SpaceX fires up Starship SN11 prototype to prep for test flight this week

[smp]

From Space.com:
"SpaceX just fired up its latest Starship prototype, keeping the vehicle on track for a high-altitude test flight this week.

The three Raptor engines of Starship SN11 ("Serial No. 11") ignited briefly today (March 22) at 9:56 a.m. EDT (1356 GMT) during a static fire test at SpaceX's South Texas facilities, near the Gulf Coast village of Boca Chica."

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-p ... tatic-fire

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[smp]

Here's an update from Ars Technica:
"After a static fire test Friday, SpaceX is preparing SN11 for a same-day launch"

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03 ... on-friday/

Maybe some more excitement yet to come today?

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[helicon]

Let's hope so!

[smp]

From MSN.com:
"SpaceX Starship launch scrubbed: 'No Starship SN11 launch today' as fog covers launch pad"

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/sp ... r-BB1f0BnZ

In the article they speculate - maybe next Monday?

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[Tim456]

Probably Monday per Musk.

[smp]

Update from Ars Technica today:
"8:00 am ET Monday Update: SpaceX is now targeting Monday for a launch attempt of its SN11 Starship prototype. The company has obtained a road closure of Boca Chica Highway in South Texas from noon local time (17:00 UTC) to 5 pm (22:00 UTC). SpaceX has confirmed it is targeting a high-altitude flight to 10 km, similar to recent missions, and will seek to demonstrate a smooth launch, controlled descent, and vertical landing.

Weather is a concern today, with showers in the vicinity of the launch site on Monday morning. However, high-resolution forecast models indicate these showers will pull away from the area this afternoon. Skies should remain mostly cloudy, however, and it's not clear how much visibility SpaceX will want for this test launch. Tuesday's weather should be more favorable, if the company holds off for a day."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03 ... on-friday/

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[smp]

Another update from Ars Technica hnica on Monday:
"12:30 pm ET Monday Update: As part of the agreement reached by SpaceX and the Federal Aviation Administration—which provides permitting for commercial launches—a federal observer must be on-site for test flights of the Starship vehicle.

For some reason, perhaps a weather-related travel delay or perhaps something else, an inspector was not available for Monday's launch attempt. "FAA inspector unable to reach Starbase in time for launch today. Postponed to no earlier than tomorrow," SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted on Monday."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03 ... on-friday/

Maybe tomorrow?

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[helicon]

Thanks for the update Stephen

[smp]

Tuesday update from Ars Technica:
"7:45 am ET Tuesday Update: Today's the day—probably. After an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration arrived on Monday evening, SpaceX checked the last remaining box for its Starship SN11 launch attempt.

The launch window runs from 7 am local time (12:00 UTC) to 3 pm (20:00 UTC). Although the region is clouded in this morning, SpaceX founder Elon Musk said early Tuesday that the company is working toward an 8 am launch (13:00 UTC), and roads are already closed to local traffic."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03 ... on-friday/

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[smp]

It's 3 minutes to launch and counting!

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[smp]

Very foggy, so poor visibility for the launch.

The flight seemed to be right on the script, but in the landing portion when they re-ignited the single engine for the landing, the entire feed froze at 5:49 into the flight. The commentator must have been remote, or else held to not disclose anything, because he came back on to indicate the flight was "exciting" but we lost the feed and would not see the landing attempt, and closed the public stream.

I am assuming there was another catastrophic failure during the landing attempt - but this is only my assumption.

Hopefully there will be more information available later today.

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[smp]

Video of the launch and the flight up until the loss of the feed at 5:49 is available on SpaceFlightNow.com, here:

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/03/26/s ... st-flight/

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[helicon]

I hope there was no catastrophic failure.

[smp]

CNN is reporting an explosion in flight:
“ SpaceX Mars rocket prototype explodes during test flight”

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/30/tech/spa ... index.html

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[smp]

Here's the latest article from Ars Technica:
"SpaceX loses another Starship prototype as landing sequence fails"

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03 ... nce-fails/

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[Tim456]

I wonder if this is going to cause more issues with the FAA. It seemed to be a step backwards for starship. I will share Musk's optimism here and say hopefully root cause has already been fixed with the upgrades to SN15. Shame about the fog ruining our view!

[Graeme1858]

https://www.universetoday.com/150717/la ... unch-site/

[smp]

Yes indeed - please see the ongoing topic here:
viewtopic.php?f=78&t=17177

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[Graeme1858]

Yes indeed - please see the ongoing topic here:
viewtopic.php?f=78&t=17177

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