Congratulations on a successful mission. Thoughts from Jared Isaacman:
We are back on Earth and look forward to sharing the results and our experiences with all of you. The scientists and doctors rightfully own all of our time for the next few days, but I did want to share a few thoughts as I reflect on our mission and what we set out to accomplish.… pic.twitter.com/Lr3hj5Tb7U
— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) September 16, 2024
Observations from Bob Zimmerman.
If there are currently nine crew at the ISS, when will that be reduced? I don’t think the ECLSS can support that number indefinitely.
Yes, let’s blame Trump.
And yes, Harris would use Brazil as a model.
I've often been surprised that NASA invested so much in a motorized mobile launch platform for the Space Launch System when they could have hired workers at the Cape to pull it from the VAB to the pad with ropes. #Jobs
— Rand Simberg (@Simberg_Space) September 5, 2024
A long discourse on the current state of play in the Ukraine war.
I wanted to share some updates:
— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) August 29, 2024
– The primary factor driving the launch timing for Polaris Dawn is the splashdown weather within Dragon's limits. Unlike an ISS mission, we don’t have the option to delay long on orbit, so we must ensure the forecast is as favorable as possible… pic.twitter.com/3cKEjjVqvC
…from a common blood-pressure medication? I should try that.
Medicine is much less scientific than they would have you believe.
I noted several years ago that SpaceX had made landing boosters routine, so much so that it was news not when they landed, but when they failed. On this morning’s flight, there was news.
Watch Falcon 9 launch from Florida with 21 @Starlink satellites https://t.co/u0TT6F9LpM
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 28, 2024
It was a long-lived booster, with twenty-three flights under its belt. It will be very interesting to see what caused it, and if it was fatigue. When I was at the Cape three weeks ago, I was told that the original goal for reuse was ten flights, but with multiple boosters exceeding twenty, the new goal was forty. We’ll see if there is some life-limiting issue that can’t be maintained around.
[Late-morning update]
This is ridiculous.
This statement from the FAA says it’s requiring an investigation stemming from the Falcon 9 booster hard landing last night. “A return to flight” would come after a completed investigation, so it looks like Polaris Dawn may have to wait a while longer if I’m reading this all… pic.twitter.com/aiUjfeVCdb
— Christian Davenport (@wapodavenport) August 28, 2024
I could understand their saying “No RTLS until you figure out what happened.” But to stand down launches over a landing failure? How can they justify that?
[Afternoon update]
Bob Zimmerman is less than impressed as well.