{"id":18617,"date":"2019-04-30T12:34:07","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T16:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18617"},"modified":"2019-04-30T18:06:30","modified_gmt":"2019-04-30T22:06:30","slug":"space-transport-roundup-apr-30-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18617","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Apr.30.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport:<\/p>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <strong>SpaceX Cargo Dragon launch delayed<\/strong> from Wednesday to at least Friday due to power problems on the ISS.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/04\/30\/spacex-resupply-launch-delayed-by-malfunction-on-space-station\/\">SpaceX resupply launch delayed by malfunction on space station \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/04\/electrical-issue-station-dragon-crs-17\/\">Electrical issue on Station delays Dragon launch \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Earlier reports on the mission:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/nasa-to-broadcast-next-space-station-resupply-launch-prelaunch-activities-0\">NASA to Broadcast Next Space Station Resupply Launch | NASA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacex\/2019\/04\/29\/spacex-targeting-wednesday-may-1-at-359-edt-for-crs-17-launch\/\">SpaceX Targeting Wednesday, May 1 at 3:59 EDT for CRS-17 Launch \u2013 SpaceX<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacex\/2019\/04\/27\/spacex-crs-17-launch-now-scheduled-for-may-1\/\">SpaceX CRS-17 Launch Now Scheduled for May 1 \u2013 SpaceX<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>From SFN:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>A SpaceX Dragon supply ship packed with nearly three tons of experiments, crew provisions and supplies will remain on the ground until at least Friday morning to allow more time for NASA flight controllers to troubleshoot a problem with an electrical distribution unit on the International Space Station.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Multiple sources said the commercial resupply launch, previously scheduled for Wednesday, will be pushed back at least two days to no earlier than Friday at 3:11 a.m. EDT (0711 GMT).<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Find more <a href=\"#SpX\">SpaceX items below<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>[ <strong>Update<\/strong>: Northrop Grumman has released this video about the first flight of the giant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stratolaunch.com\/\">Stratolaunch<\/a> aircraft:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lnjzpm87hi8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>]<\/p>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <strong>China launches two Tianhui II-01 satellites remote sensing satellites<\/strong> with little warning: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.xinhuanet.com\/english\/2019-04\/30\/c_138023575.htm\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">China launches two satellites for scientific experiments &#8211; Xinhua | English.news.cn<\/a><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_18618\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18618\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.xinhuanet.com\/english\/2019-04\/30\/c_138023575.htm\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18618\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=18618\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/138023575_15566104405081n1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"899,625\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Long March 4B launch\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Long March 4B rocket, with two Tianhui II-01 remote sensing sciencie satellites. Credits: Xinhua&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/138023575_15566104405081n1.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-18618\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/138023575_15566104405081n1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/138023575_15566104405081n1.jpg 899w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/138023575_15566104405081n1-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/138023575_15566104405081n1-768x534.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-18618\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Long March 4B rocket, with two Tianhui II-01 remote sensing sciencie satellites. Credits: Xinhua<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Booster lands on a local village:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Ugh. Here&#8217;s the latest edition of toxic hydrazine rocket stages falling on inhabited areas following a Chinese orbital launch. This is from a launch at 22:52 UTC Monday\/06:52 Beijing time Tues. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dhRtu5mtFR\">https:\/\/t.co\/dhRtu5mtFR<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gqNH4ROCVD\">pic.twitter.com\/gqNH4ROCVD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AJ_FI\/status\/1123150067123335168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 30, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>*** Update on Chinese launch startup companies<\/strong> who will one can hope will be less likely to drop boosters on communities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-space-exploration-china-startups-idUSKCN1S20PJ\">China&#8217;s rocket start-ups go small in age of &#8216;shoebox&#8217; satellites &#8211; Reuters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/chinese-firms-space-transportation-and-linkspace-test-reusable-launcher-technologies\/\">Chinese firms Space Transportation and Linkspace test reusable launcher technologies &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.istellartech.com\/\">Interstellar Technologies<\/a> MOMO 3 suborbital rocket launch<\/strong> was postponed from Tuesday due to a problem with an engine valve. The launch is <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/natsuroke\/status\/1123185642383368193\">now set for Thursday<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>We are now targeting May 2nd for launch of MOMO third flight. A 75-minute launch window would open at 11:15 JST, 2:15 UTC.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>** <a href=\"https:\/\/firefly.com\/\">Firefly<\/a> tests <a href=\"https:\/\/firefly.com\/launch-alpha\/\">Alpha upper stage<\/a><\/strong> for full launch duration:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/04\/firefly-has-successfully-tested-the-upper-stage-of-its-alpha-rocket\/\">Firefly has successfully tested the upper stage of its Alpha rocket | Ars Technica<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Top_News\/US\/2019\/04\/29\/Firefly-Aerospace-advances-toward-late-2019-launch\/5451556565165\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Firefly Aerospace advances toward late 2019 launch &#8211; UPI<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>From Firefly:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Firefly has achieved a major milestone toward flight qualification of the Alpha second stage, supporting Firefly\u2019s goal of Alpha first launch in 2019. A 300 second hotfire test of the complete upper stage was accomplished on the company\u2019s vertical stage test stand. The length of the test successfully demonstrates the capability of the integrated system (flight avionics, structures, and propulsion systems) to operate for the duration of a flight mission (i.e., a mission duty cycle).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KvbznmiM7g4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>** <a href=\"http:\/\/www.BlueOrigin.com\">Blue Origin<\/a> hints at an announcement from Jeff Bezos<\/strong> on May 9th when he gives a talk at a satellite industry conference: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2019\/blue-origin-tweets-picture-antarctic-expedition-hinting-moon-mission\/\">Blue Origin tweets picture from Antarctic voyage, hinting at moon mission \u2013 GeekWire<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"und\">5.9.19 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BzvwCsDM2T\">pic.twitter.com\/BzvwCsDM2T<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/blueorigin\/status\/1121797276190437376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> <strong>Blue Origin facilities in Washington state<\/strong> expand: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2019\/construction-well-way-blue-origin-space-ventures-expanded-hq\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Construction is well under way for Blue Origin\u2019s expanded HQ \u2013 GeekWire<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">We\u2019ve gone vertical with our new HQ and R&amp;D facility in Kent, WA! We&#8217;re continuing to add to our world-class team and excited for a large new facility that will support rapid growth. Thanks to Mayor <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dana_ralph?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@dana_ralph<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cityofkent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@cityofkent<\/a> as well as everyone involved with the construction. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SjUa8fEvpM\">pic.twitter.com\/SjUa8fEvpM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/blueorigin\/status\/1116455626576556034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <a id=\"SpX\"><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spacex.com\"><strong>SpaceX<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><strong>*** Latest on Crew Dragon test explosion<\/strong> and status of NASA&#8217;s Commercial Crew Program:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2019\/4\/25\/18515952\/spacex-crew-dragon-explosion-nasa-investigation\">SpaceX is investigating the explosion of its spacecraft as NASA figures out how to move forward &#8211; The Verge<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/04\/25\/few-details-available-in-early-days-of-spacex-crew-capsule-accident-investigation\/\">Few details available in early days of SpaceX accident investigation \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/qz.com\/1604645\/spacexs-test-failure-shows-how-spacecraft-get-made\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s test failure shows how spacecraft get made &#8211; Quartz<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacepolicyonline.com\/news\/crew-dragon-anomaly-not-the-only-pacing-item-for-commercial-crew-systems\/\">Crew Dragon Anomaly Not the Only Pacing Item for Commercial Crew Systems \u2013 SpacePolicyOnline.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespacereview.com\/article\/3704\/1\">A dark cloud on commercial crew\u2019s horizon &#8211; The Space Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>*** Everyday Astronaut explains why launch abort towers are being replaced<\/strong> on crew vehicles by integrated liquid fuel engines: <a href=\"https:\/\/everydayastronaut.com\/abort-towers\/\">Why have SpaceX, Boeing &amp; Blue Origin ditched abort towers? &#8211; Everyday Astronaut<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>There\u2019s a new trend going around in the commercial space industry when it comes to launch abort systems. All three commercial companies who are putting abort systems on their crewed vehicles have ditched the classic launch abort tower we\u2019ve seen dominate abort systems in the past. Previous vehicles like the Mercury capsule, the Apollo capsule and even the Soyuz all used an escape tower that sat on top of the crew module, capable of pulling the vehicle away from a failing rocket in a hurry.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0MaeHNU2660?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>*** Falcon Heavy core booster tested<\/strong> in preparation for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacex.com\/stp-2\">STP-2 Mission<\/a> set for launch in June:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Falcon Heavy center core booster completed a static fire test at our rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas ahead of its next mission \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QjQ85Pfc1O\">https:\/\/t.co\/QjQ85Pfc1O<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1UK1EUSryT\">pic.twitter.com\/1UK1EUSryT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceX\/status\/1121974223566561281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 27, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>*** Falcon 9 booster spotted<\/strong> on way to Vandenberg AFB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-falcon-9-second-california-launch\/\">SpaceX ships Falcon 9 booster west for second California launch of 2019 &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Barring a surprise reassignment, the booster <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/spacexgroup\/permalink\/10157480717931318\/\">Joshuah Murrah caught<\/a> is Falcon 9 B1051, on its way west some 50 days after successfully supporting Crew Dragon\u2019s March 2nd launch debut. Despite the availability of B1046, B1047, and B1049, B1051 was assigned to the Canadian Space Agency\u2019s (CSA) Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM) shortly after landing aboard OCISLY, triggering major launch delays. The most logical explanation for customer CSA\u2019s and satellite contractor Maxar Technologies\u2019 curious decision is that they must believe that Falcon 9 Block 5 boosters with more than one launch in their past add more risk than those that do not.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>*** Broken Falcon Heavy core prepared for departure<\/strong> from Port Canaveral:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Additional photos sent over by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/luisperezjpg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@luisperezjpg<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX technicians covered up the engines and added additional straps before taking the booster away. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AxTPjpEOMR\">pic.twitter.com\/AxTPjpEOMR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SpaceXFleet Updates (@SpaceXFleet) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceXFleet\/status\/1122954628612722691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 29, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>*** FCC grants SpaceX permission to launch StarLink Internet satellites<\/strong> into an orbit lower than in the original plan:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/fcc-oks-lower-orbit-for-some-starlink-satellites\/\">FCC OKs lower orbit for some Starlink satellites &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.fcc.gov\/public\/attachments\/DA-19-342A1.pdf\">&#8220;Order and Authorization&#8221; document from the FCC (pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>In this Order and Authorization (Order), we grant the application1 of Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) to modify its previously authorized 4,425 non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellation using Ku- and Ka-band spectrum.2 Specifically, we authorize SpaceX to slightly reduce the number of satellites in this constellation, to operate a substantial portion of these satellites at a lower orbital altitude than previously authorized, and to include the use of Ku-band gateway earth stations for fewer than 75 of these lower-altitude satellites.3 Grant of this modification will allow SpaceX to make efficient use of valuable spectrum resources more safely, quickly, and cost-effectively as it initiates a new generation of broadband services available to customers worldwide, including those in areas previously underserved or even totally unserved by other broadband solutions.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A statement from SpaceX:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Here&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SpaceX<\/a>&#8216;s full statement on the FCC granting a modification request for its first ~1500 Starlink satellites.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Starlink production is well underway, and the first group of satellites have already arrived at the launch site&#8221; &#8211; Gwynne Shotwell<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KARhvs4ipb\">https:\/\/t.co\/KARhvs4ipb<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/axYe35ScB3\">pic.twitter.com\/axYe35ScB3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Eric Ralph (@13ericralph31) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/13ericralph31\/status\/1122639448854843393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 28, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> <strong>The first launch of operational Starlink satellites<\/strong> to this new orbital altitude is expected in May: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-starlink-satellites-florida-launch-1\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s first batch of Starlink satellites already in Florida for launch debut &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Above all else, SpaceX\u2019s confirmation that the first batch of Starlink satellites are already in Florida drives home the reality that the company\u2019s internet satellite constellation is about to become very real. Said constellation has long been the subject of endless skepticism and criticism, dominated by a general atmosphere of dismissal. There is no doubt that Starlink, as proposed, is an extraordinarily ambitious program that will cost billions of dollars to even begin to realize. SpaceX will have to find ways to affordably manufacture and launch ~11,900 satellites \u2013 together weighing something like 500 metric tons (1.1 million lbs) \u2013 in as few as nine years, start to finish.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Raptor engines tested for Starhopper flights<\/strong> : <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-starhopper-unleashed-raptor-tests\/\">SpaceX wants to unleash Starhopper but longer Raptor test fires come first &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the next round of Starhopper activity will focus on removing the spacecraft prototype\u2019s tethers and performing far more substantial hop tests.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Longer tests demand that SpaceX begins expanding the known performance envelope of its full-scale Raptor engine. Towards that end, longer-duration tests would need to be done at the company\u2019s McGregor, TX development facilities to reduce risk, tests that Musk confirmed are already well underway. A recent Raptor static fire reportedly lasted no less than 40 seconds, more than enough time for a single-engine Starhopper to significantly expand both the maximum altitude and velocity of future hop tests. In support of the upcoming Starhopper test campaign, significant construction work is also ongoing at SpaceX\u2019s Boca Chica test and development facilities.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Progress on construction of the orbital Starship test vehicle<\/strong> continues at Boca Chica Beach:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SpaceX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SpaceX<\/a> crew enjoy a day of rest after a long week of work on the orbital <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/StarShip?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StarShip<\/a> prototype. Two sections of the fairing have been assembled and are awaiting for completion. &#x1f4f7;(4\/28\/19) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BocaChica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BocaChica<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AIGBWWMJW4\">pic.twitter.com\/AIGBWWMJW4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Austin Barnard&#x1f680; (@austinbarnard45) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/austinbarnard45\/status\/1122676317521158149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 29, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Elon posts artwork for stainless steel Starships<\/strong> on the Moon and Mars:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Starship on the moon <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/UGjDG8ofID\">pic.twitter.com\/UGjDG8ofID<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1122824422031646720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 29, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Starships on Mars <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AyKEO6ATiZ\">pic.twitter.com\/AyKEO6ATiZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1122829331401601029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 29, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">====<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1426220057\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1426220057&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=hobbyspace&amp;linkId=811d54246d72bdb81bf217376d6a29e7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Moon Rush: The New Space Race<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=1426220057\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ac&amp;ref=tf_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=hobbyspace&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1426220057&amp;asins=1426220057&amp;linkId=6bc0ea2574961bc5c5407b80191a5cf2&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true&amp;price_color=333333&amp;title_color=0066c0&amp;bg_color=ffffff\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport: ** SpaceX Cargo Dragon launch delayed from Wednesday to at least Friday due to power problems on the ISS. SpaceX resupply launch delayed by malfunction on space station \u2013 Spaceflight Now Electrical issue on Station delays Dragon launch \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com Earlier reports on &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18617\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space transport roundup &#8211; Apr.30.2019<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets","category-space-systems"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-4Qh","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18503,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18503","url_meta":{"origin":18617,"position":0},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; April.16.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"April 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport: ** Northrop-Grumman Antares set to launch Cygnus cargo vehicle to the ISS from Wallops Island, Virginia on Wednesday, April 17th at 4:46 p.m. EDT (2046 GMT): U.S. Resupply Ship Poised for Launch as Crew Studies Life Science \u2013\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/33744244598_a8266fedaf_o1-958x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":816,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=816","url_meta":{"origin":18617,"position":1},"title":"This Week @NASA: Dragon flight, Curiosity drilling, ISS social, and more","author":"TopSpacer","date":"February 23, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's the latest\u00a0 episode of This Week @NASA:\u00a0 Ready the Dragon on This Week @NASA - YouTube Caption: March 1st is the targeted launch date for the next cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station. Liftoff of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft's second resupply mission to the ISS is scheduled\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/pFne0sTeJjk\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":26288,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=26288","url_meta":{"origin":18617,"position":2},"title":"Videos: Space habitat reports \u2013 Nov.15.2023","author":"TopSpacer","date":"November 15, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This week's selection of videos about space stations and living in space including NASA's latest Space to Ground report for the International Space Station: https:\/\/youtu.be\/BqtazyxX90o ** Expedition 70 Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli Answers Pensacola, FL Student Questions - Nov. 15, 2023 -\u00a0NASA Video Aboard the International Space Station, NASA Expedition 70\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;In Space Infrastructure&quot;","block_context":{"text":"In Space Infrastructure","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=15"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1200px-International_Space_Station_after_undocking_of_STS-132-500x319.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20441,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=20441","url_meta":{"origin":18617,"position":3},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Dec.3.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): [ Update Dec.4: Launch postponed due to high winds: Standing down today due to upper altitude winds and high winds at sea creating dynamic conditions around the Of Course I Still Love You droneship\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/leo-aerospace-regulus-orbital-500x281.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18660,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18660","url_meta":{"origin":18617,"position":4},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; May.3.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport: ** SpaceX to try again to launch a Falcon 9 early Saturday morning with the Cargo Dragon for mission CRS-17 to the ISS. The liftoff is set for 2:48 am EDT (6:48 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/OnPad-May3-2019.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23999,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=23999","url_meta":{"origin":18617,"position":5},"title":"Videos: &#8220;Space to Ground&#8221; + Other ISS reports &#8211; June.11.2021","author":"TopSpacer","date":"June 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is the latest episode in NASA's Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station: https:\/\/youtu.be\/sIz3rMMAmAM ** SpaceX Cargo Ship Arrives at the Space Station - NASA An unpiloted SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft automatically docked to the space-facing port of the Harmony module at the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;In Space Infrastructure&quot;","block_context":{"text":"In Space Infrastructure","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=15"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bigelow-xbase-_20160808-001-300x232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18617"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18625,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18617\/revisions\/18625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}