878 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Yes, it needs multiple deliveries. But not all along the route. It needs maybe 8 deliveries to fill it up before it leaves earth orbit and heads for Mars.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 August 2025 - 02:54 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

All systems go: Canada's first commercial space launch to take off from St. Lawrence Friday

 

NordSpace CEO says he's feeling great about the launch

https://www.cbc.ca/n...aunch-1.7620025

[Mike K.]

It's a test of NordSpace's single-engine rocket, called Taiga — a six-metre tall rocket created using 3D-printed metal. The launch was originally scheduled for Monday, was hampered by the weather.

Yikes.

[max.bravo]

Not much to get excited about here…

The launch was delayed again on Friday morning due to an issue with one of the final steps: a quick disconnect from the nitrogen tank, according to the company. NordSpace said the rocket entered safe mode around that time when a generator tripped and stopped supplying compressed air.


Another attempt will be made during a launch window at 3 p.m. NT.

NordSpace CEO Rahul Goel says the issue is a quick fix, and he's optimistic the second attempt will go well.

When the launch does finally happen, it will be suborbital, meaning the rocket won't orbit Earth, and will only be in the air for about a minute before it splashes into the Atlantic Ocean.

[Victoria Watcher]

SpaceX to launch Starship today in crucial test of Elon Musk’s Mars plans  

Starship Flight 11 follows several setbacks in 2025 that have delayed Nasa’s Moon mission

 

https://www.independ...s-b2844234.html

[Victoria Watcher]

Launch still on for 4:15pm or so.

[Victoria Watcher]

[Victoria Watcher]

8 minutes until rocket takeoff.

[Victoria Watcher]

All 33 engines at go!

[Victoria Watcher]

Re-entry in about 7 minutes:

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=VMD-Wo8jz90

[Victoria Watcher]

On Monday, October 13, 2025, at 6:23 p.m. CT, Starship lifted off from Starbase, Texas on its eleventh flight test. This was the final flight of the second-generation Starship and first generation Super Heavy booster, as well as the final launch from the current configuration of Pad 1. Every major objective of the flight test was achieved, providing valuable data as we prepare the next generation of Starship and Super Heavy.

 

The flight test began with Super Heavy igniting all 33 Raptor engines and ascending over the Gulf. The successful first-stage ascent was followed by a hot-staging maneuver, with Starship’s upper stage igniting its six Raptor engines to continue its flight to space.

 

Following stage separation, the Super Heavy booster completed its boostback burn to put it on a course to a pre-planned splashdown zone off the coast of Texas using 12 of the 13 planned engines. Under the same angle of attack tested on the previous flight, the booster descended until successfully igniting all 13 planned engines (including one that did not relight during the boostback burn) for the high-thrust portion of the landing burn. The booster successfully executed a unique landing burn planned for use on the next generation booster. Super Heavy hovered above the water before shutting down its engines and splashing down.

 

After completing a full-duration ascent burn, Starship achieved its planned velocity and trajectory. During flight, Starship successfully deployed eight Starlink simulators and executed the third in-space relight of a Raptor engine, demonstrating a critical capability for future deorbit burns.

 

Starship re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and was able to gather extensive data on the performance of its heatshield as it was intentionally stressed to test the limits of the vehicle’s capabilities. In the final minutes of flight, Starship performed a dynamic banking maneuver to mimic the trajectory that future missions returning to Starbase will fly. Starship then guided itself using its four flaps to the pre-planned splashdown zone in the Indian Ocean, successfully executing a landing flip, landing burn, and soft splashdown.

 

Focus now turns to the next generation of Starship and Super Heavy, with multiple vehicles currently in active build and preparing for tests. This next iteration will be used for the first Starship orbital flights, operational payload missions, propellant transfer, and more as we iterate to a fully and rapidly reusable vehicle with service to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

 

 

https://www.spacex.c...rship-flight-11

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 October 2025 - 02:05 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Space startup unveils 1-hour orbital delivery system

Inversion Space's Arc spacecraft could deliver cargo from orbit to anywhere on Earth in under an hour





It can stay in orbit for up to five years, ready to return to Earth when needed. That flexibility means the spacecraft could one day drop off medical supplies, drones or military equipment at hard-to-reach locations.

https://www.foxnews....delivery-system

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 October 2025 - 07:05 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

[lanforod]

Oh wow. I certainly had no idea! If you'd asked me before I saw this thread, I would have assumed like, 10.

[Victoria Watcher]

[Victoria Watcher]

Rocket launches so far this year:

 

 

 

[Victoria Watcher]

Trump renominates billionaire Musk ally Jared Isaacman to lead NASA

 

 

The private astronaut, who has twice been to space in commercially funded missions with SpaceX, was nominated by the US president in the spring, but the rug was pulled at the last minute over his previous donations to Democrats.

 

 

https://news.sky.com...d-nasa-13464219

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 November 2025 - 02:16 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin on Thursday (Nov 13) launched its New Glenn rocket, pulling off a stellar launch from Cape Canaveral. After days of waiting on shifting weather both above Florida and out in space, the company sent its New Glenn rocket into the sky with a pair of NASA spacecraft bound for Mars. What's more, a few minutes after the launch, it also achieved the landing of its booster, prompting the audience at Cape Canaveral to erupt into applause. Until now, only SpaceX had managed to bring back an orbital class booster in one piece.

 

https://www.wionews....y-1763108063664

Edited by Victoria Watcher, Today, 01:12 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Chinese astronauts return from space station after delay blamed on space debris damage

 

BEIJING (AP) — Three Chinese astronauts returned from their nation's space station Friday after more than a week's delay because the return capsule they had planned to use was damaged, likely from being hit by space debris.

 

https://www.timescol...damage-11487696

Edited by Victoria Watcher, Today, 03:30 AM.