SpaceX will soon fire up its massive Super Heavy booster for the first time

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smp United States of America
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SpaceX will soon fire up its massive Super Heavy booster for the first time

#1

Post by smp »


From Ars Technica:
"SpaceX seems to have gone a long time without launching—or blowing up—a rocket at its South Texas launch site. A little more than two months have passed since the company launched its SN15 Starship prototype to an altitude of 10 km before safely landing the vehicle on May 5.

The SpaceX engineering team apparently got the data it needed from that test flight, because the company scrapped plans to fly its next prototype (the SN16) in favor of moving toward higher flights. Accordingly, activity at the so-called "Starbase" facility near Boca Chica, Texas, has focused on building up capabilities for an orbital launch attempt of the Starship system."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07 ... irst-time/

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Re: SpaceX will soon fire up its massive Super Heavy booster for the first time

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Post by helicon »


Thanks Stephen. Hard to believe it has been two months since the last launch. Now Musk has slipped a bit now that Branson has visited the edge of space and Bezos is preparing for a July 20th launch at 9:35 AM EDT. But I think of the three companies SpaceX still has the opportunity to be the leading space exploration company by a wide margin.
-Michael
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Re: SpaceX will soon fire up its massive Super Heavy booster for the first time

#3

Post by GCoyote »


I have to agree Michael. Operational experience and the data collected from so many launches puts them well ahead of the others.
Any metaphor will tear if stretched over too much reality.
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Re: SpaceX will soon fire up its massive Super Heavy booster for the first time

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Post by Groovy2 »


a couple of parts being build out there
I Mostly have no idea what they are -
they Yellow/ black pipe -

Giant parts now - Thick metal - Tall - Man Lifts are Amazing -

Glade to see ring sections not being moved
hanging /swinging from loaders - dangerous -
now roll around - pavement good now -

welding is Amazing - Fast -
not sure what welding process being used -
a while ago saw - Travel Tig - never heard of before -
its regular Tig welding and has fill rod that Vibrates
Rod feeds Mig style - Fast

from video I saw it makes Wide bead with good taper - One pass -
video said real good on SS - welds looked Very Good - Fast
video was by inventor - looked DIY home shop -
( video gone now )

The weld beads on tanks look wide -

would like to see how stacked ring sections are welded -

so far I have not seen any photo of welding gear -Rings -
must be Small and portable -

crawler robot on metal -
Spin Rings -

did see photo of 2 standard ish welder robots -

The number of spot welds is Huge -
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Re: SpaceX will soon fire up its massive Super Heavy booster for the first time

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Post by Ylem »


"SpaceX seems to have gone a long time without launching—or blowing up—a rocket"

That made me laugh.

Hope all goes well!
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


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