SpaceX Starship - Orbital Test Flight - Starbase TX

Launch Date: April 20
Launch Window: 8:28am CDT (6:28am PDT, 13:28 UTC) - 62 minute window
Launch site: LC-1? - Starbase, Boca Chica Beach, Texas
Core Booster Recovery: Expended in Gulf
Starship Recovery: Water landing near Hawaii
Booster: Super Heavy Booster 7
Starship: Starship 24
Mass: No mass simulator mentioned
Orbit: LEO-ish
Yearly Launch Number: 26

A SpaceX Super Heavy and Starship launch vehicle will launch on its first orbital test flight. The mission will attempt to travel around the world for nearly one full orbit, resulting in a re-entry and splashdown of the Starship near Hawaii.

Webcast:

 

[mongo]

I fully expect the actual launch date to change. I will update the first post as adjustments are made. Lots of prep testing before the button is pushed is what I am expecting.

Also, I broke off the orbital versus sub-orbital discussion onto a separate thread. The title here will remain as it is because everyone else is calling it that whether it is 100% accurate or not.

So about that 8 hour launch window...
You sure it's not 4?

 

[Electroman]

Also, I broke off the orbital versus sub-orbital discussion onto a separate thread. The title here will remain as it is because everyone else is calling it that whether it is 100% accurate or not.

Grendal for President !!

 

[ecarfan]

John “Norminal” Insprucker is practicing for his Starship launch webcast host duties.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643778019629350913

 

[ecarfan]

Starship QD arm practicing for the launch. In this video, the speed of the retraction is likely the actual launch speed. It’s quick, and then of course the entire arm will immediately swing away to get well clear of the booster exhaust as it passes by a few seconds later. How many seconds? I would guess about 5?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643716497603190786

 

[ecarfan]

Elon posts video showing stacking, with fabulous drone views of the full stack and launch site.

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

 

[mongo]

Starship QD arm practicing for the launch. In this video, the speed of the retraction is likely the actual launch speed. It’s quick, and then of course the entire arm will immediately swing away to get well clear of the booster exhaust as it passes by a few seconds later. How many seconds? I would guess about 5?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643716497603190786

I expect arm would start swinging as soon as QD clears SS, versus after full retraction. At 80m and 1.5 TWR, it has about 4 seconds from clamp release to flamey bits. 4.5s at 1.4 TWR.

 

[ecarfan]

I expect arm would start swinging as soon as QD clears SS, versus after full retraction. At 80m and 1.5 TWR, it has about 4 seconds from clamp release to flamey bits. 4.5s at 1.4 TWR.

Thanks, makes sense. I expect the entire QD arm will easily reach max retraction before the flamey bits pass by.

 

[mongo]

Thanks, makes sense. I expect the entire QD arm will easily reach max retraction before the flamey bits pass by.

Yeah, potentially even if they need to detach before liftoff.

 

[zoomer0056]

Let’s get back on track and admire this beautiful sight, courtesy of Nick Ansuini.

View attachment 925439

Nice pic.

 

[ecarfan]

Yeah, potentially even if they need to detach before liftoff.

Won’t the Ship QD detach a fraction of a second before the OLM clamps are released?

 

[ecarfan]

Latest beach closure update:

 

[ecarfan]

Useful info about the flight path.

 

[ecarfan]

Okay, WDR next week, then launch the week after if all goes well…

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

 

[mongo]

Won’t the Ship QD detach a fraction of a second before the OLM clamps are released?

Since they can reconnect, they can theoretically detach a few seconds ahead of time. Otherwise, yeah just before clamp release is likely depending on it's vertical range of motion.

 

[Grendal]

First post updated with delay according to SpaceX Twitter.

 

[ecarfan]

This was posted by Ken the Bin at https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=58568.40

• New NGA notices. Note that these do not cancel the existing notices. (NAVAREA XII 189/23 being canceled by NAVAREA XII 191/23 was a new notice that came out shortly before, so I'm not posting 189/23.)
  
  Quote from: NGA
  

  070725Z APR 23
  NAVAREA IV 387/23(11,28).
  GULF OF MEXICO.
  TEXAS.
  1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
  1025Z TO 1610Z DAILY 17 THRU 21 APR
  IN AREA BOUND BY
  25-57.00N 093-13.00W, 26-05.00N 095-44.00W,
  26-06.00N 096-46.00W, 26-02.00N 097-12.00W,
  25-57.00N 097-12.00W, 25-53.00N 096-46.00W,
  25-52.00N 096-17.00W, 25-47.00N 095-14.00W,
  25-32.00N 093-07.00W, 25-33.00N 092-44.00W,
  25-43.00N 092-44.00W.
  2. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
  1155Z TO 1610Z DAILY 17 THRU 21 APR
  IN AREA BOUND BY
  26-08.00N 091-05.00W, 26-42.00N 092-53.00W,
  26-42.00N 095-34.00W, 26-32.00N 096-25.00W,
  26-10.00N 096-49.00W, 26-07.00N 096-59.00W,
  26-03.00N 097-07.00W, 26-02.00N 097-12.00W,
  25-57.00N 097-12.00W, 25-54.00N 097-04.00W,
  25-12.00N 096-10.00W, 24-58.00N 094-40.00W,
  25-14.00N 093-53.00W, 25-09.00N 092-53.00W,
  24-55.00N 091-06.00W, 25-09.00N 090-30.00W,
  24-30.00N 084-52.00W, 24-37.00N 084-52.00W,
  25-32.00N 090-24.00W.
  3. CANCEL THIS MSG 211710Z APR 23.//

  
  Quote from: NGA
  

  070956Z APR 23
  NAVAREA XII 191/23(19,81,83).
  NORTH PACIFIC.
  HAWAII TO MARSHALL ISLANDS.
  1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
  1025Z TO 1750Z DAILY 17 THRU 21 APR
  IN AREA BOUND BY
  23-49.00N 157-42.00W, 23-30.00N 157-37.00W,
  23-40.00N 156-57.00W, 23-58.00N 157-03.00W.
  2. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
  1155Z TO 1750Z DAILY 17 THRU 21 APR
  IN AREA BOUND BY
  22-09.00N 167-02.00W, 19-50.00N 174-26.00W,
  18-19.00N 178-52.00W, 15-00.00N 173-24.00E,
  11-44.00N 167-39.00E, 11-18.00N 167-54.00E,
  13-44.00N 174-11.00E, 16-08.00N 179-30.00W,
  18-10.00N 173-45.00W, 20-13.00N 167-33.00W,
  21-52.00N 162-27.00W, 22-26.00N 160-32.00W,
  23-04.00N 157-57.00W, 23-36.00N 155-42.00W,
  24-05.00N 154-01.00W, 24-24.00N 153-16.00W,
  24-43.00N 152-44.00W, 24-49.00N 152-48.00W,
  24-41.00N 154-58.00W, 24-08.00N 158-18.00W,
  23-21.00N 162-33.00W.
  3. CANCEL NAVAREA XII 189/23.
  4. CANCEL THIS MSG 211850Z APR 23.//

 

[mongo]

Good to go!

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

 

[ecarfan]

I assume he means “Ready for a final WDR and then launch to orbit!”.

I find it ridiculous that the FAA has taken so long to issue the license for something that they have known is coming for many many months now.

 

[mongo]

I assume he means “Ready for a final WDR and then launch to orbit!”.

I find it ridiculous that the FAA has taken so long to issue the license for something that they have known is coming for many many months now.

Licensing process and timeline are independent from development process. Or are you sugesting FAA review was completed and satisfied months ago and they are just sitting on the approval for funzies?

Why a WDR?

 

[ecarfan]

Licensing process and timeline are independent from development process. Or are you sugesting FAA review was completed and satisfied months ago and they are just sitting on the approval for funzies?

No, not suggesting that. Just surprised it is taking so long.

Why a WDR?

Last Thursday, SpaceX tweeted (see my post s#33 upthread) that next week there would be a “launch rehearsal” which I assume will be a WDR, and then launch the following week.