Europe Plans To Launch Million Mile Long Space Laser Antenna - Deep Space Updates - January 31st

Closing out January with a handful of launches, SpaceX carry Cygnus to the orbit, the cargo space craft which is supposed to provide dissimilar redundancy to the commercial resupply services contract. The European LISA gravitational wave antenna gets officially adopted by ESA after 30 years of development. Iran's Simorgh rocket make it to orbit after 7 years of failed attempts. And much more.
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[@jlangevin65]

No one who's had to balance a ceiling fan would expect Ingenuity to fly again.

[@recifebra3]

sad. Ingenuity was amazing though...

[@PC-nf3no]

I don't know about that. I have seen some pretty wobbly ceiling fans spinning away, One report thinks that it landed on two legs pitching the blades into the dirt and damaging all 4 tips. Wouldn't we all be surprised if they were able to increase rotor speed and get enough for some lift to pace the rover. Never underestimate those miracle workers at JPL. We'll just have to see what they can come up with.

[@jlangevin65]

@@PC-nf3no Run that wobbly fan at 2400rpm and see what happens.

[@PC-nf3no]

@@jlangevin65 well, you're right, it could be bad. Or, JPL could do what scientist do and run tests and see what they got. Categoric presumptions dont work here!

[@jlangevin65]

@@PC-nf3no I'm not even sure how to respond to you. I didn't make any categorical pronouncement, but now I will - Ingenuity will never fly again.

[@niklaskoskinen123]

"Space situational awareness". They had the chance to call it spatial awareness, but passed...

[@briandeschene8424]

In the space flight industry (SFI), all terminology needs to able to be a TLA (three letter abbreviation). So SSA works whereas SA clearly does not. :-)

[@death_parade]

@@briandeschene8424 That would limit the number of possible abbreviations in the entire spaceflight industry to only 17,576. Not nearly enough.

[@Phroggster]

​@@death_parade 46,656 (36^3) as numbers are allowed in 3LAs/TLAs though are used fairly infrequently in the SFI. I even hear it pronounced as "three ell ayys" regularly enough.

[@OtherTheDave]

@@death_paradeNash they’ll just reuse the acronyms. Bonus points if they can use the same acronym twice in a sentence with different meanings!

[@joshuacheung6518]

​@@death_paradeoh, you poor soul. Allow me to show you one of the acronyms that the US govt uses. Not for space, but hey. AIMS Seems innocent enough, right? No. Stands for... ATCRBS IFF Mark XII System They'll just nest it if they have to. Or as mentioned, just reuse.

[@jamesowens7176]

11:30 I was present for the LIFE full-scale burst pressure test. The energy release was so high, we had to do the testing in the evening after work hours to minimize risk to center personnel, and we were restricted by weather as well, because cloud cover can reflect the sound well out into the surrounding city. You can see me in the group shot on Marcus House's video (front row, red flannel, green hat). The group shot is not on Sierra's long video, so not sure where Marcus got it. :-)

[@stuart207]

Brilliant, I love it 👍

[@julianfp1952]

@jamesowens7176 Fascinating. I really do wish you and all the other people involved well in progressing this project. I think that inflatables are some of the most exciting crewed space technology being developed at the moment. I had only heard about Bigelow until it closed up shop and was then delighted, after a bit of internet searching, to discover that Sierra Space is doing a great job of keeping the technology moving forward (inflatables in general, I'm not trying to imply that Sierra Space's work is derived from Bigelow's ex-NASA technology but rather a different realisation of the same general concept) I'm guessing (hoping) that pressure testing is only one of the things being tested. I think I did read somewhere (but maybe I'm wrong) someone at Sierra Space saying that it had also conducted ballistic tests on the material - firing projectiles designed to simulate various micro-meteorite impacts at test samples. Some real-life test data on that might help convince some of the naysayers. The third category of test I think would be interesting is radiation testing - an initially sub-scale test article exposed to various types of radiation with sensors inside it to be able to determine the attenuation properties of a LIFE module. I know that Sierra Space has discussed micro-meteorite and radiation protection properties of its material - in both cases expected to be better than typical thickness solid station material I think I remember hearing - but nothing makes the point better than actual test data.

[@jamesowens7176]

@@julianfp1952 Rest assured that there will be loads of test data before these go up with a crew. The ultimate burst testing and creep-burst testing are designed to characterize the "restraint layer" - the structural part of the shell. Individual straps have been load and creep tested as well, which helped inform the design of the integrated restraint layer. There is also damage tolerance testing of the restraint straps, as well as space environment exposure testing at the ISS and on the X-37B. However, the restraint layer is kind of in the middle of the layer stack-up. The outermost layers protects the restraint layer against thermal cycling, atomic oxygen erosion, and debris strikes. The innermost layer protects the air barrier from damage from inside the vehicle (crew/cargo). The air barrier itself is multiple layers to provide redundancy. Ultimately there will be uncrewed flight articles to verify all components work together as expected before we risk crew inside. As for radiation, we have data from BEAM and from earlier Bigelow standalone flights, as well as the material testing I mentioned above. LEO radiation environment is well characterized from decades of data on the ISS. There will be multiple LIFE modules in LEO before any are sent beyond, so there will be even better data on the radiation attenuation of the system by then.

[@julianfp1952]

@@jamesowens7176 Thank you for the very informative reply. It’s so great to see this technology moving forwards. Once this stuff is human rated it will be a huge step up from having to live in relatively small tin cans either in space stations or for longer duration deeper space travel.

[@The_1ntern3t]

As someone who flies race drones: These rotor blades look absolutely pristine to me 😂

[@drworm5007]

I wonder if it could be worthwhile to design blades with a weak point so that when they broke, both sides broke at the same place, remaining roughly balanced.

[@paul4381]

​@@drworm5007I think the problem would be that since it broke at the weak point, it wouldn't dissipate enough energy for the rotor to stop thus it would break again beyond the weak point. But idk it could work. I think the easiest is to not crash it 😂

[@redwalsh87]

Additional comment on the Cygnus launch, the tracking shot of the booster return was AMAZING! Best I can remember and I've watched nearly every SpaceX launch.

[@danielkemp4860]

Was about to say! Even Jessie Anderson was awestruck!

[@bhleyg1337]

Gave me goosebumps

[@subwarpspeed]

Yeah I watched that too. First how it was on its side (the "dog leg maneuver"?) gliding through the air. Then flip over. I would like to call that clip "how it looks if you ever weere about to get an orbital class rocket booster land on your head" 😂

[@veloxsouth]

The bit about more of the lift coming from the tip of the blades is not entirely true at 9:17. While going twice as far away from the hub will generate 4 times the dynamic pressure, the geometric twist, the tapered chord, reduced camber, and the induced angle of attack near the tips do a lot to reduce the lift. A good distribution of lift will be pretty smooth and lift must go to zero at the tips of the propeller.

[@MrAluntus]

Rush-more.. lol. you crack me up, Scott

[@YheMagiclotus]

It's so awesome to hear you talk about LISA. I'm actually working on it as an analoge design engineer at SRON🤩 So freaking happy LISA got adopted and I still can't believe I'm working on something that will be launched in to space 😳

[@stuart207]

Congratulations!👏 This is why I love this channel..

[@ptonpc]

Pretty much a dream job :) Congratulations!

[@stuart207]

You should have 300 likes and a bunch of comments by now. I'm quite happy to spam tf out of this thread in compensation if required 😂

[@realzachfluke1]

Very exciting, congratulations.

[@rustusandroid]

Nice to know that every company have their own "Universal" docking specifications...

[@2ndfloorsongs]

The space industry is all about redundancy. If one standard doesn't work, there are multiple backup ones to adhere to.

[@MS-qx9uw]

Well, there’s one specification for crewed docking (IDSS), and any company can build one and get it certified by their ‘local’ ISS partner agency. The Common Berthing Mechanism has also becom e something of an impromptu standard for berthing larger modules, as on Axiom and Gravitics designs, though IDSS is supposed to work for that as well. This is for unmanned probe to probe docking, picoport to IDSS’s clamp-o-tron

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

And the IDSS is compatible with a couple docking adapters. That is probably the best way to make a universal standard. Everyone can implement it how they prefer, but they have to adhere to the common standard. The russian APAS-95 can be converted to it (and already looks very similar) using the International Docking Adapter to turn it into the passive side, NASA has their NASA Docking System, ESA usies the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism, SpaceX has their adapter, even the chinese have a possibly compatible system.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Yes, each and every company doing space research and development has a "Department of Redundancy Department"! LOL ;D@@2ndfloorsongs

[@FastSloth87]

@@HappyBeezerStudios Russia doesn't use APAS-95 tho, they stuck to probe-and-cone.

[@jimeththemelancollie351]

"Let's try spinning, that's a good trick" - Scott Manlet on the Ingenuity craft, 2024

[@wilboersma9441]

This comment is underrated, bravo

[@donjones4719]

As commander, Zena Cardman is one of the two pilots a Dragon carries. Afaik she's the first person to hold this position who's not an aircraft pilot. Which is fine, Dragon is so different to fly than a plane or even other spacecraft. Of course even the long-time test pilots who've piloted Dragon have done almost zero piloting due to it's autonomy.

[@donjones4719]

But this is interesting, it's another milestone in moving away from needing people with intense piloting backgrounds to control a spacecraft. Dragon can make a complete flight autonomously, with the commander or pilot only monitoring the systems and maneuvers. Even manual control is simple touch buttons on a touchscreen. Excellent situational awareness and coolness under pressure are still needed in case things start to go wrong, but that doesn't always require a deep background in high-performance aircraft.

[@allangibson8494]

@@donjones4719The reason for selecting experienced test pilots as spacecraft pilots is, by definition, they are cool under pressure and high acceleration (or otherwise they get the title “the late”). Being able to fly aircraft has always been irrelevant.

[@donjones4719]

@@allangibson8494 Being cool under pressure when it really counts is why Jared Isaacman takes his non-pilot crew members on flights in jet fighter trainers. It's a good point - but coolness under pressure can be gained otherwise. Zena's experience of 3 prior spaceflights must have qualified her.

[@Sarcotome]

I just finished my phd on the lisa mission, working on the lasers for the tests you mentioned! It's because we delivered the lasera that they have been able to finish the tests !

[@JoeyBlogs007]

So Slim came out of the shady.

[@marcustulliuscicero5443]

Yet it could not stand up

[@ImieNazwiskoOK]

oh my god I love it

[@johnladuke6475]

Take your coat and get out, both of you.

[@TheAlmightyCornholio]

Are you saying the sunlight was finally able to go round the outside?

[@ronschlorff7089]

It was a slim chance, but they did it; hopefully!! :D

[@AlexRian_]

The NG20/Cygnus launch had the best camera work ever. Nonstop camera tracking from 50km altitude down to zero. You could see how the rocket "steers and glides" itself to the pad without engine power!

[@TheMacMcHale]

Your “rush more” joke killed me 😂

[@justinmacneil623]

I too recall talk of LISA (and LIGO) at Glasgow back in the early 90s. It seems to have been a while... Let's hope they finally get it up and running sooner rather than later.

[@neithere]

After the JW "Forever Launching In A Few Years From Now Since The 90's" ST is finally out there, generating incredible images and tons of science, apparently anything is possible!

[@benjaminhanke79]

19:25 It's over 9000 Space Lasers!

[@samedwards6683]

Thanks so much for creating and sharing this informative and timely video. Great job. Keep it up.

[@ThatOpalGuy]

It takes a lot of work just to make a good video about an opal. Scott has to do so much more research for his videos.

[@rodman2277]

Much info thank you so much. Great show

[@BMrider75]

Glad to see so much similar fellow enthusiasm for LISA. Good reporting, thanks Scott

[@benjaminhanke79]

Great timing, I just finished your interview with Ellie.

[@jameslincs]

Great to see progress every week, great video

[@nigeldepledge3790]

Back in the mid-'90s, New Scientist were calling LISA the Laser Interferometer Space Array.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Back in the early 90's I had a girlfriend named Lisa; she had a pretty nice "array" too!! ;D LOL

[@mocko69]

You consistently produce the best, most unbiased and comprehensive space news on KZbin. Can't wait for weekly DSUs😍

[@buzzman4860]

Especially when a bad state actor like Iran gets a congratulations

[@JMWexperience]

Great update as usual. Thanks for your hard work putting all of this information together!

[@argumentumpoeticum]

Hey Scott! I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Vandenberg launch from the East Bay!

[@manythingslefttobuild]

Great update video Scott, best of luck on doing them weekly this year.

[@padders1068]

Thanks Scott! Great quality video as ever! Thanks for sharing 🙂😎🤓

[@brettwoodard167]

Thanks Scott!

[@rickmiles3701]

Thanks!

[@davidrhp847]

Space lasers… Reagan: I told you so!

[@kmkessler]

Good to see you're taking your vitamins

[@annafraley5388]

As always, a well informed good show…!! ✅

[@lpcfarm4611]

YAY for weekly! I've been thinking they've been being much too infrequent. Go Scott!

[@slateslavens]

I have to wonder if SLIM could have been righted with an appropriate attitude thruster burn. They really didn't have anything to lose if they would have tried it as the last thing before the sun set.

[@Rorschach1024]

They may try that once the sun comes back up. If it wakes up again that is. They probably want to wring all the usability they can in this configuration before they roll the dice on that maneuver.

[@plrpilot]

I was at the University of Glasgow last year. Didn’t realize you had attended there. I wear very impressed with it. Thanks for the updates.

[@alexanderSydneyOz]

I have to say I really love the obscure, 80s, post punk industrial UK sound bites which drop in on these videos....

[@AdamJRichardson]

Love seeing inflatables still progressing! I just saw a documentary about LIGO and it's crazy the precision that's involved. They have to measure the difference in distance equivalent to Earth -> Sun vs Earth -> Sun + a human hair (if memory serves). Will have to check out the space-based one, curious how they maintain the relative positions well enough for that level of accuracy. Fly safe! - Brought to you by Centrum Adult 😃

[@Grundewalt]

Hi Scott, glad for the title /thumbnail change...fly safe!

[@viliamklein]

It's crazy how unique the NG video from GEO is. There aren't many (if any others) videos of satellites in geo that are public.

[@valentin4324]

Always love to hear about LISA, my physics professor worked on lisa pathfinder!

[@danl6191]

I just toured LIGO today in Washington, so I’m thrilled to hear about LISA.

[@MCsCreations]

Thanks for all the news, Scott! 😊 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@ecbrown6151]

Upside down probe is such a Kerbal moment.

[@user-nt2qn5kz2v]

Was I in Glasgow when you were at Uni. Spent a year there in 1994. European city of the year that year I think. I do miss that place. Very good update today. So much to look forward to in the next decade or two. It just keeps getting better and better.

[@ronschlorff7089]

I was there in 2007, visiting, had some nice pints, in nice pubs, served by nice barmen!! :D

[@user-nt2qn5kz2v]

Our closest neighborhood pub was on Park Grove Terrace near the bowling greens. @@ronschlorff7089

[@rikuurufu5534]

this was a fantastic watch to launch

[@notmyname4790]

Your hoodie wins the day!

[@drbuckley1]

Weekly content would be great, Scott.

[@digitalplayland]

Amazing. Good to see you again. Let's have a show once a week and call inventors and engineers with ideas for the space race.

[@T_Mo271]

There's a lot of interesting stuff accumulated on the desk behind Scott.

[@knickebien1966]

Take that Centrum daily vitamin Scott, you need to keep up your strength.

[@1skinnypuppy]

We enjoy your updates man….ily do as you can, thank you. Thanks again. Oh right….. it’s not like you are rocket scientist or something like that. 😊😊😊

[@muttochop]

Leave Ingenuity as is. It will make an impressive museum piece when we go and pick it up. It deserves no less.

[@GeekboyNC]

If we go to Mars and pick it up, it deserves to be fixed with new blades and other hardware.

[@MorzakEV]

Let’s just hope it’s not buried in the dunes by then!

[@tomholroyd7519]

8:30 it's so sparkly!

[@StYxXx]

I feel the same regarding LISA. Such a cool idea and it takes sooooo long. Adding even more satellites and greater distances would be even cooler. But hey, three is fine and huge step forward for science. Also at the beginning I was thinking "weekly updates? That#s a lot". But with this pace if launches and other space news Scott probably will do daily updates in year to keep up xD

[@irrationalgeographic9953]

Hey Scott, thanks for wearing the Rocket Lab shirt, you wear it well.

[@evanperes7382]

I managed to see the upper stage and boost back burn down in San Diego with binoculars. SPECTACULAR!

[@johndoepker7126]

Can't believe it's February 1th already.....the first month of this year has already been exciting for space news.....the rest of this year .... is gonna be PHENOMENAL.....!!!!

[@miroslavmilan]

Dude, that rush more joke totally killed me. 😂

[@Squirrelitis]

Would love to see more on Spire and their Lemur satellites. Is this a sign that someone is taking a financial interest in space debris and how crowded Earth orbit is getting?

[@johnladuke6475]

Deep Space Updates on any set schedule would be cool, weekly or whatever works. It would have a side benefit of making it easier to feel the cadence of launches and frequency of newsworthy events. Even if they stay irregular, it's still part of the charm.

[@will2Collett]

I would love to see Blue Origen "Rush a lot faster" too!!!

[@markusmencke8059]

LISA = Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. 😉

[@brianbrandt25]

parked near L5?

[@TheLordSkippy]

@@brianbrandt25 three individual orbits around the sun, tilted with respect to the ecliptic, to create a triangular formation that follows the Earth

[@chrictonj9503]

Nice view for the distant launches. No more absolute need to travel. 😆

[@travelsofmunch1476]

Stephanie Wilson is my hometown astronaut, from Pittsfield MA, excited to see she's headed for her 4th trip uphill

[@DUKE_of_RAMBLE]

re: New Glenn - I don't know if this is typical of simulator builds, but they deemed that one worthy of labeling it with *S/N 001* So this could be the real article, _BUT_ they intentionally did things to it to perform various tests, to confirm their manufacturing built it right.

[@braysniper58]

I've been watching you since i was 13, in a few months I'll turn 25. thanks for all the ksp lessons and teaching me so much valuable information about real life rocketry and space. and opening the door to many other curiosities and answers from other channels like Anton Petrov, EveryDayAstronaut, Matt Lowne, Star Talk and Kurzgesagt just to name a few. to many more, fly safe 🫡

[@CaliforniaBushman]

Saw the Starlink Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg SFB from the other day from Torrance, CA. Saw that the 3D trajectory engine on the Spacex website was taking it SE towards us, along the Baja CA coast. Launched at 9:57pm. What a sight!! It actually looked closer than I thought it would. Amazing. Naked eye only, too. It looked a lot closer than the famous silhouetted sunset launch in 2019 (saw it too). It went from one end of the sky to the other. There's another one going up Saturday night. Supposed to have scattered rain, we'll see. 12 are going up out of Vandenberg in March. Breaking out the binocs next time. Maybe go to the Redondo Beach Esplenade (wide sidewalk) where amature astronomers often gather to take telescope exposures/videos for events

[@criggie]

Idea: a kickstarter to send Scott to space. Stretch goal, in the cockpit jumpseat. What would it cost?

[@alexlandherr]

I caught the Cygnus launch on X/Twitter and for the few minutes I watched the quality was surprisingly good in terms of resolution/bitrate. Normally on my Gigabit connection X/Twitter has significant issues with streams and videos.

[@CHUCKLZLORD]

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. I guess they could drop the "Gravitational-wave" part from LIGO's name, since it was obvious?

[@johnladuke6475]

Much like the military, space projects have a better chance to get funded if they have cool acronyms that are easy for government officials (or whomever) to pronounce. It's only "gravitational-wave" with a hyphen because nobody would pay billions for LIGWO. Same applies to LISA... it's easier to sell to the people with the deep pockets than LIGOSA or LISAGO, which gets even clunkier with the W in the way.

[@martinperry1843]

Hi Scott. Can you do a video on Rocket Factory Augsburg, their rocket RFA One and their plans to launch from Saxavord Spaceport in Scotland?

[@setlik3gaming80]

Fly Safe🙏🖖🏽

[@IanZainea1990]

9:19 imo, they should test it until it's 100% broken, it's not like it can be repaired or anything. If it can still take commands, mess around with it until it's completely dead. Never know what you might learn!

[@SuperLuminalMan]

Free-floating Golden Cubes - *great* name for a rock band

[@user-li7ec3fg6h]

Thank you for your very good Informations, as always. The only thing missing was that this Virgin Glaktic plane was supposed to have flown for the last time, because a new plane with more seats is to be built, which will then take off weekly. Fly safe pilot! 😊😊😊

[@ylette]

Over 9000!

[@ThatOpalGuy]

It's gonna be fun watching a starlab rud.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Yup, maybe LOL. :D But Sky Lab was a kick to watch on TV, when it launched, on a Saturn V, in the 1970's; it was huge inside!! "Back to the future" anyone!? LOL ;D

[@fabianstahlberg6808]

Hey scott, could you add timestamps when uploading? Loving the videos

[@M167A1]

Blue Origin... I forgot you were there.... You may go...

[@andreabindolini7452]

I remember, some years ago, when "experts" said that big rockets were useless and all kind of mission could be performed with a plethora of smaller rockets, 20 tons to LEO, and orbital building. They said it only because bigger rockets weren't available!

[@OttawaOldFart]

Well you said try :)

[@RogerM88]

I'd go easy on the hype with Starship commercial capabilities, since it will need a payload hatch. Which isn't the most efficient way to use available cargo space, versus a standard payload fairing.

[@Rorschach1024]

I suspect that the payload bay will be a work in progress. They need to get the vehicle flying first. I'm expecting some kind of clamshell not terribly unlike what Rocketlab Neutron has been showing in renders, will be the ultimate version. But that is just mechanical/structural engineering. That can be dealt with once they get the flight dynamics sorted.

[@TheEvilmooseofdoom]

Hype? All he did was inform.

[@dr_birb]

It could also blow it up in one go

[@java4653]

Its fascinating to watch Manley fail with Musk. He almost understood its all a scam awhile back, but he likely hasn't thought through how limited the possibilities are for humans in Space.

[@stug77]

The "outer portion of the propeller generating most of your lift" is a misrepresentation of propeller aerodynamics. More likely the problem will be balance, or, whether the motor is capable of spinning the props fast enough to make up for the loss of blade area.

[@Sordnay]

I would like to hear why it's a good idea to keep working with roscosmos, I just can't come up with any good reasons.

[@martythemartian99]

I am assuming the day will eventually come when Starship/Super Heavy becomes almost as common as Falcon 9. I am also assuming that by the time it does, we will be seeing multiple space stations being launched. Not holding my breath, but I believe it will happen. 😊

[@MushookieMan]

Scott uses the royal we, like sports fans. lol

[@quangsumi]

it would be nice if you include the table of content in the video

[@darrell9546]

Scott, could you talk sometime about the "short" nozzles sometimes used on SpaceX Merlin engine second stages? I think the Cygnus launch used one instead of the usual long nozzle.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Love those lunar hills in the background. What are the coordinates for the landing site?

[@ForestvilleOppa]

@21:15 I'm pretty sure that as with the Falcon9, SpaceX will be StarShip's main customer as they maintain the Starlink constellation with it and attempt to colonize Mars. That's Elon's expressed purpose for the Starship.

[@joe2mercs]

I like the “not for flight” notes peppering the surface of the New Glenn rocket. At least Bezos is not about to find an empty assembly building and wonder if someone sent it to orbit by mistake.

[@GroovyVideo2]

moon ice is the new gold

[@BSJinx]

It'll be worth many times its weight in gold.

[@mikeburgess7787]

The root of the blade does the grunt work for lift generated..near on zero lift at the tip..

[@General12th]

Hi Scott! Fly safe!

[@ronschlorff7089]

Yes, but best to "fly lucky". I did that years ago, when working as a field biologist for a state conservation agency. Did many flights, over 30 years, to observe animal populations from the air, collect data, and do research. I was not the pilot, but our great pilots would sometimes, jokingly say, as we taxied back to the hangar after a flight: "Well, Ron, we cheated death, one more time"! LOL ;D

[@General12th]

@@ronschlorff7089 Thanks for the input.

[@ronschlorff7089]

thanks too, BTW, whenever I see a plane in the sky, especially the medical helicopters which fly over my house often going to a nearby hospital, I say a little prayer for them: "God bless you and keep you safe" Sort of like your kind saying to Mr. Scotty here!! : )@@General12th

[@zoyazam8776]

It's pronounced "See morgh" and that "gh" at the end is pronounced like French pronounce R in merci. Thank you Scott.

[@jeremiahmullikin]

Good thing channels like yours are keeping us engaged with SpaceX after they decided to post less on KZbin.

[@julianfp1952]

Starlab sounds exciting and the simplicity of a single launch making full use of Starship's payload capacity (both volume and mass) is appealing but for a follow-on version 2 this single-Starship-launch concept coupled with Sierra Space's LIFE technology once mature seems to me to be a match made in heaven (or LEO at least!). If a Starship fairing can accommodate an 8m diameter payload then I would guess that a LIFE module could probably get to something like 12 to 15 metres diameter once inflated. Also, with Musk talking about the potential of a 20 or even 30m stretch for Starship v3 even with some of that length increase going to the booster, and a lot of what increase is on the ship going to extra tankage, I would imagine at least another 5 metres of fairing length if not more. That would allow a v2 Starlab to increase the length of both inflatable hab module and the solid (non-inflatable) service module compared to the v1 lengths. Putting all of that together I can see at some point in the not too distant future (early 2030s?) it being possible to put up in a single launch a station with a pressurised volume about 25% larger than the ISS supporting maybe 8 permanent crew.

[@bdgrandin]

I don’t know how they will be able to make a large cargo hatch work to release any large structure. I am sure they will find a way but seeing how much they had to play around to get the pez dispenser to work, note not in space yet, I think it will take longer to happen then anyone expects. I expect that they will do it but not with a reusable second stage.