SpaceX Starship launches: live updates

[Admin]

Read the latest news about SpaceX's Starship megarocket test flights, launches, photos and more.

SpaceX Starship launches: live updates : Read more

 

[Jamoccasin]

Catch attempt will be wild to say the least. I really hope it will be a success!!

 

[Homer10]

This catch mechanism while complex and impressive, I think is too complex. They should redesign the Starship to be salt water proof. Then land these things in the water. Should something catastrophic happen, the explosion will be way out at sea. No one hurt. Safer, and less complex. You can't miss, ocean is everywhere. Then fish the booster and starchip out of the water, carefully clean and wash, and prep for the next flight. Far lower cost. No need for a landing tower. Also try to launch the rocket from the ocean too. No stage 0 needed either.

 

[whitedoggie]

I really wish Elon Musk would quit the entitled whining about the FAA and regulations. His enterprise is no more privileged than any other aeronautic company. He seems to forget he has contracts with the federal government and he needs a bit more humility.

 

[DBE]

Homer, great idea. But, isn’t the point to land on Moon and Mars? Got to have an efficient and repeatable landing system that meets the requirement.
Easy solution only returns to Earth.

“We choose to go to the moon… and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are haaard.”

 

[Philly]

This catch mechanism while complex and impressive, I think is too complex. They should redesign the Starship to be salt water proof. Then land these things in the water. Should something catastrophic happen, the explosion will be way out at sea. No one hurt. Safer, and less complex. You can't miss, ocean is everywhere. Then fish the booster and starchip out of the water, carefully clean and wash, and prep for the next flight. Far lower cost. No need for a landing tower. Also try to launch the rocket from the ocean too. No stage 0 needed either.

Dust off your resume, and send it to Elon right away. I am sure he will want to talk to you right away about your great ideaers. I would hold out for at least a salary of $300,000+.

 

[Philly]

I really wish Elon Musk would quit the entitled whining about the FAA and regulations. His enterprise is no more privileged than any other aeronautic company. He seems to forget he has contracts with the federal government and he needs a bit more humility.

There are more and more things I am disliking Elon for recently. If I was a Tesla shareholder I would be really upset at him. He has gone out of his way to PO a majority of his potential marketable Tesla buyers, not very smart. His complaints with the FAA are actually one of the things he has a valid complaint about.

Water? Really they are complaining and delaying the launches over water? Have they ever heard of rain? Also the staging ring dropping into the ocean? It is a SS ring. We have had rockets fall into the ocean for decades. I mean, this is beyond silly.

I mean, wait until the Super Heavy crashes when they try to catch it. Then, hold up the licensing for a launch, they will have a valid reason then. Yes, it is most likely to crash on it's 1st few landing attempts. It will be epic and it part of learning how to catch it.

 

[danR]

... I think is too complex. They should redesign the Starship to be salt water proof.

Making everything saltwater-proof would be a complex 5-year project right there.

 

[danR]

Dust off your resume, and send it to Elon right away. I am sure he will want to talk to you right away about your great ideaers. I would hold out for at least a salary of $300,000+.

I like this part:
"...carefully clean and wash.."

And stick it in the dryer at "Delicates" setting. Or just hang it out on the line to dry.

 

[DanIAm]

Have we heard any explanation from the FAA about why November (at the earliest) just suddenly got shifted to now?

 

[Unclear Engineer]

Well, they caught the booster on the first attempt. I did not see anything that the FAA could call a "mishap", so maybe we can get back to a launch schedule that is controlled by SpaceX.

But, clearly, there is still work to do on the reentry phase of the StarShip stage, before it will be ready for a "catch" back at Boca Chica or the Kennedy Spaceflight Center. It will be interesting see how fast SpaceX is able to make progress on that.

 

[msunderl]

This catch mechanism while complex and impressive, I think is too complex. They should redesign the Starship to be salt water proof. Then land these things in the water. Should something catastrophic happen, the explosion will be way out at sea. No one hurt. Safer, and less complex. You can't miss, ocean is everywhere. Then fish the booster and starchip out of the water, carefully clean and wash, and prep for the next flight. Far lower cost. No need for a landing tower. Also try to launch the rocket from the ocean too. No stage 0 needed either.

Rapid reuse! Landing in the water doesn't fit that goal at all.

 

[msunderl]

Well, they caught the booster on the first attempt. I did not see anything that the FAA could call a "mishap", so maybe we can get back to a launch schedule that is controlled by SpaceX.

But, clearly, there is still work to do on the reentry phase of the StarShip stage, before it will be ready for a "catch" back at Boca Chica or the Kennedy Spaceflight Center. It will be interesting see how fast SpaceX is able to make progress on that.

The plan, if IFT8 is successful, is to catch the ship on IFT9.