Recent Posts

1

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

« Last post by Nemesis on Yesterday at 11:17:56 pm »

This one is big. 

There are 3 Starlink on Falcon 9 launches scheduled between now and Sept 4th.  According to Musk that is the end.  Future launches will be Starlink V3 on Starship. 

There are still a lot on the schedule for this year and next year but non Starlink when it comes to Falcon 9. 

Still looking like mid to late September for IFT 14 and some are casting doubt on it being orbital. 

For the future they are planning a new Starbase in Louisiana with (at least) 10 launch pads and their own construction facilities, propellants made/processed on site.  Beginning launches in 2029. 

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

« Last post by Nemesis on August 23, 2026, 09:40:45 am »

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. 

Superbird 9 is no longer listed (has been for about a week). 

Now listed for the same date:  SpaceX HLS LEO Demo Starship

Seems they plan to launch it from Florida.

Launch Complex 39A Starship Pad Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

3

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

« Last post by Nemesis on August 20, 2026, 09:58:05 pm »

China has had another (different design) booster land.  Methalox engine this time.  The landing was down range not return to launch site but still on land.  Another which seems to be a Falcon 9 competitor. 

Since it lands on land the landing is a little easier and doesn't require the expense of a barge, but since it is down range it gets a cargo increase for a given orbit.  Diameter a little bigger but a little shorter than a Falcon 9.  How they will transport it back I don't know, truck or rail seem most likely. 

So they now have 2 successful Falcon 9 class booster landings, a kerolox and a methalox.  How long till they scale them up or go for a Falcon Heavy like design (or both?).

This appears to give them 2 different booster designs that could be able to launch a Starlink competitor at a similar cost to Starlinks own launch costs. 

The race heats up.

Edit 1: That landed booster?  Sometime after the landing it seems the landing gear failed and it fell over.  So partial success.

Edit 2: It was a stainless steel booster so heavier than Falcon 9 and resembling a mini Starship booster. 

4

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

« Last post by Nemesis on August 14, 2026, 03:36:07 pm »

SpaceX has filed a communications application with the FCC for IFT 14.  The time frame for the permission starts August 28th, it also lists a booster catch AND a ship catch. 

The ship for next launch has had some heat tiles removed and replaced based on the experience with IFT 13.

Edit 1:  Plans to catch the ship on IFT 14 cancelled.  A catch of the ship apparently "months away".  So November at earliest?  Also it may be that the booster won't be caught either.

Edit 2: The previous unofficial IFT 14 launch on Aug 28th seems to be replaced with Sept 15th.  Plausible at least.

5

Engineering / Re: This really ticks me off

« Last post by Javora on August 06, 2026, 06:40:34 pm »

I don't want to go H&S, but in light of recent cyber attacks, I want to reiterate, STOP PUTTING THESE THINGS ONLINE!!!

I’ve been saying that here and everywhere else for over a decade and on Taldren before that.  At this point I think these people are too stupid to learn.  It’s going to take a lot of people dying at this point before anyone changes anything.

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Engineering / Re: This really ticks me off

« Last post by Nemesis on August 06, 2026, 12:42:43 am »

Wasn't it Microsoft who at one point was pushing internet connected teddy bears and cameras in children's rooms?  What could possibly go wrong?

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

« Last post by Nemesis on August 05, 2026, 10:53:21 pm »

Update on the New Glenn explosion.  Seems to be a fault on the main oxygen valve on one of the BE-4 engines.  But they are continuing to look for other faults.

This fault presumably will also apply to the BE-4 engines used on the ULA Vulcan and along with the SRB nozzle faults will keep Vulcan from flying till both are fixed. 

Amazon Leo is supposed to be launching on both New Glenn and Vulcan. 

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Engineering / Re: This really ticks me off

« Last post by knightstorm on August 05, 2026, 05:48:28 pm »

I don't want to go H&S, but in light of recent cyber attacks, I want to reiterate, STOP PUTTING THESE THINGS ONLINE!!!

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

« Last post by Nemesis on July 30, 2026, 10:57:12 pm »

Flight 14 Starship

Projected To Launch  September, 2026

Edit 1:  There are apparently filings that indicate a possible launch date as early as August 20th.

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

« Last post by Nemesis on July 30, 2026, 05:13:33 pm »

Japan has been test flying something similar to Starhopper.  Whether they are targeting competing with Falcon or Starship I don't know.  Seems the French and maybe Germans are also involved.

I've been seeing from spacelaunchschedule.com conflicting information on Vulcan launches.  When looking a Vulcan launches it shows none till December at the earliest.  However when looking at ULA (owners of Vulcan) it shows 1 in September.  According to Scott Manley the SRBs can't be used till sometime next year and the September launches uses the maximum number of SRBs.