Franklin Ratliff
rocketplane.bsky.social
Franklin Ratliff
@rocketplane.bsky.social
Chief Technology Officer for Titans Space Industries
The Industrial Suborbital Space Suit-Crew (IS3C) was launched in 2007 by Orbital Outfitters, "designed for safety, practicality, and market appeal, with a leasing model to lower customer costs." Orbital Outfitters founding partner Chris Gilman eventually left to work for SpaceX.
January 18, 2026 at 10:43 PM
In 1965, Hiller Aircraft proposed an ambitious plan to recover expended Saturn V first stages using a gigantic helicopter with rotor-tip jet engines and an immense 120-meter rotor span. Known as the Hiller Saturn V Stage 1 Recovery System,
3D artwork by ©Tim Samedov.
January 18, 2026 at 2:43 AM
What the Air War over Japan might've looked like had it gone on for another year.
January 18, 2026 at 1:36 AM
North American Hypersonic Transport, 1967.
January 17, 2026 at 10:13 PM
@jackiewattles.bsky.social @lorengrush.bsky.social @dsfpspacefl1ght.bsky.social @antidr.bsky.social @dom-o.bsky.social These pages from the NASA report "Loss of Signal" by NASA investigators after Columbia explain why the SpaceX helmets can kill or injure astronauts.
January 11, 2026 at 10:31 PM
That "no vaccine is 100% effective" is old ignorant shit I don't even bother responding to.
January 9, 2026 at 11:37 PM
January 8, 2026 at 2:37 PM
🚀 THIS DAY IN SPACE: January 6 🚀

On this day in 1930, a man was born who would put the dream of spaceflight into the hands of millions. Today, we celebrate the 96th birthday of the father of modern model rocketry, Vern Estes.
January 6, 2026 at 8:33 PM
January 5, 2026 at 4:40 AM
December 2, 2025 at 8:52 PM
@antidr.bsky.social @lorengrush.bsky.social @jackiewattles.bsky.social @buccaneerboosters.bsky.social @genejm1017.bsky.social @dsfpspacefl1ght.bsky.social @torybruno.bsky.social The COPV explosion on B18 exposed extremely complex plumbing that itself has numerous potential failure points.
November 29, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Self-adjusting moving flaps
November 25, 2025 at 6:54 PM
November 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
November 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
November 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Note all the little craters. And that's the SMOOTH area of the moon. How is a skyscraper like Starship HLS supposed to land and remain upright? Apollo Lunar Module had automatic landing too. Armstrong had to take over from the computer because it was about to set them down in a field of boulders.
November 23, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Among the most idiotic things about Starship HLS is the colossal amount of wasted crew cabin volume. Their crew cabin doesn't carry any more astronauts than shuttle.
November 23, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Starship HLS interior renders are stupid fantasies. No shock absorbers on the seats. Pilots can't see out because the screens block the windows. No handrails for getting around the crew cabin in zero-g. Typical SpaceX style over substance.
November 23, 2025 at 12:53 AM
@lorengrush.bsky.social @newgen7267.bsky.social @genejm1017.bsky.social @buccaneerboosters.bsky.social @dsfpspacefl1ght.bsky.social @antidr.bsky.social In this framecap it can be seen how B18 had numerous simultaneous failures at the seams where the ring segments are welded together.
November 22, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Colani jet fighter concept
November 16, 2025 at 11:56 PM