SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf] • Hacker News Board

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#51

Post by golergka » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:01 AM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #19

eitland wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US military. Besides cost and risk there's nothing preventing this from being used on earth, in fact I've already seen the use case mentioned here on HN.

DOD is already talking to SpaceX for rapid cargo transport applications. “A military team is working with SpaceX to flesh out the prospect of shipping routes that pass through space, the head of U.S. Transportation Command said Oct. 7.” “That group could demonstrate as early as 2021 whether quickly sending cargo around the globe via space is feasible, Army Gen. Stephen R. Lyons said.” “Think about moving the equivale…

> rapid

As in rapid disassembly?

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#52

Post by elihu » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:03 AM UTC

Ballu wrote: post #44

"The cargo version can also be used for rapid point-to-point Earth transport." Why no one is talking about this. This will be game changer if can be done with bigger payload. There are models created earlier that using rocket technology/mechanism, LA-HK can be reached in 2 hours. This can have huge impact on avionics esp with trade.

That seems very expensive and inefficient compared to planes or ships. What's the use case you're imagining where a plane is just too slow?

The only thing I can think of is if some service like FedEx can amortize the cost of the launch across a very large number of low-mass items and charge a premium for fast delivery.

Still, I'd assume that this would use vastly more fuel per mass of cargo moved than a plane, and should probably be avoided for CO2 emission reasons even if it works out economically. Is my assumption wrong?

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#53

Post by luma » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:03 AM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #19

eitland wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US military. Besides cost and risk there's nothing preventing this from being used on earth, in fact I've already seen the use case mentioned here on HN.

DOD is already talking to SpaceX for rapid cargo transport applications. “A military team is working with SpaceX to flesh out the prospect of shipping routes that pass through space, the head of U.S. Transportation Command said Oct. 7.” “That group could demonstrate as early as 2021 whether quickly sending cargo around the globe via space is feasible, Army Gen. Stephen R. Lyons said.” “Think about moving the equivale…

Anywhere on the globe in less than an hour... plus months of planning and days of preparing the launch vehicle. How fast can one "scramble" a Starship off the ground?

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#54

Post by ckozlowski » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:04 AM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #19

eitland wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US military. Besides cost and risk there's nothing preventing this from being used on earth, in fact I've already seen the use case mentioned here on HN.

DOD is already talking to SpaceX for rapid cargo transport applications. “A military team is working with SpaceX to flesh out the prospect of shipping routes that pass through space, the head of U.S. Transportation Command said Oct. 7.” “That group could demonstrate as early as 2021 whether quickly sending cargo around the globe via space is feasible, Army Gen. Stephen R. Lyons said.” “Think about moving the equivale…

A C-17 load that doesn't require a ground stop in a foreign country or a tanker based in another country to refuel that same cargo plane. Advantage indeed.

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#55

Post by qwertox » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:06 AM UTC

kukanani wrote: post #31

mshroyer wrote: post #27

Do any other launch service providers, like United Launch Alliance, make these specifications publicly available (without needing to sign an NDA or whatever)?

Yes. Here's Delta IV: https://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/default-source/rockets/delta-...

This looks like what I was expecting to see.

The Users Guide from SpaceX looks more like a brochure.

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#56

Post by schappim » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:08 AM UTC

Just a heads up, you can extract a great widescreen desktop image from the cover page background[1].

[1] Yup, I know the guide says: "no portion hereof is to be copied, reproduced, or disseminated without the prior written consent of SpaceX".

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#57

Post by toomuchtodo » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:13 AM UTC

luma wrote: post #53

toomuchtodo wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DOD is already talking to SpaceX for rapid cargo transport applications. “A military team is working with SpaceX to flesh out the prospect of shipping routes that pass through space, the head of U.S. Transportation Command said Oct. 7.” “That group could demonstrate as early as 2021 whether quickly sending cargo around the globe via space is feasible, Army Gen. Stephen R. Lyons said.” “Think about moving the equivale…

Anywhere on the globe in less than an hour... plus months of planning and days of preparing the launch vehicle. How fast can one "scramble" a Starship off the ground?

I assume fast turn around times from the Boca Chica (Texas) spaceport. Pick whichever Starship SN is refreshed and ready to go. Less Space Shuttle, more Southwest Airlines. Vehicles on the ground are vehicles not generating revenue.

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#58

Post by andrewljohnson » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:13 AM UTC

ciarannolan wrote: post #5

All the references like "Please contact sales@spacex.com to evaluate how Starship can meet your unique needs" are pretty funny. I'd like to imagine some mid-level manager working on his little satellite project browsing this pamphlet, thinking, "Hmmm, this 'SpaceX' company looks interesting. Let me send them an email."

Fake it until the mid-level managers actually have Mars needs then make it?

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#59

Post by fy20 » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:14 AM UTC

Ballu wrote: post #44

"The cargo version can also be used for rapid point-to-point Earth transport." Why no one is talking about this. This will be game changer if can be done with bigger payload. There are models created earlier that using rocket technology/mechanism, LA-HK can be reached in 2 hours. This can have huge impact on avionics esp with trade.

For cargo I don't really see how it could have that much on an impact. Using aircraft we can already transport large volumes of items fairly quickly around the world, yet most freight is still transported by sea because it's cheaper.

A standard '96" pallet' on aircraft is 317cm x 244cm x 244cm (125" x 96" x 96") and can hold 6,804 kg (15,000lb). Specialised aircraft can carry even more - some aircraft can transport trains!

The only place where I could see needing to ship stuff quicker - that could actually afford it as I'm guessing it won't be cheap - would be the military. I'm not sure that's nessasarily a good thing though...

Re: SpaceX Starship Users' Guide [pdf]

#60

Post by ocdtrekkie » Tue, Dec 08, 2020, 4:15 AM UTC

qwertox wrote: post #55

kukanani wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. Here's Delta IV: https://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/default-source/rockets/delta-...

This looks like what I was expecting to see. The Users Guide from SpaceX looks more like a brochure.

Indeed. I expect a user guide to have exact instructions on how to use a device. SpaceX's brochure doesn't even go far enough to call it a specification sheet.