What was the context behind this launch? Did they just luanch a grain silk just for kicks or something? That can't possibly be the new design for a rocket
It absolutely is :)
SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
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Re: SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
#22What was the context behind this launch? Did they just luanch a grain silk just for kicks or something? That can't possibly be the new design for a rocket
This is a prototype for the upper (second) stage of spacex's next-gen rocket [1] they are developing that uses their new full-flow staged combustion raptor engine [2]. This is the ship they plan to use for upcoming mars, moon, etc. missions that will basically replace all other spacex rockets as soon as they can figure out how to get it operating. This prototype is missing the nosecone, control surfaces, and other details, but has the most important parts - engines (one instead of 6 like it will eventually have) and fuel+oxidizer tanks.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staged_combustion_cycle#Full-f...
Re: SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
#23What was the context behind this launch? Did they just luanch a grain silk just for kicks or something? That can't possibly be the new design for a rocket
This is a prototype for the upper (second) stage of spacex's next-gen rocket [1] they are developing that uses their new full-flow staged combustion raptor engine [2]. This is the ship they plan to use for upcoming mars, moon, etc. missions that will basically replace all other spacex rockets as soon as they can figure out how to get it operating. This prototype is missing the nosecone, control surfaces, and other de…
This is a prototype of the bottom part for the upper (second) stage of SpaceX's next-gen rocket — Starship.
Re: SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
#24Man, I saw that thing moving sideways right after liftoff and I thought it was a gonner! Huge congrats to SpaceX for landing with an offset engine like that on their first try!!!
The single raptor engine is offset from the center on this test, so it had to do some pretty quick and somewhat dramatic adjustments to keep things upright.
Why is it offset from center? To stress test the steering?
Re: SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
#25What you don't get a sense for in the video is the size of this thing... It's absolutely bonkers.
9m (30 ft) in diameter 50m (160 ft) in height (or would be with the nose-cone)
That's the height of a 12-story building. And this is the upper stage of the full rocket.
Re: SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
The single raptor engine is offset from the center on this test, so it had to do some pretty quick and somewhat dramatic adjustments to keep things upright.
Why is it offset from center? To stress test the steering?
The 'thrust puck' the engine is mounted to is designed for multiple engines, none of which are in the centre.
They are only using one engine this test, but are testing the flight-design thrust puck (as opposed to some interim structure with a centre mount for the single engine).
Re: SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
#27Man, I saw that thing moving sideways right after liftoff and I thought it was a gonner! Huge congrats to SpaceX for landing with an offset engine like that on their first try!!!
In addition to the other replies, it is also standard for rockets to 'clear the pad' as soon as possible, to avoid damaging the ground support equipment as much as possible.
The amount of kick to the side is almost certainly due to the offset engine, but they would definitely design the flight path (with that in mind) to clear the pad as fast as reasonable as well.
Re: SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
The single raptor engine is offset from the center on this test, so it had to do some pretty quick and somewhat dramatic adjustments to keep things upright.
Why is it offset from center? To stress test the steering?
There's some center-of-gravity and shifting of things as you burn up fuel. Not an expert, so here's where the streamer talks a bit about it, including why the space shuttle did it too: https://youtu.be/NJR4gZBLMNw?t=1195
Re: SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
#29This is the first time I've seen video of a starship test that didn't end in catastrophic explosion, so this is great news!
I'm still worried about the overall design, specifically when it comes to landing. The current procedure is for it to fall into the atmosphere flat on its side, then continue to fall for a long time, and then only when it's near the ground it must reorient 90 degrees to upright and then do a final suicide burn to land. It seems like it has too many chances to fail with no recovery, but I'm no rocket scientist.
Re: SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
#30What was the context behind this launch? Did they just luanch a grain silk just for kicks or something? That can't possibly be the new design for a rocket
It's a prototype to test the materials, engine, process etc. Since it's only ever going to do little hops like this one, it doesn't need to be aerodynamic.
It's not clear to me why you need to spend so much fuel hopping around on Mars or the moon.