Space x Starship 25 and Booster 9

[LeeKay/]

So, after 3 months to the day (First flight test of Starship 24 with booster 7 Remember this?)

 Yesterday, 20th July (One small Step) Space x at Boca Chica have lifted Booster 9 onto the pad:

Also, the water supression system that destoryed the first OLM (Orbital Launch Mount) was tested a few days ago, be it not at full pressure as it would have took out the scaffolding by the OLM. Starts fast:

The speed upon what happens out there is shocking. 24/7

[LeeKay/]

Live so you will miss it, booster 9 tank testing. Also tank farm going crazy.

Live stream

 

[LeeKay/]

Engine chilll just started. B9 Ice cold in the south mexican heat.

Edit it appears to be a Tank test for B9 And the audio is very loud as i edited this!! also addded image. Live link above.

Edited July 23, 2023 by LeeKay/
tank purge and added image

[LeeKay/]

23 hours ago, LeeKay/ said:

Engine chilll just started.

Quote

B9 Ice cold in the south mexican heat.

Quote

Edit -> thats the south Texas heat, not Mexico. Sorry my mistake.

Edit it appears to be a Tank test for B9 And the audio is very loud as i edited this!! also addded image. Live link above.

 

[LeeKay/]

Water Pressure Deluge Test.

Well, they did it - in time on Musk's Calucaltor. Hopefully the FAA will grant the licence to launch again. Static fire (i presume) still have to be completed together with many other things over the next few weeks as its penciled in for August*

Anyway enjoy loud (caution!) I think the camera is 1/4 of a mile away i could be wrong. But thats some power.

 

*Rocket launch manifest, Note Falcon heavy 2nd attempt early hours.

Rocket Launch Manifest

NEXTSPACEFLIGHT.COM

---

Next Spaceflight's rocket launch schedule keeps you up to date with rocket launches both past and present.

 

[LeeKay/]

4/08/23 Booster 9 completed its 'Spin prime test'

What's a Spin prime test?

A Spin prime test is a test is that the engine's turbopumps were brought up to speed but there was no ignition; A small amount of oxygen flows through the oxygen turbopumps in the raptor engines to validated plumbing and engine spin up.

The Spin up is at 2:27:52. I hope this vid will load to the exact point. Otherwise FF to 10:13am CDT.

Vid:

 

[LeeKay/]

On Sunday (6th August'23) Booster 9 fired up fo a static fire test.

Nice shot of the raptor's before ignition.

 

[LeeKay/]

So, its been a quiet few days, until now. 

Booster 9 has the Hot stage ring installed Brilliant photos i may say.

Also to note, NOTAM for a possible August 31st Launch

 

Currently midbay is going on demolition, or destoyed anytime now, its live on NSF Stream.

That is live here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJRzQsLZGg

 

[LeeKay/]

Booster 9 Imminant for a full static fire. Road now closed for 12 hours at Starbase (from 9am CDT)

((*New Update for Launch 8th September*))

Now, going off the live stream:

At 9amCDT: 09:00,30 Water on the OLM cleaning the pipework out for spin prime test.

Tank Farm is hissing like mad. Who knows what may happen in the next few hours, static fire very much on the cards, 33 raptors - this will be very loud.

Live stream here:

 

[LeeKay/]

NSF Now has a decicated commentry stream now for the static fire, im not listening but anyone intrested stream is live on the link:

 

[LeeKay/]

LOX tanks just started 'tanking'

Good stuff, ok i got reeeled into the B9 live stream..

 

Edited August 25, 2023 by LeeKay/
Syntax

[LeeKay/]

And yes it was loud, but apparently 2 of the 33 raptors did shut down.

Imagine going at 400mph and had to stop, like STOP right now in a instant, this is what the raptors did, at 40% power, at full power of liftoff going to be a hell of a show.

Anyway listen to the loudness its only on for a few seconds of test 2. Its the last we will see until 8th September.

 

 

[LeeKay/]

Starship 25 now has its livery, some last heatshield tiles being fitted (See images)

A week to go but the FAA still have to give a green light for launch, a week today.

If all goes well, that i hope it will - It will be a spectacular launch with the hotfire disconnect from booster 9 to starship 25 whist all boosters are running!

 

[lassie23]

hopefully, it doesn't go bang at launch

[LeeKay/]

16 hours ago, lassie23 said:

hopefully, it doesn't go bang at launch

Hope it wont, many lessons were learnt from the first launch.

Also the pad, now seems to be stabe from 2 static fire tests so, no projectiles going flying around so the OLM (Orbital Launch Mount) seems ok to go.

Wont be much longer before starship 25 gets mounted to booster 9.

Anyway live link here, its 06:15am and dark there, but the work goes on i would love to be a part of that team!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJRzQsLZGg

 

[LeeKay/]

Sorry for no updates.

Anyway, Starship 25 rolled out and had a long drive down the highway with a glitch, one of the SMPT (Self-Propelled Modular Transporter(s) Broke down, but as ever they got it back and running again:

 

Starship 25 got mounted to Booster 9, this sped up video shows this, also a waterspout and some nature from the test site at Boca Chica.

The timeline should resume at the pickup point from the chopsticks but if not its at 11mins 55 seconds in.

Then rollout of Starship 26 came out yesterday 7th Sept to the launch site.

So the FAA still have not gave the green light for launch, the NOTAMS have been cancelled (Window was 8th till 13th Sept'23)

It will launch, its just a ping pong game with the FAA and Space X.

[LeeKay/]

The FAA and Space X Are still playing ping pong by the looks of things, nothing going on bar ship 25 got dismounted from B9 the other day and Booster 10 got a Cryo test on Friday.

[LeeKay/]

It would apper that IFT 2 (Integrated Flight Test 2) Is now on the calendar for the 13th November 2023 at 13:00 GMT.  Worth keeping a eye on the launch manifest to see if any changes occour.

Image took from:

Rocket Launch Manifest

NEXTSPACEFLIGHT.COM

---

Next Spaceflight's rocket launch schedule keeps you up to date with rocket launches both past and present.

 

[LeeKay/]

Update:

Possible launch timeframe Friday 17th November 2023 at 13:00 GMT.

The FTS (Flight Termination System) detinators have been installed a couple of days ago, credit to starshipgazer.

And this is a classic, again credit to NSF forum, Good timing with the song too:

Anyway, thats enough of that. Currently Starship is fully stacked, weather a bit wet.

Live feed, in typing the huge crane is doing some activity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJRzQsLZGg

Have a plesant evening.

 

[weatherobsuk]

Space-X are targeting a new launch time this Saturday at 1pm (UK time) after some quick repair work was needed to be done and tested for today. 

 

[weatherobsuk]

A fairly successful test-launch for SuperHeavy+Starship despite the FTS being initiated due to slight trajectory deviations, as things went well and if the Pad isn't too operationally damaged it could be as early as January before the next test attempt.

[LeeKay/]

A good launch test, the hot stage ring worked!

Starship's staging from B9 was ace, thanks for the photo @toggerob

I was working out in the depths of Shropshire today, with no signal to update at all, a bit like yesterday!

Ive just had a playback off a few streams, the 33 Raptor engines worked well.

A comparison video of IFT 1 and IFT 2, note altitude and pad clear time etc.

 

[LeeKay/]

I wonder if this launch were Elon's viewing to making the Super heavy?

Anyway, the music was by Queen so need i say more

Very poor quality im sorry, but somtimes makes it better from ones point of view. Note turn down volume at 2mins 10!

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by LeeKay/
To state turn down volume at 2mins 10