SpaceX

[Horn6721]

I am not very savvy
So if the rocket broke away before it was supposed to what was the successful separation?
Cool vids. Thanks Dion.

 

[Dionysus]

So if the rocket broke away before it was supposed to what was the successful separation?

The booster rocket separation from Starship was on time. They said the rocket was expected to then fall into the Gulf, but the high energies of the separation process damaged it and it exploded (RUD). The Starship vehicle continued on for a while before it blew up.

 

[Horn6721]

Thanks for explaining.
Have you been to see it live?

 

[Dionysus]

Have you been to see it live?

No, but that would be a great experience - maybe someday!

 

[Dionysus]

Referring to the Raptor engines

 

[mchammer]

Referring to the Raptor engines

This one better:

 

[Dionysus]

A few more amazing shots of the 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster rocket.

This one with the rising sun in the background is so good

Source:

 

[Vol Horn 4 Life]

I was on a starlink waiting list for 18 months and then cancelled to get my deposit back. It was supposed to be a 6 month wait but was pushed back twice and then I finally gave up. Speeds are by all accounts very speedy at 300mbs or higher at a very reasonable price. However, while waiting, both the service and equipment fees increased about 20% which also got me irritated because my place in line got pushed for the first time shortly after he sent massive supplies to Ukraine. All of that could be sheer coincidence, but I doubt it.

I figure when it opens up around here I'll decide again if I really want it or not.

Starlink finally became available in Central Texas a couple months ago. I decided to pony up for the equipment and sign up for residential service.

$650 after taxes for equipment
$120 for service

I got the equipment 3 days ago and it literally took me 5 minutes to get it up and running (although that was just to try it, not actually installing it).

My speed with my old provider was anywhere from 5 mbps to 30 mbps but usually in the 20's. So far I am reliably getting 125 mbps with a 27ms latency. I'm no internet genius, but I hear that's pretty good. Speeds will increase as they launch more satellites for supporting this area.

It comes with its own wifi router which blasts all over my house, but I will need a second one to create a mesh to get to my outside security cameras.

Anyway, I like it so far.

 

[Dionysus]

@Vol Horn 4 Life glad to hear it’s working well for you.

 

[Dionysus]

Currently targeting 8:25 AM CT this morning for the third Starship test flight.

NASASpaceflight YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=RrxCYzixV3s
This is a good one with commentary and discussion as they lead up to launch

SpaceX coverage on X: twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1765037578343121372

From the SpaceX website:

The third flight test aims to build on what we’ve learned from previous flights while attempting a number of ambitious objectives, including the successful ascent burn of both stages, opening and closing Starship’s payload door, a propellant transfer demonstration during the upper stage’s coast phase, the first ever re-light of a Raptor engine while in space, and a controlled reentry of Starship. It will also fly a new trajectory, with Starship targeted to splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This new flight path enables us to attempt new techniques like in-space engine burns while maximizing public safety.

 

[Dionysus]

Infographic of today’s mission (assuming no RUD)

click image to expand / click again to return

 

[Dionysus]

It looks like they are planning to land the booster rocket on a drone ship as they usually do with the Falcon rockets, but they will drop the Starship vehicle in the Indian Ocean rather than try to land it.