SpaceX Updates (Thread 9)

[Xenon]

Not directly related to SpaceX but it could have a effect on them:

 

 

[DocM]

Oh, my... (George Takei voice) 

Aviation Week...

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/space/kazakhstan-seizes-russian-assets-baikonur-spaceport

Quote

Kazakhstan Seizes Russian Assets At Baikonur Spaceport

Kazakhstan has taken control of Russian assets on Baikonur spaceport, local KZ24 media reported on March 7, citing the country’s court bailiff service. The property belongs to TsENKI Center for Operation of Space Ground-based Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Russia’s Roscosmos State Corp.

> (paywall)

 

 

Edited March 14, 2023 by DocM

[DocM]

SpaceX gets SLC-6

Wow....the Vandenberg SFB  Shuttle complex for Falcon 9 & Falcon Heavy. BIG win.

 

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by DocM

[foolsfolly]

 

[DocM]

SpaceX is on a revenue tear. At their latest private stock event there their valuation was estimated at $150 billion.

https://www.theinformation.com/articles/spacex-forecasts-doubling-of-revenue-to-8-billion

 

 

[DocM]

RIP B1058 after 19 missions

 

 

 

 

Edited December 26, 2023 by DocM

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

From the recent SpaceX All Hands company meeting.

In 2023 SpaceX launched more satellites and tonnage, than the rest of the world combined (this includes other US launchers).

Falcon boosters have now flown up to 19 times. SpaceX is attempting to qualify them to fly up to 40 times.

It is now cheaper to insure  reused booster with 3 flights than a new booster.

They are also increasing the number of Dragon reuses, and building both a new Crew and Cargo Dragon. Growing the fleet.

SpaceX has demonstrated a 3-day pad turnaround between launches. By the end of this year they expected demonstrate a 24-hour turnaround. They can already roll a vehicle out from the hanger and launch it in 6h 33m.

SpaceX is planning on 144 to 150 missions for 2024. 

Starlink is currently launching their V2 -mini satellites on Falcon 9.

Recently StarlinK tested connecting Starlink satellites to unmodified LTE 4G devices on the ground. The first text message was sent last week, and they will soon start testing voice, data, and Internet of Things (IoT). 

This year they will start launching the much larger/powerful Starlink V3 using Starship. V3 will massively increase the speed of the network.

[DocM]

Bahamas joins the Space age

Falcon 9 landings

https://www.bahamas.com/pressroom/ministry-of-tourism-investments--aviation-secures-historic-agreement-with-spacex-to-propel-bahamas-into-the-space-technology--tourism-frontier

MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION SECURES HISTORIC AGREEMENT WITH SPACEX TO PROPEL BAHAMAS INTO THE SPACE TECHNOLOGY & TOURISM FRONTIER

SpaceX, a pioneer in space exploration, is currently finalizing mission designs where one of the company’s autonomous drone ships will serve as a Falcon 9 landing location east of The Exumas, offering a spectacle that will be visible only in The Bahamas. This unique opportunity sets the stage for tourists to witness awe-inspiring space events from cruise ships, resorts, and various tourist hotspots, solidifying The Bahamas' position as a key player in the emerging space tourism industry.

[DocM]

KSC LC-40 Crew/Cargo Dragon additions almost ready. This will allow SpaceX to launch two Dragon missions in short period of time.

Interesting because they are planning 7 Crew Dragon missions this year, and the introduction of a new spacecraft to expand the fleet to 5. 

SpaceX's Gwynne Shotwell takes a ride down the tower escape slide

 

 

[DocM]

SpaceX Plug and Plaser

SpaceX president Gwynne  Shotwell announced they will be selling Starlink optical inner satellite link (IL) lasers branded Plug and Plasers which other companies can you use in their satellites. This could also allow them to link into the Starlink  constellation for backbone  or whatever

The other OSIL companies are not going to like this.

CNBC

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/investing-in-space-what-to-make-of-spacex-selling-satellite-lasers.html

Quote

 

Investing in Space: What to make of SpaceX selling satellite lasers

Earlier this week SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell announced the company will begin selling “space lasers” (known formally in the industry as Optical Inter-Satellite Links, or OISLs) to other companies, commercializing a product that it’s been deploying for the last few years on its constellation of more than 5,000 Starlink satellites.

“We are going to roll out a capability, we call it ‘plug and plasers,’” Shotwell said at an industry conference.

>

“Unlike many companies, they don’t go chasing revenue. They tell you exactly what they’re going to build and then they will maximize revenue from that thing, whatever it is that they built,” Tripathi saids.

For the OISL market, Tripathi explained the decision of selling to other spacecraft operators who need a way to get their data back from orbit but want to do that as cheaply as possible – rather than build new ground stations on Earth or wait to connect to existing ones.

>

 

 

[DocM]

Polaris Dawn update...
Polaris Dawn is a Crew Dragon technology development mission.

Team leader Jared Isaacman status tweet,

https://twitter.com/rookisaacman/status/1771612990455824767

"Things are heating up w/Polaris Dawn mission. We spent last week completing most of the EVA suit acceptance test procedure. This was the first time we wore the final assembled suits as opposed to the development or training suits. There are big milestones ahead (CEIT* , vacuum chamber runs, joint sim campaign), but we are getting very close to 🚀

I suspect in a month or so there will be an unveiling."

 

* CEIT: Crew Equipment Integration Test

 

The objectives are to 

• test a new EVA (spacewalk) spacesuit. This suit will set the pattern for their Moon and Mars suits.

• break the low Earth orbit altitude record set by Gemini 11; targeting 1400 km. This will take them into the lower Van Allen radiation belt.

• test SpaceX's new optical satellite interlink lasers (OSIL). An OSIL allows one satellite to talk to another using a laser beam, marketed to satellite builders and operators as Plug and Plaser. Instead of operators requiring ⁰their own ground station they could use Starlink to download their data. Much cheaper.

 

[DocM]

20th Falcon 9 booster reuse.