Merged SpaceX’s Starship Rocket Explodes After Launch/Starship hop

[smartcooky]

Short video covering the fates of SN01-SN08:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Ik089A5nc

From cryo tank test to 12.5km flight test took 10 months.

Meanwhile, over at SLS......

 

[smartcooky]

SSTO is already possible. It is just so uneconomical with current tech that no one bothers with it.

Agree, but as I said, no significant payload. Therefpre, as you say, uneconomical

However, there has been been a successful SSTO vehicle that took two astronauts into orbit!

 

[Mader Levap]

However, there has been been a successful SSTO vehicle that took two astronauts into orbit!

I am unaware about any existing SSTO that can orbit anything, let alone two astronauts.

One hint: being on certain height (for a moment) is not same thing as orbiting on same height.

In first case, gravity will inevitably drag them down.

In second case, gravity will try that too, but these guys will miss Earth, quite literally. To pull it off, quite a lot of sideways speed is required.

 

[Trebuchet]

Agree, but as I said, no significant payload. Therefpre, as you say, uneconomical

However, there has been been a successful SSTO vehicle that took two astronauts into orbit!

<Citation Needed>

 

[smartcooky]

I am unaware about any existing SSTO that can orbit anything, let alone two astronauts.

One hint: being on certain height (for a moment) is not same thing as orbiting on same height.

In first case, gravity will inevitably drag them down.

In second case, gravity will try that too, but these guys will miss Earth, quite literally. To pull it off, quite a lot of sideways speed is required.

<Citation Needed>

OK, let me drop a clue or two

There were six of these SSTO vehicles that each successfully took two astronauts to orbit along with some additional payload, over a period of just over 3 years.... its never been done again.

ETA: C'mon guys, think outside the square

 

[Trebuchet]

OK, let me drop a clue or two

There were six of these SSTO vehicles that each successfully took two astronauts to orbit along with some additional payload, over a period of just over 3 years.... its never been done again.

ETA: C'mon guys, think outside the square

Lunar orbit doesn't count.

 

[smartcooky]

Lunar orbit doesn't count.

Yes, it does

Wikipedia: A single-stage-to-orbit (or SSTO) vehicle reaches orbit from the surface of a body using only propellants and fluids and without expending tanks, engines, or other major hardware
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-stage-to-orbit

The Free Dictionary: A single-stage-to-orbit (or SSTO) vehicle reaches orbit from the surface of a body without jettisoning hardware, expending only propellants and fluids.
https://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Single-Stage-to-Orbit

Aviation Dictionary: A single stage to orbit (or SSTO) vehicle reaches orbit from the surface of a body without jettisoning hardware, expending only propellants and fluids
http://aviation_dictionary.enacademic.com/6879/transatmospheric_vehicle

Explosive Rail Launch by Royce Jones on Academia.edu
Single-stage to orbit — A single-stage-to-orbit (or SSTO) vehicle reaches orbit from the surface of a body without jettisoning hardware
https://www.academia.edu/26747819/Explosive_Rail_Launch

The Moon is "a body" so that makes the ascent stage of the LM an SSTO. Even the Russian "Luna" and the Chinese "Chang-e5 sample return missions used SSTO vehicles.

Even NASA does not limit the term SSTO to earth orbit
"PROPOSAL NUMBER: 09-2 S3.08-8305
PHASE 1 CONTRACT NUMBER: NNX10CC61P
SUBTOPIC TITLE: Planetary Ascent Vehicles
PROPOSAL TITLE: NOFBX Single-Stage-to-Orbit Mars Ascent Vehicle Engine

https://sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/abstracts/09/sbir/phase2/SBIR-09-2-S3.08-8305.html

MAVs to be used to bring astronauts back from Mars will be SSTO's because Mars' gravity is low enough to allow it, and because it is by far the simplest, most cost effective engineering solution

 

[Mader Levap]

OK, let me drop a clue or two

There were six of these SSTO vehicles that each successfully took two astronauts to orbit along with some additional payload, over a period of just over 3 years.... its never been done again.

You knew very well that everyone would assume launching from Earth.

 

[smartcooky]

You knew very well that everyone would assume launching from Earth.

Yep, and what happens when you assume?

 

[JayUtah]

Lack of fuel causes the engines to run "Oxidizer Rich". AIUI (no doubt Jay will correct me if I'm wrong) when that happens, the oxygen will be chemically reacting with the best available candidate.

You're not wrong. *cough* NK-33 *cough*.

 

[jadebox]

Yes, it does.

Only if you conveniently forget that it took a huge multi-stage rocket to get the LM module onto the moon in the first place.

 

[Reformed Offlian]

And FYI, here is Scott Manley on today's test, which includes an awesome view from the landing pad camera looking straight up at the rocket bellyflopping and flipping just before it crashes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egHxiX40eJY

He apparently didn't stow the Dressing Gown of Doom quite safely enough.

 

[smartcooky]

Only if you conveniently forget that it took a huge multi-stage rocket to get the LM module onto the moon in the first place.

Sorry, but why is that relevant?

 

[a_unique_person]

Yep, and what happens when you assume?

Benny Hill knows the answer to that question.

 

[3point14]

Agree, but as I said, no significant payload. Therefpre, as you say, uneconomical

However, there has been been a successful SSTO vehicle that took two astronauts into orbit!

Well, technically yes...

Edit: Must read whole of thread....

 

[cow_cat]

Starship Skip

About 30 minutes ago (22:09 GMT), SN-9 was test-fired on the pad at SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Facility. Live feed:



The dinged fin has been panel-beaten back into shape and the seams welded up nicely.

There is a NOTAM (NOTice to AirMen, basically an air space restriction) in place for the 8th through to the 11th, suggesting an attempt to launch SN-9 as early as this Friday. I don't think anything is set in stone yet, or if it is I haven't been able to find it. But the conventional wisdom is that this will be pretty-much a repeat of the SN-8 flight with aspirations to stick the landing this time.

SN-10 and SN-11 are both in the assembly bay at the moment so again, there will likely be a quick turnaround regardless of the outcome of the SN-9 flight.

 

[smartcooky]

About 30 minutes ago (22:09 GMT), SN-9 was test-fired on the pad at SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Facility. Live feed:



The dinged fin has been panel-beaten back into shape and the seams welded up nicely.

I thought I read somewhere that they pinched the fin off SN10.

 

[a_unique_person]

The genius of using stainless steel. Got a problem with that panel? Hey, get the panel beaters out here and bash it back into shape.

 

[arthwollipot]

The first time you'll see someone banging a rocket with a hammer, but probably not the last.

 

[Trebuchet]

No static fire today due to an overturned concrete truck in one direction and a beached fishing vessel in the other!