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Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:42 pm
by krenshala
At the end of their useful lives, the satellites will use their ion thrusters to crash back into the Earth’s atmosphere, burning up, and thus preventing them from becoming space debris.
Just one nit to pick - the sats won't use their ion thrusters to deorbit. To deorbit, they will stop using their ion thrusters for station-keeping, and let atmospheric drag deorbit them in a matter of weeks to months (depending on their specific altitude).

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:44 pm
by Maui
Are you sure about that? I know I've seen conversation about how the Starlink sats will actively de-orbit... though I have to admit I can't find an actual source behind that conversation for the moment.

It doesn't make sense to me why you wouldn't. I imagine with an active de-orbit you could likely have some degree of confidence in hitting an ocean rather than land (current versions don't 100% disintegrate). Plus, even if you are even saving a couple of weeks, if you have the thrusters, why not?

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:03 pm
by Skipjack
Maui wrote:Are you sure about that? I know I've seen conversation about how the Starlink sats will actively de-orbit... though I have to admit I can't find an actual source behind that conversation for the moment.

It doesn't make sense to me why you wouldn't. I imagine with an active de-orbit you could likely have some degree of confidence in hitting an ocean rather than land (current versions don't 100% disintegrate). Plus, even if you are even saving a couple of weeks, if you have the thrusters, why not?
I too have a vague memory that the passive de- orbit is only meant for those satellites that fail for some reason or another. The others will be actively de- orbited at the end of their lifetime.

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2019 5:10 pm
by krenshala
Okay, now that you mention it, I think you're both right that passive deorbit was just a side benefit of the altitude, but not their actual plan. Still, its nice to know that even if they didn't actively deorbit the satellites, they will (relatively) rapidly fall out of the sky once they run out of fuel and/or stop functioning.

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 4:54 pm
by Maui
Right. I think one of the reasons they are launched below their operational orbit it to help ensure any DOA satellites de-orbit that much faster.
Image

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 7:07 pm
by kunkmiester
Read an article recently on Europe's launch systems. It talked about what I recall was like a decade of plans, but no mention at all of developing a reusable rocket in the Falcon vein. Blew my mind.

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 3:06 am
by Skipjack
kunkmiester wrote:Read an article recently on Europe's launch systems. It talked about what I recall was like a decade of plans, but no mention at all of developing a reusable rocket in the Falcon vein. Blew my mind.
They do have plans for something like Falcon 9. First step is a "Grasshopper" like experimental rocket. Of course it is a joint European project, so the whole thing will move at a snail's pace. By the time they have their Grasshopper, SpaceX will have landed on Mars...

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 4:30 pm
by JLawson
They do have plans for something like Falcon 9. First step is a "Grasshopper" like experimental rocket. Of course it is a joint European project, so the whole thing will move at a snail's pace. By the time they have their Grasshopper, SpaceX will have landed on Mars...
That's making the assumption that they actually WANT a space program, instead of a budget item that can be stretched out eternally but doesn't need results. Kind of like NASA and the SLS - as long as it never flies they're good. If it flies and fails, then they'll have to justify the money wasted in development, but they'll probably get more to work the kinks out. If it flies and succeeds, they're going to be forced to justify why it took so long and so much money, and why they don't have the next one in the pipeline to be ready for flight in 6 months. (Pulling out arbitrary time frame there.)

As long as they can delay, they're good.

Whereas Musk just keeps on going. It's remarkable what can happen once you've got one man basically deciding what's going to be done and on what schedule instead of an unaccountable committee, isn't it?

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 5:23 pm
by Maui
It does appear they are now actively de-orbiting one of the Starlink satellites:
https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1 ... 8001314816

Regarding ESA, they are actually now dipping their toes in a commercial launch provider program as well:
https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Spac ... n_services

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 7:35 am
by Maui
Some good reading has arrived just in time for the weekend:

https://netspublic.grc.nasa.gov/main/20 ... arship.pdf

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 8:20 am
by williatw
SpaceX Starship Update: NASA to work with Elon Musk on next moon mission

Published on Aug 4, 2019


SpaceX Starship Update- NASA to work with Elon Musk on next moon mission
Traveling to the Moon is hard, and sending crewed spacecraft to other planets will be even harder. One of the major challenges in deep space travel is the question of power, since, at present, spacecraft have to take all their required fuel with them when they leave Earth.
NASA wants to change that. As NASA forges ahead to the Moon — and eventually to Mars — the agency is counting on private industry to help advance the exploration frontier.
On Tuesday, July 30, NASA announced new partnerships with various aerospace organizations, aimed at advancing technologies which could be critical for future missions.
The agency is partnering with more than a dozen U.S. companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin and more, on 19 different technology-development projects.
This round of Space Act Agreements (SAAs) shows a heavy focus on technologies and concepts that could benefit exploration of the Moon and deep space more generally, including lunar landers, food production, reusable rockets, and more.
In October, NASA put out a call for proposals from the industry, asking them to detail different technologies they’d like to develop through the program. Now, the companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin that have been selected will work with various NASA centers, which will provide their facilities, expertise, hardware and software. The main goals of the partnerships involve further spurring the commercial space sector and helping to mature technologies that could benefit NASA and the nation down the road.
"NASA's proven experience and unique facilities are helping commercial companies mature their technologies at a competitive pace," Jim Reuter, associate administrator of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), said in a statement. "We've identified technology areas NASA needs for future missions, and these public-private partnerships will accelerate their development so we can implement them faster."
In this Video Engineering Today analyzes why NASA partners with SpaceX & Blue Origin for future Moon technology?
Let’s get into details. #SpaceX #Starship #EngineeringToday




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJsjEKX0wlE

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 3:44 am
by Taliesin
The Talk-Pollywell forum is very quiet these days.. Even space X completing it's 150 meter hover test of the Raptor engine didn't get a blip..

Thoroughly enjoyed this explanation of the Full flow, closed cycle engine used for the Raptor by Everyday Astronaut

https://everydayastronaut.com/raptor-engine/
40 mins but enjoyable for the layman.

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 6:16 pm
by JLawson
Folks might find this interesting...

The Starship is complete.

And Elon Musk isn't one of the smoothest speakers out there. But THAT, compared to what he's done? Very, very forgivable.

https://youtu.be/sOpMrVnjYeY

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 10:17 pm
by williatw
Taliesin wrote:The Talk-Pollywell forum is very quiet these days..
Yes I have noticed that too...barely a peep. Maybe people are busy hunting "wabbits".

Re: SpaceX News

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:27 am
by Skipjack
I am still lurking waiting for news, or waiting to post news ;)