Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum

Poster by David Debold

https://twitter.com/DavidJDPhotos

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I have higher hopes of the SAG-AFTRA strike ending, for Hollywood, long before this movie gets released.

https://cw39.com/news/texas/spacex-safet...l-ongoing/

"The TCEQ is taking public comments through Nov. 7 on the issue, according to the group Save RGV, which opposes the discharge of water into the hyper-saline waterway where newborn dolphins live."

(Nov 7, 2023 03:49 AM)C C Wrote: [ -> ]^ ^ ^ ^ ^
I have higher hopes of the SAG-AFTRA strike ending, for Hollywood, long before this movie gets released.

I'm afraid that I have to agree...

Mauricio's latest aerial photo of the Starbase factory site.

The second Megabay has had its bridge crane installed and its ceiling is being finished. This will be the floor of a two story tall windowed space on top. Two large elevators and two emergency staircases are being completed to access this space. Unclear what will go up there, or what will occupy the similar space atop the first Megabay. The smaller Highbay has a single story space divided in two by the building's bridge crane that runs on rails through the center. Half of it is a bar/nightclub (really) that people call the "Starbar" and SpaceX holds events in the space. The opposite half seems to be vacant. It's speculated that the larger spaces atop the Megabays might be offices or perhaps a launch site control room.

The huge (compare the size of the automobiles for scale) and constantly growing factory building (people call it the "Starfactory") looks to be getting ready to expand into the large dirt space where footings are being constructed to support structural columns and all kinds of piping and conduits are being laid and buried again. From the looks of it, they include heavy duty electical supply to various spots on the future factory floor where unidentified machines will be installed. Eventually the dirt area will be concreted over.

It isn't known why they are building around the third of the Giant Tents, or what will eventually happen to that space.

Interesting events yesterday and today...

The Mexican aviation authorities have announced a space launch notam for the Mexican side of the border opposite Starbase, for 11-15-23.

And a SpaceX crew was seen exiting the explosives storage bunker with strange backpacks this morning. (Photo by Starship Gazer)



They proceeded to the booster and the ship where it appeared that the flight termination explosive charges were being installed. This is something that we wouldn't expect to happen until the launch is close at hand.

There's still no official word from the FAA about a launch license, but the recent activity does suggest that perhaps SpaceX has heard something.

(Screenshot by Vicky Cocks from Lab Padre's livestream)

The US Coast Guard has issued a notmar (notice to mariners) for November 15: "Mariners operating offshore in waters north and west of Hawaii are advised of hazardous operations and the potential for falling debris due to space operations."

Absolutely great photo of IFT-1 taken from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande:

It was irresistable, I guess:



Sci-fi scene at the launch site this evening:

If it launches next week, I hope the pad survives without hurling chunks into nesting grounds and it makes it all the way to space without blowing up. I can't imagine another six months or year of this bureaucratic lethargy. The "trial and error" approach is no longer speedy.

SpaceX is now saying that they are aiming for "as early as" next Friday.

We were hoping for a license today, but tomorrow is Veterans day and government employees have today off. So hopefully a license comes out early next week.

Their announcement includes an absolutely great little video:

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1723158118706839819