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That was well worth the wait!
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Elon Musk:
Next test is ~20 sec firing with max oxygen fill to test autogenous pressurization, possibly one more static fire, then orbital launch attempt. |
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This is real-time! Raptor 2 wiggling like a champ via its electric TVC (Thrust Vector Control) at SpaceX McGregor.
While the Rocket Cows didn't show much interest, this is important progress for Starship per fast response steering control during flight. |
License granted: Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX)
Dates: 01/20/2023-07/20/2023 Purpose: Experimental orbital demo and recovery test of the Starship test vehicle from Boca Chica TX. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7e3b43aed.jpeg |
This is really cool. I check out the LabPadre livestreams often to see what is going on. They are on a buildup lately.
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It's all coming together nicely. Wish I could get over there to see it.
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For me it's only a 1072NM flight to Brownsville. I should put that on my bucket list.
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Wet Dress rehearsal going on now:
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Starship completed its first full flight-like wet dress rehearsal at Starbase today. This was the first time an integrated Ship and Booster were fully loaded with more than 10 million pounds of propellant.
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A summary of the week and some good time lapse.
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There is supposed to be an all engine static fire tomorrow.
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33 Engine Static Fire. Preparation and fuel loading in progress....
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That was cool! Lots of fire and dust
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Yep, enjoyed that. Only 31 engines though, one deliberately not fired and another auto shutdown. Still enough to get the payload to orbit.
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Lab Padre recap video, shown from a few different cameras.
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Book your holiday for the end of April….
Elon Musk: SpaceX will be ready to launch Starship in a few weeks, then launch timing depends on FAA license approval. Assuming that takes a few weeks, first launch attempt will be near end of third week of April, aka … |
Aghhhhhhh! I'm busy, can't go! 😥😥
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https://arstechnica.com/science/2023...ust-days-away/
SpaceX moves Starship to launch site, and liftoff could be just days away |
10/11th April seems a bit premature. Somewhere between 18th and 25th is my bet.
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....check the notams....
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Looks like a full 33 engine wet test on the 10th (Easter Monday)
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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 https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....00f9e076b.jpeg |
Elon Musk:
Starship is ready for launch 🚀 Awaiting regulatory approval. |
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”. |
FAA licence issued.
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FAA licence issued.
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Originally Posted by kit344
(Post 11420011)
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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. |
Starship and booster stacked. All systems go for a launch attempt Monday morning.
Popcorn at the ready. 😁 |
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. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....217d3b135.jpeg |
Spacex have tweeted that launch is now scheduled for 13:20 GMT. Fuel loading has started.
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T minus 22.
Livestream: https://www.spacex.com/launches/miss...ip-flight-test <<https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-test>> |
Fingers crossed! :D
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. |
48 hours delay.
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NSF now saying next launch attempt will be on the 20th.
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Launch now scheduled for 8:28AM - 9:30 AM CST tomorrow (20 April.) Heck of a way to celebrate my birthday as long as SpaceX or I don't scrub! :)
- Ed |
SpaceX has begun purging Starship and Booster tanks plus interstage and raptor engines with nitrogen prior to propellant loading.
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