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Starship IFT-5 Launch Thread! (First booster catch with chopsticks) (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

36 comments fedilink

Well folks, it's time for the first booster RTLS and chopsticks catch attempt!

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-10-13 12:25 | |

|

Webcasts

| Stream | Link | |

|

Stats

Sourced from NextSpaceflight and r/SpaceX:

☑️ 3rd Starship Full Stack launch this year

☑️ 5th Starship Full Stack launch overall

☑️ 98th SpaceX launch this year

☑️ 409th SpaceX launch overall (including Starship hops)

☑️ 3rd launch from Pad A this year

☑️ 128 days, 23:10:00 turnaround for this pad

Mission Details 🚀

SpaceX website (current): Starship's Fifth Flight Test

Link to Starship Dev thread

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Starship Development Thread October 2024 (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

20 comments fedilink

SpaceX Starship page

Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.

FAQ

When next launch? (IFT-5) Booster catch is now NET October 13th, per SpaceX: Tweet, website, archive
When previous launch? (IFT-4)? Booster 11 and Ship 29 launched on 2024-06-06.
What was the result? Both booster and ship make it to landing burn and splashdown. Ship flaps took a beating on reentry, but remained in control of the vehicle.

Quick Links

Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)

Road closures

Cameron County website - @bocaroad Mastodon bot

*As of 2024-10-18

2-hour road delays posted for Oct 2nd and 3rd between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from factory to Massey's.
Road closures for “non-flight testing” are posted for Oct 7th (10:00 to 22:00), and for Oct 8th and 9th (08:00 to 20:00).
1-hour road delays are posted for Oct 6th and 7th between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Brownsville Port to Massey’s.
Oct 7th road closure (10:00 to 22:00) is scheduled.
Road closures for “flight testing” are posted for Oct 13th, 14th, and 15th, from 00:00 to 14:00. (And in the alternative, Sep 24th or 25th, likely erroneous)
Oct 13th 00:00 to 14:00 road closure is scheduled.
Road closure is amended to include the period from Oct 13th 14:00 to Oct 14th 14:00. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
2-hour road delays are posted for Oct 15th (12:00 to 15:00) and 16th (00:00 and 03:00) for transport from pad to factory.
Pad A: Booster transport stand finally arrives at the pad after an apparent delay the previous day. (ViX, NSF, Fediverse Starbase Tracker)
1-hour road delays are posted for Oct 21st (12:00 to 15:00) and 22nd (00:00 and 03:00) for transport from factory to pad. These are currently crossed out on the main page, so it possible that these have been cancelled.

Vehicle Status

*As of 2024-10-15

Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

Ship	Location	Status	Comment
S20	Rocket Garden	Pending scrapping?
S26	Rocket Garden	Pending scrapping?	Static fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, multiple mysterious changes. Completed 3 cryo tests, latest on Oct 10. Rolls to Massey's May 8th, cryo test May 24th, static fired Jun 3rd, rolls to rocket garden Jun 12th. Moves to Megabay 2 Aug 13th, raptors removed Aug 14th.
S30	Indian Ocean	Successful splashdown	2x cryo: Jan 3rd and Jan 5th. Engines installed ~Apr 9th. Static fired May 8th. Heatshield replacement completed by Jul 20. Static fired Jul 26th. Raptor replacement Aug 3rd. Spin prime Aug 6th. Full stack cryo tests Sep 23rd and Oct 7th. FTS installed Oct 9th. Launched Oct 13th, with on-target splashdown in Indian Ocean.
S31	Highbay	Resting	Cryo tested May 12th, suffers small electrical fire. Underwent repairs in the Highbay, rolls back to Massey's Jul 1. Cryo tested Jul 2nd and 3rd. Engines installed by Jul 26th. Rolls to Massey's Sep 6th. Partial (aborted) cryo test Sep 8th. Static fired Sep 18th.
S32	Rocket Garden	On the move	Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps
S33	Megabay 2	Pending flaps install	First V2 Starship. Nosecone spotted Jul 14th. Forward section spotted Jul 27th. Stacking completed Aug 23.
S34	Starfactory	Stacking	Methane header tank spotted Aug 14th. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Sep 20th.
S35	Starfactory	Parts spotted	Parts spotted Sep 20th.

Booster	Location	Status	Comment
B12	Megabay 1	Post-flight inspection	Cryo x2, Static fire Jul 15th. Full stack cryo tests Sep 23rd and Oct 7th. FTS installed Oct 9th. Launched Oct 13, returned to launch site for successful chopstick catch. Moved to Megabay 1 Oct 15th.
B13	Megabay 1	Resting	Cryo tests Apr 26th (methane tank) and Apr 29th (LOX tank)
B14	Megabay 1	Cryo testing	Stacked Apr 26th, Cryo tested Oct 4th and 5th.
B14.1	Sanchez	Resting	Multiple catch simulation "slap tests" performed on Jun 26th and 27th.
B15	Build Site	Assembly	Potential aft end, common dome section, aft tank section, and forward dome spotted.
B16	Build Site	Assembly	Parts spotted
B17	Build Site	Assembly	Parts spotted

Resources

LabPadre Channel | NASASpaceFlight.com Channel
NSF: Booster 7 + Ship X (likely 24) Updates Thread | Most Recent
NSF: Boca Chica Production Updates Thread | Most recent
NSF: Elon Starship tweet compilation | Most Recent
SpaceX: Website Starship page | Starship Users Guide (2020, PDF)
FAA: SpaceX Starship Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions NOTAM list
FCC: Starship Orbital Demo detailed Exhibit - 0748-EX-ST-2021 application June 20 through December 20
NASA: Starship Reentry Observation (Technical Report)
Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)
Production Progress Infographics by @RingWatchers
Raptor 2 Tracker by @SpaceRhin0
Acronym definitions by Decronym
Everyday Astronaut: Starbase Tour with Elon Musk, Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Everyday Astronaut: 2022 Elon Musk Interviews, Starbase/Ship Updates | Launch Tower | Merlin Engine | Raptor Engine
Everyday Astronaut 2024 Elon Musk Interviews: Starfactory tour | Pad tour and post-IFT-4 interview

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5

[rykllan] Manifest of SpaceX Falcon Heavy missions 2024-10-19 (pbs.twimg.com)

submitted 2 hours ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

1 comments fedilink

Source

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SpaceX launches 20 spare satellites for rival OneWeb LEO constellation (spacenews.com)

submitted 2 hours ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

0 comments fedilink

5

20

After seeing hundreds of launches, SpaceX’s rocket catch was a new thrill (arstechnica.com)

submitted 7 hours ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

0 comments fedilink

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15

Latest Starship flight prompts praise and worries at IAC (spacenews.com)

submitted 2 days ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

0 comments fedilink

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9

OneWeb #20 Launch Thread (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

9 comments fedilink

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-10-20, 05:13 | |

|

Webcasts

| Stream | Link | |

|

Stats

Sourced from NextSpaceflight and r/SpaceX:

☑️ 31st consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch (if successful)

☑️ 34th launch from SLC-4E this year

☑️ 4 days, 20:52:00 turnaround for this pad

☑️ 21st landing on LZ-4

☑️ 358th Falcon family booster landing, 368th Falcon recovery attempt

☑️ 98th Falcon 9 mission this year, 384th Falcon 9 mission overall

☑️ 100th SpaceX mission of 2024, 400th mission overall (excluding Starship flights)

☑️ 103rd SpaceX launch this year, 414th SpaceX launch overall (including Starship flights)

Mission info

The 20th flight dedicated to the OneWeb high-speed Internet constellation. The initial constellation consists of 648 satellites. Later, the constellation could be expanded to more than 900 satellites depending on demand. OneWeb is expected to begin customer demonstrations in 2022, then provide a global, 24-hour service in 2022/2023.

Each satellite in the constellation weighs 147.7 kg. They are powered by Russian ion engines, manufactured by OKB-Fakel, and have two solar panels for their power supply. The first generation of satellites, operating on a quasi-polar orbit (1 200 km x 86.4°), cannot perform inter-satellite communication, and can only be used near a ground relay station.

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SpaceX prevails over ULA, wins military launch contracts worth $733 million (arstechnica.com)

submitted 3 days ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

1 comments fedilink

9

6

Starlink 8-19 launch bulletin (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

6 comments fedilink

Starlink Group 8-19 launch out of SLC-40 in Florida currently scheduled for 2024-10-17 23:31 UTC, or 2024-10-17 19:31 local time (EDT). Booster 1076-17 to land on Just Read the Instructions.

Webcasts:

Space Affairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1jKKUMKs4Q
Spaceflight Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d_NFAbHGhA
NASASpaceflight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRveNsk03t4
The Launch Pad: none
SpaceX: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1847418964592165349
The Space Devs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHkd_a56RnA

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[rykllan] 2024-10-17 Falcon flightworthy boosters overview (x.com)

submitted 4 days ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

0 comments fedilink

Infographic source: rykllan

Minor correction: B1061 was intentionally expended on its 23rd flight for the Hera mission, and thus is no longer flightworthy.

https://x.com/_rykllan/status/1846901037757583421

B1067 in first place at 22 flights. (B1061 and B1062 each reached 23 but failed recovery or were intentionally expended)
B1063 in second place with 20 flights.
B1071 in third place at 19 flights.
B1069 in fourth place at 18 flights.
B1073 in fifth place at 17 flights.

https://x.com/_rykllan/status/1846901041981170139

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SpaceX catches returning rocket in mid-air, turning a fanciful idea into reality (arstechnica.com)

submitted 6 days ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

0 comments fedilink

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19

SpaceX notches 100th launch of 2024 with Starlink mission on Falcon 9 rocket (spaceflightnow.com)

submitted 6 days ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

0 comments fedilink

13

19

SpaceX launches $5.2 billion NASA mission to Jupiter’s ocean moon, Europa (spaceflightnow.com)

submitted 6 days ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

0 comments fedilink

14

8

Starlink 9-7 launch bulletin (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

11 comments fedilink

Starlink Group 9-7 launch out of SLC-4E in California currently scheduled for 2024-10-15 08:21 UTC, or 2024-10-15 01:21 local time (PDT). B1071-19 to land on Of Course I Still Love You.

Webcasts:

Space Affairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu8J-ee8HNA
Spaceflight Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpBv4YHFPXM
NASASpaceflight:
The Launch Pad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0x1EXkwIKs
SpaceX:
The Space Devs:

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9

Starlink 10-10 launch bulletin (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

10 comments fedilink

Starlink Group 10-10 launch out of SLC-40 in Florida currently scheduled for 2024-10-15 06:10 UTC, or 2024-10-15 02:10 local time (EDT). Booster 1080-11 to land on A Shortfall of Gravitas.

Webcasts:

Space Affairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqzUHHt1iXQ
Spaceflight Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O6jFNc9suE
NASASpaceflight:
The Launch Pad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YnzvCqPwcU
SpaceX: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1846069635617378645
The Space Devs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt7ke-9F0mk

16

Europa Clipper Launch Thread [Falcon Heavy] (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

20 comments fedilink

Well folks, it's finally time to launch Europa Clipper!

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-10-14 16:06 | |

|

Side boosters previously supported the following missions: USSF-44, USSF-67, Jupiter 3, Psyche, USSF-52.

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |

|

Stats

Sourced from NextSpaceflight and r/SpaceX:

☑️ 2nd Falcon Heavy launch this year, 11th overall

☑️ 18th launch from LC-39A this year

☑️ 34 days, 6:42:11 turnaround for this pad

☑️ 96th SpaceX launch this year, 396th overall (excluding Starship tests)

☑️ 99th SpaceX launch this year, 411th overall (including Starship tests)

☑️ 27th consecutive successful Falcon 9 / Heavy launch (if successful)

Payload info: Europa Clipper

NextSpaceflight:

Europa Clipper will conduct a detailed survey of Europa and use a sophisticated suite of science instruments to investigate whether the icy moon has conditions suitable for life. Key mission objectives are to produce high-resolution images of Europa's surface, determine its composition, look for signs of recent or ongoing geological activity, measure the thickness of the moon’s icy shell, search for subsurface lakes, and determine the depth and salinity of Europa's ocean.

Resources and articles:

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team.

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The booster catch was insane! (video.twimg.com)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

59 comments fedilink

Tweet link: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1845442658397049011

Download link: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1845442585206325256/vid/avc1/640x360/6I7DJjMFjh1YpTfT.mp4?tag=16 https://twittervideodownloader.com/download

https://i.imgur.com/IShVL0y.gifv

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Superheavy Landing Burn And Catch - LabPadre Rover 2 (youtube.com)

submitted 1 week ago by Ghyste@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

2 comments fedilink

Here's a clip of B12's landing burn and catch by the chopsticks from LabPadre's Rover 2 stream.

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90

SpaceX launches fifth Starship, catches Super Heavy booster (spacenews.com)

submitted 1 week ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

17 comments fedilink

SpaceX launched its fifth Starship vehicle Oct. 13, successfully making an unprecedented “catch” of its Super Heavy booster back at the launch site.

The Starship/Super Heavy vehicle lifted off from the company’s Starbase site at Boca Chica, Texas, at 8:25 a.m. Eastern on a mission called Flight 5 by SpaceX.

The main upgrade for this test was an attempt by SpaceX to recover the Super Heavy booster by having it come back to the launch site, where it would be cradled by two mechanical arms, sometimes called “chopsticks,” attached to the launch tower it lifted off from. That required the booster to perform precise boostback and landing burns to guide the stage back to the launch pad.

The Super Heavy booster, known as Booster 12, achieved that feat. The booster descended over the pad and the two arms closed around the top of the booster, just below the grid fins, about seven minutes after liftoff, achieving the desired catch of the booster.

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Flight 5, Super Heavy's Return Home: The Complete History of S30 & B12 (ringwatchers.com)

submitted 1 week ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

0 comments fedilink

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Starship Flight 5 The Catch (www.nasaspaceflight.com)

submitted 1 week ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

0 comments fedilink

22

12

FAA allows Falcon 9 launches to resume (spacenews.com)

submitted 1 week ago by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

2 comments fedilink

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Dragon receives long-planned propulsive landing upgrade after years of development - NASASpaceFlight.com (www.nasaspaceflight.com)

submitted 1 week ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

5 comments fedilink

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Starlink activates emergency phone connectivity for Hurricane Milton (spacenews.com)

submitted 1 week ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

8 comments fedilink

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NASA “really looking forward” to next Starship test flight (spacenews.com)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by llamacoffee@lemmy.world to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

2 comments fedilink

Speaking at an Oct. 9 meeting of the National Academies’ Committee on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space, Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX vice president for build and flight reliability, expressed optimism that the booster could make it back for a catch by the launch tower. “We landed with half a centimeter accuracy in the ocean” on the previous flight, he said, “so we think we have a reasonable chance to go back to the tower.”