November 19th, 2024

Starship IFT-6 Livestream (liftoff at 4pm CT)

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, launched by Falcon 9, autonomously approaches and docks with the ISS after performing system checks and orbit adjustments, allowing astronauts to enter the station post-docking.

Read original articleLink Icon
Starship IFT-6 Livestream (liftoff at 4pm CT)

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is designed for missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch process begins with the Falcon 9 rocket lifting Dragon into orbit. After the first and second stages of the Falcon 9 separate, Dragon performs initial orbit activation, checking its propulsion, life support, and thermal control systems. It then executes phasing burns to adjust its orbit and catch up with the ISS. Once in proximity, Dragon establishes a communication link with the ISS and conducts final orbit adjustments. The spacecraft then autonomously approaches the ISS, performing docking maneuvers. After docking, the vestibule is pressurized, the hatch is opened, and crew ingress occurs, allowing astronauts to enter the station. This sequence of operations ensures a successful mission to the ISS.

- SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is launched by the Falcon 9 rocket.

- The mission involves a series of burns to position Dragon for docking with the ISS.

- Dragon performs checks on its systems during the initial orbit activation.

- The spacecraft autonomously approaches and docks with the ISS.

- Crew ingress occurs after successful docking and pressurization of the vestibule.

Link Icon 8 comments
By @teractiveodular - about 2 months
Cost cutting in effect at SpaceX: Falcon Heavy used a Tesla Roadster as their test payload, Starship only has a banana.
By @marviel - about 2 months
unfortunately they had to scrap the booster Catch, due to undisclosed factors.
By @grecy - about 2 months
Elon:

"Successful ocean landing of Starship!

We will do one more ocean landing of the ship. If that goes well, then SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower."

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1859036912348262787

By @Zigurd - about 2 months
I'm a project management nerd, so let's take a look at the dependency chain to get to usefulness: to be anything other than an oversized orbital launcher, starship has to be refueled. Refueling depends on meeting payload specs, otherwise you need a too many starships to refuel one upper stage in orbit. Refueling also depends on rapid turnaround, which depends on near-zero damage to launch towers, engines, shields, and tanks. All of these dependencies depend on repeatability, which is why not catching the booster is a significant regression not a huge one, but marginal negative progress.
By @d883kd8 - about 2 months
The booster still looked a bit flamey on the landing burn, I wonder if this is expected
By @postmeta - about 2 months
NSF Stream commentary is fun too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yd_cpPP4fE
By @gnarbarian - about 2 months
Any word why they scrapped the booster catch?