SpaceX Starship test flights

[ExomatrixTV]

• Finally Happened! Faa Just Revealed New Starship Launch Date…
  

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=YshrdOKM4ro

Finally happened! The FAA just revealed a new Starship launch date… There will be no Starship launch this month! Yeah, the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration officially announced on Wednesday that the agency could advance a launch license as early as next month for the SpaceX Starship rocket after a prior one exploded following a test launch in April. "We're working well with them and have been in good discussions. Teams are working together and I think we're optimistic sometime next month," acting FAA Administrator Polly Trottenberg told reporters on the sidelines of a conference. This means SpaceX's Starship can't launch until at least October. The company must obtain a modified FAA license to launch, which entails a sometimes lengthy review of the Starship's flight trajectory, accident probabilities, and other factors affecting nearby public safety. Besides, SpaceX would still need a separate environmental approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before a launch. Trottenberg did not say how long that might take. They’re concerned with the concrete that’s splattered in the surrounding wildlife refuge around Boca Chica from OFT1. After Ship 24 and Booster 7 flight, the Fish and Wildlife Service explained in an email to the media, that the footprint of the blast was vast. Much of the damage was done at the moment of launch when the force of the rocket’s first-stage engines destroyed the launch pad. Finally happened! FAA just revealed new Starship launch date…

[ExomatrixTV]

• Elon Musk Just Officially Announced New Starship Prototype 'Bigger, Longer & Better':

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=YNaHQZxJ5C8

“Mind-blown”. That's the feeling that Tesla Owners - Silicon Valley collectively had after Elon Musk responded to their tweet: “Starship is the biggest rocket ever built” on September 9. Specifically, Musk responded: “Likely to be 10% to 20% longer in later versions”. Longer! Bigger! Maybe it's still not enough for Elon Musk. He wants a vehicle to carry as many citizens to the Red Kingdom. The above feeling is probably not only of Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, it is also the feeling of many people after Musk's announcement. In the future, we will see Starship versions that are bigger, stronger, and better than current prototypes. So how will Musk's ideas change the Starship system? Let’s find out in today's episode of Alpha Tech. Elon Musk just officially announced NEW Starship prototype 'bigger, longer & better'...

[ExomatrixTV]

• SpaceX Is Launching Starship To Orbit This Month!:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=zp2iM9cYfUs

00:40: SpaceX is preparing for their second attempt at launching the world's most powerful rocket into orbit, with over 1,000 changes made to improve the rocket and launch system.
02:41: SpaceX's Starship launch attempt failed due to issues with the upper stage and Raptor engines.
04:54: During SpaceX's first test run of Starship, the rocket shattered a concrete slab and caused damage, but the launch infrastructure remained intact.
07:28: SpaceX has installed a new suppression system to prevent cratering events in their rocket launches.
10:11: The FAA has approved upgrades and modifications to SpaceX's Starship, indicating a positive outcome for the next launch attempt.
Recap by Tammy AI

[ExomatrixTV]

• SpaceX Starship Launch Imminent! What To Expect?:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=BjlJjpM9WIY

[ExomatrixTV]

• It's Mind-blowing! What SpaceX Just Did In Florida Shocked Nasa...Never Seen Before!

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=T99Bfe7reSI

It's mind-blowing! What SpaceX just did in Florida shocked NASA...Never seen before! SpaceX has shocked the entire rocket industry with everything at Starbase, from its rapid pace of building, testing, fixing, upgrading, and expanding. And while everyone is glued awaiting Starship 25/Booster 9 and the FAA's response, does anyone take notice? Right in the heart of NASA, SpaceX is also creating something so terrible that it overwhelms all competitors, even Nasa is mind-blowing. Stay tuned as we dive and more in this episode of Alpha Tech! Starbase is the world's first true spaceport located in South Texas. It is home to SpaceX's next-generation Starship rocket factory and launch pads and is known as the "Gateway to Mars" among the space community. This location will serve as the launch site for dozens, if not hundreds, of Starship flights every month. The scale of the facility at Starbase is unparalleled, exceeding the capabilities of any other rocket company. Even NASA, the largest government-run space agency in the United States, cannot match the complexity of the launch infrastructure in Texas. In April, Starbase witnessed the launch of the world's largest and most powerful rocket. Moreover, the site is currently preparing for the second Starship launch, scheduled for October. Mass prototype production and ongoing tests are continuously conducted in preparation for this upcoming launch. It's mind-blowing! What SpaceX just did in Florida shocked NASA ... Never seen before!

• Did Elon Musk watch this Epic SF Movie "Gattaga" from 1997 (made 26 years ago):

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=iVfoCIx9pA0

cheers,
John 🦜🦋🌳

[ExomatrixTV]

• Launch Date Revealed! Will SpaceX Starship Launch In November?:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=HTMZU_855ig

Delays on second launch. It seems that SpaceX has used the time between launches well. All the redesign, tests and stacking improvements will make that system much more reliable and robust. Hope all the changes and tests lead to a flawless second launch. Fingers crossed for an early November successful lift-off.

[ExomatrixTV]

• Yes! The Official Starship Flight Timeline Reveal, And FAA Approves Safety!:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=QYjnv9pgVT0

[ExomatrixTV]

• SpaceX's Starship Is Ready! How Has It Improved?:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=bigk98T4qkQ

[ExomatrixTV]

• It's Mind-blowing! What SpaceX Just Did With Starship's Welding & Nosecone Shocked The Entire Industry:

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

[ExomatrixTV]

• It's Launch Time! SpaceX Starship Is Ready Including FTS!:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=plYwlFPTx5k

SpaceX’s Starship launch as soon as next week? New Starship lunar lander leaked! We show it clearer! Lucy's story faces a plot twist, and Blue Origin is presenting their lunar lander!

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by ExomatrixTV (here)
SpaceX’s Starship launch as soon as next week?

The earliest date is Friday 17 November. But yes, the FTS (Flight Termination System) — which is a bunch of high-tech explosives on the side of the ship, primed to activate in case of a loss-of-control situation — has indeed been installed. That never happens unless a flight is fairly imminent.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1723158118706839819

[ExomatrixTV]

• Why SpaceX Starship launch was delayed | Elon Musk and Lex Fridman:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=47dEWpef4Fw

[ExomatrixTV]

• Musk Confirms License: Starship To Launch Friday, November 17th, 2023!
  

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=cdUw6olCTvQ

SpaceX Starship first official launch date revealed. Starbase orbital flyover! Third Starship launch details, Crew Access Arm mounted at SLC-40, a Seal enduring sonic booms for the NOAA, and our WAI 3.0 release!

[ExomatrixTV]

• Finally happened! FAA and FWS just approved SpaceX Starship OFT-2 this week!:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=IQC-66Z49FU

[Bill Ryan]

From Elon:

We need to replace a grid fin actuator, so launch is postponed to Saturday

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1725231694645461403

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
From Elon:

We need to replace a grid fin actuator, so launch is postponed to Saturday.

More confirmation:

https://spacex.com/launches/mission/...rship-flight-2

The second flight test of a fully integrated Starship is set to launch Saturday, November 18. A twenty-minute launch window opens at 7:00 a.m. CT.

A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 35 minutes before liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to stay tuned to our X account for updates.

[Bill Ryan]

And indeed, the launch today is so far a GO. The countdown right this moment has just passed T minus 0:08:00 (now under 8 minutes to launch).

There are multiple livestreams to watch this on, but my personal choice (mainly because of MaryLiz Chylinski, who is a superstar commentator, one of the happiest and most fun anywhere, on any topic, on the net ) is this one:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=6na40SqzYnU

[Bill Ryan]

Launch report:

• Launch was perfect. All 33 Raptor engines ignited and none of them shut down. This time, the launch pad was NOT destroyed.
• Stage separation was 100% successful, the main objective of the flight test.
• Soon after that, the Booster (now detached from the second stage Starship) self-destructed, reasons unknown.
• The Starship continued on its planned trajectory, all seemingly 100% nominal.
• Then the Starshio self-destructed, reasons also currently unknown.

All very spectacular, fantastic camera footage, definitely a valuable, successful test. More interesting info to follow.

[Bill Ryan]

An excellent video, starting from a few seconds before launch. (The launch itself is spectacular, the only word to use. ) Mainstream media is all talking about how the ships (Starship + Booster) both self-destructed a few minutes into flight, but as usual they focus on the apparent 'bad news' (which it wasn't!) and entirely miss the point.

• No launch pad damage. The water deluge system worked even under full lift-off thrust, and that was critically important.
• Look at the little schematic of the 33 engines at the bottom right of the video. They all ignite, and they all stay lit.
• The problem with the Booster after the successful stage separation (also a key part of the test) was that after throttling down to just the central 3 engines, with the others all shut down, they didn't all ignite again. (RE-igniting a shut-down rocket engine in flight is always tricky.) You can see that clearly from the lower left engine schematic about 3 mins into the video.
• It's unknown yet (as best I know) why the Starship itself self-destructed soon after the successful separation. Its engines were all working fine, and it was perfectly on course.
  
  The FTS (Flight Termination System) is all fully computer-automated, so no human pressed any big red 'Explode the ship!' button.
  The FTS would have been programmed to activate if there were certain specified deviations from normal parameters, and the fight telemetry will soon reveal what those were (and re the second-stage Starship, which looked perfectly okay, they might actually have been minor issues). SpaceX would have set those parameters to have been very sensitive, especially to satisfy the FAA (important!) and avoid any disaster like the thing falling to Earth in (e.g.) South Africa, theoretically possible but highly unlikely.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=s-ZwElJpTTs

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Mainstream media is all talking about how the ships (Starship + Booster) both self-destructed a few minutes into flight, but as usual they focus on the apparent 'bad news' (which it wasn't!) and entirely miss the point.

I thought I'd collect a few mainstream media headlines. Not all were like this (some did celebrate the highly significant successes of the launch), but it's quite an interesting insight — if any were needed! — into how the media operates.

Look at all this:

• SpaceX Starship rocket lost in second test flight
• SpaceX Starship launch failed minutes after reaching space
• SpaceX's Starship fails in second test flight
• SpaceX Starship Fails in Space Shortly After Liftoff
• SpaceX Starship test flight fails minutes after launch
• SpaceX's Starship Lost Shortly After Launch
• SpaceX Starship launch ends with explosion
• SpaceX Starship test flight loses spacecraft 8 minutes into flight

What we see here is a perfect example of articles being written by people who know nothing of the issue they're reporting. We see this with Russia/Ukraine, with Israel/Hamas, with China/Taiwan, the Nord Stream pipeline, BRICS, global finance, climate change, electric cars, green energy, and much much much MUCH else.

We're misinformed ALL the time. Often, it's deliberate manipulation. But sometimes it's simply because journalists just know nothing about the topic and are racing to get some kind of story out, ideally with some kind of sensational or entertaining 'hook'. If one knows exactly what the real story is, it's quite an interesting object lesson.