5 ms·

SpaceX received FAA approval for Starship flight 4

67 points by hendi_ 2y ago

gary_0 2y ago
Flight 4 will be similar to IFT-3 and is scheduled for June 6th: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship_flight_tests#Upcoming_flights https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship_flight_tests#U...
bpodgursky 2y ago
> An FAA Safety Inspector must be present at SpaceX’s Boca Chica Launch Complex for flight operations. Galling to think the FAA Safety Inspector gets paid to sit in a box seat. Probably a $500k market price to be in the room during the fun.
- nonameiguess 2y ago
  Seriously, dude? Are you mad that sports referees effectively get free field-level seats?
  - bpodgursky 2y ago
    People here are taking my comment a bit too seriously. I'm not mad, it's fine. I do think it's a fun assignment with a lot of perks and minimal responsibility in the heat of the moment. They aren't going to micromanage SpaceX into an abort, they don't have enough immediate context to do that. They're there for a vibe-check and the afterparty. The real work is in the retro if the rocket explodes.
    - danpalmer 2y ago
      I think you're missing the point of why they are there. To continue the above sports reference – you could say the referee has nothing on the line as they can't win or lose the game, and they just get to sit there and enjoy the show, and enjoy the afterparty. This is obviously incorrect. If something goes wrong, the FAA rep will be there to ensure the correct procedures are followed, to assess whether the SpaceX team met their licence obligations in how they handle mishaps, and to provide oversight in general. On the happy path, sure, they might not be doing a lot more than a "vibe check", but on the unhappy path they may be the difference between SpaceX getting a launch licence for Starship again in months or years.
      - bpodgursky 2y ago
        > the correct procedures are followed, to assess whether the SpaceX team met their licence obligations in how they handle mishaps, and to provide oversight in general The FAA rep is not going to do any of those things during launch proceedings. The umpire makes calls on the spot. This rep is just watching. They'll do all assessment during post-launch retros.
        danpalmer 2y ago
        > They'll do all assessment during post-launch retros. ...based on their detailed observations of what happened in the room.
    - computerdork 2y ago
      agree, can tell you meant the price of the seats are super high because it is such a big deal (while contrasted with the guy who's getting paid to watch).
ortusdux 2y ago
It will be interesting to see if all the thermal tiles will survive launch this time. They are targeting a successful reentry, but it sounds like their current design cannot tolerate the loss of more than a few tiles. https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1796049014938357932 https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1796049014938357932
- consumer451 2y ago
  I think about Starship way too much. My hot question is: how many Starship Tankers will SpaceX need to build to refuel the HLS for Artemis III? a) No reuse, so no weight from tiles and fuel for landing, so 10 to 12 Tanker stages. b) Some reuse, but turnaround takes weeks, so 6 to 8 Tanker stages. c) Full rapid reuse, so 2 to 3 Tanker stages. At this point, I am sad to say that a) seems like a possibility to me. The next question is how many booster stages? Will rapid reuse for boosters be ready by Artemis III, chopsticks and all? I think this might be possible by then. Artemis III is currently scheduled for no earlier than September 2026. There are factors other than Starship which may push it back, such as the Orion heat shield mini-debacle Does anyone else want to play the guessing game?
  - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
    > that a) seems like a possibility to me Then there’s no Starship. Back to the drawing board. I’m doubtful we get to c before 2030. But b should count as a win, particularly since—in the spirit of Artemis—that’s kit that keeps on giving.
  - imtringued 2y ago
    Why would you care about the tankers? The engine costs around 2 million dollars rounded up, that means the upper stage won't cost significantly more than $20 million. The only thing they have to reuse is the booster. That alone will get them the Artemis 6 contract. Once you have reused the booster, you can do as many reentry tests as you like, even if it is just for fun. For every saved booster, you can do three reentry test flights and still break even.
- Manabu-eo 2y ago
_joel 2y ago
wen hop?
- consumer451 2y ago
  I miss those innocent good ole days.
- mtreis86 2y ago
  Scheduled for the 6th
- p1mrx 2y ago
  https://x.com/spacex/status/1798099582473429352 https://x.com/spacex/status/1798099582473429352 June 6, 7-9am CT (12:00-14:00 UTC)
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

67 points by hendi_ 2y ago

Flight 4 will be similar to IFT-3 and is scheduled for June 6th: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship_flight_tests#Upcoming_flights https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship_flight_tests#U...

bpodgursky 2y ago

> An FAA Safety Inspector must be present at SpaceX’s Boca Chica Launch Complex for flight operations. Galling to think the FAA Safety Inspector gets paid to sit in a box seat. Probably a $500k market price to be in the room during the fun.

nonameiguess 2y ago
Seriously, dude? Are you mad that sports referees effectively get free field-level seats?
- bpodgursky 2y ago
  People here are taking my comment a bit too seriously. I'm not mad, it's fine. I do think it's a fun assignment with a lot of perks and minimal responsibility in the heat of the moment. They aren't going to micromanage SpaceX into an abort, they don't have enough immediate context to do that. They're there for a vibe-check and the afterparty. The real work is in the retro if the rocket explodes.
  - danpalmer 2y ago
    I think you're missing the point of why they are there. To continue the above sports reference – you could say the referee has nothing on the line as they can't win or lose the game, and they just get to sit there and enjoy the show, and enjoy the afterparty. This is obviously incorrect. If something goes wrong, the FAA rep will be there to ensure the correct procedures are followed, to assess whether the SpaceX team met their licence obligations in how they handle mishaps, and to provide oversight in general. On the happy path, sure, they might not be doing a lot more than a "vibe check", but on the unhappy path they may be the difference between SpaceX getting a launch licence for Starship again in months or years.
    - bpodgursky 2y ago
      > the correct procedures are followed, to assess whether the SpaceX team met their licence obligations in how they handle mishaps, and to provide oversight in general The FAA rep is not going to do any of those things during launch proceedings. The umpire makes calls on the spot. This rep is just watching. They'll do all assessment during post-launch retros.
      - danpalmer 2y ago
        > They'll do all assessment during post-launch retros. ...based on their detailed observations of what happened in the room.
  - computerdork 2y ago
    agree, can tell you meant the price of the seats are super high because it is such a big deal (while contrasted with the guy who's getting paid to watch).

ortusdux 2y ago

It will be interesting to see if all the thermal tiles will survive launch this time. They are targeting a successful reentry, but it sounds like their current design cannot tolerate the loss of more than a few tiles. https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1796049014938357932 https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1796049014938357932

consumer451 2y ago
I think about Starship way too much. My hot question is: how many Starship Tankers will SpaceX need to build to refuel the HLS for Artemis III? a) No reuse, so no weight from tiles and fuel for landing, so 10 to 12 Tanker stages. b) Some reuse, but turnaround takes weeks, so 6 to 8 Tanker stages. c) Full rapid reuse, so 2 to 3 Tanker stages. At this point, I am sad to say that a) seems like a possibility to me. The next question is how many booster stages? Will rapid reuse for boosters be ready by Artemis III, chopsticks and all? I think this might be possible by then. Artemis III is currently scheduled for no earlier than September 2026. There are factors other than Starship which may push it back, such as the Orion heat shield mini-debacle Does anyone else want to play the guessing game?
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago
  > that a) seems like a possibility to me Then there’s no Starship. Back to the drawing board. I’m doubtful we get to c before 2030. But b should count as a win, particularly since—in the spirit of Artemis—that’s kit that keeps on giving.
- imtringued 2y ago
  Why would you care about the tankers? The engine costs around 2 million dollars rounded up, that means the upper stage won't cost significantly more than $20 million. The only thing they have to reuse is the booster. That alone will get them the Artemis 6 contract. Once you have reused the booster, you can do as many reentry tests as you like, even if it is just for fun. For every saved booster, you can do three reentry test flights and still break even.
Manabu-eo 2y ago

_joel 2y ago

wen hop?

consumer451 2y ago
I miss those innocent good ole days.
mtreis86 2y ago
Scheduled for the 6th
p1mrx 2y ago
https://x.com/spacex/status/1798099582473429352 https://x.com/spacex/status/1798099582473429352 June 6, 7-9am CT (12:00-14:00 UTC)

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]