Recent Posts

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Engineering / Re: Interesting stuff about SpaceX Starship (hate the name)

« Last post by Nemesis on May 08, 2026, 06:44:37 pm »

Now THIS is interesting.

Superbird-9, Starship, SpaceX

Launch Status - Date/Time TBD - Projected To Launch - June, 2027


A third party contracted launch of Starship with payload. 

This is the link though it will expire at some point:
 
https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/launch/starship-superbird-9/

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Engineering / Re: NEW Amiga500 mini

« Last post by Nemesis on May 07, 2026, 12:05:09 am »

Been watching some youtube videos on this and apparently there is a plan (no guarantee that it will happen) to make a A500 Maxi version sometime later.

Link to video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pizwMpD7JZI

It will be THE A1200.   Details lacking due to a lawsuit from one of the "rights holders".  It will be full size and apparently full function.  What exactly is included in "full function" is unclear at this time.

It was due for release in June (16th I think).  But it has been delayed:

    "Dear RGL community,

    We wanted to take this moment to thank you for your continued, incredible support.

    Without you we would not be able to continue to bring back the iconic gaming machines of our youth that mean so much to us all. With this in mind, we're disappointed to have to tell you that the release of THEA1200 will be delayed.

    The hardware is complete, from chipset to plastics and final moulds, and we've now reached the manufacturing stage. However, global chip shortages and rising plastic production costs, which have taken time to mitigate, have significantly delayed our overall schedule.

    This has had a knock-on effect on development. While functional, the operating system isn't yet where it needs to be. We could ship with a more basic OS, but that wouldn't do justice to THEA1200. This machine is about delivering the best possible Amiga experience, and that means taking the time to get it right.

    THEA1200 will now release on Friday 4th December.

    We know delays are frustrating, and we don't take that lightly. Your feedback has played a huge part in shaping this product, and we want to make sure the final result lives up to that. We'll be sharing regular updates from here on in, so you can see the progress as we go. We will also release a Q&A, which covers pre-orders and additional details.

    Thanks as always for your support, it genuinely makes all of this possible and is heartfelt by our small but passionate team.

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Engineering / Re: Interesting stuff about SpaceX Starship (hate the name)

« Last post by Nemesis on May 01, 2026, 12:25:56 pm »

Ariane 6 has now flown Amazon's Project Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) satellites.

IFT 12 now Tue • May 12th, 2026 6:30 PM - 8:43 PM EDT

Edit: Fri • May 15th, 2026 6:30 PM - 8:43 PM EDT

They have had some trouble apparently with a valve (or valves) on the deluge system.  During a test one of the valves blew off and flew through the air.  Whether faulty installation or an over pressure event is unclear to me.


Edit 2:  Tue • May 19th, 2026 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM EDT

Edit 3: Wed • May 20th, 2026 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM EDT

Edit 4: Thu • May 21st, 2026 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM EDT

If it doesn't launch by Friday the next opportunity I understand is Tues May 26th, probably the same time of day.

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Engineering / Re: Interesting stuff about SpaceX Starship (hate the name)

« Last post by Nemesis on April 27, 2026, 07:18:49 am »

Vulcan now has 20 launches scheduled all for Dec 2026.  Most all of them Government launches that are secret.  Then there are some GPS launches and ONE that is apparently a non government communication satellite.  Why keep giving them launch contracts when they aren't actually launching anything? 

I'm assuming what is holding them up are the SRBs losing their nozzles in flight.  Compared to other rockets they have flown they have switched suppliers for Vulcan to a lower bidder and it isn't working out for them.  Maybe the company will make a fix soon and launches will begin again but until then it doesn't make sense to keep adding more contracts to a company that at present can't fly them reliably.

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Engineering / Re: Voyager 1

« Last post by Nemesis on April 20, 2026, 09:16:57 am »

Due to decreasing power they have deactivated another instrument.  Only 2 still running.

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Engineering / Re: Interesting stuff about SpaceX Starship (hate the name)

« Last post by Nemesis on April 09, 2026, 08:38:49 am »

New Glenn has a date finally Thu • Apr 16th, 2026 6:45 AM - 9:43 AM EDT

EDIT: 1  New Glenn (NG3) is now scheduled for Sun • Apr 19th, 2026  6:45 AM - 9:43 AM EDT

They have done a static fire.  They replaced all the booster engines, made some modifications.  They do say they engines from NG2 will fly again on a future launch, they were supposed to be used on this one.

Starship and Super Heavy have both done their static fires ( 6 and 33 engines respectively).  Historically those static fires precede a Starship launch about 2 weeks later but currently the date still says May 2026.  So it could be late April to mid May plausibly.  Or not, with a new pad and redesigned 1st and 2nd stage with the first V3 Raptors for flight anything can happen. 

EDIT: 2  New Glenn 3 has flown and landed.  They have updated the NG4 (with their lunar lander prototype) launch to Projected To Launch September, 2026.  Which still leaves them with 3 December launches. 

EDIT: 3 NG 3 deployed the satellite in an orbit too low for it to be used and it will be de-orbited.

SpaceX also had their 600th Falcon 9 booster landing.

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Engineering / Re: Interesting stuff about SpaceX Starship (hate the name)

« Last post by Nemesis on April 03, 2026, 06:03:37 pm »

Artemis II launched and is in flight. 

Starship may not launch before May (Musk stated 4-6 weeks).

Edit Starship now saying May, 2026

Edit 2 IFT 13 MAY be orbital if IFT 12 works out well enough.

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Engineering / Re: Interesting stuff about SpaceX Starship (hate the name)

« Last post by Nemesis on March 28, 2026, 06:31:41 am »

As expected New Glenn delayed, now April 2026 and no reason to not expect more delays. 

NG 3 was originally scheduled for Jan 3rd with their Lunar Lander prototype.  As previously mentioned the lander has been replaced in NG3 and it and all other NG flights scheduled for December, an obvious placeholder for "we don't know when". 

Not a good image for their "rapidly reusable" NG booster. 

Edit: I neglected to mention the super heavy booster had a static fire with 10 engines installed.  It only ran about 6 seconds due to an issue (undefined) with the ground systems.  The catch points have been integrated with 2 of the 3 grid fins (reduced from 4). 

Starship has had new tests specifically on the flaps (all 4)

The new tower has had its first modification, a heavy duty roof (seems the Starship may fly right over it on landing with engines running).  Lots of work on going with the old tower as well. 

The new assembly building?  Looks like they are planning for a big future, at least some of the doors are 90 meters tall (~295' 3").  The V1 booster is only 60 meters, V2 71 meters, V3 is 72.3 meters.

Edit 2:  A date has been set for New Glenn Fri Apr 10th, 2026

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Engineering / Re: Interesting stuff about SpaceX Starship (hate the name)

« Last post by Nemesis on March 21, 2026, 09:40:05 pm »

Looks like Artemis is being redesigned. 

SLS (currently) planned for use to Artemis 5. 

Artemis 3 will stay in Earth orbit and practice docking with whichever lander(s) are ready and Artemis 4 will be the landing. 

Missions are supposed to become 10 months apart instead of years. 

Eventually the idea is that Orion will dock with HLS in orbit and be carried to lunar obits by HLS which will then land and eventually return the crew to Orion and have Orion return to Earth alone.

Now will Congress go along with all of this or keep the SLS pork flowing?

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Starfleet Command Models / Re: to all modler

« Last post by Bernard Guignard on March 09, 2026, 07:55:54 am »

Sorry no I don't.