/sci/ - Science & Math

>>15846977
> Elon Musk, SpaceX's founder and CEO, said before the April 20 launch that a successful test flight would mean the rocket didn't blow up on the launch pad. This time, SpaceX hopes to make it a little further. Ideally, the flight will go into space and reach full duration, a 90-minute trip around the world that will end with a reentry and splashdown of the Starship upper stage in the Pacific Ocean northwest of Hawaii.
> In June, Musk predicted that there's a roughly 60 percent chance that Starship will make it to near orbital velocity on the second test flight. The rocket won't quite attain the speed necessary to reach a stable orbit around Earth, so if it makes it that far, Starship will fall back into the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean about 90 minutes after launch.
> It seems to me that getting through the first three minutes of flight would be enough to show that SpaceX is on the right path with Starship. A successful flight up to that point would mean that SpaceX has mitigated the problems that caused fuel leaks and fires in the engine bay on the April test flight. It would likely also mean that SpaceX has improved the reliability of its Raptor engines and that the rocket's new electric thrust vector controls, used to gimbal or pivot the Raptors for steering in flight, worked like a charm.

Rocket Report: China launches 3-man crew; SpaceX adds to busy manifest
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https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/10/rocket-report-china-launches-3-man-crew-spacex-adds-to-busy-manifest/

Small Rockets
> India tests escape system for human-rated crew capsule
> Avio wants to sell Vega rockets on its own.
> ABL is taking steps toward another launch
> Rocket Lab aims to return to flight this year.
> ArianeGroup outlines progress in reusable rocket efforts.

Medium Rockets
> China has launched three astronauts.
> Next year, SpaceX aims to average one launch every 2.5 days.
> SpaceX adds to its busy launch schedule.
> Ariane 6 fueled up again for nighttime dress rehearsal.

Heavy Rockets
> Tory Bruno, ULA's CEO, talked a lot this week.
> SpaceX performs another Starship wet dress rehearsal.