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:

 

[ecarfan]

Will be interesting to see how much detail SpaceX reveals about the issue.

So no launch attempt tomorrow, maybe Wednesday, but also possible that it will slip to next Monday. Stay tuned…

 

[Electroman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1647955325763592193

 

[ecarfan]

Yusaku Maezawa (of DearMoon) gave more information about the valve issue:

Quote

燃料タンクにヘリウムガスを装填するバルブが冷却によって凍ってしまい、ガスの装填が上手くいかなかったとのこと。

Translated

The valve that charges the helium gas to the fuel tank was frozen due to cooling, and gas charging did not go well.

 

[mongo]

Yusaku Maezawa (of DearMoon) gave more information about the valve issue:

Quote



Translated

Helium?
Backup COPVs in the event autogenous didn't cut it?

 

[ecarfan]

Helium?
Backup COPVs in the event autogenous didn't cut it?

If I recall correctly, autogenous (which just auto-corrected to “auto genius”!) pressurization is the plan for SH/Starship but B7/S24 do not have that capability. Do I have that wrong? You may well be right.

I try to keep in mind that what we see on the OLM right now are still just prototypes. I know that SpaceX has built many prototypes before them, but the designs still have a lot of maturing left to do. Just like Falcon 9, SpaceX will continuously improve and refine Starship for many years to come.

 

[CGW]

Launch Date: April 19
Launch Window: 7:00 a.m. CDT (8:00 a.m. EDT;1200 GMT) - 2 1/2 hour 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: 25

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.

View attachment 926886

This thing isn't going to fly until 4/20 for sure..... There will be a one day slip. Any bets on that prediction??

 

[ColoradoMike]

We shall see! I think when the initial feed came on they might have seen an issue. Good thing SpaceX went through most of the fueling and probably got some great results from that. I think this week it may happen.

 

[ecarfan]

Some interesting new images in the SpaceX webcast today!

I thought this was fascinating. The Raptor sea level nozzles are so close to the booster tank dome. And lots of protective plating around the engines and above them.

I assume this is the launch control room at Boca Chica. Lots of cameras inside the SH/Starship tanks!

 

[mongo]

Reload, reset, retry

https://twitter.com/x/status/1648041142980583424

 

[bmah]

Reload, reset, retry

https://twitter.com/x/status/1648041142980583424

Dumb question: Do they reuse any of the propellant that was pumped into the stack?

Bruce.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

Some interesting new images in the SpaceX webcast today!

I thought this was fascinating. The Raptor sea level nozzles are so close to the booster tank dome. And lots of protective plating around the engines and above them.

View attachment 929305

Yes. Hoping (guessing) this is thermal protection for re-entry. Feeling a bit happier/more confident having seen this.

 

[Grendal]

Dumb question: Do they reuse any of the propellant that was pumped into the stack?

Bruce.

Yes. They de-tank the fuel and reuse it for the next attempt.

 

[mongo]

Dumb question: Do they reuse any of the propellant that was pumped into the stack?

Bruce.

Like @Grendal said, they do.
Replenishment is for boil off and purge losses. They go through a lot of liquid nitrogen due to use in purging the lines and it it used to further cool the O2 and CH4 during prop load. O2 is primary method of prechilling the engines, but CH4 side needs chilled also.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1270777374158630912

 

[ecarfan]

Hoping (guessing) this is thermal protection for re-entry.

It definitely is. SpaceX knows how to do that based on their incredible success landing and reflying F9 boosters.

And thanks to @mongo for posting Chris Bergin’s tweet about the tanker convoy preparing to replenish the tank farm (good news!) and for his impressive Twitter-fu in pulling up a nearly 3 year old tweet from Elon.

 

[mongo]

TFRs for Tuesday and Wendsday have been removed...

 

[winfield100]

FWIW
, nextspaceflight.com says April 20, no exact time

Starship-Super Heavy (Prototype) | Starship Flight Test 1

A Starship-Super Heavy (Prototype) rocket launched with Starship Flight Test 1 from Orbital Launch Pad A, Starbase, Texas, USA on Thursday Apr 20, 2023 at 13:33 UTC.

nextspaceflight.com

 

[ecarfan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1648092752893313024

 

[Grendal]

New Webcast:

 

[Cattledog]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1648092752893313024

Simulation secured!

 

[scaesare]