Category: Fun & Curios

Nice launch and landing through the cloud ground layer at ol’ Vandenfog SFB, SLC-4

…came and went, this year,
without us noticing any difference

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• Cultural ref

It’s the fifth of ten straight date palindromes (3/20/23-3/29/23),
using appropriate formatting.

Not only is that fact obscure, it’s totally unimportant.
Well, except to some numerology-heavy cult, mebbe.

However, that does not mean we shouldn’t start preparing now
for the next one — April 20th of ’24,
so I’m assigning Veeshir to head-up that effort.
I’m sure he won’t let us down.
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Veeshir comment

Initial test flight of Terran-1 (3D-printed rocket using methane as fuel)

Stage-1 flight looked nominal (pretty blue methane exhaust),
buuut Stage-2 failed (watch velocity drop and exhaust sputter after Stg-2 ignition).

Ah, well. First test flights and Stg-2s are problematic, historically.
Good news: it didn’t break up or explode on ascent, as some are wont to do.
Hey, as the post title says…

Stay tuned for an update when available.
Also, Electron and Falcon9 are both scheduled to launch on Friday morning.

Electron launch from NZ was successful
Stg-1 recovered via parachute and water landing

Falcon9 launch was successful

Next Falcon9 launches (2) are scheduled for Wednesday from Vandenberg and the Cape

…somebody needs to run with this

[insert Halfman joke, here]
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• Picked up by Pookie’s Toons

RocketLab’s Electron from Wallops Is, VA
Interesting points: stage separation, fairing halves falling away, battery hot-swap/eject

Falcon9 Starlink from Vandenberg
Bull’s eye from me ol’ stompin’ ground, SLC-4

Falcon9 SES from the Cape
Ten-ring landing with a nice view of the big pieces after stage & fairing separations @~T+4m10s

St Patricks Day double-header !

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• Story (for you whippersnappers, philistines, and eremites)
• Title cultural ref

Routine night launch, landing on barge

Bonus:
Real robot flying on an alien planet populated entirely by robots