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Of course it is 'a launch'. It just not a successful one. Its the most powerful rocket that ever launched. Period. There is really no discussion on this. Just

Of course it is 'a launch'. It just not a successful one. Its the most powerful rocket that ever launched. Period. There is really no discussion on this. Just like the N1 was the most powerful before (by thrust at least if I remember correctly) before. It also was not successful. Just getting to the point of launching a rocket like that, having 33 engines like that is a huge achievement.

maxerickson 3y ago
It seems perfectly reasonable to define "launch" of a rocket as payload to orbit, or perhaps following the intended trajectory. The applicable definition from whatever dictionary Google uses is "send (a missile, satellite, or spacecraft) on its course or into orbit." I guess they did send it on a course.
- signatoremo 3y ago
  There was no payload on the first Starship flight. > The applicable definition from whatever dictionary Google uses is "send (a missile, satellite, or spacecraft) on its course or into orbit." So dictionary is used now to decide if an operation a launch or not? Are you for real?
  - maxerickson 3y ago
    It was certainly an attempted launch. Attempting to launch the largest rocket in history is different than launching the largest rocket in history. Of course the dictionary doesn't decide anything, but they are often consulted when discussing the meanings of words. You could say they have gotten quite far in testing the largest rocket in history, but the end result of their most significant test to date was a loss of the vessel, it didn't launch into orbit.
  - panick21_ 3y ago
    In Starship case, the whole upper stage is the payload. As it was designed to be a second stage reentry test. They likely had some soft of test weight in the starship as well. > So dictionary is used now to decide if an operation a launch or not? Are you for real? I'm not sure what your hangup is, nobody said anything about operational. If you show 1 million people a video of the Starship launching, all those people would call it a launch. If it was operational or successful has nothing to do with anything.

maxerickson 3y ago

It seems perfectly reasonable to define "launch" of a rocket as payload to orbit, or perhaps following the intended trajectory. The applicable definition from whatever dictionary Google uses is "send (a missile, satellite, or spacecraft) on its course or into orbit." I guess they did send it on a course.

signatoremo 3y ago
There was no payload on the first Starship flight. > The applicable definition from whatever dictionary Google uses is "send (a missile, satellite, or spacecraft) on its course or into orbit." So dictionary is used now to decide if an operation a launch or not? Are you for real?
- maxerickson 3y ago
  It was certainly an attempted launch. Attempting to launch the largest rocket in history is different than launching the largest rocket in history. Of course the dictionary doesn't decide anything, but they are often consulted when discussing the meanings of words. You could say they have gotten quite far in testing the largest rocket in history, but the end result of their most significant test to date was a loss of the vessel, it didn't launch into orbit.
- panick21_ 3y ago
  In Starship case, the whole upper stage is the payload. As it was designed to be a second stage reentry test. They likely had some soft of test weight in the starship as well. > So dictionary is used now to decide if an operation a launch or not? Are you for real? I'm not sure what your hangup is, nobody said anything about operational. If you show 1 million people a video of the Starship launching, all those people would call it a launch. If it was operational or successful has nothing to do with anything.