| ▲ | GMoromisato 2 hours ago | |
This was good forward progress (V3 mostly worked, clear improvements on heat-shield, near-final Starlink deployment system). Is this enough progress to keep a 2028 crewed landing? Don't know. I'm curious whether they are going to try to recover a Starship before trying for in-space refueling (or the reverse). Either way, I think both have to work before they can try for an uncrewed lunar landing (presumably in 2027). The big question is re-usability. How close are they to relaunching a Starship? They may not know for sure until they can get one back intact. If they can launch at least once a month, maybe they'll make it. If they can re-fly a Starship this year AND demonstrate in-space refueling, then 2027 can be all about an uncrewed landing attempt. That would make me feel good about a 2028 crewed landing on the moon. | ||
| ▲ | ordu an hour ago | parent [-] | |
> If they can re-fly a Starship this year AND demonstrate in-space refueling I'd bet that they'll not try in-space refueling before they demonstrated in-space relight of an engine. So they need to fly at least twice. Or even thrice because to demonstrate refueling you need two Starships in orbit. | ||