SpaceX flight testing in South Texas
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...

Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,349
From: Peripatetic
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023...ust-days-away/
SpaceX moves Starship to launch site, and liftoff could be just days away
SpaceX moves Starship to launch site, and liftoff could be just days away
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...

Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,349
From: Peripatetic
Looks like a full 33 engine wet test on the 10th (Easter Monday)
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...

Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,349
From: Peripatetic
Planned launch window 17th with back-up of 18-21st…
Elon Musk:
Starship is stacked & ready to launch next week, pending regulatory approval.
https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp

Elon Musk:
Starship is stacked & ready to launch next week, pending regulatory approval.
https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp

Ecce Homo! Loquitur...

Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,349
From: Peripatetic
Elon Musk:
Starship is ready for launch 🚀
Awaiting regulatory approval.
Starship is ready for launch 🚀
Awaiting regulatory approval.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...

Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,349
From: Peripatetic
Launch date slipping, estimate now for the 20th, middle of the back-up window.
Elon Musk: “Starship launch trending towards near the end of third week of April”.
Elon Musk: “Starship launch trending towards near the end of third week of April”.
Thread Starter

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 100
Likes: 10
From: Upminster UK.
FAA licence issued.
Last edited by kit344; 14th April 2023 at 22:23.

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 289
From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...

Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,349
From: Peripatetic
No attempt to be made to recover Booster 7. SpaceX will intentionally scuttle the booster by allowing sea water to flood the tanks.
If this does not work SpaceX will try to open vents or use a vessel to roll the booster to sink. A backup plan exists to shoot the booster with a firearm, creating holes to allow seawater to ingress into the tanks.
I'm led to believe the firearm method of scuttling has been used before on Falcon 9's that could not be recovered in the past.
If this does not work SpaceX will try to open vents or use a vessel to roll the booster to sink. A backup plan exists to shoot the booster with a firearm, creating holes to allow seawater to ingress into the tanks.
I'm led to believe the firearm method of scuttling has been used before on Falcon 9's that could not be recovered in the past.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...

Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,349
From: Peripatetic
Today’s Starship trajectory. Numbers next to positions are minutes after launch.
No visibility after launch (passes over land are either in daylight or earth shadow), but the reentry fireball will be visible from Hawaii.
150 minute launch window starting at 1200 UTC.

No visibility after launch (passes over land are either in daylight or earth shadow), but the reentry fireball will be visible from Hawaii.
150 minute launch window starting at 1200 UTC.



Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,770
Likes: 390
T minus 22.
Livestream:
<<https://www.youtube.com/live/BpqULvjOMz4?feature=share>>
https://www.spacex.com/launches/miss...ip-flight-test
<<https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-test>>
Livestream:
https://www.spacex.com/launches/miss...ip-flight-test
<<https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-test>>
Last edited by Less Hair; 17th April 2023 at 12:31.
Professional Student

Joined: Mar 2005
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 678
Likes: 25
From: My Secret Island Lair
Fingers crossed! 
But also reminding myself of SpaceX's pragmatic test philosophy: "If we do launch, I would consider anything that does not result in the destruction of the launch pad itself to be a win." - Musk.

But also reminding myself of SpaceX's pragmatic test philosophy: "If we do launch, I would consider anything that does not result in the destruction of the launch pad itself to be a win." - Musk.







