Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: Robert Carnegie <rja.carnegie@gmail.com>
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Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?Re=3A_=E2=80=9CSpaceX_reached_space_with_Starship_Flight_?=
 =?UTF-8?Q?9_launch=2C_then_lost_control_of_its_giant_spaceship_=28video=29?=
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Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2025 13:16:23 +0100
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In-Reply-To: <yeJ%P.649592$qmJf.465985@fx16.iad>

On 03/06/2025 21:50, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
>> On 6/2/2025 4:36 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>> On 5/30/2025 12:23 PM, Cryptoengineer wrote:
>>>> On 5/29/2025 3:55 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>>>> On 5/29/2025 4:05 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>>>>>> On 29/05/2025 00:07, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>>>>>> “SpaceX reached space with Starship Flight 9 launch, then lost
>>>>>>> control of its giant spaceship (video)”
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-
>>>>>>> launches-starship-flight-9-to-space-in-historic-reuse-of-giant-
>>>>>>> megarocket-video
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> “SpaceX launched its Starship megarocket for the ninth time ever
>>>>>>> today (May 27), on a bold test flight that featured the first-ever
>>>>>>> significant reuse of Starship hardware.”
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> “Starship‘s two stages separated as planned on Flight 9, and the
>>>>>>> upper stage even reached space, which was an improvement over the
>>>>>>> giant vehicle’s most recent two flights. But SpaceX ended up losing
>>>>>>> both stages before they could accomplish their full flight goals.”
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> “”Starship made it to the scheduled ship engine cutoff, so big
>>>>>>> improvement over last flight!” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on social
>>>>>>> media after the flight. “Leaks caused loss of main tank pressure
>>>>>>> during the coast and re-entry phase. Lot of good data to review.”
>>>>>>> Musk said the next three Starship test launches could lift off
>>>>>>> every three to four weeks in the days ahead.?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bummer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Next they're going to explode when they
>>>>>> come down.  Has this been thought through?
>>>>>
>>>>> This is engineering development at its finest.  Simulation only gets
>>>>> you so far.
>>>>>
>>>>> SpaceX is working an incredibly complicated problem.  Weight versus
>>>>> fuel and thrust.  The materials are also a serious complication as
>>>>> the temperature of outer space is extremely variable from cryogenic
>>>>> to hot (the unfiltered Sun shining on parts).
>>>>
>>>> SpaceX fully expected to lose the booster on the way down. They were
>>>> testing using a higher angle of attack approach to reduce required
>>>> fuel, and also intended to simulate loss of a atmospheric engine
>>>> on the way down, to see if one in the outer ring could compensate.
>>>>
>>>> The (different) problems that led to the loss of Starship on flights
>>>> 7 and 8 appear to be solved, but a leak in one of the fuel tanks led
>>>> to a loss of pressurization, making attitude control impossible.
>>>>
>>>> The door for the 'pez dispenser' to release satellites didn't work,
>>>> not clear why.
>>>>
>>>> pt
>>>
>>> The new version 3 Starlink satellites are huge, the size of a 737
>>> according to Musk.
>>>
>>> Lynn
>>>
>> Cite? They have to fit in Starship's 9m wide cargo bay.
> 
> Lynn's including the extended solar panels.   Some 60 meters, which
> exceeds the 737 wingspan.
> 
> The satellites themselves are much smaller and far lighter than
> a 737.

Maybe you heard about the "Solar Impulse"
one-off solar-powered aeroplanes, from about
15 years ago; their wingspan is comparable.
But they have fewer seats.  (All if this is
accurate.)
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Impulse>