Official Space Thread

You should! And post them in our Lego thread too!

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SpaceX is targeting as soon as Thursday, April 20 for the first flight test of a fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy rocket from Starbase in Texas. The 62 minute launch window opens at 8:28 a.m. CT and closes at 9:30 a.m. CT.

I think that translates into a launch window between 15:30-16:30 here.

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NASASpaceflight (live)


Everyday Astronaut (live)


Official SpaceX Channel (from 14:45)


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lets go!
Also that launch window is smack in the middle of when we are going for drinks at work. guess Iā€™m going to be anti social for a bit lol.

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How was it @Ani? You know the rules - Pics or it didnā€™t happen!!

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Holding. Up to 15 minutes possible launch hold. Waiting for confirmation.

ETA: Go for launch!!

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Super Heavy - Starship separation failure. Vehicle control lost. Ship destroyed and test flight terminated at T+00:04:00 at 29 km.

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It was amazing! Totality was incredible. I have a bunch of pics but not much internet access so hereā€™s one to tide you all over for now :waxing_crescent_moon::rocket::sunglasses::grin:

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ayyyyy! it was beautiful. man that glow on those raptors, epic!
Pity about the spin, but like they said, clearing the tower was the goal, the fact that it even got through max Q is probably the cherry on the cake for them. Literally the first time they fly a booster and to top it it was a fully integrated one.

Some damage to the pad, in the sense that there is a giant crater where a concrete floor once was, perhaps that damaged the engines, some bent tanks at the fuel farm, but Iā€™m sure itā€™ll buff out.
One great thing to note is that the stack that flew has already been improved on in Booster 9 and Ship 26 :smiley:
Now the waitā€¦

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This wouldnā€™t surprise me. Saw a clip someone posted of the concrete shards raining down near the pad - scary stuff! At least 5 of the engines failed, according the graphic on the bottom left of the screen.

Next test when?!

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that is the big question lol. Upside, they have hardware ready to go, but they will have to go through the full test campaign. I think both booster and ship have completed Cryo tests, so next up would be static fires maybe? but yeah, first up is repairing some damage at the pad.
They also have a deluge system ready to be installed so Iā€™m sure thatā€™s also up next. apparently there is Flame Diverter hardware as wellā€¦ weā€™ll see what happens with that.

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Launch pad is FUBAR, needs a hefty rebuild.

I though most of the stuff being kicked up was the from the ground next to the pad, nope it was raining chunks of launch pad.
I donā€™t think water will solve this, they might eventually need a water deluge system + flame trench.

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The launch and complete flight:

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image

Think their car insurance cover has a ā€œwrecked by wreckage from a wrecked rocket ship launch padā€ provision?

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Wow, I love this thread! Space is such an interesting and awe-inspiring topic, and itā€™s great to see so many people discussing it. From the latest news on Mars exploration to the mysteries of the universe, this thread has it all. Canā€™t wait to learn more and see what the future holds for space exploration! :rocket::ringer_planet::milky_way:

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Some amazing footage in this supercut of the Starship Test Flight:

The 8K Tracking footage from 7:30 is especially good.

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thatā€™s just flippen amazing! Love the clear flames and wow, even the damn shrouding came off around the engines.

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Hey GoPro, help a fellow out :grin:

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