Any space fans here?

[WasatchWind]

you mean the successful landing right before it blew itself to pieces?. You know, 1 successful landing out of 3 yet 3 out of 3 successful explosions doesnt sound particularly successful at this point.... unless the plan is awesome explosions, in which case it's very successful

The misunderstanding people have is that this is a test program. It is not operational flight, these rockets have nothing aboard, and the design is not finalized.

Upon the first flight of the program in December, they were afraid if it would even get off the pad, yet it successfully conducted most of its flight. The second flight of the program conducted similar results.

Because it is a test program, the thing that matters to them is getting data. These rockets are relatively cheap, and they're making them extremely quickly. Data is what helps them iterate and refine the design.

Then, this flight did successfully land, even if it sadly did not last. Obviously, in operational flight, that would be a catastrophic failure - but this isn't operational flight, where design is finalized.

SpaceX got tons of awesome data. They also were not going to fly SN10 again, either scrapping it or keeping it for historical reasons. They landed the rocket, and that's what's important.

Fuel leaks can be fixed relatively easily compared to landing. Keep in mind before SpaceX first landed a rocket in 2015, many people said it was impossible. After, many said that they'd never be able to do it consistently. Yet they are.

Most people also don't realize that Starship is on the bleeding edge of innovation. Normal rockets don't do this. On a normal rocket, stages are dropped one by one, expending boosters and parts worth millions of dollars, all to get a single satellite or crewed capsule into space.

SpaceX though is changing the game, as at least one of those big expensive parts, the booster, they've been reusing a ton, and bringing down costs. Starship will be even more incredible, because it will be completely reusable.

Flights to space will go down to $1 million for 100 tons, or 100 people. I can't overstate how huge that is. Hence, big innovation requires a fast and gritty test program.

Sometime in the next month, Starship SN11 will fly. The big thing to watch out for this year though is the first hop tests of the gigantic Super Heavy booster. If that thing proves successful, it will enable Starship to reach orbit by the end of the year.

 

[CadmarLegend]

The misunderstanding people have is that this is a test program. It is not operational flight, these rockets have nothing aboard, and the design is not finalized.

Upon the first flight of the program in December, they were afraid if it would even get off the pad, yet it successfully conducted most of its flight. The second flight of the program conducted similar results.

Because it is a test program, the thing that matters to them is getting data. These rockets are relatively cheap, and they're making them extremely quickly. Data is what helps them iterate and refine the design.

Then, this flight did successfully land, even if it sadly did not last. Obviously, in operational flight, that would be a catastrophic failure - but this isn't operational flight, where design is finalized.

SpaceX got tons of awesome data. They also were not going to fly SN10 again, either scrapping it or keeping it for historical reasons. They landed the rocket, and that's what's important.

Fuel leaks can be fixed relatively easily compared to landing. Keep in mind before SpaceX first landed a rocket in 2015, many people said it was impossible. After, many said that they'd never be able to do it consistently. Yet they are.

Most people also don't realize that Starship is on the bleeding edge of innovation. Normal rockets don't do this. On a normal rocket, stages are dropped one by one, expending boosters and parts worth millions of dollars, all to get a single satellite or crewed capsule into space.

SpaceX though is changing the game, as at least one of those big expensive parts, the booster, they've been reusing a ton, and bringing down costs. Starship will be even more incredible, because it will be completely reusable.

Flights to space will go down to $1 million for 100 tons, or 100 people. I can't overstate how huge that is. Hence, big innovation requires a fast and gritty test program.

Sometime in the next month, Starship SN11 will fly. The big thing to watch out for this year though is the first hop tests of the gigantic Super Heavy booster. If that thing proves successful, it will enable Starship to reach orbit by the end of the year.

Though, I know it was a test flight, but still...

 

[WasatchWind]

View attachment 6604


Though, I know it was a test flight, but still...

The distinction is very important here.

SpaceX never promised anyone the test flight would go perfect. It's their own project, had no satellite aboard, and had no risk to anyone.

Boeing has been messing up big time. They've been dragging their heels on the Space Launch System, a rocket that was supposed to fly in 2017, yet may not even fly this year. It's wasted billions of dollars, and will cost a billion and a half for each launch.

Then there is Starliner. Years ago, when NASA wanted commercial partners to fly astronauts to the ISS, they awarded money to Boeing and SpaceX. Boeing was given more, because they were viewed as the more trusted launch provider.

SpaceX had issues. They did have less experience. They also wanted to try to propulsively land the dragon capsule, but had to scrap it in favor of parachutes.

They missed their deadline, but I think both companies paid for that themselves. SpaceX finally flew humans in 2020, and became fully operational in the year. Now they are preparing for a third flight for NASA, and a completely civilian flight for the first time in history.

Boeing on the other hand, the more "experienced" company has still failed to get NASA an operational capsule. Even if they'd gotten it right, they would've gotten beaten by SpaceX, but then they messed up further.

During the uncrewed testflight of Starliner, software problems that should've been fixed prevented it from reaching the space station. Even worse, another error, related to detaching the capsule from its module for re-entry, could've caused the capsule to hit its detached stage, which in a crewed flight, could result in a rupture of the capsule and the death of the crew.

This is why Boeing is so looked down upon by fans of newer space companies. They look like they are holding on to the old faulty ways the space industry was run, and now they're throwing a hissy fit that they're losing their market.

 

[WasatchWind]

View attachment 6604


Though, I know it was a test flight, but still...

Also though tbh this is how I feel about Boeing