spacex starship tour

Starlink Group 6-58 | Falcon 9 Block 5

• Post Launch Review

Starlink Group 8-2 | Falcon 9 Block 5

Starlink group 6-56 | falcon 9 block 5, starlink group 6-57 | falcon 9 block 5.

• Zhuque-2 | Maiden Flight
• Zhuque-2 | Flight 3
• Zhuque-2 | Flight 2
• Zhongke-1A | Maiden Flight
• Yaogan-30-08
• Why don't they just?
• Where to watch rocket launches in Florida
• Vulcan VC2S | Peregrine lunar lander (Maiden flight)

How To Visit Starbase

Perhaps the most watched place in the space industry, Starbase, is the home of SpaceX’s Starship development and testing. Ten of thousands have made the trek to the southern tip of Texas with one goal: seeing SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket in person from just a few feet away. However, even more have spent hours and days watching live-streams and looking at photos of Starbase dreaming of what it may be like there.

The purpose of this article, in companion to Everyday Astronaut’s video on YouTube, is to provide the most comprehensive rundown of Starbase; the “dos and don’ts”, the things that must be done, and tips and tricks on how to navigate Starbase safely and effectively. Here you will find all the information, but for those who prefer to read. It can also act as a quick reference when you arrive at Starbase one day.

Where And What Is Starbase?

Starbase, located very near to Boca Chica, can be found in the southern most part of the state of Texas, United States. Texas, which borders Mexico, is also home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, but that is much further north.

Starbase is where SpaceX has done the development, testing, tweaking, and blowing up of their next rocket, Starship, the worlds largest and most powerful rocket. The town where Starbase is located was originally called Kennedy Shores. After a hurricane it was renamed Kopernik Shores, and most recently known as Boca Chica. Brownsville is the nearest city to Starbase at about 32 km (20 miles). Compared to the 187,000 people in Brownsville, only a few homes remain in Boca Chica on the barren wildlife refuge.

South Padre Island and Port Isabel are the closest inhabitable areas, but it would take nearly twice as long to get there than to Brownsville. This is because they are on barrier islands with limited access.

In 2014, SpaceX began purchasing land in the area for what was originally Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy testing. Despite some ground work, the next four years remained fairly uneventful. In 2018, a stainless steel water tower, or so people thought, emerged on the flat landscape. This water tower came to be Starhopper, a Raptor engine testing vehicle.

Since the first high altitude flights in late-2020 to mid-2021 which began with SN8, SpaceX has put an increased focus on booster and orbital ship development. Because of the increased cadence, more infrastructure such as bays and tents have seen the site grow exponentially.

The location and ease of access to the Starbase surrounding area has enabled close watch of nearly every move SpaceX makes as they develop Starship. While SpaceX does not want to block access to Boca Chica Beach, there’s no guarantee how long the largely open and public access will last in light of safety concerns related to launches and landings. It’s safe to say that waiting might not be the best option.

Tour Of Starbase

There are three main locations around Starbase where the activity happens; the production site, the launch site, and the structural test site (formerly Massey’s Gun Range). The production site is where both the ship and booster are manufactured and produced. The launch site, as the name implies, is where rockets are launched in addition to where engine tests and some other tests are performed. The structural test site is where other testing occurs, however there is not much to see at the structural test site from the available viewing areas.

Production Site

As of publication, the production site has three distinguishable buildings that rise high above the rest. The Midbay, High Bay, and Mega Bay (Wide Bay), act as rocket houses. The High and Mega Bays both have cranes on the top that allow large pieces of the rockets to be lifted into place and stacked on top of one another. A new building is currently being built called “Starfactory”, which will replace the three temporary production tents.

Near to the Mega Bay is a group of rockets, either used and retired, or never flown. This area is commonly referred to as the “Rocket Garden”. The vehicles in the Rocket Garden change very frequently as they are retired, scrapped, or held until testing.

Also located in that area is an Air Separator Unit (ASU) that can generate oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. This is also where some large shipments are received and where some heavy lifting equipment lies. In front of all of this is the gigantic and iconic “S T A R B A S E” sign.

These approximately 2.5 m (8 ft) tall illuminated letters are the first thing visible from the side of the road. It is a very popular space to stop and take photos, especially at night when the sign is illuminated. You can easily park on the rocks in front of the sign to hop out and take a photo.

In addition to these are the buildings that have been there since the beginning. Originally built by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Stargate, is now owned by SpaceX and acts as their launch control. The building is an office building with space for desks and computers, meeting rooms, and other spaces where an old Merlin and Raptor engine can be found.

Further down the road toward the ocean is the solar farm. Next to the solar farm are two tracking dishes that were purchased from NASA. Behind that is Boca Chica Village, which mostly includes houses owned by SpaceX to house employees.

On the corner, before the long road to the launch pad, is a private restaurant. The outside seating area is covered in flaps from the Mk 1 Starship prototype. Only employees are able to eat here and at the adjacent food trucks. Across the street is a large building known as the payload processing facility, which is currently used for Starlink, but could be used for other payloads in the future.

Launch Site

After traveling down the nearly three kilometer (two miles) barren stretch of road, the launch site quickly fills the landscape. The launch site consists of three launch pads, two suborbital pads and one orbital pad.

Before arriving at the launch site, pulling off the road before it curves gives the unique view of Suborbital Pad A, on the right, and Suborbital Pad B, on the left. The black and white tanks are the Suborbital Tank Farm and house the propellants for both pads.

Traveling further down the road leads to an up close view of Starhopper, the first vehicle to take flight in south Texas. It has now been repurposed to host radar equipment, cameras, and speakers to provide announcements at the pad. The main gate is shortly after that and provides a sometimes unobstructed view of the Orbital Launch Table. This is where nearly everything goes in and out of the launch site.

The Orbital Launch Pad is the table and the very large 120 m (400 ft) tall tower with chopstick arms on it. This is where fully assembled and stacked Starship/SuperHeavy rockets will launch from. Next to the Orbital Launch Pad are eight cylinders which together make the Orbital Tank Farm. Some of these house water, while others house the propellants, oxygen and methane.

Where And Where NOT To Go At Starbase

The number one rule comes as an obvious one: wherever there is a sign indicating SpaceX property, don’t go past it. Roads are public and the land just off the road is generally public too. SpaceX property is almost always clearly indicated.

To play it safe, anytime you’re stopping to look, always park on the opposite side of the road from SpaceX property. For example, at the production site, park on the south side of the road and do not cross the road by foot. It’s important to remember that Highway 4 is a highway and has fast moving cars, so be careful pulling off, merging, and navigating the side of the roadway.

Remedios Ave gives the closest access to any rockets. By parking on Highway 4 and walking down to the Rocket Garden, you can get very close to whatever rockets may be there. As of publication, Remedios is still a public road. However, this may not last long, so be sure to check any signs before proceeding.

Any parking on SpaceX property and around the restaurant are not for public parking and reserved for employees. At the launch site, there is also a parking lot, but again for employees only. Pulling off on the side of the road opposite SpaceX property (the north side) is allowed.

However, areas near the beach can become hazardous very quickly. The sand level and depth can change daily leaving dozens of cars stuck. Only drive down the beach if your vehicle has all-wheel drive and tires that can handle deep sand. Another option is to park on the side of the road before the beach and walk up and down the beach to get new angles of the launch site.

On launch day, there is a large area around the entirety of Boca Chica Beach, Starbase, and Highway 4 called the exclusion zone or “keep out zone”. Nobody from the general public is allowed in this area during alunch preparations and activities. There are also designated spots on the water in the channel for mariners to watch the launch from.

Rules, Tips, And What To Bring

In this case, it could be helpful to think of Starbase as a desert with very little to no amenities around. There are no public restrooms or gas stations to fill up on snacks and water. Before leaving for Starbase, take the time to stop at a gas station and get everything listed below.

• Lots of water and food
• Hat, Sunglasses

Hydration is key, but that does not mean just drinking water while at Starbase. Before heading out the day before, ensure you drink plenty of water to maintain hydration.

General Rules

While some rules may sound like common sense, others may come as a surprise. It’s important to follow these rules closely to stay out of trouble and make it so others can get this close to the worlds biggest and most powerful rocket too.

• Don’t litter
• No crossing the river into Mexico. Matamoros is dangerous.

Overall a simple list to follow, but serious consequences can result otherwise. Starbase can be a fun place when safety and health are put first. The rockets do not need sunscreen.

Watching A Launch

Unlike Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Starbase has only been around in recent history and has never seen an orbital launch. This means that the infrastructure for the public to watch launches from Starbase is largely non-existent. An important note is that Highway 4 is completely closed on the day of a launch, so no members of the public will be able to travel down on launch day.

The only exception to this is Rocket Ranch . Rocket Ranch has a ranch where guests can stay in little Airstreams or their own RVs. They have an outpost further down Highway 4 that provides the closest viewing possible, however they are currently sold out of these tickets for the first Orbital Flight Test.

The next closest place is Isla Blanca Park on the southern tip of South Padre Island. To enter, they charge $12 cash, exact change not necessary. This can and will get very crowded on launch day, so it’s best to arrive a little early. Only a certain number of cars are allowed per day, but there is public parking at the Visitors Center and other spots further north.

Port Isabel is another spot to watch from. It is located before crossing the bridge on South Padre Island. The bridge itself is NOT a viewing location. There are very few direct views of the pad from Port Isabel due to the private residences in gated communities.

However, on Highway 48, which is the road to Port Isabel/South Padre Island, there are a few pull off spots like the Jamie J Zapata boat ramp. A reminder, Mexico is not an option due to the dangerous nature of Matamoros.

What To Bring

In general, it’s smart to envision any of these viewing locations just like Starbase. It will be just as hot and humid and the same precautions still exist. Sunscreen is a must and an umbrella may be beneficial to provide shade will be beneficial. Bathrooms will generally be closer, but due to the number of people trying to see a launch, the lines can be long and you may be at risk of losing your viewing spot.

A camera with a telephoto lens or binoculars are also good items to help with viewing. Starship/SuperHeavy will not leave a contrail, so it will mainly be visible as a large silver tube flying through the sky. While binoculars are not necessary, they could help enhance your viewing experiance.

How To Get To Starbase

This section will discuss how to get to Starbase by ground. Flying is covered in the next section and can be more complicated than driving. The best, and nearly only, way to get to Starbase is in a personal vehicle, either a rental car or your own car. Utilization of a GPS would be helpful here; just typing in “Starbase”, “Boca Chica Beach”, or “Boca Chica” should result in the same path as there is only one way to get there.

A specific address would be 1 LBJ Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78521, which is the restaurant. Although it’s not open to the public, it is an address to navigate to. It is possible to use a rideshare option like Uber or Lyft, but drivers are scarce and, once out there, getting between the launch site and production site is difficult. Additionally, the cost of the long drive might end up costing more than renting a car.

Border Checkpoint

While trekking out to Starbase, shortly after leaving Brownsville city limits, is a border check point. Although there is no border crossing at the checkpoint, due to the proximity to the border and the shallow depth of the Rio Grande near the beach, the United States Border Patrol keeps a station there.

Going out to Starbase, a stop will not be necessary. However, when returning to Brownsville from Starbase every vehicle will be stopped and questioned. The questions are generally very simple, “Are you a U.S. citizen?” and “Is there anyone else in the vehicle?” Answer these honestly and you will be sent on your way without problem. If there is a shift change at Starbase, the line will get very backed up. So in the morning and afternoon, keep this in mind.

For U.S. citizens, a drivers license will act as a form of ID. International travelers should have travel documents and their passport. The border patrol officers do not always ask for documentation, but will on occasion.

Flying To Starbase

There are three main airports that all provide good options for flying into south Texas and then driving to Brownsville. Some are easier and cheaper to get to than others, but may be further away.

BRO, or Brownsville, is the closest option and is relatively near to Starbase given it’s location on the outskirts of Brownsville. As of publication, you must either first fly to Dallas or Houston and get a connecting flight to Brownsville. In May of 2023, Avelo Airlines will offer direct flights to Brownsville from Orlando and Los Angeles.

HRL, or Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas, is also a good option, but requires a bit more of a drive, about an hour to Starbase. Depending on demand, HRL can be cheaper and have more rental car options.

MFE, or McAllen International Airport in McAllen, Texas, is about to an hour and a half from Starbase. Generally, MFE shares similar options and availability to HRL, but it’s an option nonetheless.

Flying from oversees might mean spending more time in Texas. In this case, it may be possible to save money and drive from a city like Austin, San Antonio, or Houston. Houston, of course, is where Johnson Space Center is located. Visitors can spend a day at Space Center Houston, which has interactive activities and a great museum.

Do not rely on rental cars being available at Brownsville or some of the airports in the Rio Grande Valley, so check carefully, especially around times of peak travel.

Where To Stay

There are numerous options for places to stay depending on the type of traveler you are. Some types include campers, luxury, adventure seekers, budget, and families. During times of peak travel and lots of activity, some options may be more available than others.

South Padre Island/Port Isabel

South Padre Island, or SPI, has a host of good options for those who want to see rockets, but also make a vacation in south Texas. SPI is host to a variety of restaurants, hotel options, and adventure experiences like dolphin tours. The dolphin tours are a good way to see the launch site from a unique perspective.

Margaritaville, formerly known as “The Pearl”, is a good option to have a pool, beach access, and a potential view of the rocket. The rooms are spacious and can accommodate a family easily. In order to have a good view of launch, getting a room on the south side about five floors up or higher is best. This is where Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, livestreamed SN8 and SN9 from!

Holiday Inn is a similar option to Margaritaville in terms of rooms and amenities, but does not offer balconies to view the pad from. Its proximity to the bridge enables easy access to the mainland and avoids a lot of the northern island congestion.

Hilton Garden Inn is located much further up north on the island and also does not have a good view of the launch pad. However, it offers great amenities and was recently renovated.

Lighthouse Cafe and Hotel in downtown Port Isabel is also a good option. It avoids the bridge, which means less traffic. The hotel also offers gelato and snacks and is within good walking distance from local and chain restaurants.

Casa Rosa Inn is another option in the Port Isabel area. Alternatives to this are AirBnBs and other spots for rent, so keep looking if these hotel options don’t suit you perfectly.

Those who enjoy camping can try and secure a spot at Isla Blanca Park on the southern tip of SPI.

Brownsville

Brownsville is home to most major hotel brands, but a lot of them are located on the highway and too far to walk to restaurants. They are, however, closer to Starbase by about 20 to 30 minutes. Generally, these hotels are cheaper than what can be found on SPI.

Rocket Ranch

Rocket Ranch is about as close as possible for anyone from the public to stay. There are small campers for individuals and they also offer spots for people with RVs to park and stay. Above all, the community at Rocket Ranch is full of more rocket loving people and will be a great welcome to south Texas. So far, they have hosted thousands of people and even more have booked stays.

In addition to a place to stay, they also offer bus tours to Starbase. These tours have been operating for a while, and will provide rich knowledge and history of Starbase.

When To Book Your Trip

Timing is everything and timing with a rocket test program is nearly impossible. Even SpaceX sometimes does not know when they will launch until just a week before. Generally, trying to book as close to a launch as possible is best.

Sometimes, booking less than five days in advance will yield the best results, but sometimes that is not possible. Oftentimes these launches will see many delays before actually flying, so it might be best to book for a week and be prepared to stay longer if that’s possible.

There is no exact answer for when to book, but it’s best to wait until as late as possible and be prepared to change dates. Read hotel and flight cancellation policies closely before booking.

Indicators of a launch could be FAA and FCC Licensing, road closures, beach closures, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), maritime notices, and of course, an official statement from SpaceX. All of the latest can be found in Everyday Astronaut’s live updates article .

Where To Eat

South Padre Island and Port Isable have a variety of eating options from fresh sea food, to vegetarian, to acai, and even Starbase themed resturants. Each recommendation below is linked to their site which has more information.

• Ceviche Ceviche
• Russo’s Pizza
• Berry Divine on SPI and Beach Bowls on Port Isabel
• Hopper Haus

The proximity to Mexico means that there is an abundance of tacos. There are many local restaurants in Brownsville that sell local taco styles, like street tacos. Additionally, like SPI, there are nmerous types of resturants with different price points. There are also typical fast food chains on every corner, so if you are looking for something familiar, it is there.

• Ultima Taco
• La Villa Taqueria y Yogufrut
• Veggie Del Sol
• Terra’s Urban Kitchen
• Dodici Pizza

What Else Besides Starbase?

Before Starbase, South Padre Island was a popular vacation spot. The beach that runs along the island is great for typical beach activities, especially surfing. For surfing lessons, South Padre Surf Company has a local staff that are great instructors. Different parts of the island have different severity of waves, which makes it appealing to all skill levels.

Additionally, there are dolphin tours on both SPI and Port Isabel that will venture out into the channel and ocean to see dolphins leap from the water.

Also on the island is Gravity Park , an amusement part that features Go-Karts and other rides. Fishing and bird watch tours and boats are very common and leave from Port Isabel/SPI.

STARSociety hosts many stargazing events and STEM events for kids.

The Art Lounge on SPI has space themed art including a piece from Inspiration 4 Astronaut Dr. Sian Proctor .

Located in Brownsville is Gladys Porter Zoo , which has bike trails and coffee.

Overall, this article gives the most comprehensive overview of Starbase, how to visit, how to get there, and what to do there. Bookmark this tab so you can reference it when you make it down there! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments or email the author.

Great content, thanks Tim!

Boca Chica Starbase looks rather haphazardly designed, without much forethought of master planning. Thats sad and very inefficient, since poor design always has much higher costs and greater redundancy. Even the Starship design looks overly simplistic and wastes on functionality minimalist design approach. Maybe this is just prioritized stuff to get the buzz lighted.

Great job perfect timing thank you!

do u like taylor swift?

Thanks Tim. You provide a valuable service to both novice and expert alike. Good luck on your upcoming adventure.

Awesome overview Tim! I called Rocket Ranch, and they have 11 acres for camping, so that seems to be always available if you bring your own tent. And they have beer and restrooms 🙂

Hay Tim, you didn’t mention phone or internet coverage about Starbase and SPI, how is that??

A great topic for a deep dive would be safety of SH/ST launch to the public. You mentioned some viewing zones at about 5 miles from the launch pad, the size of the exclusion zone radius. Interview someone not from from SpaceX with expertise on rocket launch exclusion zones on the safety of the SH/ST launch. Five miles is likely not to be adequate if there is an explosion.

Also, the Mexican border is inside this safety zone. If Mexican citizens are injured by a SH/ST explosion SpaceX could create an international incident.

Robert Clark

Please remove if not allowed, but my husband and I rent a condo on SPI -> https://www.vrbo.com/1406811 It’s centrally located close to restaurants, bars and fun activities. It’s a 10 minute drive to Channel View Rd to see the launchpad from the bottom of SPI!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Discover more from Everyday Astronaut

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Your Space Escape

3... 2... 1.

There’s never been a more exciting time in space exploration and never more opportunities to have a front seat to rocket history being made right here in South Padre Island. Thanks to the SpaceX Boca Chica launch site, just across the bay from South Padre Island, you can combine your love for all things space with some well-deserved island time. Here’s all you need to know to plan your visit for the next scheduled launch. The SpaceX South Texas Launch site is where some of the most advanced rockets are being tested for everything from near orbital satellite deployments to the Mars mission.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE

If you’re ready to view the next test launch, we have a host of resources available including lodging that has the best viewing, excursions that take you close to the launch site (without violating any safeguards), and ways to pass the time while you await the next launch.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Because launches can be delayed due to weather and equipment issues, we encourage you to plan out a three to four-day stay to ensure you don’t miss the next test launch. 

ROAD CLOSURES AND SAFE VIEWING AREAS

Roads around the launch site are closed well ahead of proposed launch times. Still SpaceX fans will tell you some of the best places to watch on the Island are from Isla Blanca Park or the comfort of your own room.

KEEP UP WITH LAUNCHES FROM AFAR

Fortunately, LabPadre has set up a free 24/7 live stream of the SpaceX Starship construction and testing site, complete with multi-camera views.

WHAT IS BEING TESTED IN BOCA CHICA

Currently, SpaceX is testing the Starship at Boca Chica - the rocket designed for missions to Mars. You can learn more on the SpaceX website as well as tracking the Mars exploration program at NASA’s website .

Places to Stay

Looking to visit? Choose the best place that suits your needs. Whether you're looking for a...

Experiences

Whether it's in the sand, water, or air, you'll enjoy all the activities South Padre Island has to...

Events & Happenings

Events are a great way to make a vacation memorable, and South Padre Island has an event for just...

Dining & Nightlife

From beachside breakfast to dinner by the bay. South Padre Island has various restaurants to choose...

• Privacy Policy
• Island Partners
• Terms and Conditions

© 2024 Visit South Padre Island

Having Fun in the Texas Sun

Family friendly Texas Destinations

A Visit to SpaceX Starbase on Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville

One of the most exciting things happening on South Padre Island is viewing of the SpaceX Rocket Starship, which is being built for expeditions to the planet Mars! While we didn’t get to watch a test launch, it was so much fun just to see it up close!

From South Padre Island, drive down to Isla Blanca Park , which is $12/day entrance fee, and you can see the rocket across the channel! Bring a good pair of binoculars for a great view. If you happen to arrive during a launch, this is one of the best places to safely watch! Isla Blanca Park is also a great place to fish, play on the beach, or watch the kite surfing on windy days! From the jetties, you can spot dolphins and sea turtles in the water!

For a much closer view of the rockets, it’s about an hour drive around the Brownsville Shipping Port to Boca Chica Beach and SpaceX! During test launches the roads are closed, and it happens frequently, so you’ll want to check before you go. Two of my favorite resources are the SpaceX Front Page and SpaceX Boca Chica Group , both on facebook.

At Starbase, there are several rockets you can see. Ample parking allows you to get out and walk around, although there aren’t tours and you’re not allowed on their property, but they are close enough to the road for you to get a good view. They do not offer tours.

Here’s another website I really enjoyed reading up on about the Mission to Mars, from NASA. It’s really interesting. Live launches are also streamed on YouTube NASASpaceflight .

We had a lot of fun just playing around with pictures.

No surprise, but use of drones is not allowed. We were hoping that we could use our new toy but it was very windy, also.

Not everyone loves SpaceX’s presence in South Texas, including some of the long-time residents that once lived in the Boca Chica neighborhood. SpaceX purchased most of the established homes as residence for employees, and has brought in fleets of airstream campers in a master-planned park. Wildlife and ecological debates also remain a hot button for Space X, as the area is a major thoroughfare for migrating birds and the beach is a nesting site for sea turtles in the Summer, when lights can be disruptive.

Admission to Boca Chica Beach is free, and it’s a great beach with few crowds. The only entrance is past Space X, so if they have the roads closed, so is access to the beach. The jettys on Boca Chica Beach are about a mile or more north from the entrance to the beach, and it really should only be attempted with a four-wheel drive vehicle. We witnessed plenty of cars and trucks stuck along the beach and at the deep sand at the entrance. You’re probably not going to get a wrecker out, so it’s hoping for someone with a chain to come along and pull you out if you get stuck. Even with a four-wheel drive SUV, we carry traction mats because I’ve spent too many nights stuck in the sand.

Planning a day at the beach? Here’s a tip, pack a lunch because it’s miles back to town for food or drinks. It’s also a primitive beach, so no restrooms, changing areas or showers. We enjoyed playing with our dogs on the beach, with no one else in sight, however it’s not an off-leash beach, and dogs are required to be leashed. A strong south wind gave us some huge waves, and made for a great day flying kites. Even on Dec. 31st, the water felt good!

If you take a right on the sand at the entrance to Boca Chica Beach, and drive down about 2.5 miles, you’ll come to the Rio Grande, with Mexico just on the other side of the narrow, muddy river.

You’ll see a lot of references to Boca Chica State Park on maps, but there isn’t a state park here, just miles of beach.

The view of South Padre Island from Boca Chica Jetty.

On the way back, stop off at the Sabal Palm Sanctuary , one of the most interesting preserves in the state. In addition to a jungle of old growth sabal palms, you can tour the 1892 Rabb Plantation, which even rents a room for overnight guest. 3 miles of trails leads you down to the Rio Grande River.

Rocket Ranch is an RV Park with cabins located just 8 miles from Starbase, with pontoon boats for viewing the launches.

Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!

Having Fun in the TEXAS Sun is on PINTEREST! Use it as a quick resource to find activities in different Texas towns! Click  HERE !

© Having Fun in the Texas Sun, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Having Fun in the Texas Sun with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Please click  HERE  to read our disclaimer.

I will occasionally post some of my favorite Amazon items with links to purchase. As an Amazon affiliate, I do receive a small, very small, commission should you choose to purchase using my link. If you do, thank you for supporting my small business.

Share this:

Published by havingfuninthetexassun

View all posts by havingfuninthetexassun

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Discover more from having fun in the texas sun.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Starbase Tours

Rocket Ranch gets you as close as possible to SpaceX's Starship SuperHeavy prototype rocket production facility, and the orbital launch mount in Starbase, Texas.   For a limited time, you can view the ship that will help humanity become a multi-planet species.  A quest to return to the Moon, reach Mars and beyond.  Happening right here in Brownsville Texas

Our mission is to offer extraordinary and unique travel experiences that inspire wonder and connection to the space-loving community.  We strive to create unparalleled tour experiences that will leave our guests with memories that last a lifetime.  We are dedicated to providing exceptional service, safety, and comfort while promoting sustainable tourism practices for the benefit of the community and the local environment we visit.

Our vision is to create a world where space travel is accessible and commonplace for everyone, where humanity can explore and discover the vastness of the universe, and where our Starbase serves as a hub for space exploration and research.  We envision a future where our guests can experience the thrill of space travel while enjoying comfortable amenities and unparalleled service.  We see ourselves as a leader in the space tourism industry, pushing the boundaries of what's possible and inspiring future generations to dream big and reach for the stars.

SpaceX Starship: Map and schedule for Elon Musk’s ambitious orbital flight

SpaceX is gearing up to send Starship to new heights. Here's what you need to know.

Starship, SpaceX’s under-development rocket , has completed a high-altitude flight without exploding — and now it’s taking on an even bigger challenge.

On May 13, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed via Twitter that the company plans to send its ship “3/4 of the way around the Earth,” in an ambitious orbital flight that will lift off from Texas and will eventually land near Hawaii. A document from the Federal Communications Commission gives more details of what the historic flight may actually entail.

Want to dive deeper on where Starship is going next? Subscribe to MUSK READS+ for exclusive interviews and analysis about all things Musk.

On May 18, Musk also shared a new photo of a “Starbase” sign, the name for the Texas location set to host the orbital flight launch :

Musk's Starbase photo.

Musk's Starbase post.

It’s all building toward the biggest test yet for SpaceX’s ship.

SpaceX Starship: What is it?

The Starship is an under-development, fully-reusable rocket. Musk unveiled its predecessor , the BFR, at the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia, back in September 2017. Musk suggested at the event that the BFR could fly to Mars as early as 2022, a goal that Spacex is almost guaranteed to miss at this stage even with Starship so close to completion.

Starship is designed to send over 150 tons or 100 people into space at a time. It’s meant to replace all of SpaceX’s existing rockets, including the Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9, which means it will also launch satellites for the company’s third-party clients.

It could also launch Starlink satellites, as part of the firm’s emerging internet connectivity constellation. A June 2020 render shows how, while the Falcon 9 currently launches up to 60 Starlink satellites at a time, the Starship could pack 240 at once.

But the Starship’s most enticing feature is perhaps its ability to transport humans to Mars and beyond. Unlike Falcon 9, which uses rocket propellant as its fuel, the Starship is designed to use liquid oxygen and methane as fuel.

This means astronauts could potentially fly to Mars, harvest more fuel from the planet’s resources, and either fly home or venture out further. Musk’s goal is to send the first humans to Mars in the mid-2020s, before establishing the first city on Mars by 2050.

An explanation of how astronauts can create new fuel with Martian resources.

The ship will also power other missions, like a planned trip around the Moon involving Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and eight competition winners .

The Starship will use a booster dubbed the Super Heavy to leave the Earth. Paired together, the full construction measures around 400 feet tall.

SpaceX Starship: what is the plan for the orbital flight?

SpaceX plans to send a prototype model of the Starship on its first orbital flight in the coming months, an important step toward those flights to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The goal of the flight will be to collect data about how the ship works during a flight, information the firm claims would be “extremely difficult to accurately predict or replicate computationally.”

The Starship will take off from Starbase, Texas. Just under two minutes after liftoff, at 171 seconds, the Super Heavy booster will separate from the ship. That booster will then land in the Gulf of Mexico, around 20 miles from the shore, just over eight minutes after launch at 495 seconds.

The flight plan for the Super Heavy booster.

The ship itself will continue on its journey to reach orbit. This is the launch plan for the ship itself:

The launch plan for the ship itself.

It will then complete a targeted powered landing off the coast of Hawaii, landing softly into the ocean. The ship will come to a stop around 60 miles northwest of the coast of Kauai.

The flight will end around 90 minutes after liftoff, at 5,420 seconds.

The ship's landing plan.

The location is a specific choice, Musk says.

“We need to make sure ship won’t break up on reentry, hence deorbit over Pacific,” Musk wrote on Twitter .

SpaceX Starship: when is the orbital flight?

An orbital flight has been a big goal for Musk for years, but now it might actually be within his reach. At a September 2019 event , Musk claimed the firm was aiming for an orbital flight within a matter of months — obviously, that didn’t happen.

The firm’s application to the Federal Communication Commission outlines a requested period of operation , beginning on June 20, 2021, and ending on December 20, 2021. That gives SpaceX a six-month window to make the flight happen. The window opens around one month from now, so it could be mere weeks before SpaceX could hold the orbital flight.

SpaceX Starship: what does this mean for the timeline?

Musk, in classic fashion, has an ambitious timeline for the next steps.

In an April 2021 news conference, Musk discussed the firm’s planned partnership with NASA. The deal, which is now in question after an outcry from competitors, would see SpaceX use the Starship as a human lander for NASA’s Artemis missions that will return humans to the Moon.

“I think 2024 seems likely," Musk said during the event. "We're gonna aim for sooner than that.”

A flight in 2023 would be a quick turnaround time. SpaceX’s first successful flight of the Falcon 9 v1.0 was in June 2010 , and its first non-test mission was the first Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA in October 2012.

As NASA’s stated goal is to land humans on the Moon in 2024, the pressure is on for a successful orbital flight to happen this year.

Illustration of SpaceX Starship human lander design that will carry the first NASA astronauts to the surface of the Moon under the Artemis program.

THE STARSHIP’S JOURNEY, SUMMARIZED:

• November 2018 — BFR, first announced in September 2017, gets renamed to Starship .
• December 2018 — Musk confirms the new ship has switched to stainless steel .
• January 2019 — Shortened “Starhopper” prototype unveiled and Musk explains the switch to steel .
• February 2019 — Raptor engine beats a long-standing rocket record.
• April 2019 — Starhopper completes a tethered “hop.”
• July 2019 — Starhopper launches 20 meters (67 feet) .
• August 2019 — Starhopper launches 150 meters (500 feet) .
• September 2019 — Starship Mk.1 full-size prototype unveiled.
• May 2020 — Starship SN4 full-size prototype completes a static test fire .
• August 2020 — SN5 launches 150 meters (500 feet).
• October 2020 — SN8 completes the first triple-Raptor static fire.
• December 2020 — SN8 launches 12.5 kilometers (41,000 feet) and crashes into the ground.
• February 2021 — SN9 launches 10 kilometers (33,000 feet) and crashes into the ground.
• March 2021 — SN10 launches 10 kilometers (33,000 feet), lands, and explodes eight minutes later . That same month, SN11 launches 10 kilometers (33,000 feet) and hits the ground in several pieces.
• May 2021 — SN15 launches 10 kilometers (33,000 feet) and lands without a hitch, except for a small fire at the base.

SUBSCRIBE TO MUSK READS+ , A PREMIUM NEWSLETTER THAT COVERS THE WORLDS OF ELON MUSK, SPACEX, TESLA, AND EVERYTHING BETWEEN.

This article was originally published on May 19, 2021

• Space Science

Is SpaceX Starship going to launch in Florida? Here's what to know about the giant rocket

Florida may become a launch and landing site for SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy rockets , which are being referred to as the company’s next-generation launch system.

The proposed future launch site for the two-stage rockets, the most powerful in history, would be at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

What is the SpaceX Starship?

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has said this program hinges on his belief that humanity needs to become a  multi-planetary, space-faring species  sooner rather than later. He believes the Starship will be the vehicle to put humans on Mars.

This new space vehicle was designed to transport humans, cargo and payloads to Earth’s orbit, the moon and Mars.

It has two parts: Super Heavy, a massive booster outfitted with 33 Raptor engines that will lift Starship, a 164-foot-tall spacecraft that can transport humans and cargo beyond low-Earth orbit. It produces more thrust than the Saturn V rocket of the Apollo era and NASA's current Space Launch System.

What does the Starship look like?

The design is super sleek and has been compared to something out of science fiction due to a reflective, stainless steel outer shell.

Artist renderings show a futuristic interior matching the exterior – sleek, clean and colorless. Each astronaut would be assigned private living quarters suitable for sleeping, studying or communicating with loved ones back on Earth.

Future plans call for numerous floors, including one containing a gym and bathroom facilities. Some designs can accommodate as many as 100 people, but the capacity will vary by rocket.     

What went wrong with Starship? Why did it explode?

SpaceX has been doing test flights off the southernmost tip of Texas. These are early uncrewed tests.

Starship's first test launch  exploded shortly after liftoff last April  from the company's Starbase operations area near Brownsville, Texas. A second test flight also exploded in midair in November, though that mission was considered more successful as it flew longer, providing more data to the SpaceX team.

When is the next SpaceX Starship test flight?

No official word on when Starship’s third test flight will be, but Musk recently gave a hint.

On Monday he posted on the social media site he owns, X, formerly Twitter. Beginning his post with a reference to the Nicki Minaj song “Starships,” Musk wrote, “Starship were meant to fly and our next one launches in about 3 weeks, but I recommend waiting for a few more test flights before hopping on board."

Want to give input on the possibility of Starship launches in Florida?

The Air Force will host three open houses to collect written comments on SpaceX’s proposed actions and alternatives.

• March 5:  Catherine Schweinsberg Rood Central Library, 308 Forrest Ave., Cocoa.
• March 6:  Titusville Civic Center, 4220 S. Hopkins Ave., Titusville.
• March 7:  Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral.

There also is a virtual public meeting at 6 pm March 12 at   spaceforcestarshipeis.com . Air Force officials will accept public comments through March 22 at the website and by emailing [email protected] (use the subject line "Starship EIS").

A draft environmental impact study is scheduled for publication in December, with the final study due in September 2025.

Spitzer can be reached at [email protected].

Highlights From SpaceX’s Starship Test Flight

The powerful rocket, a version of which will carry astronauts to the moon for NASA, launched for the third time on Thursday morning. It achieved a number of milestones before losing contact with the ground.

• Share full article

Kenneth Chang

Here’s what happened during the third test flight of the most powerful rocket ever built.

Spacex launches starship for third time, the rocket, a version of which will eventually carry nasa astronauts to the moon, traveled almost halfway around the earth before it was lost as it re-entered the atmosphere..

“Five, four, three, two, three, one.” “This point, we’ve already passed through Max-Q, maximum dynamic pressure. And passing supersonic, so we’re now moving faster than the speed of sound. Getting those on-board views from the ship cameras. Boosters now making its way back, seeing six engines ignited on ship. Kate, we got a Starship on its way to space and a booster on the way back to the Gulf.” “Oh, man. I need a moment to pick my jaw up from the floor because these views are just stunning.”

The third try turned out to be closer to the charm for Elon Musk and SpaceX, as his company’s mammoth Starship rocket launched on Thursday and traveled about halfway around the Earth before it was lost as it re-entered the atmosphere.

The test flight achieved several key milestones in the development of the vehicle, which could alter the future of space transportation and help NASA return astronauts to the moon.

This particular flight was not, by design, intended to make it all the way around the Earth. At 8:25 a.m. Central time, Starship — the biggest and most powerful rocket ever to fly — lifted off from the coast of South Texas. The ascent was smooth, with the upper Starship stage reaching orbital velocities. About 45 minutes after launch, it started re-entering the atmosphere, heading toward a belly-flop splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

Live video, conveyed in near real-time via SpaceX’s Starlink satellites , showed red-hot gases heating the underside of the vehicle. Then, 49 minutes after launch, communications with Starship ended, and SpaceX later said the vehicle had not survived the re-entry, presumably disintegrating and falling into the ocean.

Even so, Bill Nelson, the administrator of NASA, congratulated SpaceX on what he called a “successful test flight” of the system his agency is counting on for some of its Artemis lunar missions.

SpaceX aims to make both the vehicle’s lower rocket booster and the upper spacecraft stage capable of flying over and over again — a stark contrast to the single-launch throwaway rockets that have been used for most of the space age.

That reusability gives SpaceX the potential to drive down the cost of lofting satellites and telescopes, as well as people and the things they need to live in space.

Completing most of the short jaunt was a reassuring validation that the rocket’s design appears to be sound. Not only is Starship crucial for NASA’s lunar plans, it is the key to Mr. Musk’s pipe dream of sending people to live on Mars.

For Mr. Musk, the success also harks back to his earlier reputation as a technological visionary who led breakthrough advances at Tesla and SpaceX, a contrast with his troubled purchase of Twitter and the polarizing social media quagmire that has followed since he transformed the platform and renamed it X. Even as SpaceX launched its next-generation rocket, the social media company was dueling with Don Lemon , a former CNN anchor who was sharing clips from a combative interview with Mr. Musk.

SpaceX still needs to pull off a series of formidable rocketry firsts before Starship is ready to head to the moon and beyond. Earlier this week, Mr. Musk said he hoped for at least six more Starship flights this year, during which some of those experiments may occur.

But if it achieves them all, the company could again revolutionize the space transportation business and leave competitors far behind.

Phil Larson, a White House space adviser during the Obama administration who also previously worked on communication efforts at SpaceX, said Starship’s size and reusability had “massive potential to change the game in transportation to orbit. And it could enable whole new classes of missions.”

NASA is counting on Starship to serve as the lunar lander for Artemis III, a mission that will take astronauts to the surface of the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. That journey is currently scheduled for late 2026 but seems likely to slide to 2027 or later.

The third flight was a marked improvement from the first two launch attempts.

Last April, Starship made it off the launchpad, but a cascade of engine failures and fires in the booster led to the rocket’s destruction 24 miles above the Gulf of Mexico.

In November, the second Starship launch traveled much farther. All 33 engines in the Super Heavy booster worked properly during ascent, and after a successful separation, the upper Starship stage nearly made it to orbital velocities. However, both stages ended up exploding.

Nonetheless, Mr. Musk hailed both test flights as successes, as they provided data that helped engineers improve the design.

Thursday’s launch — which coincided with the 22nd anniversary of the founding of SpaceX — occurred 85 minutes into a 110-minute launch window. The 33 engines in the booster ignited at the launch site outside Brownsville, Texas, and lifted the rocket, which was as tall as a 40-story building, into the morning sky.

Most of the flight proceeded smoothly, and a number of test objectives were achieved during the flight, like opening and closing the spacecraft’s payload doors, which will be needed to deliver cargo in the future.

SpaceX did not attempt to recover the booster this time, but did have it perform engine burns that will be needed to return to the launch site. However, the final landing burn for the booster, conducted over the Gulf of Mexico, did not fully succeed — an area that SpaceX will attempt to fix for future flights.

SpaceX said the Super Heavy disintegrated at an altitude of about 1,500 feet.

SpaceX engineers will also have to figure out why Starship did not survive re-entry and make fixes to the design of the vehicle.

Even with the partial success of Thursday’s flight, Starship is far from ready to go to Mars, or even the moon. Because of Mr. Musk’s ambitions for Mars, Starship is much larger and much more complicated than what NASA needs for its Artemis moon landings. For Artemis III, two astronauts are to spend about a week in the South Pole region of the moon.

“He had the low price,” Daniel Dumbacher, the executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a former high-level official at NASA, said of Mr. Musk, “and NASA chose to take the risk associated with that configuration hoping that it would work out. And we’ll see if that turns out to be true.”

To leave Earth’s orbit, Starship must have its propellant tanks refilled with liquid methane and liquid oxygen. That will require a complex choreography of additional Starship launches to take the propellants to orbit.

“This is a complicated, complicated problem, and there’s a lot that has to get sorted out, and a lot that has to work right,” Mr. Dumbacher said.

Thursday’s flight included an early test of that technology, moving liquid oxygen from one tank to another within Starship.

Mr. Dumbacher does not expect Starship to be ready by September 2026, the launch date NASA currently has for Artemis III, although he would not predict how much of a delay there might be. “I’m not going to give you a guess because there is way too much work, way too many problems to solve,” he said.

Kenneth Chang and Michael Roston

A rare sight: Starship’s bright orange glow as it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.

Just past the 45-minute mark of the Starship vehicle’s journey through space on Thursday, something eerie happened. As it drifted high above Earth’s oceans and clouds, the spacecraft’s silvery exterior was overtaken by a brilliant and fiery orange glow.

Starship re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Views through the plasma pic.twitter.com/HEQX4eEHWH — SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2024

When a spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere, the air beneath it gets hot — hot enough that it turns into a plasma of charged particles as electrons are stripped away from the air molecules. The charged particles create picturesque glows, like neon signs.

But seeing this happen in nearly real-time during a spaceflight is uncommon. That plasma disrupts radio signals, cutting off communication.

Such blackouts happen, for instance, when SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule returns to Earth from the International Space Station with its complement of four astronauts. Mission controllers must wait with bated breath to be reassured that the spacecraft’s heat shield has held up and protected the crew during atmospheric re-entry.

Until Starship succumbed to the intense forces of re-entry on Thursday, SpaceX used its Starlink internet satellites to relay the live video feed. The Starlink satellites are in higher orbits, and sending signals upward — away from the plasma — is easier than trying to communicate through it to antennas on the ground.

But Starship wasn’t the only spacecraft in recent weeks to give us a view of plasma heating. Varda Space, a startup that is developing technology for manufacturing in orbit, had cameras on a capsule it landed on Earth on Feb. 21. Before it parachuted to the ground, its Winnebago capsule recorded a day-glow re-entry. The company retrieved the video recording from the capsule and shared it online:

Here's a video of our capsule ripping through the atmosphere at mach 25, no renders, raw footage: pic.twitter.com/ZFWzdjBwad — Varda Space Industries (@VardaSpace) February 28, 2024

Advertisement

Jeff Bezos’s rocket company could race SpaceX to the moon.

Which billionaire space company will get to the moon first: Elon Musk’s SpaceX or Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin?

At first glance, SpaceX seems to have a huge head start. It is about to launch the third test flight of Starship. A variation of Starship is scheduled to take NASA astronauts to the surface of the moon as soon as September 2026.

By contrast, Blue Origin has yet to launch anything into orbit, and its contract with NASA for a lunar lander for astronauts is for a mission that is launching in 2030.

But Blue Origin might still get there first. SpaceX faces major challenges with Starship, which is as tall as 16-story building, while Blue Origin plans to send a smaller cargo lander to the moon by the end of next year.

“This lander, we’re expecting to land on the moon between 12 and 16 months from today,” John Couluris, senior vice president of lunar permanence at Blue Origin, said during a n interview on the CBS News program “60 Minutes” this month.

The first launch of the Mark 1 version of the Blue Moon lander is what Blue Origin calls a “pathfinder” to test technologies like the BE-7 engine, the flight computers, avionics and power systems — the same systems that will be used in the much larger Mark 2 lander that will take astronauts to the moon’s surface.

The Mark 1 lander can carry up to three tons of cargo to the lunar surface, but will be small enough to fit inside one of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rockets . New Glenn has yet to fly, but the company says its debut journey will occur later this year.

After Blue Moon Mark 1 is launched into an orbit about 125 miles above Earth’s surface, the lander’s BE-7 engine will propel it toward the moon, slowing it down to enter orbit around the moon and then guiding it to the landing on the surface.

The smaller size means that the Mark 1 lander, unlike Starship, will not need to be refueled before leaving Earth orbit. Demonstrating that refueling technology in orbit will be a key test to validate Starship’s design. Refueling will also be needed for the Blue Moon Mark 2 lander.

Mr. Musk and Mr. Bezos have already been beaten to the moon by another billionaire, Kam Ghaffarian , one of the founders of Intuitive Machines, which put a small robotic lander named Odysseus near the lunar south pole in February . That was the first private spacecraft to successfully make it to the moon’s surface in one piece (although its journey had some hiccups ).

As with every American rocket mishap, the Federal Aviation Administration will open an investigation to review what went wrong and what SpaceX needs to do to correct it. But if, as Elon Musk says, there are at least six more Starship flights this year, SpaceX will have opportunities to complete a full test flight.

Starship's third flight went very far, but like its first two flights, it was not a complete success. The landing burn for the Super Heavy booster stage of the rocket — the aim was to “land” it in the Gulf of Mexico — was not fully successful, and the Starship craft did not survive re-entry. But it was marked significant progress, because none of the problems from the earlier flights recurred, and SpaceX engineers now have data to tackle the new problems.

Michael Roston

On the social media site X, Bill Nelson, the administrator of NASA, congratulated SpaceX on what he called a “successful test flight” of Starship. The agency is counting on Starship to land astronauts on the moon’s surface as part of the Artemis III mission. Another vehicle, the Orion capsule, is to be used to bring those astronauts back to Earth.

SpaceX says Starship did not survive re-entry, but it achieved several key milestones during the flight. That marks significant progress since the second test flight. Elon Musk has said he hopes there will be a half-dozen Starship flights this year.

SpaceX says a dual loss of communication, both through its own Starlink satellites and other forms spacecraft communications with Earth, suggest that Starship did not survive re-entry. They’re still listening to see if radio contact resumes.

Video is gone. Telemetry is also stuck at a speed 25,707 kilometers per hour and an altitude of 65 kilometers. The reason is not clear.

Starship already has private customers booked for deep space trips.

Starship has not yet done a full orbit of the Earth, but SpaceX already has three private astronaut missions on its manifest for the spacecraft.

The first flight with astronauts aboard will be led by Jared Isaacman who previously bought an orbital trip on a Falcon 9 rocket that was known as Inspiration4 .

Then two other Starship flights will travel around the moon and back, one led by Yusaku Maezawa , a Japanese entrepreneur, and the other by Dennis Tito, who was the first private individual to buy a trip to the International Space Station in 2001.

Back in 2018 when Mr. Maezawa signed up for the lunar flyby, Mr. Musk said Starship would be ready by 2023.

Mr. Maezawa later called the mission ‘dearMoon,’ inviting people to apply for a seat on the trip. Last week, he acknowledged it was not going to happen this year.

“We were planning for our lunar orbital mission ‘dearMoon’ to take place in 2023, but seems like it will take a little longer,” he wrote on the social network X. “We’re not sure when the flight will be, but we will give you all an update once we know more.”

SpaceX is apparently also planning uncrewed cargo flights to the surface of the moon with Starship.

In March last year, a small start-up company, Astrolab, announced that it was sending a Jeep Wrangler-size rover to surface in the south polar region of the moon , and the ride would be a cargo Starship flight that would take it there.

SpaceX did not confirm the news.

This appears to be part of the expanding potential market for Starship. SpaceX also plans to use the rocket for launching its second generation of Starlink internet communications satellites .

Starship is re-entering Earth's atmosphere. We’re seeing the heating on the flaps, with video being transmitted to the ground through SpaceX's Starlink satellites. The view is incredible. Usually the plasma disrupts radio transmissions.

SpaceX skipped the restart of one of the Raptor engines on the upper stage of Starship. It did conduct the propellant transfer test and the opening and closing of the payload door, which means the flight achieved some of its experimental objectives during its coast around the Earth, but not others. Next stop: Re-entry through the atmosphere and a hard bellyflop in the Indian Ocean.

The music on the livestream is more old-fashioned than the ambient beats we’re used to during SpaceX video feeds. But there’s nothing old-fashioned about the views in space from the rocket, which are unreal, but have not always been visible as its connection to the ground comes and goes.

During this period of the flight, Starship is scheduled to perform several tests. The first, opening the payload door, is complete. It will also move several tons of liquid oxygen between two tanks within Starship. That’s a preliminary test for future in-orbit refueling between two Starships, which is critical for sending the vehicle to the moon. Finally, Starship will try to restart one of its Raptor engines in the vacuum of space, something it has not done before.

The payload door of the upper Starship rocket stage is now open. That’s how a future Starship will deploy Starlink satellites, and demonstrating that it works was one of the objectives of today's flight.

The engines on the upper-stage of the rocket successfully completed their burn. Starship is now coasting in space, on a trajectory that will re-enter the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean.

We were watching the booster attempting to land in the Gulf of Mexico. But the camera feed cut off, and we're not sure what actually happened. The upper stage Starship is still continuing on its trajectory toward the Indian Ocean.

The Super Heavy booster stage of the rocket appears to be headed back to Earth. During the last attempt, the booster exploded at this point, so it looks like SpaceX has fixed that issue.

The large Super Heavy booster stage has separated from the Starship upper stage, which is on its way to space. The flight is looking good.

All 33 Raptor engines in the booster are working fine. So far everything looks good.

Less than 2 minutes until liftoff. Propellant tanks are full, and wind will not prevent an on-time liftoff.

Starship is less than 10 minutes away from its third launch. The countdown is going smoothly.

What will happen during Starship’s third test flight.

For its third test flight, Starship aims to fly part of the way around the Earth, starting from SpaceX’s launch site in Boca Chica Village, Texas, and splashing down in the Indian Ocean.

The earlier test flights — both of which ended in explosions — aimed to come down in waters off Hawaii. SpaceX said it had set the new flight path to allow for safe testing of things it hadn’t done before with the Starship vehicle.

The journey will start at the site that SpaceX calls Starbase, which is a few miles north of where Texas and Mexico meet along the Gulf of Mexico. The rocket, nearly 400 feet tall, will be mounted next to a launch tower that is about 480 feet tall. It will be filled with methane and liquid oxygen propellants during the hours before liftoff.

Three seconds before launch, computers will begin to ignite the 33 engines in the Super Heavy rocket booster beneath Starship.

Starship and Super Heavy will begin their ascent over the Gulf. At 52 seconds into the flight, SpaceX says, the vehicle will experience the heaviest atmospheric stress of its trip, a moment flight engineers call max-q.

If the stainless steel spacecraft survives that stress, the next key moment will occur 2 minutes and 42 seconds into flight, when most of the Super Heavy booster’s engines power down. Seconds later, the upper Starship vehicle will begin “hot-staging,” or lighting up its engines before separating from Super Heavy.

Super Heavy’s journey will end about seven minutes after launch. SpaceX would typically aim to return the massive rocket booster to the launch site for a vertical landing. But for the test flight, the spent Super Heavy will perform a series of maneuvers before firing its engines one last time to slow its descent into the Gulf of Mexico.

As Super Heavy is descending, Starship will be gaining altitude. About eight and a half minutes into its flight, its engines will switch off. It will then begin coasting around the Earth.

While floating through space, Starship will attempt several things that the spacecraft has never done. Nearly 12 minutes into the flight, it will open a door that in the future could deploy satellites and other cargo into space. About 12 minutes later, it will transfer propellants from one tank to another while in space, a technique needed for future journeys to the moon and beyond. Then, 40 minutes into the flight, Starship will relight one if its engines while in space.

If the spacecraft makes it through those experiments, the conclusion of Starship’s journey will start at about the 49-minute mark. The spacecraft is set to pivot horizontally into a belly-flop to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. If it survives the extreme temperatures, Starship will splash down 64 minutes after it left Texas. The company has said in the past that it expects the belly-flop ocean landing to end in an explosion .

After SpaceX completes its testing campaign, future Starship flights will return to the Texas Starbase site after they complete their missions in orbit. SpaceX is also building a launch tower for Starship at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where flights could one day launch and land, including the Artemis III mission that NASA plans to use to return American astronauts to the moon’s surface.

SpaceX has started the company’s official live video stream from Texas, a sign that it is serious about igniting the rocket in about 20 minutes. You can watch it in the video player embedded above.

What went right and wrong during the 2nd Starship test flight.

The second test flight of Starship in November got a lot higher and faster than the first attempt seven months earlier.

During the first launch outside Brownsville, Texas, in April last year, things went wrong from the start — the exhaust of the engines of the Super Heavy booster excavated a hole beneath the launchpad, sending pieces of concrete flying up to three-quarters of a mile away and a plume of dust drifting 6.5 miles, blanketing the nearby town of Port Isabel. Several of the booster engines failed, and the upper stage never separated from the booster.

Instead, the rocket started making loop-de-loops before the flight termination system destroyed it.

During the second test flight , all 33 of the booster engines worked during ascent. A water deluge system protected the launchpad. The upper Starship stage separated from the booster and then made it most of the way to orbital velocity. However, the journeys of both the booster and the upper Starship stage still ended in explosions.

For the booster, as it dropped away from the upper stage, 13 of the 33 engines fired again to guide it toward the landing location. Although this particular booster was not going to be recovered, SpaceX wanted to test the re-entry techniques that are similar to what it currently uses for its smaller Falcon 9 rockets. However, something went wrong. Several engines shut down and then one blew up, causing the destruction of the booster.

In an update posted on the company’s website on Feb. 26 , SpaceX said the most likely cause of the booster failure was a blockage of a filter where liquid oxygen flowed to the engines. The company said it had made design changes to prevent that from happening again.

The upper stage continued upward for seven minutes after stage separation. This was itself an achievement because the company completed a step called hot-staging, during which the upper-stage engines ignite before the stage detaches from the Super Heavy booster.

Because the spacecraft was empty, extra liquid oxygen was loaded to simulate the weight of a future payload it could carry to orbit. But when the extra oxygen was dumped, a fire started, disrupting communication between the spacecraft’s flight computers. The computers shut down the engines and then set off the flight termination system, destroying the spacecraft.

The upper Starship stage reached an altitude of about 90 miles and a speed of about 15,000 miles per hour. For a spacecraft to reach orbit, it needs to accelerate to about 17,000 miles per hour.

Frost lines have appeared on Starship and the Super Heavy booster as methane and liquid oxygen flow into the rocket’s tanks.

It’s sunrise in Cameron County, Texas, but weather reports show cloudy conditions persist. We’ll see if weather is going to keep Starship on the beach, but SpaceX says it has started loading propellants into the rocket.

Launch time is now 9:25 a.m. Eastern. SpaceX says winds are still a concern that could cause a liftoff to be called off, but it will go ahead with loading of propellants in the rocket.

SpaceX pushed the launch time back a little more, to 9:10 a.m. Eastern. They have until 9:50 to try today.

SpaceX has just announced the new target launch time is 9:02 a.m. Eastern, and the company said on X that it is clearing some boats from a safety zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Cameras from a number of space enthusiast websites like NASASpaceflight that are pointing at the rocket show there is still no frost on its side, so the loading of ultracold methane and liquid oxygen propellants has not yet begun.

As SpaceX prepares for its third flight of Starship, other space efforts have experienced difficulties this week. On Wednesday, Kairos, a rocket from a Japanese startup called Space One, exploded moments into its first launch attempt. And Xinhua, a Chinese state news agency, said on Thursday that two Chinese satellites were lost after a rocket failed to reach the planned orbit.

In a posting on the social media site X, SpaceX says that it is aiming for launch at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, or 30 minutes into the 110-minute launch window. There is a 70 percent chance of favorable weather. There have been concerns of high winds, especially at higher altitudes.

What is Starship?

For Elon Musk, Starship is really a Mars ship. He envisions a fleet of Starships carrying settlers to the red planet in the coming years.

And for that eventual purpose, Starship, under development by Mr. Musk’s SpaceX rocket company , has to be big. Stacked on top of what SpaceX calls a Super Heavy booster, the Starship rocket system will be, by pretty much every measure, the biggest and most powerful ever.

It is the tallest rocket ever built — 397 feet tall, or about 90 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty including the pedestal.

And it has the most engines ever in a rocket booster: The Super Heavy has 33 of SpaceX’s powerful Raptor engines sticking out of its bottom. As those engines lift Starship off the launchpad in South Texas, they will generate 16 million pounds of thrust at full throttle.

NASA’s new Space Launch System rocket , which made its first flight in November 2022, holds the current record for the maximum thrust of a rocket: 8.8 million pounds. The maximum thrust of the Saturn V rocket that took NASA astronauts to the moon during the Apollo program was relatively paltry: 7.6 million pounds.

An even more transformative feature of Starship is that it is designed to be entirely reusable. The Super Heavy booster is to land much like those for SpaceX’s smaller Falcon 9 rockets, and Starship will be able to return from space belly-flopping through the atmosphere like a sky diver before pivoting to a vertical position for landing.

That means all of the really expensive pieces — like the 33 Raptor engines in the Super Heavy booster and six additional Raptors in Starship itself — will be used over and over instead of thrown away into the ocean after one flight.

That has the potential to cut the cost of sending payloads into orbit — to less than $10 million to take 100 tons to space, Mr. Musk has predicted.

Starship and Super Heavy are shiny because SpaceX made them out of stainless steel, which is cheaper than using other materials like carbon composites. But one side of Starship is coated in black tiles to protect the spacecraft from the extreme heat that it will encounter if it gets far enough in its flight to re-enter the atmosphere.

Here is what to know about Thursday’s SpaceX test flight.

The third try was closer to the charm for Elon Musk and SpaceX, as the company’s flight test of the mammoth Starship rocket launched on Thursday and traveled almost halfway around the Earth before it was lost as it re-entered the atmosphere.

The flight achieved some key milestones in the development of the vehicle, which could alter the future of space transportation and help NASA return astronauts to the moon.

This particular flight did not, by design, make it all the way around the Earth. At 9:25 a.m. Eastern time, Starship, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever to fly, lifted off from the coast of South Texas. About 45 minutes later it started its re-entry, but communications were lost a few minutes after that. The company said the rocket was lost before attempting to splash down in the Indian Ocean, a sign that more work needs to be completed on the vehicle.

That reusability gives SpaceX the potential to drive down the cost of lofting satellites and space telescopes, as well as people and the things they need to live in space.

Here’s what else to know:

Thursday’s flight demonstrated new capabilities for Starship. In addition to reaching orbital speeds, the Starship vehicle opened and closed its payload door and managed to move several tons of liquid oxygen between two tanks within the rocket, a key test needed for future missions.

The Starship system consists of two stages — the Super Heavy rocket booster and the upper-stage spacecraft, which is also called Starship. The company intends both to be fully reusable in the future. Read more about Starship .

Thursday’s launch was the third of Starship. Here’s a recap of what happened last time .

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

• Mars Colonization Timeline
• Mars colony ART
• MOVIES set on Mars
• GAMES set on Mars
• Mars Base Alpha

Friday, July 15, 2022

Vr tour of spacex starship interior concept by paul king.

More speculative internal layouts of Starship by SpaceX fans:

• Starship interior concept for 100 passengers by Joseph Lantz
• Animation of Starship interior concept by DeepSpaceCourier
• Cutaway schematic of Starship interior by Tom Dixon & Austin Barnard [not speculative]
• Starship interior concept for 64 passengers by Erik Corshammar & smallstars
• Cutaway diagram of Lunar Starship by Rocket Posters
• Starship interior concept for 100 passengers by Rick Kiessig & Michel Lamontagne
• Starship interior concept by Jim Murphy
• Speculative internal structure of Starship by William Falconer-Beach
• Speculative internal layout of Starship by Michel Lamontagne
• Cutaway diagram of Starship by Julian Schindler
• Cutaway diagram of Big Falcon Ship by Nick Oberg

No comments:

Post a comment.

Neither the Starship vehicle nor its Super Heavy booster survived all the way through to their intended splashdown, but SpaceX officials said the test flight achieved several of its key goals during the flight. 

Cheers erupted from the South Padre crowd as the dim morning sky was illuminated by the ignition of Starship's 33 first-stage Raptor engines, which quickly shrouded nearly the entire vehicle in a plume of dust and smoke. Seconds later, the 400-foot tall (122 meters) rocket rose from the plume, quickly increasing its climb skyward. 

"This flight pretty much just started, but we're farther than we've ever been before," SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot said just after liftoff in a livestream. "We've got a starship, not just in space, but on its coast phase into space."

Related: Relive SpaceX Starship's 3rd flight test in breathtaking photos

Get the Space.com Newsletter

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

Starship Die Cast Rocket Model Now $69.99 on Amazon . 

If you can't see SpaceX's Starship in person, you can score a model of your own. Standing at 13.77 inches (35 cm), this is a 1:375 ratio of SpaceX's Starship as a desktop model. The materials here are alloy steel and it weighs just 225g.

Note: Stock is low so you'll have to act quickly to get this. 

Today's launch, designated Integrated Flight Test-3 (IFT-3), was the third test mission for the fully stacked Starship. The first and second Starship launches both ended explosively last year, with the vehicles detonating before the completion of each flight's mission objectives. However, data collected during those first flights helped SpaceX engineers get Starship ready for success down the road. 

Improvements made between IFT-1 and IFT-2 last year included the implementation of a " hot staging " technique, in which the upper stage engines begin firing before Starship's first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, fully separates. IFT-2's hot staging maneuver was a success, as it was today as well.

High in the sky, Starship's two stages separated about 2 minutes 45 seconds after liftoff, sending the 165-foot-tall (50 m) upper-stage spacecraft onward to space while Super Heavy began preparations for a boostback burn to redirect its trajectory. That post-staging burn reversed Super Heavy's velocity, and was intended to be followed minutes later by a landing burn above the Gulf of Mexico. However, it appears the Super Heavy's engines did not relight as planned, leading to the loss of the booster. 

"It didn't light all the engines that we expected and we did lose the booster," Huot said. "We'll have to go through the data to figure out exactly what happened, obviously."

Starship is designed to be fully reusable, and SpaceX plans to land and relaunch its Super Heavy boosters, as it does with its Falcon 9 rockets . In the future, two "chopstick" arms on Starship's launch tower will catch the Super Heavy booster as it returns for landing, but IFT-3's Super Heavy was always expected to splash down in the Gulf.

Related:   Starship and Super Heavy: SpaceX's deep-space transportation for the moon and Mars

Starship's upper stage continued flying after separation, but didn't attempt to go into a full orbit. Instead, the spacecraft entered a suborbital coast phase as it soared above Earth , during which SpaceX hoped to demonstrate two of the spacecraft's flight systems toward vehicle qualification — the reignition of Starship's Raptor engines and the transfer of cryogenic fuel between tanks. Following these demonstrations, the spacecraft was expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean about 65 minutes after launch, but SpaceX lost contact with the Ship during reentry.

"We are making the call now that we have lost Ship 28," Huot said, referring to the Starship vehicle number, after an extended period without telemetry of contact with the vehicle. "We haven't heard from the ship up until this point and so the team has made the call that Ship has been lost. So, no splashdown today."

Rapid progress is needed for Starship, which is on the critical path for NASA's Artemis 3 mission. Artemis 3 aims to land the first humans on the moon since the end of the Apollo era in the early 1970s. Artemis 3 is currently scheduled for 2026, giving Starship less than two years to meet NASA vehicle qualifications for landing astronauts on the lunar surface.

Related: Facts about NASA's Artemis program

SpaceX has a lot riding on its Starship reusable launch system, chief of which is its role to land NASA Artemis 3 astronauts on the moon by 2026, which will require over a dozen Starship launches per lunar landing. The company has already  sold private trips around the moon on Starship and sees Starship and Super Heavy as the lynchpin of its Mars and deep-space exploration plan, as well as heavy-lift launch options for its Starlink megaconstellation and other payloads.

— Starship and Super Heavy: SpaceX's Mars transportation system

— SpaceX: Facts about Elon Musk's private spaceflight company

— SpaceX delays second Starship test launch to Nov. 18 to replace rocket part

SpaceX has other plans hinging on Starship as well. The company is relying on Starship's unmatched payload capacity to launch the next generation of its Starlink internet satellites. Other Starship flights have been purchased by private entities, including Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa's Dear Moon mission to fly himself and eight others around our nearest celestial neighbor.

Starship's success today likely signals an uptick of launches from SpaceX's Boca Chica facility. Equipment needed to build a second launch tower at the site have begun arriving for assembly, and infrastructure supporting Starship launches from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are also well underway. 

A faster launch cadence would expedite Starship's qualification by NASA to carry astronauts, but reaching NASA's ambitious Artemis 3 timeline may still be a stretch. SpaceX is no stranger to fast launch cadences, though. In regular operation now for over a decade, the company's Falcon 9 rocket has broken its own annual launch record for year after year, and is set to do so again in 2024.

Starship is designed with even more rapid reusability in mind. SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has said the company eventually aims to launch, land and relaunch multiple Starship vehicles daily. 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Josh Dinner is Space.com's Content Manager. He is a writer and photographer with a passion for science and space exploration, and has been working the space beat since 2016. Josh has covered the evolution of NASA's commercial spaceflight partnerships, from early Dragon and Cygnus cargo missions to the ongoing development and launches of crewed missions from the Space Coast, as well as NASA science missions and more. He also enjoys building 1:144 scale models of rockets and human-flown spacecraft. Find some of Josh's launch photography on Instagram and his website , and follow him on Twitter , where he mostly posts in haiku.

FAA to conduct new environmental review for SpaceX's Starship operations in Florida

SpaceX fires up Starship rocket for upcoming 5th test flight (photos, video)

SpaceX to launch 23 Starlink satellites from Florida tonight

• TEAMSWITCHER It was very exciting and the onboard cameras provided incredible views .. but at the same time begs tons of questions. Both the Booster and Starship seemed to suffer from control issues. The Booster flight looked fantastic until it entered the thicker atmosphere. Then, despite rapid and pronounced gyrations of the grid fins lost flight control. The Starship was also performing well, but as it approached reentry appeared to tumble end over end unable to attain a consistent attitude. Starship then likely broke up on re-entry - which I think is very unfortunate. Both NASA and even the Russians were able to demonstrate a successful Space Shuttle reentry on their first try. I get it .. SpaceX is testing differently .. but this failure will demand an explanation. Optimists think every problem has a solution, but when it comes reusable space vehicles (as we have seen with the Space Shuttle) the solution can also be the problem. Was this an unexpected failure of critical components? Or is the design itself simply incapable of surviving the harsh conditions reentering the atmosphere? The answer to this question might save (or kill) the entire Starship program. Reply
• Unclear Engineer The distressing aspect of the Starship final moments is that I don't think it provided the data about exactly what happened because of the communications blackout period. And with no wreckage recovery, there may be some important questions left unanswered. Perhaps future test flights need some sort of "black box" data recorder and a means to retrieve it. But, retrieving it may be the hardest part. Without being pretty comfortable about the final trajectory, it might not be safe to have the terminal location occur on land or even in shallow areas of the ocean, which are still near habitation. Hopefully, there were some observation satellites that can give us at least a rough idea of this Starship's fate during the reentry. Reply
• Brad Much better than previous launches but at this pace they will never be ready for Artemis. I mean just the FAA process alone after each failure will make that goal impossible. I think what will happen is he will use NASA funding to continue to develop this kind of (really moon landing a Starship?) vehicle so he can use it to deploy Starlink which is his primary goal. Look at SpaceX history. That's exactly how Falcon 9 was developed and while it has launched a good amount of cargo/people to the ISS and satellites for other providers, mostly it has deployed Starlink for SpaceX. By a huge margin. NASA and tax payers get nothing in return for that. I would be more than shocked if Starship ever got close to a moon landing. What lands on the moon will look nothing like Starship. Reply

Brad said: Much better than previous launches but at this pace they will never be ready for Artemis. I mean just the FAA process alone after each failure will make that goal impossible. I think what will happen is he will use NASA funding to Scontinue to develop this kind of (really moon landing a Starship?) vehicle so he can use it to deploy Starlink which is his primary goal. Look at SpaceX history. That's exactly how Falcon 9 was developed and while it has launched a good amount of cargo/people to the ISS and satellites for other providers, mostly it has deployed Starlink for SpaceX. By a huge margin. NASA and tax payers get nothing in return for that. I would be more than shocked if Starship ever got close to a moon landing. What lands on the moon will look nothing like Starship.

• newtons_laws A successful 3rd test of starship, achieving most if not quite all of its intended goals. (Super Heavy landing burn engines failed to ignite and Starship appears to have broken up on re-entry). As regards the re-entry the on board video from around 45 minutes after lift off appears to show a number of small black objects coming away from Starship, I presume they are thermal tiles? If so that may or may not have been influential in the ultimate loss of the Starship? Reply

Brad said: Much better than previous launches but at this pace they will never be ready for Artemis. I mean just the FAA process alone after each failure will make that goal impossible. I think what will happen is he will use NASA funding to continue to develop this kind of (really moon landing a Starship?) vehicle so he can use it to deploy Starlink which is his primary goal. Look at SpaceX history. That's exactly how Falcon 9 was developed and while it has launched a good amount of cargo/people to the ISS and satellites for other providers, mostly it has deployed Starlink for SpaceX. By a huge margin. NASA and tax payers get nothing in return for that. I would be more than shocked if Starship ever got close to a moon landing. What lands on the moon will look nothing like Starship.

Bigref said: This thinking is similar to most non-business, sociological but illogical models. Executive J makes too much, and therefore his company is bad for their customers or corporation B has big profits, and therefore they are unfair to consumers. Give no mind to the fact that B is providing the best product at the best price. SpaceX is saving NASA and taxpayers money with every ounce they carry into orbit for scientific and government payloads. I expect the ISS inhabitants may also find fault with your analysis that “NASA and taxpayers get nothing”. NASA has paid contractors $ Billions without a single successful launch to date. SpaceX is again saving taxpayers and NASA. NASA and taxpayers experience financial benefits through providing results on their investments. Further gain is made by producing usable technology for a fraction of what has been historically spent. Value for dollars spent is “something” in return. If Boeing were building a rocket instead of SpaceX, it would not be out of the engineers' hands yet. Forget about having 3 test flights. The necessary heavy booster would be in the Boeing, ULA and Blue Origin bait and switch pattern: Launch in 2020, make that 2022, oops, need another couple of billion to launch in 2023, umm, would you believe May 2024? How close do you suppose American aerospace would be to a super heavy booster without SpaceX? Decades away. In the end, what difference does it make if SpaceX launches some satellites alongside purchased transport? They are ,pound per pound, the best value, actually putting space payloads into orbit.

Brad said: Thanks for the response SpaceX. lol the same narcissists crap Elon pumps out daily.

Philly said: Sorry but I don't think you fully understand, how NASA painted themselves into a corner with the Artemis program. They funded SLS and Orion. They didn't fund or properly plan for a Lunar lander. NOT SX's problem. Thus at some point they looked around and said hey we need a lander for Artemis. Keeping the SLS and Orion funding going while it takes another decade to build a lander would of been a real challenge. Expecting BO to build a lander when they still are trying to put anything into orbit is a pipe dream. There was only 1 company building a lander. 1st point. SX is developing a Mars transportation and landing system with Starship. They have their own schedule and plans for this. They didn't seem interested in delaying their Mars lander system. If NASA wants to use the Mars lander for the Moon that is fine, but they it is being built for Mars Specs. NASA's Moon schedule and deadline is their own political driven agenda, but it really isn't something I believe SX is that worried about. If they wanted to build a Lunar lander they would of made a 3rd stage for Starship and a small grasshopper style lander. Of course that would delay their Mars plans for at least a decade. 2nd point. Everyone needs to let go of Apollo, thinking. A small LEM Apollo style lander puts us right back to the problem of " Now What? " we faced in 1972. If you can only place 2 astronauts on the surface in what basically is a small weekend camper. The cold shower reality is, there is only so much you can actually do besides plant a flag, take some selfie's and grab some rocks. Apollo was a dead end as far a tech. It was designed to get to the Moon and back before the end the 1960's. There was no path forward to develop any infrastructure on the moon without upgraded rockets and new landing systems. The SX/Mars system can put 100+ tons on the surface of the Moon. That is a lot of food, water and infrastructure. Land 3 ships and you're looking at over 300 tons. Physics demands orbital refueling to put that much weight on the Moon but if solved, all of a sudden a real Moon base is possible. If we're going to go back let's go to stay this time. NOW, we're looking at taking not a small step but another giant leap.

• Unclear Engineer Well, that is some BS history, too. From Wikipedia: The Constellation program was a crewed spaceflight program developed by NASA,, from 2005 to 2009. The major goals of the program were "completion of the International Space Station" and a "return to the Moon no later than 2020" with a crewed flight to the planet Mars as the ultimate goal. Constellation began in response to the goals laid out in the Vision for Space Exploration under NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and President George W. Bush. O'Keefe's successor, Michael D. Griffin, ordered a complete review, termed the Exploration Systems Architecture Study, which reshaped how NASA would pursue the goals laid out in the Vision for Space Exploration, and its findings were formalized by the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. The Act directed NASA to "develop a sustained human presence on the Moon, including a robust precursor program to promote exploration, science, commerce and US preeminence in space, and as a stepping stone to future exploration of Mars and other destinations." Work began on this revised Constellation Program, to send astronauts first to the International Space Station, then to the Moon, and then to Mars and beyond. Subsequent to the findings of the Augustine Committee in 2009 that the Constellation Program could not be executed without substantial increases in funding, on February 1, 2010, President Barack Obama proposed to cancel the program. In 2011, NASA adopted the design of its new Space Launch System. The Artemis program is a Moon exploration program that is led by the United States' NASA and was formally established in 2017 via Space Policy Directive 1. The Artemis program is intended to reestablish a human presence on the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. The program's stated long-term goal is to establish a permanent base on the Moon to facilitate human missions to Mars. Two principal elements of the Artemis program are derived from the now-cancelled Constellation program: the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (as a reincarnation of Ares V). Other elements of the program, such as the Lunar Gateway space station and the Human Landing System, are in development by government space agencies and private spaceflight companies. This collaboration is bound together by the Artemis Accords and governmental contracts. In the third phase of its HLS procurement process NASA awarded SpaceX a contract in April 2021 to develop, produce, and demonstrate Starship HLS So, as I have already posted, the original NASA plan was to go to the Moon and then to Mars. That was not getting government funding at the necessary level from Congress. Obama cancelled most of the program, and Trump reinitiated some of it. But, even the original Constellation program was planning to land on the Moon, and establish a presence there. So, NASA should have been planning a lander along with the various rocket launch vehicle with the changing name that became SLS. The problem is just that NASA is not getting the funding to do all of that. But, it has been in the plans since about 2005, with the original moon landing date set at 2020. NASA let the contract to SpaceX for the lander a year after the lander was originally scheduled to land. It looks like SpaceX plans to go to the Moon no matter what NASA does. So, for SpaceX, it is just a matter of delivering on a fixed-price contract with NASA. If NASA cancels the contract, it probably won't have much effect on SpaceX. Reply
• View All 12 Comments

Most Popular

• 2 Scientists could make blazing-fast 6G using curving light rays
• 3 'Extreme' solar storms cook up sweet Mother's Day auroras for Moms everywhere
• 4 The stormy sun erupts with its biggest solar flare yet from a massive sunspot — and it's still crackling (video)
• 5 Houston, we have an encore: ISS virtual reality experience 'The Infinite' returns

Category : Gorodok factory

Subcategories.

This category has only the following subcategory.

• Gorodok pipe bridge ‎ (7 F)

Media in category "Gorodok factory"

The following 41 files are in this category, out of 41 total.

• Factories in Pavlovsky Posad
• Gorodok (Pavlovsky Posad)
• 1900s architecture in Russia
• Weaving mills in Russia
• Brick architecture in Pavlovsky Posad
• Uses of Wikidata Infobox
• Uses of Wikidata Infobox with maps
• Pages with maps

Navigation menu