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What was the context behind this launch? Did they just luanch a grain silk just for kicks or something? That can't possibly be the new design for a rocket

deegles 6y ago
It's basically the bare minimum to test that the components they're building work.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
ekimekim 6y ago
It's a prototype to test the materials, engine, process etc. Since it's only ever going to do little hops like this one, it doesn't need to be aerodynamic.
- dencodev 6y ago
  It's not clear to me why you need to spend so much fuel hopping around on Mars or the moon.
  - thinkcontext 6y ago
    They are testing on a path to be able to land from orbit. Starting with short hops by prototypes that get iteratively improved is the same methodology that allowed them to be able to land their currently operating Falcon 9. They are the only one to ever achieve this. It's a big deal because everyone else builds a $100M rocket and then throws it away because it can't land. Reusable rockets have the potential to make açcess to space much cheaper.
    - dencodev 6y ago
      So the idea isn't to literally hop? They ultimately want to land it the same way the F9 rockets land now, and this is just a test?
      - dwaltrip 6y ago
        Yep, basically. The biggest difference is that this is the second stage. With this new rocket, both the first stage and second stage will be fully reusable. The Falcon 9 second stage is thrown away each launch.
      - badwolf 6y ago
        Bingo. They did similar tests with a Falcon 9 test article called "Grasshopper" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkItO-0a4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkItO-0a4
d_silin 6y ago
It absolutely is :)
rwcarlsen 6y ago
This is a prototype for the upper (second) stage of spacex's next-gen rocket [1] they are developing that uses their new full-flow staged combustion raptor engine [2]. This is the ship they plan to use for upcoming mars, moon, etc. missions that will basically replace all other spacex rockets as soon as they can figure out how to get it operating. This prototype is missing the nosecone, control surfaces, and other details, but has the most important parts - engines (one instead of 6 like it will eventually have) and fuel+oxidizer tanks. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staged_combustion_cycle#Full-flow_staged_combustion_cycle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staged_combustion_cycle#Full-f...
- app4soft 6y ago
  This is a prototype of the bottom part for the upper (second) stage of SpaceX's next-gen rocket — Starship.
  - m4rtink 6y ago
    While it does not look that way without the pointy nose cone, this is the prototype of the second stage. The first stage will be a bit longer than this & its build enclosure is already being uilt.
    - garmaine 6y ago
      That’s what he said.

deegles 6y ago

It's basically the bare minimum to test that the components they're building work.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

ekimekim 6y ago

It's a prototype to test the materials, engine, process etc. Since it's only ever going to do little hops like this one, it doesn't need to be aerodynamic.

dencodev 6y ago
It's not clear to me why you need to spend so much fuel hopping around on Mars or the moon.
- thinkcontext 6y ago
  They are testing on a path to be able to land from orbit. Starting with short hops by prototypes that get iteratively improved is the same methodology that allowed them to be able to land their currently operating Falcon 9. They are the only one to ever achieve this. It's a big deal because everyone else builds a $100M rocket and then throws it away because it can't land. Reusable rockets have the potential to make açcess to space much cheaper.
  - dencodev 6y ago
    So the idea isn't to literally hop? They ultimately want to land it the same way the F9 rockets land now, and this is just a test?
    - dwaltrip 6y ago
      Yep, basically. The biggest difference is that this is the second stage. With this new rocket, both the first stage and second stage will be fully reusable. The Falcon 9 second stage is thrown away each launch.
    - badwolf 6y ago
      Bingo. They did similar tests with a Falcon 9 test article called "Grasshopper" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkItO-0a4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkItO-0a4

d_silin 6y ago

It absolutely is :)

rwcarlsen 6y ago

This is a prototype for the upper (second) stage of spacex's next-gen rocket [1] they are developing that uses their new full-flow staged combustion raptor engine [2]. This is the ship they plan to use for upcoming mars, moon, etc. missions that will basically replace all other spacex rockets as soon as they can figure out how to get it operating. This prototype is missing the nosecone, control surfaces, and other details, but has the most important parts - engines (one instead of 6 like it will eventually have) and fuel+oxidizer tanks. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staged_combustion_cycle#Full-flow_staged_combustion_cycle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staged_combustion_cycle#Full-f...

app4soft 6y ago
This is a prototype of the bottom part for the upper (second) stage of SpaceX's next-gen rocket — Starship.
- m4rtink 6y ago
  While it does not look that way without the pointy nose cone, this is the prototype of the second stage. The first stage will be a bit longer than this & its build enclosure is already being uilt.
  - garmaine 6y ago
    That’s what he said.