Sam: sour cream era
@imsamsoiam.bsky.social
we're not going back
lock screen thread
November 30, 2024 at 7:32 AM
lock screen thread
lava, aurora, and stars
youtu.be/faH3xrKyP_o
youtu.be/faH3xrKyP_o
November 22, 2024 at 11:06 PM
lava, aurora, and stars
youtu.be/faH3xrKyP_o
youtu.be/faH3xrKyP_o
November 21, 2024 at 2:43 AM
SPARKY IS THE KING OF THE SKIES
November 19, 2024 at 11:14 PM
SPARKY IS THE KING OF THE SKIES
So that was my first day at Starbase!
November 17, 2024 at 4:36 AM
So that was my first day at Starbase!
I also met Calvin. He spends weeks at a time camping in his truck, watching the action at the launch site, meeting people and really boosting the sense of community among visitors. He's a very good man to know.
November 17, 2024 at 4:31 AM
I also met Calvin. He spends weeks at a time camping in his truck, watching the action at the launch site, meeting people and really boosting the sense of community among visitors. He's a very good man to know.
I stuck around into the very dark, unfortunately not realising my phone camera could do longer exposures in pro mode, but getting some nice record shots anyway. The final shot there is the Ringyard, which I'll have a closer look at tomorrow.
November 17, 2024 at 4:27 AM
I stuck around into the very dark, unfortunately not realising my phone camera could do longer exposures in pro mode, but getting some nice record shots anyway. The final shot there is the Ringyard, which I'll have a closer look at tomorrow.
Say hello also to Hoppy. Hoppy is important, like Moo Deng. Hoppy was the first Starship ever built and not only that but it flew three times in 2019, on short hop tests using a single Raptor V1 engine. It's probably the best Starship. You should check out the comic strip: x.com/daily_hopper
November 17, 2024 at 4:17 AM
Say hello also to Hoppy. Hoppy is important, like Moo Deng. Hoppy was the first Starship ever built and not only that but it flew three times in 2019, on short hop tests using a single Raptor V1 engine. It's probably the best Starship. You should check out the comic strip: x.com/daily_hopper
This is the grand but relatively short-lived entrance to the launch site, and behind it, Ship 29. S29 was the partner to B10, was also in its engine testing phase while I was there, and had an even more epic destiny. But that's a story for after my one.
November 17, 2024 at 4:08 AM
This is the grand but relatively short-lived entrance to the launch site, and behind it, Ship 29. S29 was the partner to B10, was also in its engine testing phase while I was there, and had an even more epic destiny. But that's a story for after my one.
This is Maarvin. Maarvin was hanging over the road for some reason and was too BIG to fit in my camera. Be like Maarvin.
November 17, 2024 at 4:04 AM
This is Maarvin. Maarvin was hanging over the road for some reason and was too BIG to fit in my camera. Be like Maarvin.
The talllll steel cylinder here was the absolute star of my visit, as you'll see. Booster 10 was then in its testing phase leading up to its largely successful flight in March 2024.
November 17, 2024 at 4:02 AM
The talllll steel cylinder here was the absolute star of my visit, as you'll see. Booster 10 was then in its testing phase leading up to its largely successful flight in March 2024.
Well, with the sun getting low, I made sure to roll down to the launch site at Boca Chica Beach before it got dark.
November 17, 2024 at 3:59 AM
Well, with the sun getting low, I made sure to roll down to the launch site at Boca Chica Beach before it got dark.
I'd gotten a T Mobile SIM delivered to me while I was in ABQ, and while it occasionally struggled being close to the Mexico border, it was mostly fine.
Anyway, here are my bridge camera's first shots of Starships. IDs in the alt text, but I'll point out the stripey one, Ship 31...
Anyway, here are my bridge camera's first shots of Starships. IDs in the alt text, but I'll point out the stripey one, Ship 31...
November 17, 2024 at 3:50 AM
I'd gotten a T Mobile SIM delivered to me while I was in ABQ, and while it occasionally struggled being close to the Mexico border, it was mostly fine.
Anyway, here are my bridge camera's first shots of Starships. IDs in the alt text, but I'll point out the stripey one, Ship 31...
Anyway, here are my bridge camera's first shots of Starships. IDs in the alt text, but I'll point out the stripey one, Ship 31...
You better believe I headed straight down Highway 4 to Starbase.
November 17, 2024 at 1:53 AM
You better believe I headed straight down Highway 4 to Starbase.
Ok so another really fun part of this holiday was hiring an automatic car and figuring out how to drive it on the other side of the road. Took me maybe half an hour of gingerly reading and testing but soon I was off out the gates in my Toyota Camry! Miiiiight have to get one of my own some day.
November 17, 2024 at 1:46 AM
Ok so another really fun part of this holiday was hiring an automatic car and figuring out how to drive it on the other side of the road. Took me maybe half an hour of gingerly reading and testing but soon I was off out the gates in my Toyota Camry! Miiiiight have to get one of my own some day.
This was also where the other attraction of South Texas made an appearance. Butterflies in winter?? I do think!!
(Get used to these lol - I'll put species names in the alt text.)
(Get used to these lol - I'll put species names in the alt text.)
November 17, 2024 at 1:43 AM
This was also where the other attraction of South Texas made an appearance. Butterflies in winter?? I do think!!
(Get used to these lol - I'll put species names in the alt text.)
(Get used to these lol - I'll put species names in the alt text.)
This was the starboard forward flap, and the slightly crumpled bit at the bottom shows, the ship flipped upright but didn't *quite* reverse onto the ground softly enough. You can see it in action here: youtu.be/ap-BkkrRg-o?...
November 17, 2024 at 1:30 AM
This was the starboard forward flap, and the slightly crumpled bit at the bottom shows, the ship flipped upright but didn't *quite* reverse onto the ground softly enough. You can see it in action here: youtu.be/ap-BkkrRg-o?...
And so it was, on 27 December 2023, that I touched Starship for the first time.
SN8 was the first prototype to attempt the groundbreaking "bellyflop" descent manoeuvre in December 2020, and it's the one that made me realise "holy shit this is cool". So this moment was so perfect. 🤩
SN8 was the first prototype to attempt the groundbreaking "bellyflop" descent manoeuvre in December 2020, and it's the one that made me realise "holy shit this is cool". So this moment was so perfect. 🤩
November 17, 2024 at 1:23 AM
And so it was, on 27 December 2023, that I touched Starship for the first time.
SN8 was the first prototype to attempt the groundbreaking "bellyflop" descent manoeuvre in December 2020, and it's the one that made me realise "holy shit this is cool". So this moment was so perfect. 🤩
SN8 was the first prototype to attempt the groundbreaking "bellyflop" descent manoeuvre in December 2020, and it's the one that made me realise "holy shit this is cool". So this moment was so perfect. 🤩
AOS BRO :)
I based myself in Brownsville, really the southernmost city in the continental US. Starship has provided a huge amount of employment to the area and a monument to that faces you as you exit the airport terminal.
I based myself in Brownsville, really the southernmost city in the continental US. Starship has provided a huge amount of employment to the area and a monument to that faces you as you exit the airport terminal.
November 17, 2024 at 1:17 AM
AOS BRO :)
I based myself in Brownsville, really the southernmost city in the continental US. Starship has provided a huge amount of employment to the area and a monument to that faces you as you exit the airport terminal.
I based myself in Brownsville, really the southernmost city in the continental US. Starship has provided a huge amount of employment to the area and a monument to that faces you as you exit the airport terminal.
Shout out to Panda Express at Houston, by the way, you really got me together with that honey chilli chicken.
Oh hey - I know that place!
Oh hey - I know that place!
November 17, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Shout out to Panda Express at Houston, by the way, you really got me together with that honey chilli chicken.
Oh hey - I know that place!
Oh hey - I know that place!
The New Mexico deserts are amazing, by the way.
November 17, 2024 at 12:56 AM
The New Mexico deserts are amazing, by the way.
So I'm from Belfast. But this story starts in Albuquerque, NM, where I spent my first ever Christmas with my sister's in-laws. It was such a beautiful week, and at the end of it, I watched the sun rise over the Sunport as I awaited my flight to Houston, TX.
November 17, 2024 at 12:50 AM
So I'm from Belfast. But this story starts in Albuquerque, NM, where I spent my first ever Christmas with my sister's in-laws. It was such a beautiful week, and at the end of it, I watched the sun rise over the Sunport as I awaited my flight to Houston, TX.