May 23, 2019 05:25 AM
Elon said yesterday (Tuesday May 21) that the Watertower's first flight should be in about 10 days.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1130963712674631681
I'm growing increasingly skeptical, since the engine still isn't there. That's not something that they can just quickly bolt on as long as it's pointed down. If they plan to control the massive Watertower with the engine's throttle and with vectored thrust, there's going to be an elaborate gimbaled mounting for the engine to fit into and all kinds of control lines and actuators, along with plumbing for fuel, oxidizer and pressurization. Plus all kinds electronic spaghetti for control and telemetry. Then they will have to test the hugely complex system integration.
Or maybe not. Maybe they will just slap it on and pass around a bottle of Jack.
A couple of days ago, somebody wrote on twitter: "On our next episode of Junkyard Empire, the boys decide to build themselves a spaceship and fly to Mars!" Pure Texas. (Except that NASA's in Texas and it isn't like that. At least not any more.)
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1130963712674631681
I'm growing increasingly skeptical, since the engine still isn't there. That's not something that they can just quickly bolt on as long as it's pointed down. If they plan to control the massive Watertower with the engine's throttle and with vectored thrust, there's going to be an elaborate gimbaled mounting for the engine to fit into and all kinds of control lines and actuators, along with plumbing for fuel, oxidizer and pressurization. Plus all kinds electronic spaghetti for control and telemetry. Then they will have to test the hugely complex system integration.
Or maybe not. Maybe they will just slap it on and pass around a bottle of Jack.
A couple of days ago, somebody wrote on twitter: "On our next episode of Junkyard Empire, the boys decide to build themselves a spaceship and fly to Mars!" Pure Texas. (Except that NASA's in Texas and it isn't like that. At least not any more.)