PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - SpaceX flight testing in South Texas
View Single Post
Old 20th November 2024 | 13:26
  #865 (permalink)  
ORAC
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jul 2000
: Spotter
Posts: 24,679
Likes: 7,357
From: Peripatetic
Interesting though. Makes a lot of sense to get as much of the flight plan done as possible before going for the catch. They'd need to give a bit more of a kick to get around the globe for starters, might need a de-orbit burn too. Either way, that'll need the FAA to uplift their licence...

Suspect they'll bin the booster at sea vs getting Tower 2 up and running in some capacity with those timelines.
Not much more of a kick, this launch was only just short of orbital speed deliberately - because they had to test the Raptor relight in order to be able to do a de-orbit burn next time.

Onece in orbit they can delay de-orbit for a day or more in order to clear the booster from the chopsticks and stand prior to attempting the starship catch - so essential need for a second stand.
ORAC is online now  
Reply