SpaceX Super Heavy and Starship updates

[DocM]

SN-09

 

Going for a static fire 

 

Date: Monday, January 18

Window: 0900 - 1800 Eastern

 

 

 

[Skiver Veteran]

I wonder if they've managed to figure out what caused the problem with two of the Raptors or if they'll maybe go for another day of multiple static fires to see if they can replicate the problem.

[DocM]

1 hour ago, Skiver said:

I wonder if they've managed to figure out what caused the problem with two of the Raptors or if they'll maybe go for another day of multiple static fires to see if they can replicate the problem.

Having several tested engines in the barn is a plus. They're hoping to static fire and fly this week. 

[bguy_1986]

What was the reason they swapped the engines?

[DocM]

3 hours ago, bguy_1986 said:

What was the reason they swapped the engines?

Repairs. They were pushing them.

 

Too windy for the man-lift work to finish & static fire today, so they'll try again Tuesday. If good, fly Wednesday or Thursday (weather permitting).

 

Nice Lunar Starship HLS render. 

 

The Falcon Heavy-like Vertical Integration mobile tower isn't official, but Musk 'liked' it. FH's VI mobile tower is being built for DoD launches.

 

 

FH VI mobile tower

Edited January 18, 2021 by DocM

[DocM]

Starship sea launch platforms

 

Elon Musk hinted about sea launch platforms for Starship last June,

 

 

 

NSF's Michael Baylor (nextspaceflight)  discovered twin sea platforms have been bought by "Lone Star Mineral Development LLC," which is either a SpaceX subsidiary or a leasing company. Price: $3.5 million each.

 

Nailing it down;  Lone Star was incorporated just before the sale, and the officer for Lone Star Mineral Development LLC is listed as Bret Johnsen - SpaceX's CFO.

 

In their previous life they were Ensco 8500 and Ensco 8501, identical ultra-deepwater semi-submersibles. Deimos is in Brownsville, Phobos in Galveston. 

 

It's very possible SpaceX could buy more of these 8500 series platforms.

 

Ensco 8500 - "Deimos"

 

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:753950/mmsi:636013222/imo:8768787/vessel:ENSCO_8500

 

 

Twitter thread,

 

 

[DocM]

Foggy static fire

 

 

[DocM]

Going again tomorrow

 

 

[DocM]

Friday Static Fire!!

 

(Crank Up The Volume)

 

Brutal!

 

SUNDAY Flight TFR: 0700 - 0100 Eastern

 

 

 

[DocM]

Scroll to at least 1 hour into the video, which is about when Phobos emerges from the fog bank.

 

 

 

 

 

[DocM]

SN-10 rollout preps - going to the pad as soon as SN-9 flies. SN-11's nose just got its  fins.

 

 

 

[Skiver Veteran]

FTS was installed on SN9 over the weekend so looking good for chances of a flight this week!

[Steven P. Administrators]

Coastguard warning shows a window between today and Wednesday 27th.

[DocM]

Flight Readiness Review: GO for launch

 

Road barricades going up

 

@BocaChicaGal setting up her camera gear

 

Weather/fog could cause a scrub.

 

Edited January 25, 2021 by DocM

[DocM]

Window: 1300 - 1900 Eastern

 

 

 

[Skiver Veteran]

I don't believe there's been any official word but I believe FTS was removed yesterday so looking like today won't go ahead. There's unofficial statements about residents have been told they won't need to evacuate until Thursday now but take that all with a pinch of salt.

Speculation is because of low cloud cover/fog and/or high winds at high altitude which makes sense, they need to be able to see the thing fly and no need to take unnecessary risks at this point.

[Steven P. Administrators]

 

[DocM]

Boca Chica Testing

Today: pressure testing tank SN-7.2 to failure (3mm steel, new alloy). Fill with liquid nitrogen, pressurize until it pops. Goal: see what it can take.

Thursday or Friday: weather & rocket gods permitting, SN-09 flies.

[DocM]

Passed the cryo tests. Likely going to blow it to find the limits.

 

 

 

[DocM]

Boca Chica Road closures! 🚀

 

Primary: Thursday, January 28

Window: 1000 - 1900 Eastern

 

Secondary: Friday, January 29

Window: 0900 - 1500 Eastern

[DocM]

Starship SN-09 flight announcement

 

https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship

 

Quote

As early as Thursday, January 28, the SpaceX team will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 9 (SN9) – the second high-altitude suborbital flight test of a Starship prototype from our site in Cameron County, Texas. Similar to the high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 8 (SN8), SN9 will be powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN9 will perform a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent.

 

The Starship prototype will descend under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of two forward and two aft flaps on the vehicle. All four flaps are actuated by an onboard flight computer to control Starship’s attitude during flight and enable precise landing at the intended location. SN9’s Raptor engines will then reignite as the vehicle attempts a landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down on the landing pad adjacent to the launch mount.

A controlled aerodynamic descent with body flaps and vertical landing capability, combined with in-space refilling, are critical to landing Starship at destinations across the solar system where prepared surfaces or runways do not exist, and returning to Earth. This capability will enable a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration, interplanetary flights and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond.

There will be a live feed of the flight test available here that will start a few minutes prior to liftoff. Given the dynamic schedule of development testing, stay tuned to our social media channels for updates as we move toward SpaceX’s second high-altitude flight test of Starship!

[DocM]

Boca Chica Village evacuation ordered for tomorrow's launch attempt.

 

 

[DocM]

The FAA Temporary Flight Restriction for today's SN-09 hop is still under review

[Steven P. Administrators]

Scrubbed again.

 

 

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp

 

In The Expanse, once they take ownership of a vehicle they launch to Luna. I saw it in this weeks episode on Amazon.

[FloatingFatMan]

13 hours ago, DocM said:

Boca Chica Village evacuation ordered for tomorrow's launch attempt.

 

 

Y'know... I find it unacceptable that people that have lived there for years should have to evacuate just because some new guy bought some land near them...  Perhaps he should have bought it further away, hmmm?