SpaceX flight testing in South Texas
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From: Peripatetic
VideoStarship Flight 9: Booster 14-2 is being removed from Pad A.
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From: Everett, WA
Just saw this (sorry, the link for it goes to a U-Tube video)
“SpaceX is not attempting to catch the Super Heavy Booster for Starship Flight 9 due to a strategic decision to prioritize other mission objectives and reduce risks. The booster, Booster 14-2, previously flew on Flight 7 and is set to perform a landing burn in the Gulf of Mexico instead of returning to the launch tower for a catch. This choice likely stems from the need to focus on resolving ongoing issues with the Starship upper stage, which has failed in the last two flights (Flights 7 and 8) due to engine-related anomalies. By opting for a simpler booster landing profile, SpaceX can concentrate on testing and refining the Block 2 Starship design, particularly its heat shield and reentry capabilities, without the added complexity of a tower catch. Additionally, posts on X suggest that SpaceX may be avoiding unnecessary risks to the launch infrastructure while iterating on fixes for the upper stage’s ‘harmonic response’ problem, which could delay the program if a catch attempt fails.”
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From: Peripatetic
May I refer you to posts 1019 and 1030 -
SpaceX flight testing in South Texas
https://www.pprune.org/space-flight-operations/637604-spacex-flight-testing-south-texas-52.html#post11863303
SpaceX flight testing in South Texas
https://www.pprune.org/space-flight-operations/637604-spacex-flight-testing-south-texas-52.html#post11863303
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From: Peripatetic
Starship test flight 9 is scheduled to launch as soon as Tuesday May 27th between 6:30 pm and 8:34 pm central time according to the newest U.S. Coast Guard hazard notice.
Wait for the official SpaceX announcement before making any travel plans.
Wait for the official SpaceX announcement before making any travel plans.
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From: Peripatetic
Starship 35 has arrived at the SpaceX Massey's test site for more testing ahead of upcoming Starship test flight 9.
An orange high explosives placard was mounted on the entrance gate right after arrival confirming that FTS (Flight Termination System) explosives have been installed on ship 35.
An orange high explosives placard was mounted on the entrance gate right after arrival confirming that FTS (Flight Termination System) explosives have been installed on ship 35.
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From: Peripatetic
..................SpaceX update ahead of Flight 9 is out:
https://spacex.com/updates/
The most probable root cause for the loss of Starship was identified as a hardware failure in one of the upper stage’s center Raptor engines that resulted in inadvertent propellant mixing and ignition. Extensive ground testing has taken place since the flight test to better understand the failure, including more than 100 long-duration Raptor firings at SpaceX’s McGregor test facility.
To address the issue on upcoming flights, engines on the Starship’s upper stage will receive additional preload on key joints, a new nitrogen purge system, and improvements to the propellant drain system. Future upgrades to Starship will introduce the Raptor 3 engine which will include additional reliability improvements to address the failure mechanism.
While the failure manifested at a similar point in the flight timeline as Starship’s seventh flight test, it is worth noting that the failures are distinctly different. The mitigations put in place after Starship’s seventh flight test to address harmonic response and flammability of the ship’s attic section worked as designed prior to the failure on Flight 8.
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https://spacex.com/updates/
The most probable root cause for the loss of Starship was identified as a hardware failure in one of the upper stage’s center Raptor engines that resulted in inadvertent propellant mixing and ignition. Extensive ground testing has taken place since the flight test to better understand the failure, including more than 100 long-duration Raptor firings at SpaceX’s McGregor test facility.
To address the issue on upcoming flights, engines on the Starship’s upper stage will receive additional preload on key joints, a new nitrogen purge system, and improvements to the propellant drain system. Future upgrades to Starship will introduce the Raptor 3 engine which will include additional reliability improvements to address the failure mechanism.
While the failure manifested at a similar point in the flight timeline as Starship’s seventh flight test, it is worth noting that the failures are distinctly different. The mitigations put in place after Starship’s seventh flight test to address harmonic response and flammability of the ship’s attic section worked as designed prior to the failure on Flight 8.
.
Spoiler
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From: Peripatetic
Confirmation of my previous posts….
BREAKING: @SpaceX confirms Booster 14 is being expended, in return for new Atmospheric Data & a 2 engine landing burn!
"The booster will attempt to fly at a higher angle of attack during its descent. By increasing the amount of atmospheric drag on the vehicle, a higher angle of attack can result in a lower descent speed which in turn requires less propellant for the initial landing burn."
"One of the three center engines used for the final phase of landing will be intentionally disabled to gather data on the ability for a backup engine from the middle ring to complete a landing burn. The booster will then transition to only two center engines for the end of the landing burn, with shutdown occurring while still above the Gulf of America and the vehicle expected to make a hard splashdown."
BREAKING: @SpaceX confirms Booster 14 is being expended, in return for new Atmospheric Data & a 2 engine landing burn!
"The booster will attempt to fly at a higher angle of attack during its descent. By increasing the amount of atmospheric drag on the vehicle, a higher angle of attack can result in a lower descent speed which in turn requires less propellant for the initial landing burn."
"One of the three center engines used for the final phase of landing will be intentionally disabled to gather data on the ability for a backup engine from the middle ring to complete a landing burn. The booster will then transition to only two center engines for the end of the landing burn, with shutdown occurring while still above the Gulf of America and the vehicle expected to make a hard splashdown."
Tabs please!
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From: Biffins Bridge
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From: Peripatetic
Ladies & gents, we have a full stack!
This is the first stack we've seen with a flight proven Superheavy Booster (B14-2) - paired with Ship 35, this may be the most important pairing thus far in the Starship program.
Tuesday is drawing closer.
This is the first stack we've seen with a flight proven Superheavy Booster (B14-2) - paired with Ship 35, this may be the most important pairing thus far in the Starship program.
Tuesday is drawing closer.
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From: Peripatetic
Launch is midnight UK time onwards.
Booster to recover back to Boca Chica for a water landing:
"Following stage separation, the booster will flip in a controlled direction before initiating its boostback burn. This will be achieved by blocking several of the vents on the vehicle’s hotstage adapter, causing the thrust from Starship’s engines to push the booster in a known direction. Previous booster flips went in a randomized direction based on a directional push from small differences in thrust from Starship’s upper stage engines at ignition. Flipping in a known direction will require less propellant to be held in reserve, enabling the use of more propellant during ascent to enable additional payload mass to orbit.".....
"The booster will attempt to fly at a higher angle of attack during its descent. By increasing the amount of atmospheric drag on the vehicle, a higher angle of attack can result in a lower descent speed which in turn requires less propellant for the initial landing burn.".....
"One of the three center engines used for the final phase of landing will be intentionally disabled to gather data on the ability for a backup engine from the middle ring to complete a landing burn. The booster will then transition to only two center engines for the end of the landing burn, with shutdown occurring while still above the Gulf of America and the vehicle expected to make a hard splashdown."
Starship is heading for the Indian Ocean again for another splashdown NW of Australia. Test is stressing the Starship to the limit and may, again, result to failure during re-entry, but is designed to give confidence for an attempted catch on the next flight.
"The Starship upper stage will again target multiple in-space objectives, including the deployment of eight Starlink simulators, similar in size to next-generation Starlink satellites. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to demise upon entry. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned. The flight test includes several experiments focused on enabling Starship’s upper stage to return to the launch site.
A significant number of tiles have been removed from Starship to stress-test vulnerable areas across the vehicle during reentry. Multiple metallic tile options, including one with active cooling, will test alternative materials for protecting Starship during reentry. On the sides of the vehicle, functional catch fittings are installed and will test the fittings’ thermal and structural performance. The entire ship's tile line also received a smoothed and tapered edge to address hot spots observed during reentry on Starship’s sixth flight test.
Starship’s reentry profile is designed to intentionally stress the structural limits of the upper stage’s rear flaps while at the point of maximum entry dynamic pressure."
https://www.spacex.com/launches/miss...-flight-9&s=09
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From: Peripatetic
Hannah Ray en route to support B14-2 hard landing.
Appears to be on a bearing towards the 30km splashdown site (Where B13 landed) as opposed to the 60km splashdown site that B11 targeted.
This means the ocean impact WILL be visible from ground cameras on shore/
Appears to be on a bearing towards the 30km splashdown site (Where B13 landed) as opposed to the 60km splashdown site that B11 targeted.
This means the ocean impact WILL be visible from ground cameras on shore/
Tabs please!
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From: Biffins Bridge
Thank you, the booster flip initiated by the stage separation is rather clever. I'll have the popcorn ready.
One of these days, I'll take a trip to see a launch.
One of these days, I'll take a trip to see a launch.
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
I lost my virginity to my high school sweetheart on 19 April, 1966. I was a day short of my 17th birthday. It was time. I soloed in 757 Whiskey Whiskey, a Cessna 152 on my birthday, 1977. I shook hands with Rear Admiral Alan B. Shepard one fine spring day in 1995. I thanked him for "lighting the candle"! I listen to Sir Paul McCartney and Wings sing Listen to What the Man Said. The Wonder of it all, Baby!
All of these were phenomenal and indelible landmarks in my life. Another is Mr. Elon Musk and his teams' immense and awesome effort to make 39 rocket engines function perfectly while burning 12,500,000 pounds of propellant to take more than 400-feet of booster and vehicle sub-orbital.
I remember my treasured grandmother, Annie McDowell, teaching me all the major constellations in the night sky. I saw the glint in her eyes and heard the soft measure of her gentle voice as she described seeing Haley's Comet. Twice!
Those of us who dare to turn our eyes skyward do live charmed lives, do we not?
- Ed
All of these were phenomenal and indelible landmarks in my life. Another is Mr. Elon Musk and his teams' immense and awesome effort to make 39 rocket engines function perfectly while burning 12,500,000 pounds of propellant to take more than 400-feet of booster and vehicle sub-orbital.
I remember my treasured grandmother, Annie McDowell, teaching me all the major constellations in the night sky. I saw the glint in her eyes and heard the soft measure of her gentle voice as she described seeing Haley's Comet. Twice!
Those of us who dare to turn our eyes skyward do live charmed lives, do we not?
- Ed