SpaceX Starship: Orbital Test Flight (launch: April 17, webcast link)

[Dr Mordrid]

Super Heavy booster rollout to the orbital launch pad. Fully loaded with 33 Raptor 2 engines, this thing is effing gigantic.

Pressure and static fire engine tests soon. Starship #24 will also be preparing for the first launch.

[Dr Mordrid]

Starship S24 static fire test

6 engines (3 sea level, 3 vacuum) - standard pack. Lost 30 tiles; test, learn, repeat.

This should be the vehicle for the first orbital test flight. Booster tests upcoming.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1568010239185944576

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/156801296698929971

[Dr Mordrid]

After many bureaucratic delays the launch campaign for Starship has begun. The NASA team should be present for each of the upcoming major events; the wet dress rehearsal, a test firing of all 33 Booster 7 engines, a test firing of Mission 2's Ship 25, and the full orbital launch attempt.

Meanwhile, construction is well along at the Kennedy Space Center LC-39A Starship pad. NASA Artemis program lunar launches will fly from there and LC-39B

+++++++

As soon as Monday, #SpaceX may begin the long-awaited orbital launch testing campaign kicking off with a wet dress rehearsal (WDR). This will include filling #SuperHeavy #B7 and #Starahip S24 completely full of propellant for the first time and simulating the launch countdown.

https://twitter.com/ryanhansenspace/status/1616854342874570755

20230121_232230.jpg

[UtwigMU]

Doc, thank God you're back, I thought I will have to take up the mantle of MURC space editor.

I was going to post this video if you wouldn't have come back:

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1611024931348959232?t=vmI8BMUkPyD5lvq55P10Yg&s=19

Making the rocket land perfectly is really really hard to achieve, so this makes this even cooler.

[Umfriend]

What Utwig said.

[Dr Mordrid]

I was dog sick for a bit with a flu which wasn't in the vaccine this year. I'll spare you the gory details <barf>

Today SpaceX completed a successful wet dress rehearsal: Starshi 24 and its Super Heavy Booster 7 were filled with almost 10 million lbs/4,535 tonnes of propellants and a practice countdown executed by Starship's flight computers.

If they follow past practice next comes a spin-prime test, essentially they start up the booster engine turbo pumps. After that comes a static fire test followed by launch. With a little luck, by the end of February or March

The team from NASA's Artemis Human Lander System program is usually present for major tests like this, and for the launch they are likely to use NASA's WB-57 reconnaissance aircraft to film the in flight events.

There is another Super Heavy and Starship pair being prepared for a quick follow up flight; Booster 9 and Ship 25.

[Dr Mordrid]

FAA should be issuing the launch license for the Starship test flight in about 2 weeks. They should be launching sometime in April.

[Dr Mordrid]

A Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued for the airspace around Starbase and the adjacent Mexican airspace.

Dates: April 10-12
Windows: 0800 - 1200 Eastern

These could slip, anything can happen, but the FAA launch license is expected to be granted this week.

This tweet has some video of the vehicle and launch tower, stacked & ready to go... pending some final tests and the arming of the flight safety system.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1643873905113722880

[Dr Mordrid]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1644044484026716160

"Starship fully stacked at Starbase. Team is working towards a launch rehearsal next week followed by Starship’s first integrated flight test ~week later"

[Dr Mordrid]

Starship OFT

No launch permit yet but FAA working docs show,

Date: NET April 17
Backups: April 18 - 21
Window (all dates): 0800 - 1105 Eastern

And...Starship will grow ~10m longer and have 6 Raptor Vacuum engines instead of 3, 9 engines total. A beast.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1644868577265172481

[Dr Mordrid]

"Starship is ready for launch
Awaiting regulatory approval"

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1644944993499357184

[Dr Mordrid]

Starship OFT Monday, April 17, 2022

Other opportunities April 18-22

Webcast starts 45 min before launch

Window opens 0800 Eastern

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/stat...31275550670861

Eric Berger (Ars Technica)
SpaceX continues to work toward a Starship launch attempt on April 17, pending an FAA license. (Could come as early as Thursday or Friday). Assuming it does, lots of other factors in play. But launch site weather looks good Monday—70s, sunny, modest winds gusting to 20 mph.

[Dr Mordrid]

FAA TFRs* were issued for Monday, April 17 and Tuesday, April 18.

Window: 0800 - 1105 Eastern

* Temporary Flight Restriction, keeping air traffic out of the launch zone & track.

[Dr Mordrid]

Starship's FAA launch license granted

and,

SpaceX may lease NASAs VAB High Bay 1 for Starship processing.

[Dr Mordrid]

Starship Orbital Flight Test (OFT)

Date: Monday, April 17
Backup dates: April 18 - 22
Window:*0800 - 1105 Eastern*(1200 - 1505 UT)
Pad: Starbase Pad 1
Vehicles: Booster 7, Starship 24
Recovery: water landings
Mission: the first 3 Starship flights will be basic flight tests, vehicles expended & hoping they don't wreck the pad. After clearing the pad, measuring actual physical & thermal loads, discovering problems which can't be found on the ground.*

Webcast begins ~45 min before liftoff

https://www.youtube.com/live/L5QXreqOrTA