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- - SpaceX flight testing in South Texas (https://www.pprune.org/space-flight-operations/637604-spacex-flight-testing-south-texas.html)

There was a short Static fire [email protected] 12:28:55 UTC, Still live on multiple YouTube streams, with likelihood of another SF tonight before midnight UTC

There is also a Cargo Dragon splashdown tonight after midnight UTC

Looking like a 3rd SF today, in a few minutes.

Well that didn’t last very long....

Quote:

Originally Posted by ORAC (Post 10967308)

Well that didn’t last very long....

The 3 Static Firings on the 13th were reported to be successful according to Elon Musk on Twitter
At least one of them looked like a single engine only, they may be deliberately firing individual engines in order to reduce the risk of pad damage or FOD.
https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_1_3012.html is still in force for 15th, with backups on Saturday and Sunday

Blue Origin also had a successful test flight on 14/01/21.

High probability of a Flight in the next 48 hours.
TFRs, Marine Safety notices, Road Closures, Residents evacuation all in place.
Flight Termination System has been fitted.
Met conditions are improving on Monday afternoon CST, UTC-6. Currently the site has 26 mph, 18 knot, gusts, but the fog from last few days has cleared.
Closest met information, from BRO, or South Padre Island, or Kopernik Shores on Google.
Live streams on LabPadre on YouTube, NasaSpaceFlight, Everyday Astronaut, and many others.
New short URL for the latest information at https://wenhop.com

They are still trending towards a launch today.
There is a 3 hour window from 3pm - 6pm local CST, 2100 until midnight UTC.
Potential weather hazards are poor visibility, and wind gusts.
Multiple YouTube streams are now live.
NASASpaceFlight.com probably has the best commentary in my opinion, but several others are available.
https://youtu.be/lPRfJxz-ECE

There are several live feeds of the anticipated flight including this one from Marcus House.

No flight today

Just announced on NASASpaceFlight YouTube

NSF has 2 members living in Boca Chica village, they get official updates first.

Confirmation on https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/ official website that a launch is planned for 28th January

Live now on

The commentary is live, flight Not earlier than 1500 UTC

Scrubbed for today due to high winds.
Try again tomorrow.
Nice to see the Elonerons moving though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TURIN (Post 10978232)

Scrubbed for today due to high winds.
Try again tomorrow.
Nice to see the Elonerons moving though.

It was back on later, then off again due to some FAA paperwork issue.
Elon was apprently venting as much as SN9 at one point...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/28/elon-musk-spacex-starship-faa/

WashingtonPost, subscription site, but it is possible to view a few articles without payment.

And scrubbed again while Elon argues with the FAA...

Two Starships now on the pad SN10 has joined SN9.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nige321 (Post 10978394)

It was back on later, then off again due to some FAA paperwork issue.

If some are to be believed it's somewhat important paperwork and the pace of the investigation into the previous "mishap"....I'd have thought "Range Safety"/safety of those on the ground was paramount, regardless of whether you are launching from a government facility in Florida or a back yard in Texas so it would be interesting to hear what has really gone on.

Elon Musk may well have a valid point but I hope this isn't a case of "we're private sector, I'm an entrepreneur, we don't need no pesky licence"?

Quote:

Musk, frustrated with the process, took to Twitter.
“UNDER THOSE RULES, HUMANITY WILL NEVER GET TO MARS.”“Unlike its aircraft division, which is fine, the FAA space division has a fundamentally broken regulatory structure,” he tweeted on Thursday. “Their rules are meant for a handful of expendable launches per year from a few government facilities. Under those rules, humanity will never get to Mars.”

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021...-and-starship/

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/2...tion-elon-musk

Technology News
January 30, 20214:13 AMUpdated an hour ago

Musk's SpaceX violated its launch license in explosive Starship test: the Verge

By Reuters Staff

(Reuters) - SpaceX’s first high-altitude test flight of its Starship rocket, which exploded last month while attempting to land after an otherwise successful test launch, violated the terms of its Federal Aviation Administration test license, the Verge reported on Friday, citing sources.

An investigation was opened that week focusing on the explosive landing and on SpaceX’s refusal to stick to the terms of what the FAA authorized, the Verge said.SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Starship rocket destroyed in the accident was a 16-storey-tall prototype for the heavy-lift launch vehicle being developed by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s private space company to carry humans and 100 tons of cargo on future missions to the moon and Mars.The self-guided rocket blew up as it touched down on a landing pad following a controlled descent. The test flight had been intended to reach an altitude of 41,000 feet, propelled by three of SpaceX’s newly developed Raptor engines for the first time.But the company left unclear whether the rocket had flown that high.The FAA said it would evaluate additional information provided by SpaceX as part of its application to modify its launch license.
“We will approve the modification only after we are satisfied that SpaceX has taken the necessary steps to comply with regulatory requirements,” it said in a statement.