The Official Space Flight Thread - The Space Station and Beyond

ajf · 17 Apr 2021 at 10:54

gettothechopper said:
SLS and Orion gets people to the moon and back
Starship will just be the lander

I guess you fire an empty starship on a super heavy booster at the moon then meet it there with an SLS/Orion

Not really sure why they picked it though, it seems the most unlandery or the proposed Landers, for a start you need a huge ladder to get in and out?

Thank you for that

Misunderstood the job of Orion.
Does seem to be over the top option now I see what Starship is doing, as you say!

gettothechopper · 17 Apr 2021 at 14:00

ajf said:
Thank you for that
Misunderstood the job of Orion.
Does seem to be over the top option now I see what Starship is doing, as you say!

Apparently it's a good choice because it allows loads of space and equipment

But also because it was the cheapest

wildest_jjk · 19 Apr 2021 at 12:37

Just wow...

Timestamped URL for best bit:

https://youtu.be/p1KolyCqICI?t=2776

Full stream recording:

ianh · 19 Apr 2021 at 17:24

117 years from the Wright Brothers first powered flight to this, the first powered flight on another planet - Just flippin brilliant!

Minusorange · 19 Apr 2021 at 17:30

The little Helicopter that could!

Cooler running · 19 Apr 2021 at 19:05

Malevolence said:

Vs Original LEM for a bit of size comparison:

drakulton · 19 Apr 2021 at 19:36

Cooler running said:
Vs Original LEM for a bit of size comparison:

Still prefer the original. Also it takes a bit of skill to land it.

2004typer · 19 Apr 2021 at 20:18

ianh said:
117 years from the Wright Brothers first powered flight to this, the first powered flight on another planet - Just flippin brilliant!

Amazing, been waiting for this since I ever heard about it.

Cooler running · 19 Apr 2021 at 23:13

drakulton said:
Still prefer the original. Also it takes a bit of skill to land it.

Slow down there, this was strictly a size comparison, and bigger isn't always better. We'll see what happens when this magnum gets into space.

Minusorange · 19 Apr 2021 at 23:17

Cooler running said:
Vs Original LEM for a bit of size comparison:

What happens if their elevator stops working while they're on the surface and they can't repair it ?

Cooler running · 19 Apr 2021 at 23:20

Minusorange said:
What happens if their elevator stops working while they're on the surface and they can't repair it ?

My inner Kerbalnaught says eva pack. Either that or maybe some sort of magnetic grip, assuming starship is the magnetic kind of steele.

Minusorange · 19 Apr 2021 at 23:29

Cooler running said:
My inner Kerbalnaught says eva pack. Either that or maybe some sort of magnetic grip, assuming starship is the magnetic kind of steele.

I would have designed the rocket with a folding staircase that's part of the structure when it's in flight but folds out on ground or a ladder that does a similar thing that's built into the rocket

Cooler running · 19 Apr 2021 at 23:42

Minusorange said:
I would have designed the rocket with a folding staircase that's part of the structure when it's in flight but folds out on ground or a ladder that does a similar thing that's built into the rocket

Everyone knows ladders are too heavy since they were removed from the massless parts category, unless you're willing to stage the ladders.
In all seriousness I assume they have the lift there as unlike the original LEM, starship is designed for reentry and doesn't have a fairing. Just have a look at the shuttle for difficulties in putting actuated doors on spacecraft, doubt they will do that.

Suppose the lazy method would to have one guy that has to stay in the ship with a rope.

Quartz · 20 Apr 2021 at 00:12

Those legs look awfully unstable. I know there's no wind on the moon but might a lateral gas leak high up provide sufficient force to topple the thing?

Cooler running · 20 Apr 2021 at 00:55

Quartz said:
Those legs look awfully unstable. I know there's no wind on the moon but might a lateral gas leak high up provide sufficient force to topple the thing?

I think the main problem is that it will have to land perfectly on the engins despite how large the landing legs are, given how heavy the thing will be. The legs on the current starships are even smaller.
To have the same amount of stability as the LEM had you'd need legs which would be far too heavy to fly to the moon with.

Somnambulist · 20 Apr 2021 at 01:21

Wanna see a Mars drone go over Valles Marineris and do an Olympus Mons flyby now.

PlacidCasual · 20 Apr 2021 at 06:26

Cooler running said:
In all seriousness I assume they have the lift there as unlike the original LEM, starship is designed for reentry and doesn't have a fairing. Just have a look at the shuttle for difficulties in putting actuated doors on spacecraft, doubt they will do that.

This version of Starship will only run between Gateway station and the moon. No reentry. This will be the only manned version of the Starship in the Artemis programme at this stage. The regular starship and Booster Heavy will take a while to man certify like Falcon 9 did because SpaceX aren't going to waste a F tonne of money up front on certification and instead will focus on building a working rocket and launch payload.

BananaDunka · 22 Apr 2021 at 00:27

Mars in glorious 4K :cool:

Pigeon_Killer · 23 Apr 2021 at 10:42

Crew-2 is only 7 minutes away from launch.

wildest_jjk · 23 Apr 2021 at 10:45

Pigeon_Killer said:
Crew-2 is only 7 minutes away from launch.

Have you got a link by any chance?

Thanks

** The Official Space Flight Thread - The Space Station and Beyond **

The Official Space Flight Thread - The Space Station and Beyond