Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eric who wrote (1570953)	11/9/2025 2:40:16 PM
From: combjelly	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1575551

SpaceX's proposal hinges on inorbit refueling. Which was supposed to be demonstrated in 2024 as a stretch goal. However, it is now 2025, with 2026 being imminent. For the Moon mission, reentry is not even on the table. Their focus should have been on the refueling, with the reentry problems being secondary. Now reusing the booster is much more important than the reuse of Starship, that still puts them at a competitive advantage. So I am baffled as to their priorities. It strikes me as yet another example of Musk chasing his visions instead of being pragmatic. As to the refueling, AFAIK, there is nothing public as to how it is to be done. All I can find is they will use "the pressure differential between the two vehicles". Which explains nothing. I mean, of course that is what they will do. The problem is, the vehicle doing the transfers has to be under acceleration. Else the propellant is going to tend to float in the tank. Now the acceleration can be rotational and I suppose you can locate the outlet on the rotational axis. But that is going to mean complicated joints that have to operate at cryogenic temperatures. Or you could just boost both craft for the duration. It wouldn't have to be much of a boost, but it will change the orbits. Which takes propellant to correct. So the fact they don't seem to know how they will do the transfers is kind of concerning at this point.