SpaceX Starship test flights

• The seventh flight test of Starship is preparing to launch as soon as Wednesday, January 15, 2025

https://sxcontent9668.azureedge.us/c...9d59c5f84f.jpg

A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 35 minutes before liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app. The launch window will open at 4:00 p.m. CT. As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to check in here and stay tuned to our X account for updates.

The upcoming flight test will launch a new generation ship with significant upgrades, attempt Starship’s first payload deployment test, fly multiple reentry experiments geared towards ship catch and reuse, and launch and return the Super Heavy booster.

A block of planned upgrades to the Starship upper stage will debut on this flight test, bringing major improvements to reliability and performance. The vehicle’s forward flaps have been reduced in size and shifted towards the vehicle tip and away from the heat shield, significantly reducing their exposure to reentry heating while simplifying the underlying mechanisms and protective tiling. Redesigns to the propulsion system, including a 25 percent increase in propellant volume, the vacuum jacketing of feedlines, a new fuel feedline system for the vehicle’s Raptor vacuum engines, and an improved propulsion avionics module controlling vehicle valves and reading sensors, all add additional vehicle performance and the ability to fly longer missions. The ship’s heat shield will also use the latest generation tiles and includes a backup layer to protect from missing or damaged tiles.

The vehicle’s avionics underwent a complete redesign, adding additional capability and redundancy for increasingly complex missions like propellant transfer and ship return to launch site. Avionics upgrades include a more powerful flight computer, integrated antennas which combine Starlink, GNSS, and backup RF communication functions into each unit, redesigned inertial navigation and star tracking sensors, integrated smart batteries and power units that distribute data and 2.7MW of power across the ship to 24 high-voltage actuators, and an increase to more than 30 vehicle cameras giving engineers insight into hardware performance across the vehicle during flight. With Starlink, the vehicle is capable of streaming more than 120 Mbps of real-time high-definition video and telemetry in every phase of flight, providing invaluable engineering data to rapidly iterate across all systems.

While in space, Starship will deploy 10 Starlink simulators, similar in size and weight to next-generation Starlink satellites as the first exercise of a satellite deploy mission. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship, with splashdown targeted in the Indian Ocean. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned.

The flight test will include several experiments focused on ship return to launch site and catch. On Starship’s upper stage, a significant number of tiles will be removed to stress-test vulnerable areas across the vehicle. Multiple metallic tile options, including one with active cooling, will test alternative materials for protecting Starship during reentry. On the sides of the vehicle, non-structural versions of ship catch fittings are installed to test the fittings’ thermal performance, along with a smoothed and tapered edge of the tile line to address hot spots observed during reentry on Starship’s sixth flight test. The ship’s reentry profile is being designed to intentionally stress the structural limits of the flaps while at the point of maximum entry dynamic pressure. Finally, several radar sensors will be tested on the tower chopsticks with the goal of increasing the accuracy when measuring distances between the chopsticks and a returning vehicle during catch.

The Super Heavy booster will utilize flight proven hardware for the first time, reusing a Raptor engine from the booster launched and returned on Starship’s fifth flight test. Hardware upgrades to the launch and catch tower will increase reliability for booster catch, including protections to the sensors on the tower chopsticks that were damaged at launch and resulted in the booster offshore divert on Starship’s previous flight test.

Distinct vehicle and pad criteria must be met prior to a return and catch of the Super Heavy booster, requiring healthy systems on the booster and tower and a final manual command from the mission’s Flight Director. If this command is not sent prior to the completion of the boostback burn, or if automated health checks show unacceptable conditions with Super Heavy or the tower, the booster will default to a trajectory that takes it to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. We accept no compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public and our team, and the return will only take place if conditions are right.

The returning booster will slow down from supersonic speeds, resulting in audible sonic booms in the area around the landing zone. Generally, the only impact to those in the surrounding area of a sonic boom is the brief thunder-like noise with variables like weather and distance from the return site determining the magnitude experienced by observers.

This new year will be transformational for Starship, with the goal of bringing reuse of the entire system online and flying increasingly ambitious missions as we iterate towards being able to send humans and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars.

• source

• Starship Launch IMMINENT: What's wrong with SpaceX's Flight 7?:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Chhsn-hxpo4

• 🌎 LIVE Countdown SpaceX Starship Flight 7 | Watch All 6 flights NOW 🚀

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bgju_pNB7OA

SpaceX is set to conduct its next major Starship test, with plans to launch simulated Starlink satellites during Flight Test 7.

The company is moving closer to achieving full reusability of its launch system, kicking off what is expected to be a pivotal year for the Starship program.

The mission is scheduled to lift off from Starbase's Orbital Launch Pad A in South Texas on Jan. 15. The flight test will begin about 35 minutes before liftoff and the launch window will open at 4:00 p.m. CST / 5 p.m. EST,

Starship comprises the Super Heavy booster as the powerful first stage and an upper-stage spacecraft referred to as Starship or "Ship." This launch from Boca Chica Beach will incorporate several upgrades and new goals, building on the successes of Flight Test 6, which took place last November.

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Posted by ExomatrixTV

• LIVE: Starship 7 Flight Test, Important SpaceX News & Updates:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=3-IzEvKtkQY

The towering Starship Flight 7 vehicle is a new version of the megarocket and will launch on Jan. 13.

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Update: now postponed (because of bad weather) to 4 pm Central Time tomorrow, Thursday 16 January.

• [4K] Watch SpaceX Try To Catch Starship's Super Heavy Booster!:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=6Px_b5eSzsA

[TIME SUBJECT TO CHANGE] This is the seventh fully integrated test flight of Starship with its Super Heavy booster, the largest and most powerful rocket to ever fly. This is the first launch of the new Starship upper stage with many tweaks, bringing it closer to full functionality.

If all goes well, Starship will re-enter in the Indian Ocean about 65 minutes after it lifts off from Starbase, TX, after performing a Raptor relight test and having deployed 10 Starlink mass simulators. SpaceX will be attempting to catch the Super Heavy booster with the launch tower again, hopefully catching it for the second time!

• Starbase Live: 24/7 Starship & Super Heavy Development From SpaceX's Boca Chica Facility:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=mhJRzQsLZGg

Starship is SpaceX's fully reusable launch system which is being developed at Starbase in Cameron County, Texas. Starbase LIVE provides 24/7 coverage of the exciting developments and testing progress.

• SpaceX FINALLY launches Starship Flight 7 LIVE from Starbase, TX!:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=2NupMFUk0Og

Main objectives:

- Booster Catch
- 10x Starlink (dummy) deployment
- Raptor Engine reuse
- Raptor engine relight
- Test redesigned heat shield
- Test actively cooled heat shield
- Reentry of Ship 33
- Virtual landing attempt in the Indian Ocean


The launch will take off at SpaceX's Starbase in south Texas, USA.

For more info on the upcoming flight, watch: here

Official SpaceX live stream:

Click link --

https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1OwGWNYrzZVKQ

I've got to say, that was one quite amazing spectacle. How they launch these massive machines and then catch them again, perfectly...

I dare to presume that even the ETs up there have got to be impressed with that. As far as primitive rockets are concerned, glorified roman candles in other words, we have to be the supreme technological power, the foremost experts in the galaxy.

Hats off to Elon.

Attachment 54309

https://x.com/WallStreetMav/status/1880027648690385004

It looks like AI, but it's real.

🔊

— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) January 16, 2025

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1880036870119387340

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Posted by Ravenlocke

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1880036870119387340

SpaceX confirms ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent’

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Yes: for those not up to speed with what happened, the returning Booster catch was spectacularly successful, but the Starship itself, on its continuing suborbital trajectory, broke up into pieces very soon after the tower catch. :worried:

The root cause is not yet known, but on the livestream it could be seen that 5 of the 6 Starship engines suddenly cut out asymmetrically which would have sent it into a catastrophic spin.

Starship burning up in the atmosphere.

I love this quote from Elon:

Elon Musk
@elonmusk
Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed! ✨
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1880040599761596689

Don't know if at all related to the eventual break-up of Starship in orbit, but I noticed this watching the stream last night. A small section of panelling separated from the rocket's hull at 48seconds into launch. You can see it on the stream at 40-41 minutes.

Stream: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1OwGWNYrzZVKQ

(screenshot of panel in question)
Attachment 54311

Fantastic sight !

More affirmation of the chopsticks proof of concept.
Pity about Starship 7 itself.
Roll on the next tests.

Regarding the launch live stream I watched.
Can anyone shed any light on what we viewed here please ?

Seen live on the Tim Dodds Everyday Astronaut's Youtube Chanel video ( link below ).

At 2.41.20 into his stream during the rocket boosters decent/return I saw these anomalies on screen for 20 seconds or so.


Attachment 54314
Attachment 54313
Attachment 54312

EA's Video.

Bottom frames of right hand feed
Screen on left is the Space X feed and was 10 seconds or so behind into the flight time than the right hand feed )

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=6Px_b5eSzsA

I would like see any other videos taken from other angles at the exact time frame of the boosters return taken during the seconds before and seconds after the above were captured to see if this anomaly can be identified as being part of rocket, camera glitch or other etc.

Any thoughts ?

• What Exactly Happened On SpaceX's Seventh Starship Launch Attempt?:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=vAmyOezZF6g

After a lot of upgrades, this afternoon Starship lifted off for the seventh time, and like usual it was eventful. Notably, this was the first flight with Starship V2, an upgraded Starship variant that features a larger size, new forward flap positions, avionics, etc. For this reason, the plan was a very busy upper-stage flight profile filled with engine relights, the first payload deployment, and then re-entry.

Unfortunately, the ship experienced a RUD right around the engine cutoff. As for the booster, for a second time, it successfully was caught by the chopsticks on the launch tower, which featured upgrades to its hardware and sensors.

Elon also just tweeted, saying, "Preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity. Apart from obviously double-checking for leaks, we will add fire suppression to that volume and probably increase vent area. Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month."

Quote:

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Posted by Bill Ryan

Quote:

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Posted by Ravenlocke

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1880036870119387340

SpaceX confirms ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent’

---

Yes: for those not up to speed with what happened, the returning Booster catch was spectacularly successful, but the Starship itself, on its continuing suborbital trajectory, broke up into pieces very soon after the tower catch. :worried:

The root cause is not yet known, but on the livestream it could be seen that 5 of the 6 Starship engines suddenly cut out asymmetrically which would have sent it into a catastrophic spin.

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Quote:

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Posted by Mark (Star Mariner)

Don't know if at all related to the eventual break-up of Starship in orbit, but I noticed this watching the stream last night. A small section of panelling separated from the rocket's hull at 48 seconds into launch. You can see it on the stream at 40-41 minutes.

Stream: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1OwGWNYrzZVKQ

(screenshot of panel in question)
Attachment 54311

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I just analyzed the video and this is what I noticed:

• FIRST SIGN OF ENGINE ISSUE:

47:47 in to the video ...

T+ 7 minutes 40 seconds after Starship V2 launch:
Speed: 17781 KMPH (Mach 14.4 - 11049 MPH)
Altitude: 141 KM above Earth (approx 91 Km above atmosphere)
LOX/CH4: more than 85% FUEL BURNED!

• SECOND SIGN OF ENGINE ISSUE (21 seconds later):

48:08 in to the video ...

T+ 8 minutes 1 second after Starship V2 launch:
Speed: 19985 KMPH (Mach 16.2 - 12418 MPH)
Altitude: 144 KM above Earth above (approx 91 Km above atmosphere)
LOX .... STOPS! ... CH4: more than 90% FUEL BURNED!

• THIRD SIGN OF ENGINE ISSUE (2 seconds later):

48:10 in to the video ...

T+ 8 minutes 3 seconds after Starship V2 launch:
Speed: 20055 KMPH (Mach 16.24 - 12463 MPH)
Altitude: 144 KM above Earth (approx 91 Km above atmosphere)

• FORTH SIGN OF ENGINE ISSUE (14 seconds later):

48:24 in to the video ...

T+ 8 minutes 17 seconds after Starship V2 launch:
Speed: 20980 KMPH (Mach 17 - 13036 MPH)
Altitude: 145 KM above Earth (approx 92 Km above atmosphere)

• FORTH SIGN OF ENGINE ISSUE (6 seconds later):

48:30 in to the video ...

T+ 8 minutes 23 seconds after Starship V2 launch:
Speed: 21277 KMPH (Mach 17.23 - 13036 MPH)
Altitude: 146 KM above Earth (approx 93 Km above atmosphere)

• LIVE TELEMETRY DATA FEED STOPS AT (2 seconds later):

48:32 in to the video ...

T+ 8 minutes 25 seconds after Starship V2 launch:
Speed: 21317 KMPH (Mach 17.26 - 13246 MPH)
Altitude: 146 KM above (approx 93 Km above atmosphere)

cheers,
John 🦜🦋🌳

Re: SpaceX Starship test flights ...

As a small boy I saw 'live' black-and-white 'Apollo' TV-shows. Hmm.

1. I then never thought that no one would ever again travel beyond low earth orbit (LEO).
1.1. Even commie-Soviets or Chinese would never send any man-meat there.

2. Mars cannot happen before Moon II.
2.1. And Moon II cannot happen before any, even for some minutes, human travel to a-bit-beyond-LEO.

Who would ever volunteer to Elon's ships to Mars?

SpaceX's current best guess as to what happened:

~~~

Preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity.

Apart from obviously double-checking for leaks, we will add fire suppression to that volume and probably increase vent area. Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1880060983734858130

But 'next month' may be optimistic. The FAA will want to investigate all this, and that may take a while. The following explains their concern:

~~~

The FAA briefly slowed and diverted aircraft around the area where space vehicle debris was falling. Normal operations have resumed.

A Debris Response Area is activated only if the space vehicle experiences an anomaly with debris falling outside of the identified closed aircraft hazard areas. It allows the FAA to direct aircraft to exit the area and prevent others from entering."

The FAA confirming that there was debris was outside of the hazard areas.

https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1880056482508484631

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Posted by HopSan

Who would ever volunteer to Elon's ships to Mars?

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Army of Tesla Optimus 2.0 or 3.0 A.I. (Soon to be A.G.I.) Robots?

https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/bus...g?size=948:533

Then when all is well-prepared ... humans can be more sure to be worth going.

• This is just the beginning of many improvements/upgrades to come, including revolution in nuclear batteries!

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=cpraXaw7dyc

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=9ZnzQHA6YdE

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=tSfFAfS1WAM

cheers,
John 🦜🦋🌳

Quote:

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Posted by HopSan

Who would ever volunteer to Elon's ships to Mars?

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Given the absolute state of things down here right now, a seat on one of his starships is beginning to look rather enticing.

I have emailed members of the Everyday Astronaut team and asked if they have higher rez footage re the below post I made.

Quote:

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Posted by Did You See Them

Fantastic sight !

More affirmation of the chopsticks proof of concept.
Pity about Starship 7 itself.
Roll on the next tests.

Regarding the launch live stream I watched.
Can anyone shed any light on what we viewed here please ?

Seen live on the Tim Dodds Everyday Astronaut's Youtube Chanel video ( link below ).

At 2.41.20 into his stream during the rocket boosters decent/return I saw these anomalies on screen for 20 seconds or so.


Attachment 54314
Attachment 54313
Attachment 54312

EA's Video.

Bottom frames of right hand feed
Screen on left is the Space X feed and was 10 seconds or so behind into the flight time than the right hand feed )

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=6Px_b5eSzsA

I would like see any other videos taken from other angles at the exact time frame of the boosters return taken during the seconds before and seconds after the above were captured to see if this anomaly can be identified as being part of rocket, camera glitch or other etc.

Any thoughts ?

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