SpaceX

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Re: SpaceX

Unread post by heisan »

Patrick AL wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 2:54 pm Well, technically they are 'stranded' -but for having only an extreme escape option -

- since only one Dragon Capsule is currently available to evacuate the ISS -which means that in an emergency they would have to be able to use the 4-crew capsule to evacuate 7 astronauts - next crew-capsule only due Feb 2025 -there is a un-crewed supply capsule due soon to take up supplies
No more 'stranded' than any previous ISS crew. The last Dragon went up with only 2 crew on board and suits for Williams and Willmore. The original 2 mission specialist for the crew were bumped from the roster and their duties assumed by Williams and Willmore (already on the station).

So there are 4 seats and 4 suits for 4 return crew. Exactly the same as every other NASA crew in recent history.

Yes, Williams is having weight loss problems - it is a frequent issue for females in long term zero G, and NASA knows how to deal with it. If she does not respond to the diet and exercise programs and loses weight to the point that it becomes a health risk, then Crew-9 will evacuate (all 4 returning early on the Dragon). Which is the standard response to any serious medical issue on the ISS.
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Re: SpaceX

Unread post by Patrick AL »

heisan wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 3:16 pm
Patrick AL wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 2:54 pm Well, technically they are 'stranded' -but for having only an extreme escape option -

- since only one Dragon Capsule is currently available to evacuate the ISS -which means that in an emergency they would have to be able to use the 4-crew capsule to evacuate 7 astronauts - next crew-capsule only due Feb 2025 -there is a un-crewed supply capsule due soon to take up supplies
No more 'stranded' than any previous ISS crew. The last Dragon went up with only 2 crew on board and suits for Williams and Willmore. The original 2 mission specialist for the crew were bumped from the roster and their duties assumed by Williams and Willmore (already on the station).

So there are 4 seats and 4 suits for 4 return crew. Exactly the same as every other NASA crew in recent history.

Yes, Williams is having weight loss problems - it is a frequent issue for females in long term zero G, and NASA knows how to deal with it. If she does not respond to the diet and exercise programs and loses weight to the point that it becomes a health risk, then Crew-9 will evacuate (all 4 returning early on the Dragon). Which is the standard response to any serious medical issue on the ISS.
Yes, currently they have 4 'escape' seats available, and 7 crew, so 3 are, 'stranded' , -unless they can stretch the Dragon's & Astronauts' capacity in equipment to serve 7.

Basically, not all is Hunky-Dory.
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Re: SpaceX

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......two places I would hate to be stuck at, space and under water!
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Re: SpaceX

Unread post by heisan »

Patrick AL wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 5:28 pm Yes, currently they have 4 'escape' seats available, and 7 crew, so 3 are, 'stranded' , -unless they can stretch the Dragon's & Astronauts' capacity in equipment to serve 7.

Basically, not all is Hunky-Dory.
The other 3 crew arrived aboard Soyuz MS-26, and that is their return and lifeboat vehicle. Again, exactly as for every ISS crew since the last shuttle.
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Re: SpaceX

Unread post by Patrick AL »

heisan wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 5:39 pm
Patrick AL wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 5:28 pm Yes, currently they have 4 'escape' seats available, and 7 crew, so 3 are, 'stranded' , -unless they can stretch the Dragon's & Astronauts' capacity in equipment to serve 7.

Basically, not all is Hunky-Dory.
The other 3 crew arrived aboard Soyuz MS-26, and that is their return and lifeboat vehicle. Again, exactly as for every ISS crew since the last shuttle.
Oops! :? OK , apologies-I had got the wrong idea that the Dragon was the only crew capsule at ISS right now.

Yes -I guess, then, rather 'delayed' than 'stranded'.

Much better prognosis indeed 8) -hope they can fatten up Sunita then, and send her a couple of good books!
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Re: SpaceX

Unread post by heisan »

All preparations for the 18th seem to be going ahead on the anniversary of Flight 2, which would be 5 flights in a year and a day.

The first v2 ship is having its engines fitted now, and about to start its static fire campaign for flight 7.

And they recently announced a target of March next year for a refuelling demo - which would require 2 ships in orbit at the same time.

That is a frantic rate of development.
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Re: SpaceX

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Flight 6 delayed to midnight (SAST) on Tuesday 19 November (start of 30 minute window, with ship landing 1h05 after launch).
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Re: SpaceX

Unread post by ijacobs3 »

so here's a random question,

whats the odds we might see the ship on ift6 coming past? Given the flight path over ( albeit it a bit north) southern africa? Especially IF its at a point where the engine is lit? ( many if's need to line up)

we see starlinks come over, and they would be higher than ship
Screenshot 2024-11-17 211142.png
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Re: SpaceX

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Can only see them when they reflect the sun. So need to come over just after sunset, or just before dawn.

So no chance to see it this time. Other flights maybe, but will be low on the northern horizon.
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Re: SpaceX

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Now begins the push till midnight...
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Re: SpaceX

Unread post by heisan »

Fairly successful test.

Booster catch attempt was aborted after a health check failed on the launch/catch tower - but booster did a perfect controlled splash-down off-shore.

Ship engine relight seems to have gone perfectly. Ship reentry also went well, given that it was a steeper/hotter reentry, and using only a slightly modified flight 4 tile system. Perfect controlled landing on target.

This was the last flight of a v1 Starship. Flight 7 will be a v2 ship with substantial changes all round. One ocean splashdown test planned for this flight - the next one should be a ship catch attempt.

Flight 7 hardware should be pretty much ready to roll out for static fire tests, so maybe another month before the next show.
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Re: SpaceX

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heisan wrote: Wed Nov 20, 2024 10:00 am Fairly successful test.

Booster catch attempt was aborted after a health check failed on the launch/catch tower - but booster did a perfect controlled splash-down off-shore.

Ship engine relight seems to have gone perfectly. Ship reentry also went well, given that it was a steeper/hotter reentry, and using only a slightly modified flight 4 tile system. Perfect controlled landing on target.

This was the last flight of a v1 Starship. Flight 7 will be a v2 ship with substantial changes all round. One ocean splashdown test planned for this flight - the next one should be a ship catch attempt.

Flight 7 hardware should be pretty much ready to roll out for static fire tests, so maybe another month before the next show.
Given that ship was missing approx 2100 heat tiles, it performed amazing!
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Re: SpaceX

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Flight 7 paper work starting to come in. Target date 11 January. Same profile as flight 6.

This will be the first flight of a v2 starship. Lots of structural, plumbing and tile changes - theoretically, this version should actually be capable of reusable orbital flight.

It seems one of NASA's Gulfstream Vs is scheduled to fly out to Oz on 5 January to provide high altitude observation of the reentry.
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Re: SpaceX

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Next booster finishing test campaign:

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Re: SpaceX

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heisan wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:10 am Flight 7 paper work starting to come in. Target date 11 January. Same profile as flight 6.

This will be the first flight of a v2 starship. Lots of structural, plumbing and tile changes - theoretically, this version should actually be capable of reusable orbital flight.

It seems one of NASA's Gulfstream Vs is scheduled to fly out to Oz on 5 January to provide high altitude observation of the reentry.
The NASA GLF5 will be N95NA callsign NASA5. It's the only GLF5 NASA has. It was the one in CPT.
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