4533

GAO rejects Blue Origins Dynetics challenge to NASA awarding SpaceX the lunar lander contract.

Good for the GAO.

4534

That sounds like it could have ended very, very badly. I am so thankful that they managed to sort it out; really speaks to the fact that it’s literally rocket scientists working on this.

Obligatory link: Brain Surgeon - That Mitchell & Webb Look , Series 3 - BBC Two - YouTube

4535

Skip - I had assumed Mars didn’t have a molten core since it doesn’t have a magnetosphere field to protect it from the Sun’s radiation. Since it does have a molten core, does this mean it’s not a heavy metal core (Nickel or Iron) and can’t generate a magnetic field because of that?

4536

https://starlinerupdates.com/starliner-team-will-take-additional-time-to-prepare-for-launch/

I almost feel bad for the SLS team this has to be frustrating. But mostly I feel bad as taxpayer that we are continuing to throw good money after bad.

4537

It’s Boeing. They’re a ghost of what they used to be. Feels like they’re just around to drain us taxpayer’s of money.

Meanwhile, Superheavy got rolled out and I don’t see how thing doesn’t crinkle and fold in half being so tall. At this point it’s like an empty pop can x1,000,000.

4538

I saw claims SpaceX attached all 29 engines overnight. Formula One style :)

4539

For those of you of a more home centric science bent, last night was Saturns conjunction with Earth. Jupiter is coming up on the 20th. So if you have a telescope, or even a decent pair of binoculars, get on out there. Even from my back yard in a major city suburb, I can see 4 of Jupiter’s moons with my 76mm reflector. So enjoy!

4540

How do you get that last engine installed when there’s no space left?

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4541

I thought Boeing had agreed to fund this mission themselves after last year’s botched launch.

4542

That’s why it is an empty soda can. All Boing can afford.

4543

Yeah, since it’s a fixed-price contract they can only get more money if NASA adds on new requirements. The contract said they had to do an uncrewed space station docking test, therefore it was rather hard to get out of paying for it. Maybe if only one or two test goals hadn’t been met someone would have found a way to let them wave those tests on to the crew test flight, but they had several safety issues pile up.

I think NASA had already given Boeing some inflation on their contract earlier where they provided some extra services and got to bill more than they were initially allowed.

4544

That’s definitely part of it. It’s a real pity, Boeing was my number #2 choice for jobs after college, and I’ve often wonder what life would have been life if I moved to the PNW, instead of Silicon Valley.

To be fair to Boeing, it’s not like the other space companies like Blue Origin etc. are moving all that much faster. Part of the issue is that SpaceX is just advancing rocket science so quickly it makes everyone else look bad. As one person on the SpaceX facebook group posted, its like watching the whole space program on fast forward.

Here is a really interesting tour/interview from Everyday Astronaut with Elon

Two warning it is part one of three interview, it is and its an hour! There is some heavy duty rocket science discussion, that I was barely able to follow.

That said around 15 minute mark Elon starts talking about SpaceX design philosophy. I found it fascinating because I think is applicable to designing anything, and its very different than most design philosophies.

  1. Make your design requirements less dumb. Be especially careful if the original designer is a smart engineer, smart people make mistakes but folks are afraid to question them. Design requirements need a name associated with then not a department. (He gives example why that’s true.)
  2. Delete process and parts. If you aren’t putting back 10% of the requirements yout aren’t deleting enough.
  3. Simplify or optimize. Don’t waste time optimize stuff you don’t need!
  4. Accelerate cycle time. Which you can clearly see in the number of Starship prototype SpaceX
  5. Automate.
    Elon than gives an amazing story about how he did everything in the wrong order on the Model 3.

The only person I’ve heard who spent as much time as Elon emphasizing getting rid of stuff is Sid Meier.

4545

“Omit needless words!”

(Is Strunk and White still used in college writing classes? … Anyone?
… Bueller?)

4546

Asking the wrong person. I’ve definitely read S&W but can’t say I’m faithful follower.

4547

The important questions. :P

We are doomed.

4548

Because “fuck space.”

4549

Some fun videos of Astronauts showing off their Olympic moves in space.

Honestly, they should send a gymnast to space and if possible give her space to do a routine.

4550

OK, how is that thing not going to crumple like a squashed beer can under the rigid weight of Starship? The outer shell of Starship is heavier than the outer shell of the Super Heavy due to the added heat shielding and fins. This has got to put a lot of disproportionate weight and stress on it. Height comparison vs. Saturn V.

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4551

I don’t know the answer to your question specifically, but I’m pretty sure someone Did The Math™.

4552

If in fact the booster is lower weight unfueled and not strong enough it might require support from the launch tower until fueling. I’d like to see a source on this, though (for example, is this with or without cargo?)

Once fueled, the pressure of the fuel should strengthen it enough (and the booster will definitely weigh a lot more than Starship once fueled.) Other prominent rockets have done this before, but it is risky.