Competition for LOX between Space Launches and COVID-19

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seigell United States of America
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Competition for LOX between Space Launches and COVID-19

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Post by seigell »


The current surge in COVID-19 Delta cases across the Country has a knock-on impact to NASA and Powered Space Flight - LOX is needed by both...

Several Florida Counties have issued Water Restrictions and warned of potential Boil-Water requirements, because the LOX used in Oxidizing Water Purification Processes is needed to be diverted to the area Hospitals.
This has impacted NASA in both Florida and California, where they've announced a 1 Week Delay in the Launch Schedule of its next earth-surveillance satellite. The delay is because prioritization of LOX Generation has led to a Liquid Nitrogen shortage impacting the preparation of the ULA Launch Vehicle. NASA expects other near future Launches to also be impacted.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... d-pandemic

SpaceX is not allowing this to impact their upcoming First Manned Semi-Orbital Flight of the Starship.
https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/13/2243 ... xas-hawaii

The yet to be scheduled flight from Texas for 3/4ths of an Orbit will drop the Starship within 60 miles of the Hawaii shoreline.
In a somewhat Tone Deaf turn of Events, immediately after splashdown Starship will vent all remaining LOX as a safety issue.
Onshore in Hawaii, the State has had to announce LOX Rationing for its Hospital System, denying all non-Emergency Surgical Procedures as a conservation measure.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/08/3 ... es-supply/

The full LOX load of the Starship and its Super Heavy booster could sure put a dent in Hawaii's LOX Shortage.
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Re: Competition for LOX between Space Launches and COVID-19

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Post by Groovy2 »


its going to be months before Starship will be ready to fly -
ground support equipment and rocket not finished -

will do booster static fire soon - lasts 2 seconds ish

spaceX has been building a Lox plant for a year on site in Tx -
its not finished but close - also building methane plant -may be finished
have onsite solar farm - going to build wind farm -

Booster will be basically empty of propellants -
watch inside fuel tank video - surprising how empty they are -

its is a safety issue -
huge tank even tiny pressure has lots of energy -
was just traveling 20K mph minutes earlier -
could shoot parts off high speed -

will inspect booster - maybe recover -
have not read there plan yet

spacex really works on being efficient -
the flip maneuver is about saving fuel - no hovering -


the plan is to catch booster mid air when landing - Wow -
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