPA's Clean Water Act.

www.popsci.com

SpaceX repeatedly polluted waters in Texas this year, regulators found

Elon Musk’s aerospace company violated environmental regulations by releasing pollutants into or near bodies of water in Texas, a state environmental agency said in a notice.

www.nbcnews.com