Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

louis · 2019-08-31 16:32:57

Here's another Cloudlicker video with some interesting info on the defects in the Starhopper test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw5S00K4qww

SpaceNut · 2019-08-31 16:55:49

Glad you are feeling better Oldfart1939 and could not agree with you more in post 24 for items we are still in need of and even more than that list for sure.
I did google spacex starship testing defects but articles seem to be talking about long in the past for previous tests.

Oldfart1939 · 2019-08-31 17:31:39

Louis-On one of the videos prepared by EverydayAstronaut, during the landing I observed what appeared to be fire with yellow flames inside the engine housing, exterior to engine itself. Then exhaust flames turned yellow. I was worried the Starhopper was going to blow up, but all's well that ends well...

Oldfart1939 · 2019-08-31 17:43:56

SpaceNut-I'm actually thinking of starting a thread exclusively dedicated to the necessary equipment to support search for evidence of life--past and present. Calling it Mars Research Laboratory. I hope some of the geologists here will contribute.

kbd512 · 2019-08-31 20:52:29

Oldfart1939,

The only instrument required to detect any life presently on Mars is a microscope. If something's moving around in the samples of the regolith or water collected, that would be what we call "life".

louis · 2019-09-05 14:53:39

Great video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIJugIBo--E

The prototype Starship is far advanced.

Even more fascinating also (see from 4:56) that Space X seem far advanced on the Mars landing site assessment according to this video. It's reported that they are closely examining six sites on the border between Amazonis Planitia and Arcadia Planitia. Apparently there are plenty of rock glaciers in that region which would be tapped for water. I like the fact it's not that far (around 500 miles I would guess) from Olympus Mons - could be important for tourism development in the future if this is going to be the site for the first Mars City.

More and more I am thinking 2024 is a realistic target!!!

Last edited by louis (2019-09-05 14:54:15)

louis · 2019-09-06 06:45:42

Stacking the rings...something rather beautiful about this video! :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwSb8BV-jXQ

louis · 2019-09-08 17:30:26

Interesting Reddit comment:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/c … arship_by/

"So, after less than a year the initial 2 parts of the campaign which were planned to take 2 years are now over. That's more than double acceleration!

This indicates that:

Things are progressing better than planned.

SpaceX deems to be almost ready for the phase 3 about a year earlier.

This is not only unheard in the industry (SpaceX made as accustomed to things unheard in the industry), but this is even unheard from SpaceX before: we got used to "Elon time", but here things look like inverted Elon time.

Also, don't be surprised if a full stack (Super Heave + Starship) flies early next year."

Amazing if true, and I must say that I have been impressed by progress over the last few weeks.

I am also encouraged by all the whispers, and more than whispers, about close co-operation between NASA and Space X now. That's just what they need to make a human mission viable.

What are the missing gaps? Habs?...the detailed propellant production facility?...Seems like they know where to find the water - Amazonis Planitia - so they are half way there! Human passenger rovers...NASA is well advanced on all that - Space X could commission them to produce vehicles for Mars.

louis · 2019-09-09 13:29:08

Interesting video from Felix about Space X's test schedule and its infrastructure plan for Boca Chica:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeePs8N16KE

Quite complex - but interesting!

Also - mention of six legs for landing! But the legs seem over a much smaller footprint than the fins...are the six legs for added stability (in addition to the fins???

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-05-07 12:38:00

Elon Musk warns that life on Mars will be dangerous, cramped, difficult hard work for the first colonists
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech … icult.html

Colony on Mars is a Distant Dream, Renowned Astrophysicist Says
https://greekreporter.com/2022/04/18/st … ploration/

SpaceNut · 2022-05-07 21:21:11

I think that we have all said this about mars ever since the Mars direct mission and semi plans were put forth and that has not changed even with all of the reference mission plans.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-08-27 09:11:19

Political realistic target is 2032 ... since the days of Apollo strange thing about Mars is it always was and is 10 years away, back then it was probably closer since there was at least some kind of political will.

President Biden signs CHIPS Act, approving International Space Station extension to 2030
https://www.space.com/international-spa … -chips-act

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-08-27 09:11:45)

Oldfart1939 · 2022-08-27 10:49:42

A lot is hanging in the balance with the hoped-for success of Starship. In my opinion--FWIW--Elon planned a bit TOO BIG with Starship and super heavy booster. Something smaller would have not incurred the resistance to FAA testing obstacles incurred by firing a super heavy booster with 33 engines and gobs of fuel. But--I've been wrong before, and if the first orbital flight goes without a hitch--I will tip my hat to Elon! The smaller size would have allowed the first exploratory mission to occur sooner and be a pathfinder for the Starship.

SpaceNut · 2022-08-27 11:07:20

Last I checked the booster is on #7 for engine firing up testing for count downs which is the critical timing and starting before releasing the hold downs.

Still no flight yet but it's going to happen when the firing of engines is not an automatic bomb going off at launch. Hopefully the engine compartment leaks will be solved so that it's not going boom while in flight.

Even a lifting capability of Falcon Heavy would have been a big deal as it would make the current capability less complex.

Oldfart1939 · 2022-08-27 12:56:58

SpaceNut-

The Falcon heavy could have served as the basis for an intermediary rocket with a larger diameter central core of perhaps 5 to 7 meters diameter and as a test vehicle for the Raptor motors? This would have been perfect for my previously suggested 17 person crewed expedition to the Red Planet, especially if 2 such vehicles were sent in successive Hohmann Transfer windows; the first as a proof of concept with only a 3 year supply if consumables and construction equipment as payload. A pair of ships could have been sent in the second transfer window with more food and building supplies in a freighter version.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-09-01 16:58:29

There will be votes, Libertarian, Green, Constitutional parties have rarely done good, it will be Big Two Parties with Prediction saying Republican party gains over the Democrat party, perhaps mask mandates are making a comeback or more Oil prices, perhaps Europe in recession or needing Coal or Nuclear power to heat their homes or more fighting with Russia invading Ukraine or more explosions in the Middle East or some terrorist threat coming from some Taliban guy in Afghanistan or another 'event'. Trump might be banned by BigTech but the Trumpet of fans have not gone away, House Elections and Senate Elections in 2022, the Mid-Terms start before the insanity of 2024, if the Admin lose then you get the Lame duck President, a period where little is done politically and the outgoing politician is an elected official whose successor has already been elected or will be soon.

another discussion

2024 Humans to Mars - crew selection
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=8989

Mars_B4_Moon · 2024-03-22 14:12:32

an older discussion, 2024 Mars is not happening

With some extreme luck maybe someone could push forward, find funding and go around the Moon

for now many do not care for Mars First for colonization which IMO is a mistake

SLS is here now, Musk will soon have a rocket and ship, China will have copied or have a Chinese Starship knock-off 'inspiration' design

Getting samples?
Mars Ascent Propulsion on a Minimum Scale
1998

Paper https://dataverse.jpl.nasa.gov/file.xht … ersion=1.0

Nuclear is back in space

other talked of ideas

'Propellantless Spacecraft Formation-Flying and Maneuvering with Photonic Laser Thrusters'
https://www.nasa.gov/general/propellant … thrusters/

Exploring Mars Together: Commercial Services Studies
https://sam.gov/opp/97d3486358ae4fd0aae … e32f5/view

New Mars Forums

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#26 2019-08-31 16:32:57

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#27 2019-08-31 16:55:49

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#28 2019-08-31 17:31:39

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#29 2019-08-31 17:43:56

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#30 2019-08-31 20:52:29

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#31 2019-09-05 14:53:39

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#32 2019-09-06 06:45:42

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#33 2019-09-08 17:30:26

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#34 2019-09-09 13:29:08

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#35 2022-05-07 12:38:00

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#36 2022-05-07 21:21:11

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#37 2022-08-27 09:11:19

Re: Space X 2024 Human Mission - realistic target?

#38 2022-08-27 10:49:42

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#39 2022-08-27 11:07:20

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#40 2022-08-27 12:56:58

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#41 2022-09-01 16:58:29

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#42 2024-03-22 14:12:32

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