Gravitics

[AS_501]

https://twitter.com/brickmack/status/1602425257423429632

An @SpaceX Crew Dragon docked to a lone @GraviticsInc StarMax. With independent power and propulsion, and 400 m^3 volume, this can be a station in its own right even without other modules

Seems like the Dragon is out of proportion (too large) in comparison with the StarMax in the graphic, but I could be wrong.

[HMXHMX]

https://twitter.com/brickmack/status/1602425257423429632

An @SpaceX Crew Dragon docked to a lone @GraviticsInc StarMax. With independent power and propulsion, and 400 m^3 volume, this can be a station in its own right even without other modules

Seems like the Dragon is out of proportion (too large) in comparison with the StarMax in the graphic, but I could be wrong.

No, it is properly proportioned.  Dragon II diameter is almost exactly 1/2 the diameter of StarMax.

[DanClemmensen]

Seems like the Dragon is out of proportion (too large) in comparison with the StarMax in the graphic, but I could be wrong.

Starmax must be about 8 m in diameter and about 8 m long.
Dragon 2 with trunk is about 4 m in diameter and about 8 m long.
I did not count pixels, but it looks OK to me.

[brickmack]

Seems like the Dragon is out of proportion (too large) in comparison with the StarMax in the graphic, but I could be wrong.

Starmax must be about 8 m in diameter and about 8 m long.
Dragon 2 with trunk is about 4 m in diameter and about 8 m long.
I did not count pixels, but it looks OK to me.

Including MMOD shielding and the endcones, but not including docking/berthing mechanisms, StarMax is 7.8 meters wide and 9.7 meters long

I'm assuming that this is designed to launch on Starship?  I don't know of any other options, besides maybe New Glenn with a custom fairing. 

According to their Twitter, there are also smaller-diameter versions under consideration for use on other rockets. Sounds like the Starship-sized one is the priority though. Presumably the interior systems are modular and can be used independent of the container size, and scaling manufacturing processes for the pressure vessel hopefully isn't that tough

[DanClemmensen]

Seems like the Dragon is out of proportion (too large) in comparison with the StarMax in the graphic, but I could be wrong.

Starmax must be about 8 m in diameter and about 8 m long.
Dragon 2 with trunk is about 4 m in diameter and about 8 m long.
I did not count pixels, but it looks OK to me.

Including MMOD shielding and the endcones, but not including docking/berthing mechanisms, StarMax is 7.8 meters wide and 9.7 meters long

I just eyeballed the picture to see that the diameter was about the same as the length, and then used the formula for the volume of a cylinder to find the diameter and length that will enclose the 400 m³ mentioned in the tweet. Just a rough guess not based on anything else.

[su27k]

https://twitter.com/GraviticsInc/status/1614320732368166914

#SpaceStationSaturday Astronaut Acrobatics- Skylab was the first space station launched by the US in 1973. Built from a spent S-IVB stage of a Saturn V rocket, Skylab had 361㎥ of habitable volume. Its Orbital Workshop dome was 6.7m in diameter and had a large open area


With weightlessness to their advantage, astronauts were able to show off their gymnast skills and perform all types of acrobatics. Compared to the Skylab, our StarMax modules will provide 400㎥ of habitable volume with an 8m diameter

[Cheapchips]

Clip of them cutting out a big door in their factory.  Gives a nice feel for their module scale.

I'm sure they could have made the hole in a less dramatic way, but where's the fun in that.

https://twitter.com/GraviticsInc/status/1616244294779551744?s=20&t=IAnoruzClqVQsGuAbzAcKQ

[jongoff]

Clip of them cutting out a big door in their factory.  Gives a nice feel for their module scale.

I'm sure they could have made the hole in a less dramatic way, but where's the fun in that.

https://twitter.com/GraviticsInc/status/1616244294779551744?s=20&t=IAnoruzClqVQsGuAbzAcKQ

Actually, AIUI that was the method the contractors picked, given the design of the building. I think my guys just realized it would probably make for a cool video, so one of them had the presence of mind to setup a GoPro beforehand to get the shot. :-)

~Jon

[whitelancer64]

I found a neat graphic of a StarMax superimposed on a Starship

[jongoff]

I found a neat graphic of a StarMax superimposed on a Starship

Oh cool, where did you find that one?

~Jon

[whitelancer64]

I found a neat graphic of a StarMax superimposed on a Starship

Oh cool, where did you find that one?

~Jon

I googled ""starmax" space station Starship" and in the image search it's a few rows down. The google hit appears to have been a retweet from twitter.com/colindoughan (the Co-founder & CEO of Gravitics)

Link to the original tweet:

https://twitter.com/StarshipFairing/status/1593282933992919041

[jongoff]

Nice. Yeah, so it wasn't from an official source, but Colin retweeted it. It looks reasonably accurate. Gives you a little taste for how big StarMax will be (though seeing the prototype hardware in-person up in Marysville last week was definitely something that no picture could really adequately convey...)

[jongoff]

https://twitter.com/GraviticsInc/status/1621667415800135682

I'm glad they decided to post this picture. Seeing the hardware in-person was sweet, and this gives you an idea of how big it is. I'm looking forward to seeing this first set of prototype domes fully welded together and pressure tested.

~Jon

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/graviticsinc/status/1633222865548869632

Stacking domes ahead of our pressure test

[jongoff]

#NomNomNom

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/graviticsinc/status/1636040581825589249

Preparing domes for our upcoming pressure test

[Lampyridae]

#NomNomNom

#WenPop

[jongoff]

#NomNomNom

#WenPop

I don't think we're planning on doing a burst test on this initial unit, at least not at this time. Just taking it up to proof pressures. If we decide to do a burst test, my guess is it'll be at a different location.

~Jon

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/graviticsinc/status/1636096518368231425

Today’s pressure test is underway. We are now filling the StarMax pressure test article

Edit to add:

https://twitter.com/graviticsinc/status/1636093829391450113

We are preparing to begin today’s StarMax prototype hull pressure test. We’ll add air to the pressure of the test article until holding at 14.7 PSI, or 1 Atmosphere, which will be normal operating pressure for a StarMax in space. Our target for today’s test is to hold at 26.4 PSI

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/graviticsinc/status/1636114345489735681

StarMax test article is stable and holding pressure. It’s currently at a checkpoint pressure of 6 PSI

Edit to add:

https://twitter.com/graviticsinc/status/1636121308697075713

Our team is tracking vessel temperature, hull strain, and more as we hold at various levels of pressure on the way up to 14.7 PSI