The Incredible SpaceX Starship and a New Golden Age in Space
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The second orbital flight test of the SpaceX Starship is scheduled for Sat. Nov. 18 at 8 AM at the Boca Chica, Texas launch site. The mission is called Orbital Flight Test 2 in the FAA license, although, as with the first launch, Starship is not designed to complete a full orbit. The spacecraft will instead splash down off the coast of Hawaii about 90 minutes after liftoff, if the flight goes as planned.
The first flight test in April was unsuccessful and the vehicle was destroyed by its flight termination system four minutes after liftoff once a series of engine failures led to a loss of control. The rocket did achieve firing 31 of 33 Raptor engines for 16 million pounds thrust. SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said in June that the company made “well over a thousand” changes to Starship/Super Heavy based on lessons from the first launch and other desired upgrades. He estimated then a 60% chance of a successful flight.
The first flight test in April was unsuccessful and the vehicle was destroyed by its flight termination system four minutes after liftoff once a series of engine failures led to a loss of control. The rocket did achieve firing 31 of 33 Raptor engines for 16 million pounds thrust. SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said in June that the company made “well over a thousand” changes to Starship/Super Heavy based on lessons from the first launch and other desired upgrades. He estimated then a 60% chance of a successful flight.
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So 40% failure is an option?
He's just being realistic while hoping for 100% success. All 33 engines and supporting h/w and s/w must be perfect and that's just the engines. Then there's the flight control, etc., etc. Musk doesn't wait a year to correct things after failure; he proceeds and accepts the risks while learning each step of the way. That means faster development.
Successful launch of the Starship into orbit but the Super Heavy booster blew up after separation. SpaceX was hoping to guide it to a controlled spalshdown in the ocean.
Live feed isn't up yet. Launched just after 8 AM this morning.
Very poor live coverage of this test launch. Failed.
The rocket and spacecraft safely lifted off the pad, with the Super Heavy booster igniting all 33 of its engines. During the last attempt, multiple engines shut down prematurely.
Then, the Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft successfully separated, as the Starship lit up its engines and pushed away. That process ended up destroying the Super Heavy booster, which erupted into a ball of flames over the Gulf of Mexico. But the Starship spacecraft was able to briefly continue its journey.
A few minutes later, however, SpaceX was not able to regain a signal from the vehicle. And the company confirmed on its livestream that it was forced to trigger Starship's self-destruct feature.
The rocket and spacecraft safely lifted off the pad, with the Super Heavy booster igniting all 33 of its engines. During the last attempt, multiple engines shut down prematurely.
Then, the Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft successfully separated, as the Starship lit up its engines and pushed away. That process ended up destroying the Super Heavy booster, which erupted into a ball of flames over the Gulf of Mexico. But the Starship spacecraft was able to briefly continue its journey.
A few minutes later, however, SpaceX was not able to regain a signal from the vehicle. And the company confirmed on its livestream that it was forced to trigger Starship's self-destruct feature.
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Very disappointing. It did fly for 9 minutes before they had to destroy the vehicle. So they've moved on and will give it a go 6 months from now. This time at least all 33 raptor engines were successful. But they have major items to work on.
Musk says SpaceX's Starship should be ready to fly again before Christmas. However, the FAA might not have their launch license ready by then. After April's failure, it took until November to get FAA clearance - bureaucratic stuff like event investigation, safety review, and environmental assessment.
But, given the progress SpaceX made with flight two compared to flight one (successful stage separation and all 33 Raptor engines burned for the proper duration on Saturday) it would be surprising if there's another seven-month gap between Starship liftoffs. "There are three ships in final production in the Starbase high bay (as can be seen from the highway)," Musk said.
SpaceX's Starship should be ready to fly again before Christmas, Elon Musk says
But, given the progress SpaceX made with flight two compared to flight one (successful stage separation and all 33 Raptor engines burned for the proper duration on Saturday) it would be surprising if there's another seven-month gap between Starship liftoffs. "There are three ships in final production in the Starbase high bay (as can be seen from the highway)," Musk said.
SpaceX's Starship should be ready to fly again before Christmas, Elon Musk says
SpaceX conducted a "static fire" test today (Dec. 20) with the Starship upper-stage prototype known as Ship 28, briefly igniting the vehicle's Raptor engines while it remained anchored to the pad at the company's Starbase site in South Texas.
Ship 28 is being prepped to conduct Starship's third test flight, which SpaceX aims to launch in the coming weeks. And that timeline apparently remains in target, for today's trial went well.
SpaceX fires up ‘Flight 3’ Starship in preparation for next launch
Ship 28 is being prepped to conduct Starship's third test flight, which SpaceX aims to launch in the coming weeks. And that timeline apparently remains in target, for today's trial went well.
SpaceX fires up ‘Flight 3’ Starship in preparation for next launch
SpaceX's Starship rocket and Super Heavy booster will take off tomorrow, March14, from the Starbase test site on the Texas Gulf Coast for its third test flight. The launch window for the nearly 400-foot-tall rocket opens at 7 am CDT Thursday and extends for 110 minutes.
This is the first time SpaceX will target the Indian Ocean for splashdown of Starship. The two test flights last year were supposed to culminate in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, but SpaceX has altered the trajectory for this launch in order to accomplish a few additional test objectives, including the restart of a Raptor engine in space for the first time.
This is the first time SpaceX will target the Indian Ocean for splashdown of Starship. The two test flights last year were supposed to culminate in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, but SpaceX has altered the trajectory for this launch in order to accomplish a few additional test objectives, including the restart of a Raptor engine in space for the first time.
Starship IFT-3 launch now estimated in about 40 minutes, or about 9:25 AM EST. The usual delays.
Live coverage: SpaceX prepares for third flight test of its Starship rocket from southern Texas – Spaceflight Now
Live coverage: SpaceX prepares for third flight test of its Starship rocket from southern Texas – Spaceflight Now
Successful so far at 15 minutes into it!
Looks like an extremely successful test flight up until the reentry phase from sub-orbital flight into the Indian Ocean. Some of the protective panels had separated from the vehicle and cameras showed debris during rentry, and plasma, and then the vehicle apparently broke up, according to reports. Data still being analyzed.
The Starship program is moving right along. Musk, expressing support for a “fail fast” mentality, once saying that if “things are not failing, you are not innovating.” There was a 7-month gap between the first and second Starship launches last year, and only a four-month gap in the second and third launches, today.
Musk said this week that the company hopes to launch at least six Starship missions in 2024. A second launch pad is under construction as are four Starships.
Watch this amazing 11-minute video of the launch. It includes a video of the Super Heavy booster doing a controlled return to earth. (That part of the video quit so it is assumed the booster soft landing failed.) Update. The booster failed to reignite so was lost.
Blastoff! SpaceX Starship launches to space on 3rd integrated test flight
This fantastic video shows the final 8 minutes of the third Starship flight as it reenters the atmosphere before it disintegrated after an hour of flight.
Wow! Watch SpaceX Starship re-enter Earth's atmosphere in these incredible views
Musk said this week that the company hopes to launch at least six Starship missions in 2024. A second launch pad is under construction as are four Starships.
Watch this amazing 11-minute video of the launch. It includes a video of the Super Heavy booster doing a controlled return to earth. (That part of the video quit so it is assumed the booster soft landing failed.) Update. The booster failed to reignite so was lost.
Blastoff! SpaceX Starship launches to space on 3rd integrated test flight
This fantastic video shows the final 8 minutes of the third Starship flight as it reenters the atmosphere before it disintegrated after an hour of flight.
Wow! Watch SpaceX Starship re-enter Earth's atmosphere in these incredible views
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