The thread for space cadets!

[Samson]

Astrophotographer Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau captured the moment an enormous solar flare erupted from near the Sun’s south pole on 17 February. Most solar flares happen around the Sun’s equator — the unusual location of this one could be a sign that the Sun is about to enter the most active phase of its roughly 11-year cycle, the solar maximum. The 200,000-km-high jet of plasma eventually broke off and flew into space as a gigantic cloud, known as a coronal mass ejection.

 

[Comrade Ceasefire]

First antenna is installed on Square Kilometre Array Low telescope, as traditional owners welcome project

As first antenna is installed on groundbreaking 'time machine' telescope, traditional owners welcome project

As the first antenna is installed on the world's largest radio telescope in outback Western Australia, traditional elders say the $3 billion project brings hope for more opportunities in the desert region.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Samson]

Died by a "self inflicted wound" while in the process of testifying against Boeing in a whistleblower lawsuit? Sounds a little fishy to me.

Boeing whistleblower found dead in US

A former Boeing employee known for raising concerns about the firm's production standards has been found dead in the US.

In the days before his death, he had been giving evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company.

It said the 62-year-old had died from a "self-inflicted" wound on 9 March and police were investigating.

 

[Kaitzilla]

The telemetry stopped at 8:04 with a flash as Starship blew part of itself up to abort.
The Flight Termination System (FTS)

Emergency Flight Termination System for SN10 is in place; Starship test flight imminent - SpaceFlight Insider

SpaceX recently installed the flight termination system on Starship SN10 in what has proven to be a key event that signals a flight attempt.

www.spaceflightinsider.com

Here is a telescope that saw the flash and zoomed in at 8:10 to see the following minute

Death spiral at 100 miles up.

If anyone watches the original full video, at 7:06 Starship turns from a large glowing dot into a bushy-tailed comet
The Liquid Oxygen Gauge (LOX) starts falling a lot faster than the Liquid Methane Guage (CH4) over the next 60 seconds.
Fuel leak?

After a minute of that I guess the computer calculated there was no way to achieve the mission.
CH4 needs the Liquid Oxygen to combust and burn in space.

So a bunch of months later, Starship Launch #3 was attempted today on March 14th, 2024.

It worked!
Mostly.
Didn't quite get the re-entry.

If they can get it to work, we can have crazy good satellite internet, moon missions, and Mars missions because not everything will have to be folded up like an accordion.
Starship is very roomy.

 

[ls612]

SpaceX effectively has demonstrated they now have an expendable rocket with more payload to orbit than a Saturn V. That is absolutely incredible! Hopefully they can figure out landing faster for this than for the Falcon 9.

 

[Qactus]

Solar Orbiter has sent some beautiful footage from the sun's surface, captured with its Extreme-Ultraviolet Imager:

 

[stfoskey12]

NASA had to scrub the launch of the Boeing Starliner craft due to a buzzing valve on the associated Atlas V rocket. It would have been the first launch of Starliner with humans aboard. However, it appears the problem will likely be fixed within a week or two.

MSN

 

[really]

Northern Lights over my house in Ireland tonight. Clearest I've ever seen it.
I woke my daughter up to see.

 

[Comrade Ceasefire]

South Australia can into space (with a little German help) and a candle powered rocket!