The Starship "I risk sending a thread off topic" Homeless Posts Thread 1

[Chris Bergin]

Relief Valve Thread.

Given this is a very busy section of the forum, I thought it might be a good idea to have this thread where we can move off topic chats and allow people to just fire away with posts that may not warrant a new thread of its own, etc. etc.

Not quite a party thread (like on SpaceX missions), but that kinda idea where it keeps the main threads clear of wandering and they can get moved here rather than trimmed.

[Star-Dust]

Thanks for the opportunity offered by the new thread,

I just wanted to evoke my feelings and thoughts at this turning point (for me) of the developement of SS, we're a week or so from a 150 meters hop, a culminating attempt ahead after a series of setbacks and delays.

SX is ramping up her BC facilty with hangars and tools more and more elaborate, an indicator of the transition to the next level of the developement but most importantly (for me) a proof of the full engagement of the compagny in her enterprise which wont allow any plans reverse.

With sceptism at first, I got to understand what EM was doing in BC and with that  understanding a confidance build-up, I think he was trying the workability of steel (structure), if the coming test is succeful I think we will witness a rapid developement to the next stage, which is engines/aerodynamics.

I still have some concerns regarding the complexity of the 31 engined SH, and how the development process will be handled.

[geza]

I still have some concerns regarding the complexity of the 31 engined SH, and how the development process will be handled.

FH is launched with 29 engines in operation. I think, fin actuation under entry conditions will be the really challenging issue.

[Star-Dust]

I still have some concerns regarding the complexity of the 31 engined SH, and how the development process will be handled.

FH is launched with 29 engines in operation. I think, fin actuation under entry conditions will be the really challenging issue.

FH is a kind of 3 Falcon-9 (3x9=27) attached together, you can't do a parallel with SH, May be just an apprehension but I feel always some uncertainty on things never done before.

[spacenut]

I'm not concerned about the Super heavy booster.  They already know how to do a booster.  I too believe the hardest part to Starship will be the reentry and how the fins will work.  Once this is solved, it seems like everything else will be downhill. 

I also think for welding they may want to use robotic welding as much as possible to avoid mistakes like week spots, too much weld, not enough weld, etc. 

[intelati]

I'm not concerned about the Super heavy booster.  They already know how to do a booster.  I too believe the hardest part to Starship will be the reentry and how the fins will work.  Once this is solved, it seems like everything else will be downhill.

And the current work backs your thoughts up. SpaceX didn't start with the big "dumb" booster, but the part that has to come back to earth from orbit.

[sucramdi]

I still have some concerns regarding the complexity of the 31 engined SH, and how the development process will be handled.

FH is launched with 29 engines in operation. I think, fin actuation under entry conditions will be the really challenging issue.

FH is a kind of 3 Falcon-9 (3x9=27) attached together, you can't do a parallel with SH, May be just an apprehension but I feel always some uncertainty on things never done before.

Superheavy might be "only" 4 more engines than Falcon Heavy, but having all of those engines feeding off the same fuel tank and pushing against the same bulkhead is a significant new design challenge.

[Star-Dust]

I'm not concerned about the Super heavy booster.  They already know how to do a booster.  I too believe the hardest part to Starship will be the reentry and how the fins will work.  Once this is solved, it seems like everything else will be downhill. 

I also think for welding they may want to use robotic welding as much as possible to avoid mistakes like week spots, too much weld, not enough weld, etc.

I think reentry will be all about materials resistance (to heat and stress) choice, this will not add any engeneering solving issues. On the contrary accomodating 31 engines with all necessery plumbing and connections, the weight pressure sustained (3.580 tons +1.300 tons = 4.880 tons),............. I imagine also the soviet abondoning the N1 rocket project for some valid complexity realted reason.

[Tulse]

Having multiple engines pushing against the same bulkhead is likely simpler than having them push against three separate bulkheads and structural interconnects that also have to release at some point.

[steveleach]

I'm not concerned about the Super heavy booster.  They already know how to do a booster.  I too believe the hardest part to Starship will be the reentry and how the fins will work.  Once this is solved, it seems like everything else will be downhill.

And the current work backs your thoughts up. SpaceX didn't start with the big "dumb" booster, but the part that has to come back to earth from orbit.

Compared to some of the other challenges that SpaceX are tackling with Starship, SuperHeavy is maybe not so hard.

But building a 230ft high, fully reusable, stainless steel booster with 31 FFSC engines totalling 16 million lbf of thrust isn't exactly trivial.

[intelati]

I'm not concerned about the Super heavy booster.  They already know how to do a booster.  I too believe the hardest part to Starship will be the reentry and how the fins will work.  Once this is solved, it seems like everything else will be downhill.

And the current work backs your thoughts up. SpaceX didn't start with the big "dumb" booster, but the part that has to come back to earth from orbit.

Compared to some of the other challenges that SpaceX are tackling with Starship, SuperHeavy is maybe not so hard.

But building a 230ft high, fully reusable, stainless steel booster with 31 FFSC engines totalling 16 million lbf of thrust isn't exactly trivial.

Sure, but compared to the technical nightmares of the belly flop, a booster can be modeled pretty effectively with the existing Falcon 9. And any physical limitations of the steel can be compensated with pure strength at least until a lighter alternative is made.

But that is to say, the Starship system is an incredibly risky and difficult undertaking. I'm amazed that they are taking this risk, and am glad I have this site to keep watch over their literal daily progress.

[wannamoonbase]

LOL, I love this thread title.  (a good laugh to start the day).

We're all in it up to the elbows on SS and SH.  However, the attention once this thing starts flying will escalate.

Strap in!

[anof]

The N1 did not have any ground tests prior to the launches. They did not have money or time to build the test facilities. Also the engines could only be fired once. They tested some of the of engines from each batch.

[Okie_Steve]

Having multiple engines pushing against the same bulkhead is likely simpler than having them push against three separate bulkheads and structural interconnects that also have to release at some point.

Hey! Who says they aren't really planning a super duper heavy with two strap-on super heavy side booster. What do you think all those extra nose cones are for?   

[Star-Dust]

Having multiple engines pushing against the same bulkhead is likely simpler than having them push against three separate bulkheads and structural interconnects that also have to release at some point.

Hey! Who says they aren't really planning a super duper heavy with two strap-on super heavy side booster. What do you think all those extra nose cones are for?   

I do love the idea of a SH-SS with two or four boosters (reusable) how this could improve the overall yield of the rocket in terms of payload and financially.

[moreno7798]

I still have some concerns regarding the complexity of the 31 engined SH, and how the development process will be handled.

FH is launched with 29 engines in operation. I think, fin actuation under entry conditions will be the really challenging issue.

As long as the motors can handle the entry loads they should be fine. They have the entry/landing algorithms pretty much figured out.

[sucramdi]

RE: Boca Chica non-update photos thread

Excellent idea! Lots of beautiful photos floating around, but many aren't really updates.

[RotoSequence]

How do you even pack in 31 engines in such a tight space? There's gonna be next to zero maneuvering room around the maze of pipes and pipe fittings for installing (or worse, removing) the various fixtures.

[mikegi]

I think there's a real chance this thing could become Musk's Spruce Goose. I'm not terribly concerned about SH except that it's so big ... because it has to lift the SS jack-of-all-trades monstrosity.

[butters]

I think there's a real chance this thing could become Musk's Spruce Goose. I'm not terribly concerned about SH except that it's so big ... because it has to lift the SS jack-of-all-trades monstrosity.

Elon Musk is often compared to Howard Hughes, but his track record thus far looks more like Kelly Johnson. Starship is his Blackbird. It's not a Spruce Goose, it's an Oxcart. It's not crazy, it's just near the edge of what's possible with the latest technology, and he's bringing tremendous engineering resources to bear on the project, applying lessons learned from multiple previous projects that have overcome setbacks to achieve remarkable success. Boca Chica is the Palmdale Skunkworks of our time, and we're watching it live!