SpaceX Updates (Thread 9)

[DocM]

Also on the right is the Octograbber 3 robot, just below the white building. It secures stages after landing, grabbing to hem by their launch clamp receptacles.

 

 

 

[DocM]

ASoG entering Port Canaveral

 

 

[DocM]

SpaceX Astronaut Office

 

https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/5429136002?gh_jid=5429136002

 

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ASTRONAUT OPERATIONS INTEGRATOR

 

Hawthorne, CA, United States

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

ASTRONAUT OPERATIONS INTEGRATOR

The Astronaut Operations Team is responsible for integrating all humans that will fly on SpaceX missions. This will include guiding our future crew members through the development, planning, training, mission and post-mission phases. With the pace of human spaceflight increasing at SpaceX, both high level and extremely detailed coordination of astronaut time is critical to mission readiness and success. As an Astronaut Operations Integrator you will be responsible for developing tools and processes to help with managing astronaut schedules all while ensuring smooth operations throughout their time at SpaceX.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Manage and maintain the comprehensive schedule of all active SpaceX astronaut flight crews

 

* Develop the plan and schedule, integrate internal and external constraints, identify conflicts, and drive resolution

 

* Communicate plans and schedules to stakeholder

 

* Devise, uphold, and improve scheduling tools or processes that identify, analyze, and brief potential constraints on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis

 

* Work closely with external customer schedulers to integrate travel and availability constraints for each crew member

 

* Ensure that all crew members have a positive experience working with and flying on SpaceX missions from assignment to post flight

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[DocM]

 

 

[DocM]

SpaceX acquires Swarm Technologies, which operates an Internet of Things (IoT) constellation of ~36 satellites, which is to add another 150 via Falcon 9 Transporter mass-launches. Swarm will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX. 

 

https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-T-C-20210806-00096

[DocM]

 

Falcon Heavy Extended Fairing

 

From the new Falcon Users Guide: 5.2 x 18.7m. The standard fairing is 5.2 x 13.1m

 

Falcon 9/Falcon Heavy vehicle height

Standard: 70m
Extended: 75.2m

 

"SpaceX can also provide an extended fairing as a nonstandard service. The extended fairing has the same diameter as the standard faring (5.2 m, 17.2 ft) and an overall height of 18.7 m (61.25 ft)."

 

 

Falcon Heavy w/Extended Fairing on pad with vertical integration tower (being built)

 

[DocM]

McGregor expansion

 

https://www.virtualbx.com/construction-preview/mcgregor-spacex-and-city-of-waco-enter-agreement-to-keep-rocket-facility-in-mclennan-county/

 

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McGregor (McLennan County) — SpaceX has entered into a $150 million development agreement with the City of Waco for the expansion of its McGregor facility.

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The project calls for real and personal property improvements, creation and retention of 400 new full-time jobs with benefits, along with the retention of 578 existing jobs at the company’s 1 Rocket Road location.  

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Elon Musk tweeted about a new engine project at the McGregor facility in July.

 

“We are breaking ground soon on a second Raptor (engine) factory at (the) SpaceX Texas test site,” he wrote. “This will focus on volume production of Raptor 2, while (the) California factory will make Raptor Vacuum and new, experimental designs.”

 

Musk added the new factory will “be the highest output and most advanced rocket engine factory in the world” with the ability to manufacture 800-1,000 engines per year. 

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[DocM]

Falcon Heavy now has 5 launches manifested for 2022 😎

 

All dates "adjustable" except the probe to the metal asteroid Psyche, which is targeting a launch window. 

 

1) USSF-44 (Space Force; Q1, 2022)

2) USSF-52 (Space Force; NET Q2, 2022)

3) Psyche (NASA; August, 2022)

4) ViaSat-3 (ViaSat; Q2, 2022)

5) USSF-67 (Space Force; H2, 2022)

 

[IsItPluggedIn]

When they first built FH, lots of people said it would never fly because people didnt need the extra weight etc. But now a few years later companies are building sats big enough to need FH.

 

People are saying the same thing about Starship, after its been flying for a few years Companies will start building Sats for it. Imagine how much easier building a sat would be if you didnt have to care about weight so much.

[DocM]

On 03/11/2021 at 18:08, IsItPluggedIn said:

When they first built FH, lots of people said it would never fly because people didnt need the extra weight etc. But now a few years later companies are building sats big enough to need FH.

 

People are saying the same thing about Starship, after its been flying for a few years Companies will start building Sats for it. Imagine how much easier building a sat would be if you didnt have to care about weight so much.

 

A key launch category  for NSSL (National Security Space Launch) is the GEO2 mission with the Class 3 (extended) fairing.  It directly injects a large satellite into a  geostationary orbit. Basically, the big Hubble-size imaging spysats, and the "big ear" SIGINT (signals intelligence) satellites which have huge deployable antennas. 

 

GEO2's current max mass specification is 6.6 tonnes. Falcon Heavy can toss about double that.

[Skiver Veteran]

Elon Musk says SpaceX could face ‘genuine risk of bankruptcy’ from Starship engine production

 

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In an email sent to SpaceX employees, obtained by Space Explored, Elon Musk addressed the ‘crisis’ of Starship Raptor engine production and said the company could face a ‘genuine risk of bankruptcy’ if the company is unable to achieve a Starship flight rate of once every two weeks next year.

Source

I can't help but feel like this is probably being exaggerated and that Space X's existence is so dependant on Starlink but not sounding like they're having a good time regardless. 

[TrevorLahey]

On 30/11/2021 at 04:31, Skiver said:

I can't help but feel like this is probably being exaggerated and that Space X's existence is so dependant on Starlink but not sounding like they're having a good time regardless. 

I hope so.

[DocM]

On 30/11/2021 at 04:31, Skiver said:

Elon Musk says SpaceX could face ‘genuine risk of bankruptcy’ from Starship engine production

 

Source

I can't help but feel like this is probably being exaggerated and that Space X's existence is so dependant on Starlink but not sounding like they're having a good time regardless. 

 

This is vintage Musk, the type of "motivational" messaging he used during the Tesla Model 3 "production hell" days.

 

Basically; Raptor 1 wasn't a production engine, and while  Raptor 2 is being tested and is in early production it's still not where they want to be for serial production, Starlink Gen 2 flight rate, and cost. Enter the next level engine, which is required for the StarLink Gen 2 satellites (larger, heavier, massive bandwidth increase. F9 won't cut it.)

 

3 people gone, new team in place including folks from McGregor, with the boss directly involved & sleeping on the shop floor. Again.

 

 

[DocM]

It also sounds like he's concerned about the economy...

 

 

[DocM]

The next month should be busy

 

May 5: Starlink 4-17

May 8: Starlink 4-13

May 16: Starlink 4-15

May TBD: Starlink 4-18 or 4-19

May 25: Transporter-5

June 7: Cargo Dragon CRS-25

[DocM]

SpaceX all-hands slides/video, one section showing the Starship PEZ dispenser deploying Starlink Gen 2 satellites.

 

 

 

[DocM]

Falcon Heavy has been awarded the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope*  launch contract. Scheduled for 2026 at a price of $255 million.

 

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-roman-space-telescope

 

* aka Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope (WFIRST)

[Skiver Veteran]

On 20/07/2022 at 02:15, DocM said:

Falcon Heavy has been awarded the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope*  launch contract. Scheduled for 2026 at a price of $255 million.

 

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-roman-space-telescope

 

* aka Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope (WFIRST)

I wonder if they would push to swap to Starship closer to the time, obviously assuming it's flying reliably by then. 

[IsItPluggedIn]

On 21/07/2022 at 18:54, Skiver said:

I wonder if they would push to swap to Starship closer to the time, obviously assuming it's flying reliably by then. 

From what SpaceX has said previously, that is the plan, to move all launches to Starship and decommission Falcon9/FH.

However NASA/DoD/SpaceForce have issues with these sorts of change, so it may not happen.

[DocM]

Falcon 9's launch rate is officially insane

 

 

 

[DocM]

And the SpaceX flight rate is going to get even crazier...

 

 

[DocM]

NASA - SpaceX study Hubble mission.

 

Possible Polaris (2?) mission.

 

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/nasa-spacex-to-study-hubble-telescope-reboost-possibility

 

 

 

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Started laughing around year 2020 .... the cadence of SpaceX launches is kind of nuts.

 

 

[DocM]

On 15/01/2023 at 18:37, Jim K said:

Started laughing around year 2020 .... the cadence of SpaceX launches is kind of nuts.

 

 

Not shown are the Vandenberg SFB launches, and they plan on over 100 launches in 2023. 

Another increase in traffic will come with the LC-39a Starship had, Starship pads they plan on installing at LC-46. There's also talk of a military Starship pad on the Cape Canaveral SFB property.

[DocM]

Cape Canaveral Space Force Base pad LC-40 enhancements;

Cargo Dragon infrastructure will be added for use this fall, Crew Dragon upgrades later. New launch tower, etc.

This gives SpaceX  redundancy in case pad LC-39A is out of commission for whatever reason. It would also give them the capability to launch two Dragons in a short period of time.