Cryo tests complete on SN15. BN1 chopped in half and dismantled. It's all go at Boca Chica!

Good article covering not only the imminent test of SN15 but those of SN16 to 20 and BN2 and 3 and orbital launch pad preparations.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021...a-vindication/

Starship SN15 prepares for flight following major NASA vindication

Starship SN15 is expected to undergo a Static Fire test as early as Tuesday to clear the path for a test flight no earlier than Wednesday as SpaceX’s rapidly reusable interplanetary launch and landing system gained a massive sign of NASA approval – and a ton of government cash to boot.....

With the vehicle arriving at the launch site a week ago, SN15 underwent proof testing events before Raptor installation, allowing Thrust Rams to test the Thrust Puck, one of the other modifications that will debut with SN15. During this process,

SN15 was filled with ambient gaseous nitrogen before the cryogenic testing with liquid nitrogen completed proof testing, including the Header Tanks that play a vital role in the landing sequence.

The three Raptors (SN54, SN61 and SN66 - sporting the green nozzles that have been observed during testing at SpaceX McGregor - then rolled to the launch site for installation. As previously noted by Elon Musk, all three are upgraded engines.

Installation tasks began ahead of the weekend, with the goal of readiness for the opening Static Fire test window on Monday, April 19. However, that soon slipped on Sunday to a NET (No Earlier Than) of Tuesday for the Static Fire test.

Once the Static Fire test has been completed, SpaceX will conduct a data review. On several previous occasions, the data has called for an engine swap. As such, a clean data review ahead of the Launch Readiness Review (LRR) would be a step forward for the Raptors.

While the earliest launch opportunity is now Wednesday, SN15’s flight is still waiting for the final green light from a documentation standpoint, which will come from the FAA. As of Sunday the FAA classed that approval as “pending”.

Additional factors in play this week for launch operations will be local weather conditions......

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-sta...ors-installed/

SpaceX Starship outfitted with upgraded Raptor engines for Wed static fire

SpaceX has installed at least two of three new upgraded Raptors on Starship serial number 15 (SN15) ahead of a triple-engine static fire scheduled as early as Wednesday, April 21st.

Initially scheduled late last week, several unknown delays have slowed down the installation of SN15’s three engines and forced SpaceX to return at least one to its build site for additional work. As recently as this weekend, SpaceX appeared to have plans to static fire Starship SN15 on Monday and launch the rocket the very next day – April 20th (4/20). Those plans obviously didn’t work out.......

Captured by several different unofficial photographers, Raptor engines SN54, SN61, and SN66 were simultaneously transported to the launch pad on April 15th. SN61 and SN66 were quickly installed in a few days but SN54 was ultimately returned to the build site for additional work before heading back to the pad for a successful installation on SN15 on April 19th. The differences between these “new” Raptors and older engines (SN1-SN53) isn’t entirely clear but subtle differences in plumbing layout and installed components suggests a general step-change refinement across the entire engine design.

Time will tell if the many upgrades on Starship SN15 and its Raptor engines will combine to produce a more reliable and more successful vehicle. Pending a successful static fire, SN15 will be the fifth Starship to attempt a high-altitude flight as early as the end of this week or sometime next week.

https://www.pprune.org/newreply.php?...e=1&p=11028473

Starship SN15 conducts a Static Fire test – McGregor readies increased Raptor testing capacity

Starship SN15 conducted a pre-launch Static Fire test Monday, tasked with setting the scene this week for a flight that could pave the way toward an orbital flight in the coming months.

The groundwork for the push to orbit is taking place both at the Orbital Launch Site and elsewhere in Texas as a new dual-bay Raptor test stand nears completion.

Since arriving at the Suborbital Launch Site, SN15 has undergone several “risk reduction” tests ahead of firing up her trio of Raptors. That included the usual routine of proof testing the vehicle, filling and pressurizing the tanks with ambient, gaseous nitrogen before proceeding with cryogenic testing with liquid nitrogen.

The roads were closed for additional testing late last week, although not for a Static Fire test. This time, the vehicle was loaded with Liquid Oxygen before a LOX Dump test, aimed at improvements relating to safing the vehicle ahead of and after flight, was completed.

With limited opportunities to conduct weekend testing, that requires Highway 4 to be closed to the public, SpaceX opted to move the Static Fire attempt to Monday. A three engine test did occur just prior to 5pm local time.

An eight-hour window was available for the opportunity to fire up the SN54, SN61, and SN66 Raptors, which was followed by a quick look data review. Occasionally, such reviews have found issues with one of the engines, requiring a swap out and repeat of the test in the following days.

The potential of a recycle later in the day remained on the cards, given SpaceX likes to test the engine’s use of propellant from the Header Tanks. These small tanks are located at the top of the nosecone (LOX) and the middle of the vehicle (CH4 – Liquid Methane) and supply the engines for the flip and landing burn.

However, Enron Musk tweeted the static fire was good and that they were preparing for launch later this week. It is yet to be confirmed if that concluded the test requirements, with another Static Fire noticed posted later on Monday for a Tuesday test......

Moving on from those initial series of test with SN8 through SN11, SN15 is the first vehicle to sport improvements ranging from the Thrust Puck to her avionics, and, importantly, the Raptor engines. Other improvements have not been revealed, although may include the Header Tank system, which, in total, would form a mitigation path to the issues suffered by previous Starship prototypes.

Regardless, should SN15 suffer issues, SN16 is already being stacked in the Mid Bay. However, if SN15 nails the landing, the path forward becomes less clear, albeit even more exciting.

As seen after the successful 150-meter hops of SN5 and SN6, SpaceX’s original plan to conduct a tag-team approach of repeating tests with these two vehicles was canceled. Instead, the program pushed forward to SN8 and the first high altitude test.

Should SN15 complete all the required high altitude test objectives, SpaceX may repeat the test or push to a higher altitude.

Elon Musk could even opt to switch to the involvement of Super Heavy, which may involve a booster-only flight, or the previously reported BN3 and SN20 orbital flight.

Looking good for an SN15 launch today. Additional static tests took place on Monday and Tuesday including if the header tank system. Video links go love about 1200 UTC.

Meanwhile....

https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/29/fa...test-launches/

FAA authorizes SpaceX’s next three Starship test launches

SpaceX is continuing its Starship spacecraft testing and development program apace, and as of this afternoon it has authorization from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct its next three test flights from its launch site in Boca Chica, Texas.

Approvals for prior launch tests have been one-offs, but the FAA said in a statement that it’s approving these in a batch because “SpaceX is making few changes to the launch vehicle and relied on the FAA’s approved methodology to calculate the risk to the public.”....

In its statement about the authorization of the next three attempts, the FAA noted that the investigation into what happened with SN11 and its unfortunate ending is still in progress, but added that even so, the agency has determined any public safety concerns related to what went wrong have been alleviated.

The three-launch approval license includes flights of SN16 and SN17 as well as SN15, but the FAA noted that after the first flight, the next two might require additional “corrective action” prior to actually taking off, pending any new “mishap” occurring with the SN15 launch.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has at time criticized the FAA for not being flexible or responsive enough to the rapid pace of iteration and testing that SpaceX is pursuing in Starship’s development.

On the other side, members of Congress have suggested that the FAA has perhaps not been as thorough as necessary in independently investigating earlier Starship testing mishaps.

The administration contends that the lack of any ultimate resulting impact to public safety is indicative of the success of its program thus far, however.

The weather has been a bit rough over in Boca Chica this week. Launch now optimised for tomorrow, which is Star Wars day so what could possibly go wrong?

Scrubbed till Wednesday...

Here we go. Lets try again.

Nailed IT!!!

WOW! This is truly an historical event and has immense import for our species' capability of spaceflight to other worlds. Say what one will about Mr. Musk - he gets it done!

- Ed

I’m old enough to remember the excitement of the Apollo days. This feels just as good...!

Nige321, I'm old enough to remember the excitement of the Mercury days! (Actually got to shake Admiral Alan Shepard's hand at a book signing - Moon Shot - in 1994.) I concur with your statement regarding the euphoria of successful completion of a complex mission.

- Ed

Elon Just tweeted they might refly SN15

That will be bold move to refly it since SN16 is almost ready.
Maybe they just want some good PR images on a clear day. 😁

Elon Musk hosted Saturday Night Live last evening. I thought he was funny with a rather wry wit. He admitted that he suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and seems like someone with whom one might want to share a pitcher of beer.

- Ed

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-mor...ts-days-ahead/

Unlike Starship SN5 and SN6, which both took two full days to safe, SpaceX recovery teams were able to approach full-size prototype SN15 less than four hours after touchdown and an adjacent highway was opened to the public just half a day after that. More importantly, as of May 11th, Starship SN15 has effectively been ready for transport for five days.

Unlike any prior Starship test, Starship SN15 was the first vehicle to test out a new custom-built transporter that also serves a purpose similar to the Octagrabber robots SpaceX uses to secure landed Falcon boosters at sea. It’s unclear how exactly the jig works but it appears to separate into two pieces – both attached to a pair of self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) – that can then encircle a landed Starship and be bolted together.

In that sense, just like Octagrabber allows SpaceX to secure Falcon boosters without a crane, SpaceX’s new Boca Chica recovery jig allows it to secure landed Starships without having to attach a crane and lift a rocket with unknown structural integrity. Technically, once that recovery jig is in place around Starship and the rocket is firmly secured to it, there’s nothing preventing SpaceX from immediately transporting it elsewhere.…..

However, beyond moving Starship SN15 from the edge of the landing zone to its center, SpaceX has yet to actually transport it anywhere more than four days after it was ready to roll. According to CEO Elon Musk, SpaceX “might try to refly SN15 soon” and the fact that the company still hasn’t transported Starship SN15 back to the build site seems to imply that Musk really meant “soon”.

In other words, there isn’t an obvious reason for SpaceX to keep Starship SN15 at the launch site unless the company believes that transporting it elsewhere would be counterproductive. Given that SpaceX has yet to install replacement landing legs on the rocket, it’s hard to guess the company’s plans for SN15, but it is clear that SpaceX itself is undecided.….

Twitter

Update to the above…..

Twitter

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-fir...se-next-steps/

SpaceX’s first flight-proven Starship heads back to launch pad for round two

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/13/spac...-revealed.html

SpaceX reveals first orbital Starship flight plan

Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Thursday revealed in filings to the Federal Communications Commission its plan for the next step in testing its massive Starship rocket, in a flight that would splash down off the coast of Hawaii.

SpaceX has conducted multiple test flights of Starship prototypes over the past year, but the plans outline the company’s first attempt to reach orbit with the rocket…..

The company’s FCC filings say it will launch a Starship rocket atop a Super Heavy booster from SpaceX’s development facility in Boca Chica, Texas. Then the booster will separate, to partially return “and land in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 20 miles from the shore,” the filings say.

“The Orbital Starship will continue on flying between the Florida Straits. It will achieve orbit until performing a powered, targeted landing approximately 100km (~62 miles) off the northwest coast of Kauai in a soft ocean landing,” SpaceX wrote in the filing.

The orbital flight would last just over 90 minutes. SpaceX is working in coordination with the FCC, U.S. Air Force, NASA and the FAA for the flight. While the timing of the flight is to be announced, Musk two months ago said SpaceX’s goal is to launch the orbital mission by July…..

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021...ht-road-orbit/

SpaceX - The Route to Orbit

…..As reported from recent documentation, SpaceX is targeting the flight of Super Heavy BN3 with Starship SN20 for the orbital test flight.

While the designated vehicles for the mission may change over the coming weeks, a sign the test flight is deep into the planning phase was observed with the publication of a filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

According to the FCC overview, the flight profile calls for staging between the Super Heavy and Starship at approximately 170 seconds into flight…..

Super Heavy will have a full set of Raptors; the number has likely changed since the 2019 Starship update when Super Heavy was to have 28 engines. The outer ring of engines will not have Thrust Vector Control while the inner ones will. Starship is set to utilize six Raptors, three sea-level and vacuum-optimized. As such, this test flight alone will require a large stock of Raptor engines.

While Raptors arriving into Boca Chica are in the SN50 and SN60 range, SpaceX’s test site in McGregor is hosting engines in the SN70-80 range, while it is understood that production in Hawthorne is working on engines past SN150 — with a current shipping rate of several Raptors per week.

To support a fully expendable launch with over 30 Raptors, SpaceX has drastically increased the Raptors’ production rate. Following the new clean Raptor design, SpaceX has increased production, while McGregor is ready to cater to the increased test cadence with a new vertical engine test stand.

Demand for Raptors, not least with the first orbital test flight being expendable, will only increase as SpaceX pushes through to future missions with additional Super Heavy and Starship flights.

While the SN20 and BN3 combo will be first in line for orbital flight, it’s expected that the subsequent boosters and ships will pair up accordingly, SN21 with BN4, SN22 with BN5, and SN23 with BN6. In addition, it’s understood that a major design upgrade is set to come with the SN24/BN7 pair…..

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-sta...y-booster-bn3/

SpaceX starts stacking Starship’s first orbital-class Super Heavy booster

SN15 moved back to the production facility. Looks like it won't be flying again after all.

Hi guys, Elon has just posted an image of SN16 in his Twitter, so I agree that we'll hardly see an SN15 launch.

Reports I’ve seen say all 3 raptors would need to swapped out, so it makes sense to skip a second unplanned flight and proceed straight to SN16.

Not sure at what point it will be become unlikely existing damaged raptors will be repaired, but if a major redesign is already in production for use in SN24 onwards that point may already have been reached. In fact it may even now be cheaper to junk them rather than disrupt the production line.

Not saying they are cheap - but the new design and mass production makes their price cheaper than those of their competitors by several factors.

Why?
.............................

It seems the water dousing after the methane fire after landing…

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-fir...rship-retired/

The day after Starship SN15 was reinstalled on a launch mount, giving SpaceX unrestricted access to its aft, all three of the rocket’s flight-proven Raptor engines – the first of their kind to survive the flight profile intact – were removed…..

To a degree, especially if SN15’s flight-proven Raptor engines were rendered unusable – as they appear to have been – by exposure to water immediately after touchdown, “reusing” the Starship would be more symbolic than anything.

With a thorough inspection, it would be easy enough to determine that the Starship’s structures and mechanical/hydraulic systems would be up for a second launch, but the slow ~10 km (6.2 mi) flight profile ships SN8 through SN11 and SN15 completed was already only relevant for testing Starship’s exotic, unproven method of landing.

In that sense, another fully successful ~10-km launch and landing would only benefit Starship development insofar as it would increase confidence in the landing profile by proving that the first success wasn’t a fluke – however incredibly unlikely that might be.

Of note, SpaceX also has not plans to recover the first space-proven Starship, instead (nominally) performing a soft-landing in the Pacific Ocean if the prototype makes it through its inaugural spaceflight without issue.

If that “Orbital Test Flight” is a perfect success, SpaceX will likely have enough confidence – and regulators enough data – to proceed to the first attempt to recover an orbital Starship on land.

In the meantime, with orbital launch site buildup now moving at a breakneck pace and tens of millions of dollars of custom pad hardware, giant cranes, and months of work sitting a few hundred feet away from the landing pad, attempting to push the envelope with SN15 likely just isn’t worth the risk…..

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021...ity-increases/

OLS grows ahead of Super Heavy debut Current Starship Status:

The fate of Starship SN15, following its milestone success with a smooth test flight and landing last month, is still unknown. It is likely awaiting preparations to go on display at Starbase. It is already sitting on display stands.

SN16 continues to reside in the High Bay, all but ready for rollout to the suborbital pad. However, that appears increasingly unlikely, as SpaceX focuses on the upcoming orbital attempt from the launch site next door to where SN15 completed its momentous test.

SN17’s fate is known, with sections of what was to become that Starship now observed as being scrapped at the Production Site.

Meanwhile, SN20’s aft dome has also been spotted by Mary (@bocachicagal), sporting three mounts for RVacs, indicating SN20 may be the first Starship to fly with both sea level and vacuum optimized engines. SN20 has yet to begin stacking, which will take place inside the Mid Bay. The facility was recently vacated by the Super Heavy Test Tank 2.1.

The Test Tank has since made the journey down Highway 4 to the suborbital launch site for proof testing, a key test series that will provide important data for similar tests conducted with the first full-stack Super Heavy.

Named “Booster 2” by Elon Musk– likely because this is the second Super Heavy to become a full-stack booster following the pathfinder stacking operations with BN1 – the sections labeled BN3 continue to be stacked inside the High Bay, behind Starship SN16.

Additional preparations on Sunday saw the large downcomer being transported to the High Bay for installation. It will eventually become the first Super Heavy to take a road trip to the Orbital Launch Site (OLS), which continues to be a hive of activity.

Orbital Launch Site:

A large workforce continues to work on construction activities at the OLS, with the most dominant feature being the rise of the Launch Integration Tower required to host Super Heavy. Three sections are now installed in-situ, with additional prefabricated sections – residing at the Propellant Production site – preparing to roll to the launch site.

The sections are being lifted into place by the LR11350 crane, which the SpaceXers nicknamed “Frankencrane” due to its variety of boom extensions from various other cranes. It recently gained an extension as the tower height continues to grow.

The tower already has the support beams for an elevator system, allowing its inner staircase to be removed.

Next to the tower, the Launch Mount now has its six extensions installed. The launch table – currently being prepared at the Production Site, is also being prepared for transport and installed on the extensions.

During this time, the third segment of the integration tower has been lifted, then fixed to the rest, thanks to the Frankencrane crane……

It’s only when you watch the video and see the size of the engineers guiding the next segment into position you realise how massive a structure this is…..

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-sta...r-half-height/

SpaceX Starship launch tower grows to more than half its full height


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f2b644feb.jpeg

Launch tower gets another two sections and SN16 off to the scrap yard along side SN15.

https://thehill.com/changing-america...h-arrests-over

Texas official threatens SpaceX with arrests over control of public roads

Authorities in Texas have reportedly accused SpaceX staff of attempting to block access to public roads around its property in Boca Chica and allegedly impersonating a public official.

Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz wrote in a letter to SpaceX Senior Director of Starship Operations Shyamal Patel, obtained by KGRW reporter Ruth Mireles and picked up by Business Insider, that when Saenz sent his staff to investigate, that the company “immediately approached, stopped and detained” them before turning them away.

The letter additionally noted the Cameron County authorities had not given the company permission to shut down any roads and that the county had previously warned of similar alleged acts in April.

Neither SpaceX nor Cameron County responded to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Saenz warned in the letter that impersonating a public official is a third-degree felony in Texas, adding that the “conduct is unacceptable” and that the company could be subject to prosecution if similar behavior in the future breaks Texas law.

“While SpaceX is a valued member of our community, this does not authorize SpaceX, its employees, staff, agents and/or contractors to disregard Texas law,” Saenz reportedly wrote.

Twitter

https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/29/sp...ction-quality/

SpaceX plans to use its Starlink internet on Starship orbital launch to demonstrate connection quality

SpaceX’s upcoming Starship orbital test flight could end up being a veritable smorgasbord of its technological capabilities, as the company has filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to request approval to fly Starlink terminals on the spacecraft in order to “demonstrate high data rate communications” between the new launch system and the ground throughout the course of the trip to space and back.

SpaceX plans to show that its network of Starlink low-Earth orbit satellites can provide “unprecedented volumes of telemetry and enable communications during atmospheric reentry” even during the parts of the launch where communications signals are typically lost due to the presence of “ionized plasma” in the atmosphere during the re-entry phase.

If it works, it could provide better than ever live data for SpaceX during its test flight, which should help with the Starship and Super Heavy launch system’s development — and it could mean better, more spectacular views for those of us just watching from home via livestream, too.

Including Starlink as the communications method for telemetry and other communications during the launch is definitely a functional improvement for SpaceX if it works as described, but it’s even more of a flex for the company in terms of showing off Starlink’s capabilities.

The FCC filing notes that the terminals to be installed on the spacecraft are basically just its existing consumer terminals with new exterior housings, so if it performs well that could attract the attention of more consumer broadband customers.

Plus, SpaceX is also talking a lot about the capabilities of Starlink as a system to replace older, more distant geostationary satellites networks to provide things like connectivity on airplanes, on ships and in other in other transportation modals. Showing that it offers solid performance during a rocket launch is definitely going to encourage partners in those areas.

The filing does specify that its license to operate Starlink on Starship begins on August 1, which means either it’s planned for a launch after the one SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said the company is hoping to fly sometime in July, or the date has already likely slipped to the following month.

Bit out of date now Orac. (Edit, your post has gone) We're on to the next level now..

Major changes to Raptor engine plans and Starship and Heavy engine numbers and layout….

My sums might be wrong, but I think the Saturn 5 had a total thrust of around 3800 tons…. (7.6M pounds)

Total Saturn 5 take-off weight was 2950 tons, but on figures below Super Heavy will lift over 5000 tons…

Just to put it in perspective the first time one lifts off the launch pad. I’d love to be there - the experience of a lifetime having been to young to watch Apollo on anything but the TV (though I did get to one Shuttle launch).

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-elo...upgrades-2021/

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk teases nine-engine Starship, Raptor upgrades

”All Raptors on booster, whether fixed or gimbaling, would be the same. 33*230 gets ~7600 tons of thrust & T/W of ~1.5.”

https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/m...to-launch-pad/

SPACEX SUPER HEAVY BOOSTER 3 ROLLED TO STARBASE LAUNCH PAD

SpaceX’s Super Heavy Booster No. 3 stacked at the company’s high bay facility made an appearance last week. The vehicle was transported down Boca Chica’s Highway 4 on July 1, 2021, to a modified section of Pad A, where it is expected to begin cryo testing.

Known as Booster No. 3, or BN3, this engine-less pathfinder vehicle is set to undergo a series of pressure tests in the upcoming weeks at the company’s South Texas launch facility, named Starbase by the company, to evaluate the integrity of the tank itself.

While BN3 is busy pathfinding, common dome sections of BN4, a flight-capable booster, are currently being put together in the High Bay.

The company had originally hoped to make an orbital flight with both Starship and a Super Heavy booster in July. However, according to a tweet from Elon, it seems SpaceX will be happy if both Starship and Super Heavy are stacked by the end of the month, which seems to be a much more realistic expectation.

The company plans on mating Starship 20 (SN20) and BN4 at some point later in the month. These two vehicles are expected to make up the first orbital flight test of the Starship …..


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6ba73d246.jpeg

Nine engines on Starship? That will be a complete redesign of the thrust Puck. I assume that means that at the moment Starship is too heavy and requires more deltavee. Maybe. Or is the booster not as capable as we thought?

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-sta...oof-scheduled/

SpaceX Starship booster weathers thunderstorm ahead of first ‘cryo proof’


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d342ae3a0.jpeg

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-sup...ire-scheduled/

SpaceX schedules first Super Heavy static fire after installing three Raptors

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/14/faa-...ite-tower.html

FAA warns SpaceX that massive Starship launch tower in Texas is unapproved

Launch tower topped out.
Legal or not its there now.