The top spot to chat about space stuff is Reddit, probably followed by the
NASASpaceFlight Forums, fwiw.

On Sat, Feb 12, 2022 at 1:49 PM David Lang <david@lang.hm> wrote:

> On Sat, 12 Feb 2022, Dave Taht wrote:
>
> > (is there a good email list for spacex, rather than starlink stuff?
> > I'm really not into twitter, reddit, etc)
> >
> > After watching elon musk's presentation thursday night I was struck by
> > the symbolism of ship 20 behind him and wondering why the planned
> > flight was to attempt a splashdown at the end.
>
> they need to test reentry and the heat shield.
>
> > https://starshipcampaign.com/starship/ship-20/
> >
> > I could think of a more leapfrog-like approach where they left it in
> > orbit, to analyze the effects of a longer term stay there, testing
> > restarts, or vacuum welding problems on the engines, using as a
> > agena-like target for rendezvous maneuvers, trying out repairing or
> > replacing various parts...
> >
> > Do they not have enough thrust, even with an empty payload bay, to
> > stay up there?
>
> 'space junk', the powers that be frown on putting stuff in orbit. many
> shuttle
> flights had the delta-v to take the external tanks to orbit, but they
> deliberatly had them burn up instead.
>
> hopefully, once commercial stations become a thing, they will be
> interested in
> accumulating 2nd stages and other things that we currently are deliberatly
> deorbiting.
>
> > Is there a dummy payload planned? I was thinking of one of bigalow's
> > demo inflatable habs, and along that rathole was, why not just cut a
> > hole in the side and spray in insulation...
> >
> > Not even sure if there is a working door...
>
> No door at all on ship 20-24. there is a barrel section that has a door
> cut in
> it, but that's it so far.
>
> David Lang
>
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