The next test flight will be the first for V3. Is that correct?

double aught said:

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The next test flight will be the first for V3. Is that correct?

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Correct!

Correct

Marcus' weekly round up. New landing pad at SLC40 will be used next month/in a few weeks for the first time for the Crew12 ISS RTLS landing.

I LOLed at NASA filming the senate launch system rollout in 720P.

Everyone knows that the Space Launch System uses reflown Space Shuttle parts.

But I feel people arent able to grasp just how much history goes into the rocket set to send humans around the Moon for the first time in 53 years.

So heres a thread on the reused parts of Artemis II: https://t.co/usocD4Olua pic.twitter.com/4JeHrNKSoG

— Blobifi (@Blobifie) January 21, 2026

That history is cool, but because of that it's a shame that those engines are gonna end up on the ocean floor.

Wow, they found my Usenet question where I was trying to shave some milliseconds off the joystick read when I was working on Lodestar https://t.co/qpmYoPFGdp

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 25, 2026

I am pretty sure my first Usenet post was right after we beat BYU in the Holiday Bowl

I have no idea what he is asking!

I still use Usenet. Not saying what for though, but it doesn't include movies or TV shows.

So has there been anything definitive that has come out regarding what happened with the most recent Spacex incident at Masseys? Was it just the test item that buckled or was the hot stage ring they were testing damaged? Any impact on the schedule for the next launch?

Something definitive would probably have to come directly from SpaceX, which they rarely do. Best I've seen so far is AvidSpace's (formerly LabPadre) weekly update starting around 3:20. I still think the most definitive answer we'll get is how quickly Bosster 19 heads to Massey's for flight article testing.

I guess they have a stretch goal now

Starship launch in 6 weeks pic.twitter.com/3HFf4H5cc4

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 26, 2026

Yep, and that's why we're on Phase 2 developing our own LEO reentry vehicle, Zephyr.

https://www.intuitivemachines.com/zephyr-reentry

Very cool, thx.

I think this answers the test article setback question.

🚨ARTEMIS II WET DRESS REHEARSAL NET JAN 31🚨
Teams at @NASAKennedy are on or ahead of schedule preparing SLS, Orion, and ground systems for the Artemis II mission!

The next major milestone: a wet dress rehearsal, leading up to a simulated “launch” as early as Saturday, Jan.… pic.twitter.com/BViVWtZegE

— The Launch Pad (@TLPN_Official) January 27, 2026

WB-57 had a belly landing today.

I believe NASA pulled one out of the bone yard a few years ago so there may be 2 remaining.

Per KHOU:

Hope they can fix it, though I suspect that the damage is pretty severe given nature of its design...

It didn't look terrible but for a plane out of production for 60 years I image it would be difficult to rebuild. If there are any more in the boneyard, it's probably cheaper to rebuild one than to cut the damaged ribs and spars out of the aircraft and replace them.

A NASA aircraft experienced a mechanical issue and made a gear-up landing at Ellington Field in Houston.

pic.twitter.com/7vdn9gqk1e

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 27, 2026

A variant of the Martin RB-57 Canberra (license built from the British Electra Canberra)

Use to see this aircraft quite often a a kid, used for high altitude research.

Give that guy a bonus.

PJYoung said:

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A NASA aircraft experienced a mechanical issue and made a gear-up landing at Ellington Field in Houston.

pic.twitter.com/7vdn9gqk1e

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 27, 2026

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Fook.

One of the last B-57s still flying. IIRC, NASA has two others. Hopefully it can be repaired.

And that was about a perfect of a gear up landing as one can do.

"Time being infinite, even the inevitable doesn't happen on its own."

You either have had or are going to have a belly landing if you fly retractable gear aircraft. And it feels like the most perfect landing until it isn't.

SenorLiebre said:

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"Time being infinite, even the inevitable doesn't happen on its own."

You either have had or are going to have a belly landing if you fly retractable gear aircraft. And it feels like the most perfect landing until it isn't.

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Nearly every belly landing results in scrapping the aircraft. There are exceptions of course, mostly revolving around non-commercial aircraft that don't need to be insured. The rarity of this aircraft and the fact it doesn't need a commercial certification lowers the hurdles to a rebuild.

That dude did one hell of a landing, Ill be over there in that area tomorrow.

hph6203 said:

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Give that guy a bonus.

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No kidding. You can't do it much better than that. Impressive.

Agree. Bravo, sir. Take a bow.

Outstanding. They'll be able to buff this out, no problem.

Yeah it is a neat plane but I am not sure we need to really do more manned high altitude research (into the climate). Once people accept that Algore is just a liar, we could get the images/video of rocket launches from a drone much more cheaply.

There is supposedly a 'long wing' version of the MQ-9 which I'd think could work to take it above 45K feet.
https://www.ga-asi.com/images/products/aircraft_systems/pdf/mq9b-seaguardian-datasheet-feb2023.pdf
But, once SpaceX does get to the point of launching Starships at sea (presumably modified oil rig platforms), the stol capability might also be useful.

At sea or over land, MQ-9B Airborne Early Warning & Control will transform airborne early warning access for MQ-9B customers worldwide. AEW for #MQ9B will augment existing #AEWC fleets by extending their effective ranges and give forces without legacy platforms a powerful and… pic.twitter.com/HG8UxMOVss

— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) January 22, 2026

Border patrol operates some (unarmed) Reapers already.

The WB-57s are also used for the high altitude thermal and video imagery of launching and returning spacecraft.

Yes that's the mission I figured the long-winged Reapers (or even another platform) might be able to support better. The Senate is also forcing the army to buy more of the 'outdated' MQ-1C's, which while only medium altitude I'd like to think have enough power/lift to get good cameras into position for rocket launches.

The Army might be willing to hand some of those over to Nasa as well. I wouldn't think Nasa would need the capabilities of something like the MQ-20, but even this might be operationally cheaper than continuing to fund the WB-57's.

Sad anniversaries of Columbia/Apollo 1 yesterday/today:

On January 27, we remember Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee. The Apollo 1 fire was attributed to a “failure of imagination,” an inability to foresee how risk could compound in the most routine testing.

At @NASA we endeavor to never be blinded again, carrying those… pic.twitter.com/8IbHdoJUHh

— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) January 27, 2026

Can the Reaper style UAVs point their cameras up?