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SpaceX flight testing in South Texas

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SpaceX flight testing in South Texas

Old 2nd Feb 2021, 19:45
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Best line I heard was John Insprucker on the official SpaceX feed:

"We still need some work on that landing !"
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Old 2nd Feb 2021, 19:52
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Whoops!

I am rather reminded of Thunderbirds...
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Old 2nd Feb 2021, 20:09
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Bit late on the roundout, Musk!

I had three different feeds running, Everyday Astronaut, Nasaspaceflight and the SpaceX official site (which buffered then crashed sson after launch).

Marvelous.
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Old 15th Feb 2021, 16:04
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https://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...-b1802376.html

SPACEX STARSHIP SN10 LAUNCH THIS WEEK HAS ‘60% CHANCE OF LANDING’, SAYS ELON MUSK

SpaceX will perform a major flight test of its latest Starship prototype this week after the previous two ended in fiery explosions.

The Starship SN10 will launch from SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas, after improvements were made to its landing abilities.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said these upgrades would give Starship a 60 per cent chance of landing successfully......

The latest test comes just two weeks after the Starship SN9 test, and less than 10 weeks after the SN8 test.

The rapid test rate comes after Mr Musk told SpaceX employees to prioritise development of the Mars-bound craft ahead of other missions like Starlink.

SpaceX is yet to announce the exact time and date of the Starship SN10 flight test but previous launches have been beset by weather and FAA delays.


Road closures in Cameron County are yet to be put in place, as SpaceX first needs to complete a static fire test of the Raptor rocket engines.

Starship SN11 is already in development, as well as future prototypes up to at least SN18, according to Nasa Space Flight.

If the tests prove to be successful, and funding is no issue, then SpaceX could manufacture “100 Starships per year” over the next decade to create a 1,000-strong fleet of the next-generation rockets.


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Old 16th Feb 2021, 19:22
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In any case, they are great. All who are related to this area are great.
These people have to withstand the daily pressure of millions of critics.
Constructive criticism is good. And criticism from people who themselves cannot do anything ... Well, let's say it is not so necessary.
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Old 17th Feb 2021, 10:08
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There are very few actual critics. Lots of interested parties and speculation but critics? Not so much.
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Old 18th Feb 2021, 07:40
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Thumbs up

I think that the launch of the SN9 prototype helped SpaceX engineers learn a lot. Anyway, SN10 is already moved to a launch site, and now it's awaiting the preflight tests. I suppose the next launch will be more successful than the previous one. What do you think, guys?
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Old 24th Feb 2021, 00:33
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Successful static fire of SN10 today.
Everything looked and sounded 'norminal' but we shall see. If its a good fire then launch could be as early as tomorrow.
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Old 24th Feb 2021, 15:51
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Originally Posted by TURIN
Successful static fire of SN10 today.
Everything looked and sounded 'norminal' but we shall see. If its a good fire then launch could be as early as tomorrow.
It wasn't.
Raptpr being swapped so another SF required.
Unlikely to be a flight this week...
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Old 24th Feb 2021, 21:55
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Just seen the latest video. I wonder if it's an engine problem or damage from FOD again?
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Old 25th Feb 2021, 14:57
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https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021...heavy-waiting/

...SpaceX will be hoping SN10 is third time lucky, per nailing a landing. SN8 and SN9 both achieved numerous test objectives – such as controlled ascent and a stable bellyflop return before SN8 suffered engine issues due to a loss of pressurization in the CH4 Header Tank during the landing burn and SN9 failed to ignite one engine during the flip maneuver due to an apparent ignitor issue.

Mitigation of both SN8 and SN9’s issues have been implemented, with helium pressurization of the Header Tank dealing with the former and firing all three Raptors during the flip on SN10, before deselecting the engine with the least lever arm in the event of all three Raptors firing up during the flip.

Should all go to plan with the latest attempt, SN10 will get to plant her landing legs into a resurfaced and expanded landing pad. Thanks to the accuracy of the SN8 and SN9 returns, the resulting RUDs (Rapid Unscheduled Disassemblies) have caused some damage to the pad requiring repairs. Ahead of SN10, the entire pad was expanded and laid with rebar before being surfaced with fresh concrete on Sunday.

How long that concrete takes to cure was the subject of social media speculation and may ultimately be the deciding factor when SN10 launches.


SN11 to SN19:

Starship SN11 is all-but ready to make the trip to the launch site following the completion of its processing flow inside the High Bay.

Now with a nosecone and its aero surfaces installed, the option to take the trip and host the vehicle on Pad B has not been taken at this time but will remain an option if SN10 doesn’t launch by the end of the coming week.

SN11 is a near mirror to her older sisters, albeit with an additional amount of TPS (Thermal Protection System) patches on the vehicle’s windward side. Pending the results of SN10, this vehicle could launch relatively soon after taking the trip down Highway 4.

SN11 marks the final vehicle that will fly without the additional modifications that resulted in the scrapping of SN12, 13, and 14.

Starship SN15 will follow SN11 and will sport several improvements – some of which are unknown. What has been spotted is a new design for the Thrust Puck, while SN15 onwards will host a greater amount of TPS.

SN15’s nosecone is already being prepared, allowing for the stage to be set where this vehicle will take over the position in the High Bay once SN11 vacates it for the trip to the launch site.

SN15 will mark the next range of Starships currently in various stages of preparation at the Production Site, with parts ranging up to SN19 already spotted by Mary (@bocachicagal).

The stacking of SN16 will soon follow the same path as SN15, with the work taking place inside the Mid Bay. This vehicle already has all its tankage sections ready for mating, with its leg skirt making an impression of a roller skater by being wheeled around with its legs deployed.

SN17 and SN18 are also building up the sections required for stacking later, while SN19’s is only a CH4 Header Tank at this stage. However, the fact they are already working on parts for SN19 is, in its own rights, an astonishing sign of Boca Chica’s production cadence.

What is even more interesting is the evolution of what these future Starships will look like, in turn providing clues to their test regimes.

One section inside a production tent appears to be undergoing preparations to cover the entire windward side in TPS. This unnamed section could indicate a vehicle that will be taken to an altitude that would test its heat shield under re-entry conditions. Current TPS patches are mostly being tested to see how they perform during the stresses of cryogenic propellant loading and launch and landing vibrations.

Super Heavy:

Even more impressive is the quiet build-up of the first Super Heavy vehicle, known as BN1. This vehicle could conceivably head to the launch site before the likes of SN19 take the road trip. It is understood that BN1 would be hosted at one of the Starship launch site mounts, Pad A or Pad B, and may only be used for ground testing.

BN1 is now moving into the second phase of stacking, with the aft section moving into the High Bay for integration with the first half of the booster stack.

Rolling BN1 to the launch site for ground testing would allow for valuable data related to pressure and cryo-testing. It could then have Raptors installed for a Static Fire test and even a 150-meter hop, as Elon Musk originally noted. At the time, and likely now outdated by the ever-evolving plan for Starship/Super Heavy, Elon noted a two-engine hop. BN1, however, has the capacity to host four Raptors.

BN2, meanwhile, is already showing signs it’s a step further down the line of testing, with the Forward Dome sporting an additional support ring that will provide structural reinforcement. The plans for BN2’s test regime are unknown at this time. However, once additional sections have been spotted heading into the High Bay, all eyes will be on the aft end to gain an idea into how many Raptors it will host.

Super Heavy will eventually sport 28 Raptors. That full-power version of the booster, which – due to the rocket’s sheer power – will utilize one of two sea platforms, Deimos and Phobos.

The initial Super Heavy rockets, at least, will launch from the Orbital Launch Site that is continuing to be built up next to Starship’s two pads.........




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Old 25th Feb 2021, 15:04
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Deimos and Phobos

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX...aunch_platform

.....
In February 2021, Musk stated that one of the platforms may be partially operational by the end of 2021, and that Starships would fly themselves in order to be transported to the platforms.....

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Old 3rd Mar 2021, 00:52
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Looking good for SN10 launch today.

Fingers crossed, road closures scheduled from 1500 GMT.
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Old 3rd Mar 2021, 10:30
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https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/ Official
Boca Chica, Texas Has quick links to weather, road closures etc.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/in...?topic=52924.0 NasaSpaceFlight Updates.
YouTube streams on LabPadre, NasaSpaceFlight, Everyday Astronaut, and many other 3rd party channels that may be using others cameras with permission, and additional commentary.
SpaceX official YouTube has onboard cameras, but probably won't be live until about T -5 minutes.

Plenty of Facebook and Twitter coverage too, including @bocachicagal, @nextspaceflight, and of course @elonmusk.
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Old 3rd Mar 2021, 16:54
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Estimated T0 around 18:20 - 18:30 UTC
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Old 3rd Mar 2021, 17:51
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Delayed due to GSE stuck valve issue, still expecting a launch today, launch window is open until about 0030 UTC

Updated 19:10
Crew has left the Pad again.
New expected T0 probably around 20:00 - 20:30 UTC

Last edited by kit344; 3rd Mar 2021 at 18:12.
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Old 3rd Mar 2021, 22:07
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Less than 10 minutes

Estimated T0 2314 UTC
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Old 3rd Mar 2021, 22:24
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Third times the charm - successful flight and touchdown.
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Old 3rd Mar 2021, 22:34
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Originally Posted by ORAC
Third times the charm - successful flight and touchdown.
But then.................
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Old 3rd Mar 2021, 22:48
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Yeah, looks like at least one of the landing legs didn’t deploy leading to it being off kilter and a methane leak leading to the explosion - but they hacked the flip, the relight of the 3 raptors, shut down if 2 and a successful soft touchdown - another major step forward.

just one more test flight of the old design with SN11, before moving onto flights of the newer design starting with SN15....

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