One watch item over the coming days. The explosives bunker for the FTS (Flight Termination System). The FTS will be armed on Starship very close to the launch date...to the point we'll know the launch date by then!nsf.live/starbase
I was going to comment in the previous thread with a quotes from the numerous comments and complaints for emphasis but it's locked.It seems most everyone commenting on the repeated de-stack/re-stack is complaining about it!I love it!!!SpaceX is taking apart and reassembling their rockets more often than a kid with his first two stage Estes! I continue to marvel at the ease and simplicity of disassembly and assembly of this system, has there been any other rocket in the past that had this level of ease? Oh yeah, and it happens to be the largest rocket ever built.
Is this a new definition for MECO?
Quote from: oiorionsbelt on 11/03/2023 06:54 pmIs this a new definition for MECO? Well, it's an improvement on the "maybe engines cut off" from IFT-1
*snip*5. Largest number of engines on a launch vehicle.*snip*
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-2QuoteThe second flight test of a fully integrated Starship could launch as soon as mid-November, pending regulatory approval.A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 30 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.Starship’s first flight test provided numerous lessons learned that directly contributed to several upgrades to both the vehicle and ground infrastructure to improve the probability of success on future flights. The second flight test will debut a hot-stage separation system and a new electronic Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system for Super Heavy Raptor engines, in addition to reinforcements to the pad foundation and a water-cooled steel flame deflector, among many other enhancements.This rapid iterative development approach has been the basis for all of SpaceX’s major innovative advancements, including Falcon, Dragon, and Starlink. Recursive improvement is essential as we work to build a fully reusable transportation system capable of carrying both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, help humanity return to the Moon, and ultimately travel to Mars and beyond.QuoteHR/MIN/SEC EVENT02:00:00 SpaceX Flight Director conducts poll and verifies GO for propellant load01:37:00 Booster LOX (liquid oxygen) load underway01:37:00 Booster fuel load (liquid methane) underway01:17:00 Ship fuel load (liquid methane) underway01:13:00 Ship LOX load underway00:19:40 Raptor begins engine chill on booster and ship00:00:10 Flame deflector activation00:00:03 Raptor ignition sequence begins00:00:00 Excitement guaranteedQuoteHR/MIN/SEC EVENT00:00:02 Liftoff00:00:52 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)00:02:39 Booster MECO (most engines cut off)00:02:41 Hot-staging (Starship Raptor ignition and stage separation)00:02:53 Booster boostback burn startup00:03:47 Booster boostback burn shutdown00:06:18 Booster is transonic00:06:30 Booster landing burn startup00:06:48 Booster landing burn shutdown00:08:33 Starship engine cutoff01:17:21 Starship entry01:28:43 Starship is transonic01:30:00 An exciting landing!
The second flight test of a fully integrated Starship could launch as soon as mid-November, pending regulatory approval.A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 30 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.Starship’s first flight test provided numerous lessons learned that directly contributed to several upgrades to both the vehicle and ground infrastructure to improve the probability of success on future flights. The second flight test will debut a hot-stage separation system and a new electronic Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system for Super Heavy Raptor engines, in addition to reinforcements to the pad foundation and a water-cooled steel flame deflector, among many other enhancements.This rapid iterative development approach has been the basis for all of SpaceX’s major innovative advancements, including Falcon, Dragon, and Starlink. Recursive improvement is essential as we work to build a fully reusable transportation system capable of carrying both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, help humanity return to the Moon, and ultimately travel to Mars and beyond.
HR/MIN/SEC EVENT02:00:00 SpaceX Flight Director conducts poll and verifies GO for propellant load01:37:00 Booster LOX (liquid oxygen) load underway01:37:00 Booster fuel load (liquid methane) underway01:17:00 Ship fuel load (liquid methane) underway01:13:00 Ship LOX load underway00:19:40 Raptor begins engine chill on booster and ship00:00:10 Flame deflector activation00:00:03 Raptor ignition sequence begins00:00:00 Excitement guaranteed
HR/MIN/SEC EVENT00:00:02 Liftoff00:00:52 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)00:02:39 Booster MECO (most engines cut off)00:02:41 Hot-staging (Starship Raptor ignition and stage separation)00:02:53 Booster boostback burn startup00:03:47 Booster boostback burn shutdown00:06:18 Booster is transonic00:06:30 Booster landing burn startup00:06:48 Booster landing burn shutdown00:08:33 Starship engine cutoff01:17:21 Starship entry01:28:43 Starship is transonic01:30:00 An exciting landing!
PDF of online press kit.
The flip rotates in the wrong direction. It's cheapest to boost a little altitude on the burn back (sin/cos and parabola math)
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 11/03/2023 10:44 pmPDF of online press kit.The flip rotates in the wrong direction. It's cheapest to boost a little altitude on the burn back (sin/cos and parabola math)
Quote from: InterestedEngineer on 11/04/2023 12:34 amQuote from: Steven Pietrobon on 11/03/2023 10:44 pmPDF of online press kit.The flip rotates in the wrong direction. It's cheapest to boost a little altitude on the burn back (sin/cos and parabola math)If they were boosting back to the launch site, this would of course be correct.
For this flight their only goal should be for the booster to survive reentry and return some test data. In that case the optimum trajectory would actually burn slightly toward the ground, as shown. This has the effect of reducing the vertical component of reentry velocity.