SpaceX has begun to install Starship Mk1’s second of two forward ‘canards’, aerodynamic flaps the rocket prototype will soon use to attempt the first radical skydiver-style landing. SpaceX technicians are likely working to fully outfit the rocket before transporting its nose section to the launch pad, where it can be mated to Starship Mk1’s lower […]
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A little over a month after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk presented an update on Starship in Boca Chica, Texas and technicians dressed the rocket up for the show, SpaceX has begun to install Starship Mk1’s flaps for the second time. This time, with any luck, those flaps are here to stay until Starship Mk1’s inaugural […]
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According to SpaceX, Crew Dragon’s upgraded ‘Mk3’ parachutes have successfully completed more than a dozen tests in a row, a feat accomplished by SpaceX engineers and technicians in just a handful of weeks. Although SpaceX will likely continue to test the upgraded parachutes over the next several weeks and months, Mk3’s success up to now […]
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During a recent NASA council meeting, SpaceX’s response to a Crew Dragon capsule’s April 20th explosion was repeatedly praised by the agency’s senior Commercial Crew Program (CCP) manager, her optimism clearly rekindled after several undeniably challenging months. On October 29th and 30th, NASA held its second 2019 Advisory Council (NAC) meeting, comprised of a number […]
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SpaceX has transported (half of) its Starship Mk1 prototype to its South Texas launch pad for the first time ever, signifying that the company is about to enter a major new stage of testing. The move, however, raises the question: why is SpaceX transporting only half of Starship Mk1 to the launch pad? Following SpaceX […]
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Formerly responsible for developing Falcon 9 (and Heavy) into the routinely-landing reusable rocket it is today, senior SpaceX engineer Lars Blackmore says he now has one primary focus: figuring out how to land Starship on Earth, the Moon, and Mars. A graduate of University of Cambridge and MIT, the latter of which interviewed him on […]
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Photos published by SpaceX reveal that the company has begun to outfit its first astronaut-capable Crew Dragon spacecraft with its eight SuperDraco abort engines, a major milestone along the path to launch. On October 29th, SpaceX tweeted photos of SuperDraco installation with a caption that confirmed the engines were being installed on Crew Dragon capsule […]
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SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell says that the company’s Starlink internet constellation is years ahead of competition from OneWeb and Amazon. A step further, the executive also voiced several unprecedently harsh critiques of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Boeing and Lockheed Martin (ULA). SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell has been as busy as […]
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After a brief installation period, SpaceX’s second Falcon 9 fairing-catching ship departed Port Canaveral to begin sea trials with its new net and arms, a critical step before it can be declared ready to attempt its first fairing recovery. Known as GO Ms. Chief, the ship’s first opportunity could come as early as a few […]
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SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell teased new information detailing the wealth of benefits that the next-generation Starship launch vehicle could bring for the deployment of the company’s Starlink internet satellite constellation. Speaking at the Baron 2019 Investment Conference on October 25th, the SpaceX executive touched on a broad range of topics according to CNBC […]
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