Starship go for flight test

[DaveS]

The FAA has issued the licence for the first orbital launch on Monday 17th . Will likely be at a civilised time over here.

[DaveS]

I think the launch widow opens at 7.00 CDT which is 13.00 BST.

[AndrewRrrrrr]

looking forward to this! 

[michael8554]

The orbit looks to be E-W, rather than an inclined one that might take it near the UK.

Powered soft splashdown just south of the Hawaiian Islands, which are almost due west of the launch site.

https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=273481

Michael

[DaveS]

They're having to thread a very tight needle through the Caribbean, the MSIB and NOTAMs have been issued for a few days now.

[maw lod qan]

From what I just read, it will launch from Texas, the booster "splashing down" in the Gulf of Mexico then the Starship will make only a partial way around, landing in the Pacific.

Of course, I'm scheduled to work. What's the chance it will go off on the first attempt.

Is it worth getting a point for taking an unscheduled day off?

[malc-c]

44 minutes ago, maw lod qan said:

From what I just read, it will launch from Texas, the booster "splashing down" in the Gulf of Mexico then the Starship will make only a partial way around, landing in the Pacific.

Of course, I'm scheduled to work. What's the chance it will go off on the first attempt.

Is it worth getting a point for taking an unscheduled day off?

Watching a few of the you tubers last night when the announcement was made, a lot of think that there will be two failed attempts where either weather / intrusion into the NOTAMs etc will result in a scrub, or a technical issue will occur.  Would be nice to see them proved wrong and this thing finally get off the ground first attempt. 

[michael8554]

At this stage of development I expect they'll be more than happy if it reaches orbit.

The flight plan seems to allow for safe "disposal" if any of the soft-landing manoeuvres go wrong.

No payload ?

Maybe a Cybertruck ?

Michael

[DaveS]

Livestream is live.

 

[StargazerUK]

Watching eagerly, exciting times

[Macavity]

Watching on: https://www.youtube.com/live/eN57x2a_waw?feature=share
Musk tweeted it's still on schedule for take off in about an hour? ~14:00+?

Came across one random factoid: Starship is "segmented" because the
particular brand of 3.6mm stainless steel comes in "standard" width rolls! 😉

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by Macavity

[DaveS]

Here's the SpaceX YT

 

 

[Peter_D]

Today's launch has just been scrubbed 🙁

[StargazerUK]

🙁 no launch today, hopefully all ok next time

[DaveS]

Yep, a pressurisation issue.

[maw lod qan]

I'm glad I didn't call out from work.

I had the feeling it wouldn't go the first time.

Turned out that about 10 people did call out, but not for the launch!😁

[DaveS]

Trying again.

 

[Cornelius Varley]

I guess that wasn't in the plan. If at first you don't succeed throw a few more million on the fire. 🚀🔥

[Alan White]

I think it was in the plan, Clearing the Tower and blowing on the pad was the objective today,
as was obtaining flight data as a stack, they got past Max Q and to stage seperation, which is quite something.

 

[Cornelius Varley]

14 minutes ago, Alan White said:

I think it was in the plan, Clearing the Tower and blowing on the pad was the objective today,
as was obtaining flight data as a stack, they got past Max Q and to stage seperation, which is quite something.

 

The plan was to achieve orbital flight and hopefully return in a single piece.

[Tomatobro]

It lay down just for an instant.......and then blew up (John Force quote)

[DaveS]

Elon said that getting off the pad and past the tower would be a success.

The Orbital launch platform is still in one piece, so success.

[Cornelius Varley]

4 minutes ago, DaveS said:

Elon said that getting off the pad and past the tower would be a success.

Quite a low bench mark.

[DaveS]

But a realistic one.

[Macavity]

A "Wet dress rehearsal" ... apparently! 😉

Edited April 20, 2023 by Macavity