Nik Cooper’s Post

I could watch this on repeat all day long. You can see the shock waves created by the engines, the flame deflector activation and the clean burning exhaust plume means you can see not only all 33 engines working properly but a set of Mach diamonds formed by their combined exhaust. The sunrise is alright too. Watched this live with my children and my young daughter said the whole dawn launch looked very pretty. Some elements of the media reported this as a failure, however I think spacex will see it as a qualified success. The two biggest, high risk and most controversial design changes both appear to have worked well, proving those opens the door to more frequent future tests. Ground operations were also flawless and demonstrated the cost reductions brought by mechazilla stacking vehicles at the launch pad. A minor disappointment that the booster failed on its post separation boost back manoeuvre and something interrupted Starship assent but I suspect cause identification and rectification are well within SpaceX capability to resolve. Ultimately the fact SpaceX can do something this big so cheaply and frequently is already a massive achievement, but well short of their multiple launches in a day reusability target. The business case is strong on this one. https://lnkd.in/eYm8stWR

*Control Systems Engineering* 💪💪💪 Starting a new academic year next September with #ControlTheory & #DigitalControl at Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (Dep. of Electrical and Computers Engineering)

I'm so impressed with how SpaceX has transformed the space industry. It's hard to get your head around how big the Starship is, so here's a short video to give some perspective. #Engineering #SpaceX #Impressive

If SpaceX is serious about using Starship for point to point transport around earth, which has previously been advertised, then I can only imagine what the liability would be. ⛓️💥 How do you account for the risk of damage to a payload from the very physics of the transportation technique (assuming it remains securely in place)? ⛓️💥 What about the risk of damage when the payload becomes unsecured within the vehicle? These and more issues will become more pressing as the technology matures. Space lawyers are already out there anticipating and managing these risks for the industry. Have you checked in with your #spacelawyer lately? #commercialspace #newspace #spaceindustry #spaceeconomy NewSpace Nexus Space Foundation Center for Space Policy & Strategy The Aerospace Corporation Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi McGill Institute of Air and Space Law Nebraska Space, Cyber, and National Security Law Program International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL), Leiden University

IMPRESSIVELY RAPID AND ACCURATE JET ANGLE ADJUSTMENTS. Like when going from belly to vertical, and correcting for the overshoot. What is the terminal velocity in the belly horizontal position, compared to a pencil-like vertical one?

SpaceX's Starship: A Revolutionary Feat of Engineering Through groundbreaking design, ingenious engineering, and precise execution, SpaceX has achieved what many in the aerospace industry deemed impossible: the successful bellyflop landing maneuver of its Starship. This remarkable feat exemplifies SpaceX’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration. Elon Musk has been vocal about his vision for SpaceX, aiming to drastically reduce the cost and enhance the reliability of space access, ultimately achieving a tenfold improvement. The success of the Starship's landing is a testament to this ambitious goal and showcases the marvel of modern engineering. #SpaceExploration #InnovativeEngineering #Trendigm #ElonMuskVision Trendigm | Enabing Innovation

I am really curious to see the #CFD of #Starship, because I don't think the actual shape is aerodynamically stable enough for a safe reentry. Fact is SpaceX needs a #GNC to test ASAP (comparable to the one for Space Shuttle), and we might see larger wings coming. Now is just a big bin with an engine and TPS, thrown into space, no way is going to survive uncontrolled and aerodynamically not stable. The fact it probably broke in two chunks is not good at all: in case of GNC failure, crew is dead. #Success? Depends what you are testing and collecting data for, and the next steps in testing. PS: My Ph.D. is in reentry vehicles. #starship #spacex #reentrytest

The third flight test of SpaceX’s Starship could launch as soon as March 14, pending regulatory approval. Starship’s second flight test achieved a number of major milestones and provided invaluable data to continue rapidly developing Starship. Now, the third flight test aims to build on what they’ve learned from previous flights while attempting a number of ambitious objectives, including the successful ascent burn of both stages, opening and closing Starship’s payload door, a propellant transfer demonstration during the upper stage’s coast phase, the first ever re-light of a Raptor engine while in space, and a controlled reentry of Starship. It will also fly a new trajectory, with Starship targeted to splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This new flight path enables SpaceX to attempt new techniques like in-space engine burns while maximizing public safety.