Gonna be exciting.......

glhs837

Power with Control
So this giant steel topper will be bolted or welded to that even lager one in the distance. Then it will use just three motors to rocket to 50,000 feet, then tip over and free fall horizontally like a skydiver for over 45,000 feet, controlling itself solely with those giant moveable flaps, then relight the rockets, which pivot, and landing on a concrete pad thats a few hundred feet away from the launch point. Or, it will turn itself into a smoking hole in the Gulf, as it's a safe bet the trajectory works like Falcons landing at Kennedy, where they are actually aimed a bit offshore and course correct for the pad after ensuring everything is working for the landing.

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glhs837

Power with Control
When is this happening?


Unsure, since there are a few events between now and then that add uncertainty. Could be as soon as two weeks, but that's pretty sporty. More likely between three and four weeks from now. For those of us who follow events at Boca Chica, there are dedicated folks on the ground giving us daily updates. I'll post here as things progress. After mating, there will be another static fire, maybe a wet dress rehearsal or two.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Unsure, since there are a few events between now and then that add uncertainty. Could be as soon as two weeks, but that's pretty sporty. More likely between three and four weeks from now. For those of us who follow events at Boca Chica, there are dedicated folks on the ground giving us daily updates. I'll post here as things progress. After mating, there will be another static fire, maybe a wet dress rehearsal or two.

Do, because we'll be in South Padre Island on Nov 1 and it would be pretty cool to see a launch.
 

glhs837

Power with Control
Looks like they are moving faster than I thought. They tested the Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters last night, and right now looks like they are getting ready to stack the nose section here shortly. This is the youtube channel of one the constant video feeds. Always on 24/7, they man it up with commentators when exciting stuff like static fires happens.

 

glhs837

Power with Control
Mated up, welding underway.

 

glhs837

Power with Control
And here she is, SN8, no quite ready to fly. Still needs a few tests before then. 165 feet tall. Keep in mind, this is only the second stage of the system, which is boosted high enough that three engines can take it to orbit. From where those cables enter the "manway" or "manhole" to the tip is mostly empty space and in future iterations will hold people (up to 100 of them) or cargo, or some combination of both. Right now, all that's there is one of two header tank that holds enough fuel for the landing burn. The other header tank is down between the main tanks.

Space X has pitched a specialized variant of this as a lunar lander. Which unlike the other ones, can land, and then take of, not having to leave a stage behind like Apollo did.

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glhs837

Power with Control
The bigg'un is a render of the full stack, looks like SN8 flies within a week from today, nobody knows when yet.
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Sneakers

Just sneakin' around....
Hate to say it, but it kinda looks like something you might find in a backyard in England. A do-it-yo-self.
 

glhs837

Power with Control
Hate to say it, but it kinda looks like something you might find in a backyard in England. A do-it-yo-self.

In a way, yes, I mean really. steel rings? But when you do the math on reentry heat, and cryogenic fuels and material cost and speed of build, this all works. And it's all usable for many many launches, you don't throw them away in the ocean. Land, refuel, and launch again.
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glhs837

Power with Control
Vrai, you guys might hear tonight's static fire, all three engines, but only for a second or two WDR was earlier, they look to be about 30 minutes to an hour and a half away from that static fire. Test, so all times are variable. Right now it's getting ready to fuel, then "chill" the engines so they dont suffer thermal shock when the cryogenic gases start to flow.

 

glhs837

Power with Control
Three engine static fire 608PM on that feed. Looks to have gone fine, all that stuff lying out and to the right could have been badness, could have been frost blowing off things. After, if it was a success, comes the 50,000 test flight........... most likely in the next seven days.
 

glhs837

Power with Control
Turns out that stuff was the Martyte coating on the concrete pad. Couldn't take the power of the Raptor motor, thin shards flew, caused some damage. Tonight they did anither static fire, @vraiblonde might have heard it.
 

glhs837

Power with Control
Fun fact, Martyte was developed and patented by Martin for making tougher launch pads for rockets.

Anyway, @vraiblonde , launch is looking to be a go for Monday, as much as any developmental launch is anyway. Here's what an SPI resident had to say when asked where to watch from.

I would recommend Isla Blanca Park. It can be seen from Dolphin cove and from the amphitheater to the statute from the bank. It's $12 to bring a car in or park outside and walk in for free.


This things going to 50,000 feet, then tipping on it's side and falling like a skydiver from that height until a couple thousand feet up when it's flipping vertical to land....... win or lose, it's gonna be crazy to see/hear. Wonder what sort of sound it makes free falling..
 
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