Stephen Smith 🇺🇦
I am a long-time advocate of space exploration, settlement and commerce. Migrated from @WordsmithFL on Twitter.
Joined Nov 2022
Here is NASASpaceflight.com's ten-minute video on the loss of the #SpaceX Falcon 9 booster and its history.
#SpaceX lost one of its more historic Falcon 9 boosters yesterday. Despite being locked down on a drone ship, it tipped over and broke in heavy seas. Among its 19 flights was the first #NASA commercial crew flight.
The image is from NASASpaceflight's @julia_bergeron on Zombie Twitter.
In its memory, I offer the US Navy Band playing "Taps."
This is the complete video of the #SpaceX Orbcomm-2 launch and landing. I've indexed it to T-1 minute; otherwise just fast forward to the 22 minute mark.
Never before have I seen so many people so joyful. They knew they'd just changed the world. (3/3)
https://www.youtube.com/live/O5bTbVbe4e4?si=XMqNO5lR0aMAYAGl&t=1320
The last #SpaceX launch had ended in failure. CRS-7 blew up 2 1/2 minutes after launch, destroying a cargo Dragon with #NASA payloads for #ISS.
Rather than do a demo flight, Elon decided to double-down and not only fly a customer's payload, but also attempt the first land landing.
SpaceX granted NatGeo behind the scenes access for this return to flight, and were rewarded with history. (2/x)
Eight years ago tonight ... For my money, the most significant advance in rocketry this century.
#SpaceX landed a rocket for the first time, at #CCSFS Landing Zone 1.
My wife and I were at "The Force Awakens." As the New Republic attacked Starkiller Base on the screen, I was in the back row watching the launch/landing on my smartphone. John Williams provided the score.
As soon as we were outside, I screamed and yelled and jumped for joy. (1/x)
#SpaceX just announced on Zombie Twitter that tonight's #Falcon9 #Starlink launch is postponed indefinitely due to bad weather downrange.
*****
Due to unfavorable recovery weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean, we are standing down from today's Falcon 9 launch of Starlink. SpaceX teams will continue to monitor weather and a new launch opportunity will be shared once confirmed on the Range
Overnight ...
* #FalconHeavy #X37B launch postponed indefinitely.
* #Falcon9 #Starlink launch postponed again, to tonight, no earlier than 11:07 PM EST.
The #SpaceX #FalconHeavy #X37B launch from Pad 39A is postponed another night to 8:13 PM EST on Wednesday December 12.
The #Falcon9 #Starlink launch is still on for tonight at 11 PM EST from Pad 40.
From #SpaceX on Zombie Twitter ... Tonight's #FalconHeavy #X37B launch delayed at least 24 hours.
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Standing down from tonight’s Falcon Heavy launch due to a ground side issue; vehicle and payload remain healthy. Team is resetting for the next launch opportunity of the USSF-52 mission, which is no earlier than tomorrow night.
#SpaceX will attempt a launch doubleheader tonight.
A #FalconHeavy launch with the #X37B from Pad 39A is targeting 8:14 PM EST.
A #Falcon9 #Starlink launch is targeting 11:05 PM EST to 3:00 AM EST.
Until a few years ago, it took about three days to turn around the range for another launch. Thanks to technology upgrade requests that go back to the Obama administration, now the range can support multiple launches within hours.
Tonight's #SpaceX #FalconHeavy launch of the #Boeing #X37B has been postponed to Monday evening at 8:14 PM EST, presumably due to weather.
We have a #SpaceX #FalconHeavy launch scheduled for tonight at 8:14 PM EST. The latest weather forecast is 75% favorable, the primary concern being liftoff winds.
If delayed 24 hours, the favorability drops to 60%.
The payload is the #Boeing #X37B, the only operational spaceplane on the planet.
Here's the weather squadron's forecast.
From #CBSNews #60Minutes on March 18, 2012 ... Back when Elon Musk still inspired a new generation of space explorers.
#SpaceX has proven the critics wrong, but Elon leaves its supporters with a bad taste in their mouths.
"The increase would make #SpaceX one of the world’s 75 biggest companies by market capitalization, on par with T-Mobile USA Inc. ($179 billion), Nike Inc. ($177 billion) and China Mobile ($176 billion), according to data compiled by Bloomberg."
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/spacex-tender-offer-values-startup-225853647.html
This is a bit of insider baseball ... Amazon and #BlueOrigin are both owned by Jeff Bezos. Project Kuiper, a potential rival for the #SpaceX #Starlink, is an Amazon project. Choosing to launch on Falcon 9s shows a willingness to launch on the rival's rocket. And SpaceX is willing to take the business.
Kuiper is building a processing complex at #NASA #KSC near the old Shuttle runway.
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/amazon-project-kuiper-spacex-launch
Overall, a successful test. A successful test collects data to move forward. The first stage (Super Heavy) appears to have worked fine until after #Starship separation; it blew up as it began to attempt re-entry.
The #Starship upper stage (the crew vehicle) appears to have worked nominally until just before engine shut down and orbital velocity.
For a second test flight, a vast improvement over the April test.
Stephen Smith 🇺🇦
I am a long-time advocate of space exploration, settlement and commerce. Migrated from @WordsmithFL on Twitter.
Joined Nov 2022