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SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2021 9:26 pm
by smp
From Ars Technica:
"3:40pm ET Monday: SpaceX began preparations for a launch on Monday, and closed roads leading to the pad in South Texas. However, they ended up not evacuating local residents, indicating there would be no launch attempt on January 25. It is possible that winds at the launch site were too high—gusts near 30mph at the surface were noted.
This now means the company is likely to try again on Tuesday, when roads are scheduled to be closed from 8am to 5pm local time (18:00-23:00 UTC). Winds are forecast to be more favorable at that time."
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:22 pm
by Tim456
Maybe tomorrow afternoon.
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 1:40 pm
by smp
From Ars Technica today:
"8:00am ET Thursday: Today appears to be the day that SpaceX will attempt to launch its latest Starship prototype—Serial No. 9, or SN9. The goal is to fly the vehicle to about 10km, demonstrate a controlled descent using the vehicle's body flaps, and then reorient Starship so that it makes a vertical landing. The last Starship prototype flight attempt, in December, made a fiery landing after a propellant tank pressurization issue.
The launch window for Thursday's test attempt runs from 9am local time in South Texas to 6pm (15:00 UTC to 24:00 UTC). The company has issued evacuation notices to local residents, and weather should be favorable at the launch site along the lower Texas coast. As of late Wednesday night, SpaceX had not yet received final approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, but the company's ongoing preparations indicate it is expected today."
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 7:58 pm
by smp
From the Ars Technica Rocket Report sent out this afternoon:
"SpaceX scrubs Thursday Starship launch attempt.
SpaceX had been gearing up to launch its SN9 prototype Thursday, but a little before 11am local time the "Temporary Flight Restrictions" for the day's Starship launch were canceled. Before the scrub, engineers and technicians had been preparing the vehicle for a launch. Local residents were also evacuated.
Elon not happy ... The launch appears to have been delayed because the FAA did not grant final approval for the 10km launch attempt. SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted, about the FAA, saying, "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." Temporary Flight Restrictions are also in place for Friday, which is now the earliest possible time the vehicle could take flight. Weather should be more benign for SN9 on Friday."
smp
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:13 pm
by helicon
Well we'll see if the launch is on Friday then.
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:31 pm
by smp
Here's another update from Ars Technica this afternoon:
"Hold the phone—SpaceX is fueling Starship on Thursday afternoon"
"Update, 3pm EST Thursday: SpaceX is loading its Starship SN9 prototype with propellant on Thursday afternoon. That much we know. But whether this is for a "wet dress rehearsal," a static fire test, or an actual launch, who knows.
After the FAA said Thursday's launch was canceled at 11am local time, SpaceX founder Elon Musk replied with the following unhappy tweet:
<...snip...>
Then a couple of sources suggested that Musk and the FAA were working to try and get final approval for a launch on Thursday before the window closed at 6pm CST (24:00 UTC) in South Texas. New Temporary Flight Restrictions have not been put in place, but propellant is being loaded. So we really don't know what to expect. Stay tuned."
smp
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 1:23 pm
by smp
smp wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:31 pm
"Hold the phone—SpaceX is fueling Starship on Thursday afternoon"
Apparently, SpaceX was hoping for last-minute permission from the FAA, which didn't come, so no launch.
smp
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:56 pm
by smp
From SpaceX.com today:
"As early as Monday, February 1, the SpaceX team will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 9 (SN9) – the second high-altitude suborbital flight test of a Starship prototype from our site in Cameron County, Texas. Similar to the high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 8 (SN8), SN9 will be powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN9 will perform a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent.
The Starship prototype will descend under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of two forward and two aft flaps on the vehicle. All four flaps are actuated by an onboard flight computer to control Starship’s attitude during flight and enable precise landing at the intended location. SN9’s Raptor engines will then reignite as the vehicle attempts a landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down on the landing pad adjacent to the launch mount."
smp
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:15 pm
by helicon
smp wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:56 pm
From SpaceX.com today:
"As early as Monday, February 1, the SpaceX team will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 9 (SN9) – the second high-altitude suborbital flight test of a Starship prototype from our site in Cameron County, Texas. Similar to the high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 8 (SN8), SN9 will be powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN9 will perform a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent.
The Starship prototype will descend under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of two forward and two aft flaps on the vehicle. All four flaps are actuated by an onboard flight computer to control Starship’s attitude during flight and enable precise landing at the intended location. SN9’s Raptor engines will then reignite as the vehicle attempts a landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down on the landing pad adjacent to the launch mount."
smp
Thanks for sharing the mission details Stephen - keeping my fingers crossed.
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:24 pm
by Tim456
Keeping my fingers crossed for a Monday test.
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2021 2:34 pm
by smp
Here's an interesting article on TheVerge.com from last Friday:
"Elon Musk’s SpaceX violated its launch license in explosive Starship test, triggering an FAA probe"
"SpaceX’s first high-altitude test flight of its Starship rocket, which launched successfully but exploded in a botched landing attempt in December, violated the terms of its Federal Aviation Administration test license, according to two people familiar with the incident. Both the landing explosion and license violation prompted a formal investigation by the FAA, driving regulators to put extra scrutiny on Elon Musk’s hasty Mars rocket test campaign."
This could be an explanation of why the latest test flight has been being delayed by lack of permission.
smp
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2021 2:59 pm
by helicon
Thanks for the article link Stephen.
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2021 6:44 pm
by smp
From Space.com today:
"Update for 1 p.m. EST on Feb. 1: SpaceX is now targeting Tuesday (Feb. 2) for SN9's high-altitude test flight, as inferred from road-closure notices."
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2021 12:29 pm
by bearnard00
smp wrote: ↑Mon Jan 25, 2021 9:26 pm
From Ars Technica:
"3:40pm ET Monday: SpaceX began preparations for a launch on Monday, and closed roads leading to the pad in South Texas. However, they ended up not evacuating local residents, indicating there would be no launch attempt on January 25. It is possible that winds at the launch site were too high—gusts near 30mph at the surface were noted.
This now means the company is likely to try again on Tuesday, when roads are scheduled to be closed from 8am to 5pm local time (18:00-23:00 UTC). Winds are forecast to be more favorable at that time."
Have you heard about NSF's Michael Baylor? (nextspaceflight) Discovered twin sea platforms have been bought by "Lone Star Mineral Development LLC," which is either a SpaceX subsidiary or a leasing company. Price: $3.5 million each.Nailing it down; Lone Star was incorporated just before the sale, and the officer for Lone Star Mineral Development LLC is listed as Bret Johnsen - SpaceX's CFO
In their previous life they were Enesco 8500 and Ensco 8501, identical ultra-deepwater semi-submersibles. Deimos is in Brownsville, Phobos in Galveston.
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2021 2:10 pm
by smp
From Ars Technica this morning:
"SpaceX has a green light from the FAA, and Starship SN9 is free to fly"
I haven't seen any estimate for launch attempt time, yet.
smp
Good to know.
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2021 4:41 pm
by smp
Here's the updated story with the reason behind the delays from Ars Technica this morning:
"After flying without a waiver, SpaceX gets FAA permit for SN9 launch "
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:19 pm
by smp
Looks like they're going to try for a launch today:
smp
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:36 pm
by Graeme1858
T-5 minutes!
Re: SpaceX now set to launch its next Starship prototype Tuesday
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:37 pm
by smp
Nice launch, apparently good flight to something like 10Km, apparently good belly-flop flight down, then it appeared that one engine re-ignited fine, but a second engine did not ignite properly, and the landing was a messy explosion. Hopefully, the initial explanation will be coming from SpaceX shortly.