After some public back-and-forth between the FAA and SpaceX regarding the launch schedule, SpaceX has officially secured the green light to launch on October 13th instead of late November November (FAA Launch License).
Launch Profile
Source: SpaceX
What's different this time?
SpaceX is aiming to catch the Super Heavy Booster using their launch tower, a bold move made possible by the confidence gained from IFT 4, which landed within half a centimeter of its target, according to Bill Gerstenmaier.
Landing and catch animation by Ryan Hansen:
Ryan Hansen explaining the complete flight profile with animations:
How SpaceX Will Catch Super Heavy | Explained
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Fun fact
It costs SpaceX around $4 million per day to operate Starbase. We learned this from a lawsuit that tried to stop SpaceX from launching (Source).
| Full Stack | |
| Height: | 120m |
| Diameter: | 9m |
| Payload capacity (fully reusable): | 100 – 150t |
| Starship Spacecraft | |
| Height: | 50m |
| Diameter: | 9m |
| Super Heavy Booster Rocket | |
| Height: | 69m |
| Diameter: | 9m |
Live Streams
- SpaceX Livestream
- SpaceX Stream on Twitter @SpaceX
- NASASpaceflight
- Everyday Astronaut
- Senkrechtstarter (German)
- Angry Astronaut
- Ellie in Space
Likely programming around the launch by SpaceTubers will be added when links are available.
More Information
Marcus House: SpaceX Starbase and Stage Zero! How close are we to Starship Orbital Flight Test? – 23.11.2021
SpaceX Starship | O.F.T (Orbital Flight Test) Animation
CSI Starbase: Why SpaceX Could Be Forced To Abandon Starship Payloads Until 2024!
Starship's First Flight Trajectory Revealed! Where Will it Land? | SpaceX Boca Chica
Marcus House looks into what can happen when the stack explodes during launch:
SpaceX Starship Explosive Potential, and Big Bang Theory
Tim Dodd was lucky enough to get three guided tours around Starbase by Elon Musk:
Tour 2024:
- First Look Inside SpaceX's Starfactory w/ Elon Musk
- Join Elon Musk on a tour of Starship just before it launches! (w/ post launch interview)
Tour 2022:
- [2022] Elon Musk Explains Updates To Starship And Starbase!
- Go up SpaceX's Starship-catching robotic launch tower with Elon Musk!
- Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Merlin Engine!
- Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Raptor Engine!
Tour 2021:
- [Starbase Tour with Elon Musk PART 1 // Summer 2021
- Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 2 // Summer 2021]
- Starbase Launchpad Tour with Elon Musk [PART 3 // Summer 2021]
Further information
Cosmic Perspective: Valhalla: Starship Explosion Footage SN8-SN11 - 4K
Tim Dodd: How To Visit STARBASE // A Complete Guide To Seeing Starship!.
NASASpaceflight: A Practical Guide To Starbase | Things You Need To Know To See Starship Launch
Lex Fridman: Starship: The most powerful rocket ever made | Tim Dodd and Lex Fridman
StarshipGazer.com: Useful Starship links
Background information about previous SpaceX launches: Wikipedia
FAA: SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
FAA: Licensed Launches
Starship OFT flight plan
The Launch Pad Network: tlpnetwork.com
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