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Texas Starship Testing

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by bwilson4web, Nov 24, 2020.

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  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Source: SpaceX’s Aggressive Starship Tests Worry Environmental Regulators | Observer

    SpaceX’s aggressive plan to test fly its Mars-colonizing spaceship, Starship, in the remote beach town of Boca Chica in South Texas is worrying environmental regulators.

    In a new set of documents released by the Federal Aviation Association on Monday, the federal agency cited concerns raised by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department about SpaceX’s incessant and dangerous work in Boca Chica.

    Critics were particularly worried about SpaceX’s excessive road closures to Boca Chica Beach, around-the-clock construction work that may disturb nocturnal species and potential prototype explosions, which have caused sprawling wildfires in the past.
    . . .     ​

    I'm shocked! Texas has environmental employees?

    Bob Wilson
     
    #1 bwilson4web, Nov 24, 2020
  2. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    The next fire there is scheduled Dec 8 2 pm

    Space Launch Now - SpaceX Launch Schedule

    With sea turtle nesting and migratory bird action nearby, SpaceX could be doing a better job with greenwashing :) There seems to be at least the potential for large releases of (uncombusted) methane. Those are not good.

    With interests in both creepy crawly things, and big shiny rockets, it is easy to be of two minds about this.
     
    #2 tochatihu, Dec 7, 2020
  3. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Sure, permafrost is orders of magnitude greater. Let’s whack SpaceX for their ‘rounding error’ methane emissions.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #3 bwilson4web, Dec 7, 2020
  4. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    If human DNA, much less the rest, it has to to get away from this planet. This is not a trivial problem.

    We have an opportunity for carbon life.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #4 bwilson4web, Dec 7, 2020
  5. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    do not know what to say. All sources matter, and should be ranked according to size and tractability of control. If SpaceX is less leaky that the methane and transport industry in general, that would be something to crow about. I hope they make the attempt.

    In permafrost, microbial balance between methanogens and methantrophs is the flavor of the month. Research funding could be better. Flooded rice cultivation is slowly moving to suppress methane release. That should go faster.
     
    #5 tochatihu, Dec 7, 2020
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    has to get away from this planet? nonsense
     
    #6 bisco, Dec 7, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Just his kids ... if they choose.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #7 bwilson4web, Dec 8, 2020
  8. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Colonization of Titan - Wikipedia

    Interesting place.
    Kinda cold and methany.

    Seven years away (10.5 AU)....which means about an hour and a half for you to hear the happy birthday greets from an Inner.

    However (comma!!)
    It has an atmosphere AND time shares Saturn's magnetosphere.
    Moon-like gravity which is deeply suboptimal but not nothing.
    Lotsa building blocks.

    MAY be the most hospitable neighborhood.

    Cosmic 'rays' are interesting.
    Never really thought much about their possible impact on climate before recently.
     
    #8 ETC(SS), Dec 8, 2020
  9. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    SpaceX SN8 did not need to unload its uncombusted methane today.
     
    #9 tochatihu, Dec 9, 2020
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    glad to hear
     
    #10 bisco, Dec 9, 2020
  11. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Beautiful mission! Lots of lesson's learned.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #11 bwilson4web, Dec 9, 2020
  12. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Almost every goal accomplished. How high did it actually go?
     
    #12 tochatihu, Dec 10, 2020
  13. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    The goal was announced as 12.5 km and I noticed the exhaust plume expanded nicely:
    upload_2020-12-10_6-29-6.png
    In theory, we could use the difference in plume size at a constant distance from the bottom of the engine to calculate the relative volumes of a cross section. Using the gas law and simplifying assumptions, we might work out a back-of-the-envelope air pressure and then lookup the altitude. Of course one assumption is the temperatures in the exhaust were the same when in reality the higher altitude would have cooled due to expansion. Sounds like a great test question for mechanical engineering students.

    Knowing the dimensions of the rear fin and ground truth of any two points on the coast, high school students who have taken trigonometry should be able to work out the altitude. Sounds like a great SAT test question.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #13 bwilson4web, Dec 10, 2020
  14. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Or?
    You could get a remote sensing tech(**) to look at the vids and do some thumbnail swagging.

    I knew some wizzes at that back in the good old days.....pretty amazing folks.


    (**) The 'satellite' kind...NOT the George Noorey kind! :p
     
    #14 ETC(SS), Dec 10, 2020
  15. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Dang, you beat me to it. That's what "I" was going to say. o_O:D
     
    #15 Mark57, Dec 10, 2020
  16. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    #16 tochatihu, Dec 23, 2020
  17. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Thread refresh. Starship lifter static test was success (well, 31/33) and support structure did not get blown apart.

    In Musk time, the suborbital test to Hawaii will happen next month.
     
    #17 tochatihu, Feb 11, 2023
  18. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    #18 tochatihu, Feb 11, 2023
  19. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    31/33 will get them off the pad.....
     
    #19 ETC(SS), Feb 13, 2023
  20. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    #20 tochatihu, Mar 23, 2023
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