Starship Flight Test 5
On Sunday, we watched the launch of Starship 5 from SpaceX Starbase in Boca Chica in Texas. It was as spectacular as such things always are. The really impressive and innovative part of the test flight was the recovery of the Super Heavy rocket booster. It travelled back to the launch site and was captured by huge metal arms, called ‘chopsticks’ which prevented it from a hard landing. The objective is to use the Super Heavy rocket booster in future launches.
The spacecraft landed in the ocean and will not be recovered. Further tests will practise landing spacecraft on dry land.
Starship is destined to land US astronauts on the moon in 2026 in an ongoing bid to create a permanent settlement on the moon. This would then be the first stage in the development of further settlements in deep space. The USA and China are engaged in a race to become the first deep space settlement pioneers.
If only it was being done by someone other than the Muskie. /AC
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that he's involved, but I suppose he's putting up the dosh, or some of it. Strange fellow.
DeleteI love learning about stars and space exploration. But I have more negative feelings about settlements on the moon.
ReplyDeleteI just feel that we've ruined this planet and are now about to try and do the same in space - though that's limitless.
DeleteMeanwhile...what else might be achieved by redirecting this expense?
ReplyDeleteThat's true, but there are always other discoveries that are made in the process of exploration.
Deleteso "they" really want to go ahead and settle on the moon and other places and end up trashing them just as they have Earth? I'm wondering how any settlement will work when there is no electricity, no gas, no oil...will they pillage more of our Earth to send enormous supplies?
ReplyDeleteThey will find supplies on other planets and mine them. Isn't it enough to ruin one planet?
DeleteDear lord, we are on a mission to ruin another place orbiting in space. I might feel better about it if some space junk was cleaned up.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of junk in space. Humans are so profligate.
DeleteAm I a horrible person for hoping that this whole venture fails?
ReplyDeleteNot at all. There will be side benefits probably. There usually are. Space exploration just offers another project to encourage competition/dominance/war.
DeleteI watched the Apollo launches as a child which had me hooked, now I look at rockets and think of the environment, all the fumes from the rocket fuel, we should use the billions on our own planet. I'm with JayCee.
ReplyDeleteThere's enough on Earth to keep politicians busy and fighting . . .
DeleteI think I want to keep my feet on planet Earth and the air space just above me, not millions of miles away. I didn't watch the launch but it must have been quite a sight.
ReplyDeleteThe prospect of living in space horrifies me. I'm just not a pioneer.
DeleteThis is fascinating. So nice that you got to watch it!
ReplyDeleteIt was quite by chance that we saw it. The only problem was Musk . . .
DeleteI thought it an amazing sight to see and such an achievement too.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to see 'the background' staff cheering this event, so many involved.
All the best Jan
They're the unsung heroes who've spent years researching and experimenting.
DeleteFor me that subject would be a reason to change channel ! And Toby wants to be a fighter pilot ! I hope he changes his mind or the pilot cabin is too small for him !
ReplyDeleteI think you can be safe in the knowledge that Toby is already far too tall to be a fighter pilot. He could do it remotely, of course.
DeleteI'm not a fan of this particular exploit, but find it fascinating what science can conceive and carry out.
ReplyDeleteWithout people with imagination, vision and determination, we would probably still be waiting for the invention of the wheel.
DeleteI grew up during the original space race, and remember those days. Now, these accomplishments are worth a couple of minutes on a specialized TV channel like the Weather Channel. I truly wish the M person would stay out of politics and owning social media and concentrate on what he does best -this. The world would be better for it.
ReplyDeleteI find Musk equally unenticing and wish he would keep his nose and influence out of politics.
DeleteI saw it land. It is hard to imagine where this is all going to end up. Science fiction is becoming science fact!
ReplyDeleteWhatever would the Wright brothers have made of it?
DeleteI saw the launch and capture on the news. Pretty impressive.
ReplyDeleteIt was impressive. Not knowing until the last moments whether the capture would be successful must have been nerve-wracking.
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