R.I.P. Scout26
DestackingMaybe , maybe, to arm the FTS?Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJRzQsLZGg
Probably not to arm the FTS. With the F&WS folks out there again today, I'm betting they are some ways away from issuing their final report and giving any kind of a go-ahead to the FAA. SpaceX is likely doing whatever is necessary to keep the ship maintained and in shape for launch. I don't imagine it does the equipment any good leaving it exposed to the weather so long while awaiting a launch license.
Chris Bergin - NSF repostedAlejandro Alcantarilla Romera (Alex)@Alexphysics13A NOTAM has been posted for Mexican airspace for the next launch of SpaceX's Starship rocket. The notice is valid from November 13th to 18th with daily windows running from 7AM CST to 9:39AM CST (13:00-15:39 UTC).
Adrian Beil@BCCarCountersRegarding the new closures. Yes they say "No Flight" but I think the likely explanation is the fact, that they cant call it flight closures until necessary paper work is done. But these scream and sound like flight closures for IFT-2.
Julia Bergeron@julia_bergeronLate nights and fog can't stop the momentum. The Starlink 6-27 launch brings the SpaceX launch count to 80, so far, in 2023. @NASASpaceflight Launch Round-up:https://nasaspaceflight.com/2023/11/launch
Chris Bergin - NSF repostedAlejandro Alcantarilla Romera (Alex)@Alexphysics13And now a Navigational Hazard Warning has been posted as well for the Gulf of Mexico. Same daily windows from November 13th to November 18th running from 7AM CST to 9:39AM CST.
Chris Bergin - NSF@NASASpaceflightThe reason the previous Electron failed, which - as Peter Beck noted - was "a highly complex, improbable, and evasive issue". And heck, he wasn't understating:"After more than seven weeks of extensive analysis of the mission’s manufacturing, test, and flight data, the findings of the investigation overwhelmingly indicate that an unexpected electrical arc occurred within the power supply system that provides high voltage to the Rutherford engine’s motor controllers, shorting the battery packs that provide power to the launch vehicle’s second stage.Exhaustive testing and analysis to recreate this failure mode has led to the investigation team’s determination that the arc was likely only made possible by the rare interaction of multiple conditions. Any one of these factors on their own would likely not have caused the failure of the second stage, but when they occur simultaneously in the low-pressure environment of space, they reach the threshold dictated by Paschen’s Law for an arc to form and travel. Paschen's Law is an equation that breaks down the relationship between voltage, pressure environment, distance between electrodes, and presence of gas necessary for an electrical arc to form and travel."
Astra has missed a debt payment and appears to be on the verge of bankruptcy. That's unfortunate. Hate to see them in trouble.https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/03/astra-defaults-on-debt-agreement-may-not-be-able-to-raise-needed-cash.html
Chris Bergin - NSF@NASASpaceflightFlight Termination System (FTS) work is taking place today. Obviously won't be "pulling any pins" until just before restack near launch day, but it is another good sign they are staging for next week (NET 15th).
Chris Bergin - NSF repostedAdrian Beil@BCCarCountersRegarding ongoing speculation about a potential launch license: NSF reached out to FWS and FAA for updates on the progress of the Starship license. No updates as of this morning.
Chris Bergin - NSF@NASASpaceflightBooster 9 Flight Termination System (FTS) install - the explosives that will destroy the vehicle in case of anomaly.An improved system from Booster 7 after its FTS trigger resulted in a "It's just a flesh wound!" reaction during the first test flight.
Chris Bergin - NSF@NASASpaceflightAnd Ship FTS work too!
Viasat expects to know next week what caused the antenna deployment issue that severely impaired its debut ViaSat-3 broadband satellite over the Americas, the operator’s CEO announced during earnings results Nov. 8. Mark Dankberg said Viasat would also be getting more information from the antenna’s supplier, which he did not name, on how long it would take to ensure a second, mostly built ViaSat-3 could launch without the issue that reduced the throughput on its first by more than 90%.
Viasat is preparing to file a $421 million insurance claim for ViaSat-3 F1. A problem the Inmarsat-6 (I-6) F2 spacecraft encountered with its power subsystem while raising orbit after its February launch will also result in a total loss, Dankberg said, and was insured for $349 million.
SpaceX CRS-29 is a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station. The mission is contracted by NASA and will be flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon. Within the cargo travels the ILLUMA-T experiment that tests technology to provide enhanced data communication capabilities on the space station. The booster is B1081, which will fly for the second time and attempt to land on LZ-1.
SpaceX@SpaceX·15mStarship preparing to launch as early as November 17, pending final regulatory approval → http://spacex.com/launches
Chris Bergin - NSF repostedJack Beyer@thejackbeyerStormy Starship Stack at Starbase... but maybe not for long. Looks like we might see a destack here soon as the hot stage ring stand and a load spreader were moved to the launch site this evening. Follow along live on SBL: http://nsf.live/starbase @NASASpaceflight
