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@jeff_foust - ASAP Nield: fault tree nearly complete in investigation of Crew Dragon Static fire accident; also “tremendous amount” of work being done on COPVs and planning for load-and-go for crewed Dragon launches.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1170019684990771201

Submitted September 06, 2019 at 09:53PM by CProphet
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<b>Community Starship Loads Model: Chapter 3 - LD0.1 Release!</b>
Hello again! I know I said last time I would wait until after Elon's next update, but I've been hard at work and I think we've got enough to cover for a major update. First of all, if you're behind and want a full re-cap, you can see my previous posts linked below. In short: I'm interested in studying Starship from a structural perspective. The first major project I'm doing in this realm is called a "Loads Model" which is basically a coarse Finite Element Model (FEM) with simplifications and optimizations made to the vehicle in an effort to balance complexity (bad) and accuracy (good). I'm doing this because I'm interested in it and I want to master the skill-set.Previous Posts: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/awy9t1/cslm_an_introduction_to_my_latest_project/">Chapter 1</a>, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/cgmvxi/community_starship_loads_model_chapter_2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x">Chapter 2</a>.1 Modeling and Geometry1.1 GeometryI previously showed the OML. Since then I've created some basic internal structure. There are currently 3 basic types of parts included:Skins - Fuselage, Canards, Fins, and Tail. Each one has at least 1 property to change thickness as desired.Bulkhead - Personally, I make a minor distinction between bulkheads and domes. Both are oriented normal to the fuselage longitudinal direction (X-axis). Bulkheads serve the primary purpose of providing transverse support (fuselage bending).Domes - Domes serve the primary purpose of capping a pressure vessel, and have significant out-of-plane load.All of these objects can be seen in Fig 1 below.&#8203;<a href="https://i.redd.it/jl89cl92j9l31.png">Fig 1. Model Geometry Definition</a>I'll give each part a brief description here.Starting at the back, we have what I'm calling the Thrust Plate bulkhead or the thrust structure. As we've seen on the <a href="https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47730.msg1979285#msg1979285">orbital prototypes</a>, this area is actually much more complex than a simple plate. So it will most likely need to be expanded in the near future. The base Thrust Plate is located at approximately X 48.28.Next up we have the Methane Dome or Lower Dome (I'm assuming Methane will be in the lower tank and LOX in the upper). The dome isn't perfectly spherical, and has an X radius of 3m, instead of 4.5m. The dome base (the largest section) is located at approximately X 44.45.Forward of the Lower dome we have the Common Dome. Same story here. Base is located at approximately X 35.50.Forward again, we have the LOX dome, or the Upper Dome. This dome is flipped from the previous two, but is otherwise the same. Base is located at approximately X 28.Next, is what I'm referring to as the Cargo Bulkhead. This represents the cutoff for "usable" space forward, and "working stuff" aft. X 24.14.Finally, we have the "Crane Bulkhead." This is located approximately where the crane and cargo doors will be (judging from the renders). X 13.21.Sidenote: In reality there will likely be additional rings periodically along the fuselage. This is especially the case at the leading and trailing edges of the canards/fins. I may try and add this in the future, after some more important updates. As we've seen in some of the prototype pictures, there are also a significant amount of stringers running axially along the fuselage to provide the appropriate stability and bending stiffness with thinner skins (read weight reduction). All in all, I expect the inside of most of the fuselage to look something <a href="https://cnet2.cbsistatic.com/img/mlBF8Lxs-Yw194YiovOvqM6aNeI=/936x527/2014/07/24/918d51c1-cb85-4974-8a43-6743189c2b81/fuselage-interior.jpg">like this</a>, but metallic.&#8203;1.2 MeshingNow that we've defined the geometry, I exported all of it, and "properly" meshed it for structural simulation. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the model. Approximately…
Introduction to the r/SpaceX Community Awards
Introduction to the r/SpaceX Community AwardsThis is just a small meta post to let you know that we have recently added some new Awards as part of Reddit's Community Awards. These are supplementary to the awards we are all used to (Gold, Silver and Platinum) and you might have already seen them in other subreddits. Individual subreddits can have a number of unique custom awards, each with their own icon, specific to the subreddit topic.We introduced the following awards:Award nameCost to the userCoins to the communityFantastic Fly Back500100Informative Grid Fins500100Interesting Approach1000200Norminal Legs1000200Perfect Touchdown!2000400We also have a mod only award, called "Mission Success", that costs 1800 coins and is basically equivalent to the standard Platinum. We plan to use this award to give back to the the community the coins that the subreddit earns via community awards.Last but not least, big thanks to u/zlsa for providing the awards icons, really appreciated!

Submitted September 08, 2019 at 05:03PM by ElongatedMuskrat
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Elon Musk on Twitter: Not currently planning for pad abort with early Starships, but maybe we should. Vac engines would be dual bell & fixed (no gimbal), which means we can stabilize nozzle against hull.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1171125683327651840

Submitted September 09, 2019 at 09:23PM by Fizrock
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SpaceX FCC Filing - Starship Comms Supporting suborbital test out of Boca Chica
Quote from FCC filing: "This STA is necessary to authorize Starship suborbital test vehicle communications for SpaceX Mission 1569 from the Boca Chica launch pad, and the experimental recovery following the suborbital launch. Recovery is limited to 2 functions: (1) prelaunch checkout test of the TC uplink from the ground station at Boca Chica (less than five minutes in duration) and (2) experimental uplink testing from the ground station at Boca Chica during descent. Trajectory data will be provided directly to NTIA, USAF, and NASA. All downrange Earth stations are receive-only. Launch licensing authority is FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation."Link: https://fcc.report/ELS/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp-SpaceX/1631-EX-ST-2019

Submitted September 10, 2019 at 03:59AM by WindWatcherX
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SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell at World Satellite Business Week panel: Expect to launch 7-8 more times this year. This is first year we’re ready before customers; why some launches slipping into 2020. “Hopefully” flying crew this year.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1171431933865127937

Submitted September 10, 2019 at 04:38PM by thesheetztweetz
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@nextspaceflight: New @NOAA imagery shows that #SpaceX is making significant progress on their planned operations center at Roberts Road. It is likely that the Florida-based Starship construction will eventually be moved here, as it is on KSC property and will allow for easier transport.
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1171855298769952768

Submitted September 11, 2019 at 10:00PM by CProphet
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SpaceX on Twitter: "Ahead of our in-flight abort test for @Commercial_Crew —which will demonstrate Crew Dragon's ability to safely carry astronauts away from the rocket in the unlikely event of an emergency—our team has completed over 700 tests of the spacecraft's SuperDraco engines"
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1172215123777216512

Submitted September 12, 2019 at 08:27PM by ethan829
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@jeff_foust: Raúl Kulichevsky of Argentina’s CONAE space agency says their SAOCOM-1B Earth obs satellite will launch next February on a Falcon 9. (SAOCOM-1A also launched on a Falcon 9 last October.)
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1172448572777697287

Submitted September 13, 2019 at 01:27PM by CProphet
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Launching F9sim (Falcon 9 - First Stage Simulator)
I'm happy to announce the launch of F9sim (Falcon 9 - First Stage Simulator). This application uses engineering equations to simulate the first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket in real-time with structural, aerodynamic and engine performance telemetry data live on-screen. You can draw curves to control throttle modulation, vehicle attitude, setup triggers to control Main Engine Cut Off (MECO) and Stage Separation points and compare the accuracy of the results with a real video playing at same time.The application is still being developed, therefore, the experience includes the launching stage and it goes on up to the separation of the second stage.You are invited to join this project!, make and share your own simulations and help to improve the accuracy of the results.For more information and download link, please visit:http://f9sim.mcrenox.com.arFalcon 9 - First Stage SimulatorThis application is intended only for educational purposes and can be freely distributed. This application is not affiliated with, maintained, authorized, endorsed, or sponsored by SpaceX or any of its affiliates. SpaceX and Falcon 9 are registered trademarks of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation.

Submitted September 13, 2019 at 08:23PM by DavidAGra
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Julia on Twitter: I took a bus ride today. Could it be that construction is about to start on the Starship pad at 39A? It looks like it to me!
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1172896260241666054

Submitted September 14, 2019 at 05:53PM by FutureMartian97
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Elon Musk on Twitter: Droid Junkyard, Tatooine [Photo Inside Starship Tent]
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1173872132880662528

Submitted September 17, 2019 at 10:12AM by OccupyMarsNow
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Paul Wooster, Principal Mars Development Engineer, SpaceX will address Mars Society banquet October 19th
https://ift.tt/34Ta704

Submitted September 17, 2019 at 10:02PM by EdwardHeisler
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