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

[Dr Mordrid]

Launch pad repairs are almost completed, and they started to install the plumbing for the deluge and water cooled plate under the pad. They have also tested a new flight termination explosive system, looked like it was successful. They've also selected Booster 9 and Ship 25 for Flight 2. Booster 9 and Ship 25 have been upgraded to use electric thrust vector control actuators rather than hydraulic with an HPU (which failed during the first flight). Once pad upgrades have been completed, probably the end of June, they will do a few weeks of tests before launching again.

Musk also posted information about Raptor 3; they did a successful firing at 350 bar chamber pressure (269 metric tons of thrust), and upgraded Starship's performance to 200 tonnes to LEO with reuse, 300 tonnes expendable..

[UtwigMU]

Getting rocket right is extremely tough with all extreme conditions during launch. I watched Russian documentary on N1 rocket which had 3 failed flights. One guy who worked on project said they would have needed 2 more flights to be successful.

[Umfriend]

They'll get there.

[Dr Mordrid]

https://twitter.com/airandspace/status/1649059534558871552

National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
Congratulations to @SpaceX on today’s launch of Starship, the tallest & most powerful rocket ever launched!

Although Starship experienced a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” before stage separation, the test provided good data to the Starship team to prepare for the next one.

[Dr Mordrid]

Washington Post space reporter

https://twitter.com/wapodavenport/status/1649075451350904832

Christian Davenport @wapodavenport
Well that was a successful failure, as they say. FAA confirms no reports of any injuries. SpaceX and NASA pleased with the test flight

[Dr Mordrid]

That went a lot better than many people thought it would. Clearly, they need to work on separation and why there were engine outs, but still a good day.

With the next flight's already upgraded vehicles produced, they need to check the pad, learn the lessons, make some mods and fly again.

[Dr Mordrid]

About half of all test flights fail, so successful flight would be clearing the tower and getting some flight data to inform the next attempt. Anything beyond that is sauce for the goose. If successful, the Starship will belly flop into the Pacific Missile Range off Hawaii. The booster will attempt a water landing in the Gulf of Mexico, similar to the water landing tests done with Falcon 9 before attempting to land on a barge or land.

The notes on the video stream say 08:45 Eastern, webcast will probably start 45 minutes before that.

https://www.youtube.com/live/-1wcilQ58hI

[UtwigMU]

Looks like Elon will launch and remove blue checkmarks tomorrow.

[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

[Dr Mordrid]

Starship's FAA launch license granted

and,

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

[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 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]

"Starship is ready for launch
Awaiting regulatory approval"

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

[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]

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"