The FAA and other departments are now trying to figure out if the Thursday20 April 2023 attempt harmed people, animals and the environment in general. The main concern is whether the massive dust plume that erupted when the 33 rockets on the booster blew the launch pad to pieces contained toxic particles that settled over a wide area. Any 'anomaly' with the launch was not supposed spread debris more than a mile from the pad but residents of Port Isabel and South Padre Island, about six miles away, reported their property coated in dust and ash.
After the launch attempt, SpaceX CEO took to his Twitter site to explain that they had not quite finished the launch pad. "Three months ago, we started building a massive watercooled, steel plate to go under the launch mount. This was not ready in time and we wrongly thought, based on static fire data, that Fondag would make it through one launch, "he tweeted. Looks like we can be ready to launch again in one to two months."
AT LEAST IT DID NOT BLOW UP ON THE PAD
If you could somehow tune your eyes to see the electromagnetic spectrum while watching this spectacular launch of SpaceX's Super Heavy / Starship, you would see fat ropes of O's and 1's streaming back to earth and therein lies the explanation of why the thing blew up four minutes into the flight and the solution to fixing it so there won't be a repeat. Or at least one that blows up at a different point.
The launch was deemed a success by SpaceX and if so, it was not an unqualified one. Elon Musk lead turned the outcome earlier in the week. "I would like to set expectations low," he said. "If we get far enough away from the launchpad before something goes wrong, I think I would consider that a success. Just do not blow up the launchpad."
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Future Flight.
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Sustainability and connectivity: top of the agenda for private jet industry
The executive aviation industry is currently facing a paradox. On the one hand, demand for private flying remains strong, propelled by the rise in the number of high-net-worth individuals around the globe. While on the other hand, the industry is increasingly being questioned by the public, the media, and politicians over its environmental credentials.
NASA, ESA join forces to land European Rover on Mars
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Long-awaited Starliner launch breaks a six-decade drought
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Non-CO2 emissions measured in commercial aircraft 100% SAF test
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First flight for Electra hybrid 'blown lift' aircraft
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Lilium, French Government in 'advanced' talks for eVTOL jet manufacturing hub
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Joby partners with Mukamalah Aviation
Last month Joby Aviation announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mukamalah, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, the operator of the world's largest fleet of corporate aircraft, to introduce Joby's aircraft to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Joby acquires autonomous flight developer Xwing
Joby Aviation is one of many electric vertical take-off and landinng (eVTOL) air tax manufacturers that predicts autonomy will be the driver of ubiquitity for advanced air mobility (AAM) services and the company is placing its money where its mouth is.