Not against space exploration, but not a big fan either. Like any government obsession, budgets get out of hand. I’ll take a look at the schedule. Wouldn’t mind driving over for a nasa launch, but not interested in anything muck
How much does the goobermint pay for a private company to launch a private cargo? The cost ISN'T zero considering you have range control, NOTAMs, and the usual yada-yada. Considering our economic enemies are going full tilt, boogedy boogedy at the same thing - what's the cost NOT to?
It IS after all the 'Red Planet!" You can bet your bippy that if the ChiComms put their flag on the place then it's going to be THEIRS!!
All mission objectives met: Booster up and lands in Gulf One engine failed but mission complete Ran one engine out, controlled landing on Gulf Starlink telemetry and video Starship All engines worked throughout mission Restarted engine 'in orbit' Deployed mock payloads Re-entry with most parts still attached flip to land on Indian Ocean Starline telemetry and video Not one solid fuel rocket used! I've witnessed two booster launches and seen one controlled, booster splash down. I'll wait for planned, tower landings before witnessing another. But gosh darn, happy to be this side of the grass near these wonderful events. When not distracted, Elon is a brilliant engineering manager. Bob Wilson
OTOH, If you're suffering from Musk Derangement Syndrome and work for MSM you would point out that the booster was destroyed in an explosion that littered the Gulf of Whatever with 200 tonnes of litter and a non trivial amount of rocket fuel.....also none of the 8 deployed payloads achieved orbit, nor did the ship - which was ALSO destroyed in an explosion, and which ALSO littered the Bharat Ocean with more than 80 tonnes of non-bio-degradable material and even MORE fuel...... But....yes. Since I'm not deranged by hate (for M or T) I also consider it to be an unqualified success and it was (as always) a fantastic launch to watch. Congrats Space-X! I'll wait for early adopters to pay their taxes before I go and see a launch myself. One can hardly visit Florida's Space Coast WITHOUT seeing a Falcon 9 lifting off the pad, and I suspect that Starship will be about the same......only different!
Booster lift off is ‘Hand of God’ even 5–6 miles away. Set off the Tesla car alarm. Whole body experience. Watch the exhaust clouds get shredded by the shockwaves! Bob Wilson
OH - it's definitely on the bucket list!!! I've always been a SpaceX....um.......'booster.' I'm simply avoiding the EA tax on low s/n liftoffs. Besides.......PCAN will provide for a better venue once they start operations THERE.
More technical speculation about mission 10: Their suggestion the engine "chill down" plumbing in the Starship skirt sounds plausible along with other potential methane leak sources. But I suspect there would have been a liquid oxygen leak too as the altitude would have been low pressure for a methane oxidizer. "200 tonnes" ~= 5 x 40 ton, fully loaded semi-trailer trucks just under 8, Falcon 9 boosters that regularly land and get relaunched like these: "rocket fuel" and oxidizer liquid methane that unburned, rapidly becomes a gas lighter than air liquid oxygen that uncombusted, rapidly becomes a gas often used in hospitals for: Not sure why a 'Karen quote' makes a lot of sense but gives a good excuse to once again be the 'straight man.' Bob Wilson
