Tag Archives: SpaceXs

Rising Solar Threats Target SpaceX’s Starlink and Other Satellites

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Starlink satellite paths observed from space

Don Pettit/NASA

The proliferation of satellites in orbit is accelerating rapidly, yet their vulnerability to solar storms remains poorly understood. This issue is expected to intensify.

Since May 2019, SpaceX has deployed over 10,000 satellites as part of its Starlink internet megaconstellation, with approximately 1,000 currently re-entering Earth’s atmosphere at a rate of one or two daily. These satellites form a vast network surrounding the Earth, which suggests that solar and related geomagnetic storms could impact at least some satellites at any given time.

To assess the implications of these storms on Starlink, Kang Eun Joo and researchers at the University of California, Irvine, analyzed publicly available satellite tracking data collected during the solar storm of May 2024.

The findings indicated that during the storm’s peak, Starlink satellites on the sun-facing side experienced an altitude reduction of up to half a kilometer. While this drop is minor compared to their 550-kilometer orbit, it is significant because solar radiation can generate atmospheric drag on the satellites.

Satellites in other locations, particularly those near the Earth’s poles where the magnetic field attracts more solar particles, and those over the South Atlantic Anomaly, where the magnetic field has weakened, also experienced substantial effects.

According to the data reviewed by the research team, an unusual phenomenon occurred among the constellations. “When one satellite descends, neighboring satellites must adjust accordingly,” Kang explained, utilizing onboard ion thrusters to recalibrate the affected satellites. This is necessary since the satellites communicate via line-of-sight lasers to maintain the network, which creates a cascading effect as adjacent satellites follow suit. “It’s like a wave,” remarked Sangeeta Abdu Jyoti, another researcher at UC Irvine.

This could lead to challenges for other satellites maneuvering around the Starlink constellation to prevent collisions. “Unpredictable paths heighten collision risks,” Abdu Jyoti cautioned.

Additional publicly accessible data also reveals the repercussions of solar storms. Some Starlink users utilize an online service called RIPE Atlas to monitor their connection status. By analyzing this information, Kang and her team noted that satellites experienced disruptions and reported network outages during the May 2024 storm. “Packet loss surged immediately,” Kang stated, resulting in data failing to reach its intended targets.

This study emphasizes the challenges faced by satellite constellations such as Starlink, as well as those in development like Amazon’s Project Kuiper and various projects in China, due to solar activity jeopardizing communication and potentially leading to drastic positional changes that could result in collisions with other satellites.

In February 2022, a significant solar storm caused 40 newly launched Starlink satellites to return to the atmosphere, where they incinerated. Recent studies have also indicated that heightened solar activity is accelerating the decline of certain Starlink satellites.

The May 2024 solar storm was roughly three times weaker than the Carrington event of 1859—the strongest solar storm on record. Such records are likely to be repeated, potentially creating significant challenges for satellite operators. “If an exceptionally strong storm occurs, the situation will worsen,” Abdu Jyoti said. “But the extent of that worsening remains uncertain.”

For now, I hope to have adequate preparation time. The May 2024 storm happened at the peak of the sun’s 22-year activity cycle. A powerful storm could strike at any moment, with a higher likelihood expected in the 2040s when solar activity intensifies again. By that time, it’s anticipated that tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, more satellites will be in orbit compared to the current approximate count of 13,000. “The more satellites you have, the greater the issue,” stated Scott Shambaugh, founder of Leonid Space, a US company tracking the impact of space weather on satellites.

“Currently, we lack reliable predictive models to assess how solar storms impact drag over short timescales,” Shambaugh explained. “Consequently, satellites may not be where anticipated for hours or days following a storm.”

Matthew Owens identified another area needing further understanding: substorms—minor fluctuations in the atmosphere caused by solar heating that disproportionately affect satellites in varied orbits, according to researchers from Britain’s University of Reading. “Geomagnetic storms consist of numerous substorms,” he noted, “but these are extraordinarily challenging to forecast.”

Satellite constellations like Starlink provide a unique perspective on this activity, effectively serving as a massive research network in orbit around Earth. “These satellites may very well be our first data probes for analyzing local variations in atmospheric drag,” Abdu Jyoti concluded.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

SpaceX’s Starship Rocket Successfully Concludes Test Flight

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SpaceX Starship Rocket launches in its 10th flight test from Starbase, Texas, Launch Complex 1

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The SpaceX Starship, recognized as the most powerful rocket globally, has successfully completed a suborbital test flight following three previous launches that ended in catastrophic explosions.

SpaceX aims to develop a highly reusable and formidable launch vehicle. After several years, the Starship program is set to take over the deployment of Starlink satellites and play a pivotal role in NASA’s Artemis Moon Missions. Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, has stated that Starship is crucial for his ambition to colonize Mars.

The company embraces a fail-fast approach, more typical of Silicon Valley than the traditional methods prevalent in the aerospace industry. Despite aiming for rapid iterations, recent failures have raised concerns among observers.

Previous test flights (7, 8, and 9) ended in disaster with the upper stage either exploding or failing to land safely. The preparations for the 10th flight faced challenges when the upper stage detonated while holding propellant during ground tests.

This failure drew criticisms and led to doubts about SpaceX’s ability to achieve rapid reusability. Nevertheless, the test flight on August 10 from Starbase, Texas, was mainly successful, despite two previous cancellations.

The upper stage reached orbit and successfully deployed eight mock Starlink satellites to evaluate engine performance in a vacuum. Although an unexpected explosion damaged the engine area, the spacecraft completed its objectives, re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and achieving a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The positioned camera-equipped buoy provided engineers critical insights into the craft’s operations.

The booster stage detached and performed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

While SpaceX did not provide specific comments, they stated on their website that all “primary objectives were met” during the mission.

Patrick Harkness, from the University of Glasgow, remarked that the launch was “an incredible achievement that allowed them to approach high volumes of space at low-cost altitudes.”

Despite advancements, questions linger regarding whether the spacecraft will be ready in time for NASA’s Artemis III lunar landing, planned for 2027. SpaceX remains committed to sending the spacecraft to Mars in 2026, amid ongoing challenges.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

SpaceX’s spacecraft rocket lost in test flight due to explosion in previous attempt

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Following a failed test flight in January, SpaceX set out for another launch attempt on Thursday hoping for a better outcome.

Unfortunately, the mission was cut short once again after losing contact with the upper-stage vehicle.

The Starship system, towering at 400 feet, launched from SpaceX’s Starbase site near Brownsville, Texas, for its eighth test flight at 6:30pm.

However, within eight minutes, similar to the January incident, some engines seemed to shut off. Live video footage showed the craft spinning before all communication was lost.

In the live webcast, SpaceX Communications manager Dan Huot announced, “I think it’s clear that we won’t continue with today’s mission.”

Shortly after the mishap, Florida airports issued ground stops due to the “space launch incident” in Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Miami International Airport.

Videos circulating online show explosions and potential debris in parts of Florida. One video posted by an X user shows what appears to be an overhead fireball in Boynton Beach, Florida.

SpaceX stated on X that the Starship suffered a collapse, described as a “rapid, unplanned demolition.”

The company is now analyzing data from the flight tests to determine the root cause of the incident.

Huot mentioned in the webcast that SpaceX will be monitoring potential debris and working closely with air traffic restrictions.

While accidents are not uncommon in the development of new rockets and spacecraft, this marks the second consecutive setback for SpaceX.

During the seventh test mission in January, a similar loss of communication occurred, eventually leading to an explosion over the Caribbean.

SpaceX Debris
Courtesy Todd Martin

Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation. Despite clearing the spacecraft for Thursday’s test flight, investigations are ongoing.

The FAA, among other agencies, has faced budget and staffing cuts under the Trump administration, raising concerns about oversight in areas like commercial spaceflight.

SpaceX’s internal investigation revealed that a leaky propellant likely caused the explosion during the previous test flight.

SpaceX made upgrades to prevent similar incidents and enhance safety measures before the Thursday launch.

Despite the short-lived test flight, SpaceX achieved a significant milestone with the Super Heavy Booster returning successfully to the launch site and landing on the Tower’s robotic arm.

This marks the third successful “Catch” operation by SpaceX, a crucial step towards the goal of creating a fully reusable Starship system.

Starship, the most powerful rocket in development, consists of a first-stage booster and an upper-stage spaceship called Super Heavy.

SpaceX officials emphasize that many more test missions will likely be conducted before the Starship can transport humans.

The next-generation Megarocket, Starship, is expected to play a pivotal role in NASA’s moon missions and potentially future missions to Mars.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Live coverage of SpaceX’s 6th test flight with appearances by Musk and Trump

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SpaceX is gearing up for the sixth test flight of Starship, the world’s most powerful rocket. Elon Musk’s company follows a “fail fast, learn fast” approach to research and development, which resembles the culture of Silicon Valley more than the aerospace industry, with an acceleration in the pace of launches. It seems so.

When is the next flight?

SpaceX states on the website that Starship is scheduled to conduct its sixth test flight on November 19th, with launch slots opening at 4pm Central Time (10pm UK). A live stream of the launch will be available. SpaceX’s X account on the social media platform also owned by Musk, can be viewed here at newscientist.com

It took SpaceX 18 months to complete Starship’s first five test flights, with the fifth happening in mid-October. With the launch of its sixth flight next week, it will be just over a month since the last flight, making it the fastest flight yet.

What will SpaceX attempt with Flight 6?

Flight 6 mirrors Flight 5 in many ways but with some significant differences.

The booster stage will once again try a “chopstick” landing, catching and securing the vehicle as it returns to the launch pad for a soft landing. This methodology aims to eventually enable boosters to be reused multiple times, significantly reducing the cost of launching payloads into orbit.

Starship SN8 high altitude flight test https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacex/50703878421 Photographed on December 9, 2020

Starship during high altitude test flight

SpaceX

The upper stage will enter space, complete a partial orbit, re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, and splash-land in the Indian Ocean. In this flight, the upper stage will attempt to reignite one of the Raptor engines in space to gather valuable operational data. Also, new heat shield designs will be tested during atmospheric reentry.

One notable change in this flight is that the landing of the upper stage in the Indian Ocean will be filmed during the day as the launch occurs later in the day. This will provide detailed images as previous landings happened at night, limiting the visibility for engineers compared to daytime landings.

What occurred in previous Starship launches?

During the first test flight on April 20, 2023, three out of the 33 engines in the booster stage failed to ignite. This led to the rocket becoming uncontrollable and self-destructing.

In the second test flight on November 18, 2023, the flight proceeded further, with the booster and upper stage separating as planned. However, the booster stage exploded before reaching the ground, and the upper stage self-destructed before reaching space.

Test Flight 3 on March 14, 2024, was at least partially successful as the upper stage reached space, but it did not return to Earth unscathed.

The subsequent flight on June 6 saw the upper stage reach an altitude of over 200 kilometers and fly at speeds exceeding 27,000 kilometers per hour. Both the booster and upper stage completed a soft landing at sea.

Test Flight 5 was the most ambitious yet, with Starship’s super-heavy booster touching down on the launch pad and being safely caught by “chopsticks” on SpaceX’s launch tower, known as Mechazilla. This innovative landing approach aims to secure and lower the booster for reuse.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Sixth Starship Launch: When is SpaceX’s Next Flight Test and What to Anticipate?

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SpaceX said on its website that it aims to conduct Starship's sixth test flight as early as November 18.

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SpaceX is preparing for the sixth test flight of Starship, the world's most powerful rocket. The company has a “fail fast, learn fast” approach to research and development that is more akin to the world of Silicon Valley than the aerospace industry, and the pace of launches appears to only be accelerating.

When is the next flight?

SpaceX says on the website The company said it aims to conduct Starship's sixth test flight as early as November 18. This claim is supported by the Federal Aviation Administration issuing a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). rocket launch warning SpaceX launch pad area in Boca Chica, Texas. The 30-minute launch slot opens at 4pm local time (10pm Japan time).

It took SpaceX 18 months to conduct Starship's first five test flights, with the fifth taking place in mid-October. When the airline launches its sixth flight next week, it will be just over a month since the last flight, making it the fastest flight ever.

What will SpaceX try with Flight 6?

In many ways, Flight 6 is a repeat of Flight 5, but with some key differences.

The booster stage will again attempt a “chopstick” landing, grabbing and securing the aircraft as it returns to the launch pad so it can be lowered to the ground. This approach is designed to ultimately allow boosters to be reused multiple times and significantly reduce the cost of putting payloads into orbit.

Starship during high altitude test flight

space x

The upper stage will reach space, complete a partial orbit, re-enter Earth's atmosphere and splash-land in the Indian Ocean. But this time, the upper stage will attempt to reignite one of the Raptor engines during its stay in space in order to gather valuable operational data. It also plans to test new heat shield designs during atmospheric reentry.

Another difference is that because the launch will take place later in the day, the landing of the upper stage in the Indian Ocean can be filmed during the day, allowing for more detailed shots. Previous missions had landed at night, so while the footage was cinematic and dramatic, it didn't provide engineers with as much insight as footage from daytime landings.

What happened during previous Starship launches?

During the first test flight on April 20, 2023, three of the 33 engines in the booster stage failed to ignite. The rocket then became uncontrollable and self-destructed.

During the second test flight on November 18, 2023, the flight progressed further and gained enough altitude to separate the booster and upper stage as planned. The booster stage ultimately exploded before reaching the ground, and the upper stage self-destructed before reaching space.

Test Flight 3 on March 14, 2024 was at least partially successful as the upper stage reached space again, but it did not return to Earth unscathed.

The next flight was on June 6, when the upper stage reached an altitude of more than 200 kilometers and flew at speeds of more than 27,000 kilometers per hour. Both the booster and upper stage completed a soft landing at sea.

Test Flight 5 was the most ambitious yet, with Starship's super-heavy booster dropping onto the launch pad and being safely caught by “chopsticks” on SpaceX's launch tower, known as Mechazilla. It is equipped with “chopsticks” that can be used to grab and fix a specific position on the aircraft and lower it to the ground.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

When is SpaceX’s next test flight for Starship “Chopsticks” scheduled?

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SpaceX’s Starship rocket before its first test flight in 2023

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SpaceX has been preparing Starship since August for its fifth test flight, which the company claims could launch as soon as this weekend.

What is a starship?

Starship is the most powerful rocket capable of flying. SpaceX aims to develop it into a quickly reusable vehicle that can carry large payloads into orbit, land on Earth, and launch another mission within hours. The company takes a “fail-fast” approach to research and development more commonly seen in Silicon Valley than in the conservative world of space exploration.

What will the next test flight include?

The fifth test flight will likely be the first attempt to drop Starship’s super heavy booster (the rocket’s first stage) onto the launch pad. SpaceX’s launch tower, called Mechazilla, is equipped with a pair of “chopsticks” that can grab and hold the booster in a specific position and lower it to the ground.

When will the launch take place?

space x stated on the website The flight could take place as early as October 13, pending regulatory approval.

The U.S. Coast Guard appears to have given official weight to this claim. Warning to seafarers The rocket launch took place one day earlier, on October 12, from 7:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) to 8:10 a.m. near Boca Chica, Texas.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which must approve each launch before it launches, previously said Starship would not fly until November. public relations person said to san antonio express news Nothing has changed on October 3rd. “We are not issuing a launch permit for a launch within the next two weeks. In fact, no launch has taken place. Late November is still the target date,” they said.

However, the FAA also warned pilots that rocket launches could occur in the Boca Chica area between October 13 and 19. Neither the U.S. Coast Guard nor the FAA responded. new scientist Ask for explanation.

One possibility is that SpaceX is announcing the launch date to pressure the FAA for approval. The other thing is that we are considering releasing it without approval. that's what it did in the pastsent an early prototype of Starship to high-altitude testing in 2020 without permission. SpaceX was contacted by: new scientist We contacted them for more information, but received no response.

Why does it take so long for the FAA to approve test flights?

This is a question SpaceX has been asking for some time. in long blog post The paper, published in September, complained that Starship for test flight No. 5 had been ready since last month and was awaiting launch.

“Unfortunately, instead of focusing resources on critical safety analysis and cooperating with reasonable safeguards to protect both the public and the environment, we are faced with a variety of “The approval process has been derailed multiple times due to unforeseen issues,” the post said.

But the FAA won’t work on the timescale SpaceX is requesting. The company requires SpaceX to conduct an investigation after each launch, suggest remedies for failure and adhere to strict licensing requirements before any subsequent attempts. Essentially, this tension stems from the friction of fast-paced, startup-like businesses with conservative, risk-averse government agencies.

The FAA previously stated that SpaceX Analysis not done properly The effects of a sonic boom caused by a launch. that it has polluted the environment It features a water flooding system designed to counter Starship’s powerful rocket exhaust. And we couldn’t get all the proper permits. In response, SpaceX founder Elon Musk threatened to sue the FAA.

What happened on previous Starship launches?

During the first test flight on April 20, 2023, three of the first stage’s 33 engines failed to ignite. Several more planes subsequently failed in flight. The rocket then went out of control and activated its self-destruct function.

Test Flight 2 on November 18, 2023, made further progress and gained enough altitude for the first and second stages to separate as planned. However, as the first stage decelerated and rotated to begin the landing procedure, it exploded. The second stage progressed smoothly to an altitude of about 149 kilometers (149 kilometers), passing through the Kármán line, considered the beginning of the universe. However, before orbiting or returning to Earth, it stopped transmitting data and was destroyed by a failsafe function.

Test Flight 3 on March 14, 2024 was at least partially successful, as it reached space, conducted fuel transfer tests, and flew farther and faster than ever before. However, the aircraft lost attitude control during flight and failed to make a planned soft landing.

Test Flight 4 on June 6 of this year was the most successful to date, with Starship reaching orbit at an altitude of more than 200 kilometers and flying at speeds of more than 27,000 kilometers per hour. Both the booster and upper stage completed a soft landing at sea. As the Starship re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, there was a dramatic scene in which the sheer heat of one of its control fins burned off due to extreme temperatures, but the company says it has fixed this problem with a new heat-resistant tile design. There is.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket suspended by FAA for malfunction

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The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Monday that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket experienced a second stage failure following Saturday’s NASA astronaut mission, leading to the rocket being grounded for the third time in three months. An investigation was deemed necessary.

After SpaceX successfully launched two astronauts to the International Space Station on behalf of NASA on Saturday, the rocket’s second stage that propelled the crew further into space failed to re-ignite properly due to “inertial combustion.” It ultimately crashed into the sea after the mission.

The astronauts safely reached the ISS and docked as planned on Sunday. The FAA confirmed that there were no injuries or property damage resulting from the booster malfunction.

The failure caused the booster to fall into the Pacific Ocean, outside the designated safety zone for the mission approved by the FAA.

SpaceX attributed the incident to a “non-nominal deorbit burn” experienced by the booster, resulting in the second stage landing safely in the ocean but outside the intended target area.

SpaceX stated, “Once we have a better understanding of the root cause, we will resume our launch activities.” This recent incident marks the third FAA grounding in the past three months, impacting SpaceX’s regular Falcon 9 rocket launches, which play a significant role in providing access to space for many nations.

Despite previous setbacks, SpaceX has swiftly resumed operations following technical issues with its Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX anticipates seeking FAA approval to resume flights soon, with ongoing technical assessments being conducted under FAA supervision.

SpaceX has emerged as a dominant force in the launch industry, launching multiple rockets per week since early 2024. While the first stage of the Falcon 9 is reusable, the second stage is not, leading to challenges during launches and re-entries that require FAA oversight for public safety.

The ongoing dispute between SpaceX and the FAA over launch license regulations has added to the challenges faced by both parties, with the FAA recently imposing fines on SpaceX for license violations related to previous launch activities.

The Falcon 9 grounding has no direct impact on SpaceX’s Starship, the company’s next-generation rocket system, which has undergone multiple tests since 2023. SpaceX has been vocal about the delays in obtaining FAA approval for the upcoming Starship test flights, highlighting the need for a smoother regulatory process.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

First private spacewalk launched by SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission

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Polaris Dawn launch

SpaceX

SpaceX launched the Polaris Dawn mission to attempt the first-ever private spacewalk, and one of the most dangerous spacewalks ever attempted.

The four-person crew will spend up to five days in Earth orbit, with two crew members performing an extravehicular activity (EVA) on the third day. During this EVA, the spacecraft will be depressurized for about two hours. The two remaining crew members will also need to wear space suits.

This is different from other modern spacewalks, which typically use an airlock to seal the craft off the vacuum of space while the astronauts are outside. The Crew Dragon capsule used in this mission has no airlock, making it more similar to the early days of spaceflight in the 1960s and 1970s. Additionally, all previous spacewalks have been conducted by government-trained astronauts, while the Polaris Dawn crew is civilian.

Although the spacesuits have been thoroughly tested on Earth, they are a new design, and the risks are compounded by the fact that the flight will be farther from Earth than any other human spaceflight since the end of the Apollo program in 1972.

Inside the Crew Dragon capsule

SpaceX

The flight’s mission commander is SpaceX’s Polaris program chief and billionaire co-founder Jared Isaacman. The rest of the crew is retired Air Force test pilot Scott Poteat and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.

The Crew Dragon capsule used on this flight was named “Resilience” and was its third launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The reusable Falcon 9 first stage returned to Earth and landed on SpaceX’s Just Read the Instructions drone over the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsules are also used to transport astronauts and supplies to and from the International Space Station, and one of them is scheduled to return NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to Earth in early 2025 after they were stranded when their launch vehicle, the Boeing Starliner, encountered problems.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

First private spacewalk to be featured in SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission

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A groundbreaking space mission known as Polaris Dawn is set to take off next week with four private citizens on board. The mission is expected to feature the first ever spacewalk conducted entirely by a civilian crew.

The commander of the mission is billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who is also the founder and CEO of Shift4, a payment processing company. Polaris Dawn is the first of three spaceflights funded and organized by Isaacman in collaboration with SpaceX, collectively known as the Polaris Program. This will be the first private SpaceX mission to reach orbit in 2021.

The crew of three includes pilot Scott Kidd-Poteet, a retired Air Force Lt. Col., and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. They will be venturing into space aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket for a planned five-day mission.

One of the highlights of the mission will be a spacewalk on the third day, where two crew members will exit the capsule via cables and spend up to 20 minutes in space. This is a historic moment as until now, spacewalks have been carried out exclusively by astronauts from government space agencies.

During the spacewalk, the Crew Dragon capsule will be fully exposed to the vacuum of space at an altitude of 435 miles above Earth. To prepare for this event, all four astronauts will don SpaceX-designed spacesuits for testing and future long-duration missions.

The mission aims to inspire people to dream big and push the boundaries of human exploration beyond Earth. The crew, including Isaacman, have undergone extensive training over the past two years in preparation for this momentous journey.

In addition to conducting science experiments and testing technology during the mission, the crew will also raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, continuing Isaacman’s philanthropic efforts in space.

Details regarding the cost, objectives, and timeline of future Polaris flights have not been disclosed by Isaacman at this time.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Watch SpaceX’s Fourth Starship Launch Attempt Livestream and Get the Latest Updates

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SpaceX is preparing Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, for its next test launch. Here’s everything you need to know.

What time is the launch scheduled?

The launch is expected to take place today, pending regulatory approval, and each flight must be approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration. SpaceX tweeted: The live stream begins at 12:30 p.m. UK time.

Judge Eddie Trevino of Cameron County, Texas, where SpaceX’s Starbase launch site is located, has closed nearby roads for flight testing. The closures are limited to a 14-hour period between midnight and 5pm local time.

Where is Starship going?

The fourth test flight will focus on returning Starship from orbit and conducting a mock landing of both the Starship and the Super Heavy first stage booster. Both vehicles will make a “soft splashdown” in the ocean, using their engines to slow their descent and line up for a gentle touch down on the water. The first stage booster will splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, while Starship aims to splash down in the Indian Ocean.

What has happened in Starship launches so far?

All three Starship launches have ended in explosions, as part of SpaceX’s strategy to learn from failures. The second launch reached space but was destroyed before completing an orbit. The third test flight reached space and achieved important milestones, despite failing to make a soft landing.

What would happen if this launch were to fail?

The chances of Starship completing its mission perfectly are slim, so failure is expected. However, this failure will provide valuable data and experience to improve future launches. SpaceX has shown the ability to iterate quickly and make progress with each launch.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Watch the livestream of SpaceX’s fourth Starship launch attempt and get the latest updates

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SpaceX is preparing for the next test launch of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built. Here’s everything you need to know.

What time is the launch scheduled?

The launch is expected to take place today, pending regulatory approval, and each flight must be approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration. SpaceX tweeted: The live stream begins at 12:30 p.m. UK time.

Judge Eddie Trevino of Cameron County, Texas, where SpaceX’s Starbase launch site is located, Nearby roads are closed In official documents, Treviño clarified that the closures were for “flight testing” and were limited to a 14-hour period between midnight and 5pm local time.

Where is Starship going?

The fourth test flight will focus on returning Starship from orbit and conducting a mock landing of both the Starship and the Super Heavy first stage booster. Both vehicles will make a “soft splashdown” in the ocean, using their engines to slow their descent and line up for a gentle touch down on the water. The first stage booster is scheduled to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, not far from the launch site, about seven minutes after liftoff, while Starship aims to splash down in the Indian Ocean about an hour later.

What has happened in Starship launches so far?

All three Starship launches have ended in explosions, which was expected as part of SpaceX’s “fail fast, learn fast” strategy.

During the first launch on April 20 last year, three of the first stage’s three engines (out of a total of 33) failed to ignite. Several more subsequently failed during the flight. The rocket then spun out of control and its self-destruct safety mechanism was activated. The entire flight lasted about three minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of 39 kilometers.

Starship’s second launch was on November 18. This time, all 33 engines were working, and the rocket flew far enough for the first and second stages to separate. But as the first stage rotated to begin its deceleration and landing procedure, it exploded. The second stage continued on smoothly to an altitude of about 90 miles, passing the Kármán line, which marks the beginning of space. But it was destroyed by a safety device after it stopped transmitting data before completing an orbit or returning to Earth.

SpaceX’s third Starship test flight, on March 14, was at least partially successful, as it reached space, performed a fuel transfer test, and flew farther and faster than ever before. However, it lost attitude control during the flight and failed to make the planned soft landing. Nevertheless, it achieved several important milestones, including Starship’s first atmospheric reentry from space, the first opening and closing of Starship’s payload door in space, and a successful demonstration of fuel transfer, which is key for future NASA Artemis missions to the Moon.

What would happen if this launch were to fail?

The chances of Starship completing its mission perfectly are slim, so it’s likely to fail in some way. But failure will provide data and experience that can be used to improve the design and process for the fifth launch. SpaceX has shown it can iterate quickly and make great strides with each launch.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The ISS Crew Stay Busy While Waiting for SpaceX’s Dragon to Navigate through Weather Conditions

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This night view of southern Europe looks from Milan, Italy, northwest to southeast (bottom right), across the Adriatic Sea to Split, Croatia. At the time this photo was taken, the International Space Station was orbiting 423 miles above eastern France.
Credit: NASAExpedition 70 crews continue to pack up the U.S. cargo spacecraft for departure early next week. The seven residents living on the ship are international space station (ISS) has also explored virtual reality while providing various scientific and life support hardware services.
NASA and space x The undocking of the SpaceX Dragon cargo replenishment spacecraft from the International Space Station will be postponed to Sunday, Dec. 17, due to inclement weather as a cold front moves through the spray belt off the coast of Florida.The joint team will continue to assess weather conditions to determine the best opportunity for Dragon to autonomously leave the space station and determine the next available opportunity by 5:05 p.m. EST Monday, December 18th.The vibrant city lights of Tokyo were captured from the International Space Station, orbiting 421 miles above the sky.
Credit: NASAWeather permitting for Monday’s undock, coverage of Dragon’s departure will begin at 4:45 p.m. on the NASA streaming service. web or NASA app. The coverage will also be broadcast live on NASA Television. YouTubeand the agency’s Website. After re-entering the atmosphere, the spacecraft will fly off the coast of Florida, but the event will not be broadcast on NASA TV.
NASA astronaut Jasmine Moghbeli and NASA’s Satoshi Furukawa JAXA The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) has resumed transferring cargo freezers packed with science from the station’s Express Rack to Dragon. The two activated and configured the scientific freezer within the Dragon, securing biological samples stored for recovery and analysis on Earth.
Prior to this, Moghbeli replaced hardware in the Solution Crystallization Observation Facility, a research instrument that studies crystal morphology and growth. She also shook up mixing tubes containing seed samples for astrobotany research. Furukawa reconnected the power and communications units within the combustion research hardware in Kibo’s laboratory module.
Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island shaped like a palm tree, is a highlight of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in this nighttime photo taken from the International Space Station, which orbits 454 miles above the Persian Gulf. Masu.
Credit: NASAESA Commander Andreas Mogensen (european space agency) His day began with an experiment aimed at strengthening computer programming skills Promote STEM careers for students across the globe. Mogensen then donned virtual reality goggles and watched a 360-degree film to understand the stabilizing effects of the nervous system. VR mental care experiment.
NASA flight engineer Loral O’Hara spent the day performing laboratory maintenance throughout the orbiting outpost. She replaced orbital plumbing components, deployed a portable her fan inside the Tranquility module, and replaced a broken wireless antenna inside the Unity module.
The space station’s three astronauts remained focused on scientific activities and maintaining the orbital system. After breakfast, flight engineers Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chubb scanned the stomach again with an ultrasound machine. Roscosmos Research on spatial digestion. Mr. Kononenko relocated the eggs into incubators for biological experiments, and Mr. Chubb transferred the dismantled life support equipment from the Zarya module to Unity. Flight engineer Konstantin Borisov spent the morning working on the orbital plumbing and ended the day by photographing and inspecting the windows of the Zvezda service module.

Source: scitechdaily.com