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Michael Baylor

@nextspaceflight

2 Aug

https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1422184594443575302

The next step in the FAA process is publication of the Draft EA for public comment. The baseline is 30 days for comments, per the FAA's website. And this is just the next step. There are other major steps too. FAA approval is still months away it seems.

faa.gov/space/environm…

https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1422184594443575302

Options that the FAA is working towards with the ongoing Environmental Assessment. EIS option would be a disaster for SpaceX, as it would mean an additional lengthy process.

faa.gov/space/stakehol…

And once the FAA says SpaceX is cleared from an environmental standpoint, there is still the launch license! The FAA cannot issue the launch license until SpaceX has environmental approval.

Read 4 tweets

Michael Baylor

@nextspaceflight

29 Jun

SpaceX has filed for FCC approval to fly Starlink terminals on the Super Heavy and Starship vehicles during the orbital launch demonstration. The requested start date is Aug. 1, meaning no launch in July if SpaceX wants to fly with Starlink onboard.

apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/repo…

"SpaceX intends demonstrate high data rate communications with Starship and the Super Heavy Booster on the ground at the launch site in Starbase, TX during launch, during booster recovery, in flight, and during reentry."

"Starlink can provide unprecedented volumes of telemetry and enable communications during atmospheric reentry when ionized plasma around the spacecraft inhibits conventional telemetry frequencies."

Read 5 tweets

Michael Baylor

@nextspaceflight

16 Apr

"I agree with the SEP’s assignment of a significant strength for SpaceX’s proposed capability to substantially exceed NASA’s threshold values or meet NASA’s goal values for numerous initial performance requirements."

"I note that the SEP did not identify any significant strengths within Blue Origin’s technical proposal. Nonetheless, Blue Origin’s proposal has several attractive technical attributes."

"I note that while the SEP evaluated several positive attributes for Dynetics’ technical approach under this factor, none of them resulted in the assignment of a significant strength."

nasa.gov/sites/default/…

Read 11 tweets

Michael Baylor

@nextspaceflight

19 Jan

@thejackbeyer

Following up on @thejackbeyer's find, I can confirm that Deimos and Phobos are the names of two oil rigs purchased by SpaceX – likely for conversion to support Starship operations.

ENSCO 8500 and ENSCO 8501 were the previous names of the rigs. They are nearly identical twins.

BOOM!

Both rigs were purchased by Lone Star Mineral Development LLC which is either a SpaceX subsidiary or a subsidiary of a company that SpaceX is leasing the rigs from (like SpaceX does with the droneships).

Read 10 tweets

Michael Baylor

@nextspaceflight

19 Jan

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1351348362944126977

If you think we didn't do a quick Google search, go "hey, this actually might be related to the Shell Deimos project," you are wrong. We did. It is not related.

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1351348362944126977

Furthermore, ENSCO 8500 and ENSCO 8501 (aka Valeris 8500 and Valeris 8501) were sold to an undisclosed buyer this summer.

energyglobalnews.com/valaris-sells-…

@thejackbeyer

Is the undisclosed buyer SpaceX? I have found no indisputable evidence other than a Deimos sign appearing on the side of the rig (spotted by @thejackbeyer). So yes, there is some uncertainty, but it seems very possible.

Read 4 tweets