51 replies to this topic

[sickfish]

June 5th is the target date.

They are moving through the checklist.

https://nextspaceflight.com/starship/

[sickfish]

FTS work has started.

[sickfish]

Seeing it has been moved to the 6th.

[sickfish]

License has been issued.

[sickfish]

Looks like it's good to go.

[sickfish]

That was insane.

[JimMo]

Well, that was exciting. Looks like a pretty successful test flight. Watching the reentry was incredible and amazing that fin didn't come off was even actuating after being half burned through.

Edited by JimMo, 06 June 2024 - 09:00 AM.

[Serack]

Buddy pointed out that since they met all their milestones with no RUD and all landings controlled, there may not need to be an event analysis before the next launch, making it a faster turn around.

[GSBass]

Very fun to watch… wild that  flap still operated after the burn through, but they obviously have all the data needed to make them more robust. congratulations SpaceX

Edited by GSBass, 06 June 2024 - 09:20 AM.

[NinePlanets]

An amazing success despite the naysayers' woes. 

 

Onward to IFT-5!

[Skywatchr]

Buddy pointed out that since they met all their milestones with no RUD and all landings controlled, there may not need to be an event analysis before the next launch, making it a faster turn around.

Oh but they will.  They have to assess the damage to the flaps with the plasma burning through them.  They also need to assess the heat shield tiles to see how they held up.  The shielding for the flaps needs improvement to prevent a burn-through again.  Until the damage is assessed, the extent of the damage will be unknown.  Who knows, they could have been mere seconds from vehicle loss.

One Raptor was also dead from the start  That problem also needs assessed.  Even though 32 fired up and provided plenty of thrust, there is still a Gremlin that needs to be found.  Which could also be a Gremlin in hiding for the Starship Raptor engines.

With that said, I am ready for test flight #5!

[Dave Mitsky]

https://www.youtube....h?v=N-L-WZrnpBA

[Dave Mitsky]

SpaceX completed a test flight of its Starship rocket for the first time on Thursday.

 

The fourth Starship test flight completed new milestones as SpaceX continues to advance development of the mammoth vehicle.

 

About an hour after the launch, Starship visibly survived reentry through the Earth’s atmosphere and the company confirmed that the rocket splashed down in the Indian Ocean to complete the mission.

 

https://www.cnbc.com...paceflight.html

[Rickycardo]

I haven't read anywhere that there is a plan to recover both the booster and Starship. Does anyone know more details. I'd love to see pics of Starship to assess the re-entry damage.

[Skywatchr]

I haven't read anywhere that there is a plan to recover both the booster and Starship. Does anyone know more details. I'd love to see pics of Starship to assess the re-entry damage.

Elon stated before the launch nothing is being recovered.  That's too bad.

[GSBass]

I can understand not trying to recover but did think they should have had some observation ability at expected touchdown sites, and they may have, I have not heard either way. As far as science though, I’m sure their sensors gave them a pretty complete assessment of the vondition of both starship and the booster

Elon stated before the launch nothing is being recovered.  That's too bad.

[NinePlanets]

I just hope a US Navy destroyer or two get to have a little target practice before some bad actors try to tow the vehicles away.

[GSBass]

I thought of that, I’m sure China would love to recover it, should be mostly in tact depending on depth, Starship is in Indian Ocean, the booster landed in Gulf of Mexico 

I just hope a US Navy destroyer or two get to have a little target practice before some bad actors try to tow the vehicles away.

Edited by GSBass, 06 June 2024 - 03:38 PM.

[Rickycardo]

I just hope a US Navy destroyer or two get to have a little target practice before some bad actors try to tow the vehicles away

In 6 months you might see the roll out of China's new Xīng jiàn.

[Skywatchr]

Scott Manley...

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=8m0TY6i1Kuo

[GSBass]

Saw tonight that Elon knew the flap might be a problem and they had already redesigned next starship to move them further back… something about a plasma river being created around the joint that even tiles can not withstand. Info comes from a tweet he made and also an interview he did earlier with the everyday astronaut reporter

Edited by GSBass, 06 June 2024 - 08:20 PM.

[yuzameh]

Need to send him a bill for littering.

 

I watched it, mostly live (had to miss the starhip landing bit by a few minutes so had to view that bit later), and wondered where the shipboard images of the landings were (after all, that will give better feedback on the landing attitude of the objects to at least eyeballs).

 

On reading this thread I find out why not.

 

That leaves me gobsmacked.  What the hell does "I can throw something a really, really long way and make a splash" mean to anything!

 

Then I learn there are astronauts practicing the ergonomics of starship airlock and elevator mockups.

 

That's one giant step for man, one dead pair of astronauts because the lift won't go back up due to damage, flat battery, connection failurs, slanted rocket, general bad luck, so mankind can listen to 'em die of hypoxia.

 

Neil and Buzz had this old fashioned tech thing called a 'ladder' which had limited mechanical failure issues.

[Bubbagumps]

Watching the video, I just assumed the melting flap was a component of the heat abatement design. I had no idea it was a malfunction. 

 

After the camera was thoroughly coated with debris, it was a little funny hearing the incessant cheering and screaming even though nobody could see what was happening. My though was all these people must have access to a different camera because I don't see a thing. The crowd reaction is obviously planned ahead of time and everyone is told to cheer as loud as they can on certain cues. As reentry progressed, it just looked like melted chocolate was smeared all over the lens. 

[BFaucett]

I've been following the YouTube channel and X account "Ellie in Space" for quite some time now. Yesterday (June 6) she had the opportunity to interview Elon Musk. YouTube video link below.
 
Cheers! Bob F. 
 
  
   

  
screenshot source: https://x.com/esheri...101674138579381
  
  
YouTube video: 
(Click on the pic or the link below to play the video.)
     

Exclusive: Elon Musk discusses Starship's 4th Flight
video posted to YouTube on Jun 7, 2024
    
"I am truly honored and humbled to share this interview with Elon Musk, recorded the same day of the epic and historic launch of Starship IFT-4."
  
YouTube channel: Ellie in Space
 
video link: https://www.youtube....h?v=tjAWYytTKco
  
  
  

on YouTube: https://www.youtube....einspace/videos
on X: https://x.com/esherifftv


** edit to replace external link to the first pic with an attached file **
 

Edited by BFaucett, 08 June 2024 - 02:43 AM.

[GSBass]

Nice interview, thanks for sharing, I follow her on X also

   

I've been following the YouTube channel and X account "Ellie in Space" for quite some time now. Yesterday (June 6) she had the opportunity to interview Elon Musk. YouTube video link below.
 
Cheers! Bob F. 
 
  
   

  
screenshot source: https://x.com/esheri...101674138579381
  
  
YouTube video: 
(Click on the pic or the link below to play the video.)
     
Ellie-Musk-video-cover.jpg
Exclusive: Elon Musk discusses Starship's 4th Flight
video posted to YouTube on Jun 7, 2024
    
"I am truly honored and humbled to share this interview with Elon Musk, recorded the same day of the epic and historic launch of Starship IFT-4."
  
YouTube channel: Ellie in Space
 
video link: https://www.youtube....h?v=tjAWYytTKco
  
  
  
Ellie logo 225x.jpg

on YouTube: https://www.youtube....einspace/videos

on X: https://x.com/esherifftv