SpaceX Starship moved to launchpad for 6th flight test
(2024/11/14)
- Reference: 1731609066
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/11/14/spacex_starship_flight_test/
- Source link:
SpaceX has transported its Starship spacecraft to the launchpad in preparation for a scheduled flight test on November 18.
Elon Musk's rocketeers [1]posted images on the billionaire's social media mouthpiece, X, showing the "Ship" portion of the stack headed to the launch tower. Clearly visible beneath the S31 numbering of the ship was what is likely a reference to that old engineering joke: a banana for scale.
We at The Register maintain our own [2]Standards Bureau , which is internationally recognized by absolutely nobody. While SpaceX has opted for the banana, which equates to around one linguine, we'd suggest popping an Osman – just over 13 bananas in size – on the side of the Ship to further highlight the scale of the hardware.
[3]
Oddly, SpaceX did not respond to our suggestion.
[4]
[5]
Before launch, Ship 31 will be stacked atop booster 13. Since SpaceX has already performed a static fire, launch preparations should consist of little more than checkouts, filling the tanks with fuel, and lighting the engines.
The sixth flight test of SpaceX's monster rocket will be very similar to the fifth, which featured a memorable catching of the Super Heavy Booster by the "chopstick" arms of the launch tower as it returned to the launch site. SpaceX hopes to repeat the catch while the Starship upper stage is sent to space, and then a controlled splashdown in a targeted area in the Indian Ocean.
[6]All bark, no bite? Musk's DOGE unlikely to have any real power
[7]SpaceX Dragon gives ISS a helping hand with altitude
[8]SpaceX plans next Starship flight just days from now
[9]NASA's Europa Clipper leaves for Jupiter's moon atop Falcon Heavy
There are, however, a few changes, although not enough to require a modification to the launch license. SpaceX wants to assess new secondary thermal protection materials on Starship and has also removed entire sections of heat shield tiles, which will increase the mass of the payload that can be carried by the spacecraft once it is operational. While there are no reusability plans this time, SpaceX will also have Starship descend at a higher angle of attack to gather data for future landing profiles and push the envelope on flap control.
The launch window has also been moved and will open for 30 minutes at 1600 CT (2200 UTC). The intention is that the Indian Ocean splashdown will be in daylight, making it easier to track and observe the descending upper stage.
[10]
Bigger changes are due from the seventh flight test, with upgrades including larger propellant tanks and a new generation of thermal protection tiles.
As for the banana imagery on the side of the upper stage, the heat of reentry is likely to leave it somewhat scorched. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1856424581948682324
[2] https://www.theregister.com/Design/page/reg-standards-converter.html
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZzaBEIV9VxBt4bCF0GqP3gAAAJM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZzaBEIV9VxBt4bCF0GqP3gAAAJM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZzaBEIV9VxBt4bCF0GqP3gAAAJM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/14/all_bark_no_bite_musks/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/11/spacex_dragon_iss_boost/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/07/spacex_plans_next_starship_flight/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/14/spacexs_falcon_heavy_launches_nasas/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZzaBEIV9VxBt4bCF0GqP3gAAAJM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Elon Musk's rocketeers [1]posted images on the billionaire's social media mouthpiece, X, showing the "Ship" portion of the stack headed to the launch tower. Clearly visible beneath the S31 numbering of the ship was what is likely a reference to that old engineering joke: a banana for scale.
We at The Register maintain our own [2]Standards Bureau , which is internationally recognized by absolutely nobody. While SpaceX has opted for the banana, which equates to around one linguine, we'd suggest popping an Osman – just over 13 bananas in size – on the side of the Ship to further highlight the scale of the hardware.
[3]
Oddly, SpaceX did not respond to our suggestion.
[4]
[5]
Before launch, Ship 31 will be stacked atop booster 13. Since SpaceX has already performed a static fire, launch preparations should consist of little more than checkouts, filling the tanks with fuel, and lighting the engines.
The sixth flight test of SpaceX's monster rocket will be very similar to the fifth, which featured a memorable catching of the Super Heavy Booster by the "chopstick" arms of the launch tower as it returned to the launch site. SpaceX hopes to repeat the catch while the Starship upper stage is sent to space, and then a controlled splashdown in a targeted area in the Indian Ocean.
[6]All bark, no bite? Musk's DOGE unlikely to have any real power
[7]SpaceX Dragon gives ISS a helping hand with altitude
[8]SpaceX plans next Starship flight just days from now
[9]NASA's Europa Clipper leaves for Jupiter's moon atop Falcon Heavy
There are, however, a few changes, although not enough to require a modification to the launch license. SpaceX wants to assess new secondary thermal protection materials on Starship and has also removed entire sections of heat shield tiles, which will increase the mass of the payload that can be carried by the spacecraft once it is operational. While there are no reusability plans this time, SpaceX will also have Starship descend at a higher angle of attack to gather data for future landing profiles and push the envelope on flap control.
The launch window has also been moved and will open for 30 minutes at 1600 CT (2200 UTC). The intention is that the Indian Ocean splashdown will be in daylight, making it easier to track and observe the descending upper stage.
[10]
Bigger changes are due from the seventh flight test, with upgrades including larger propellant tanks and a new generation of thermal protection tiles.
As for the banana imagery on the side of the upper stage, the heat of reentry is likely to leave it somewhat scorched. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1856424581948682324
[2] https://www.theregister.com/Design/page/reg-standards-converter.html
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZzaBEIV9VxBt4bCF0GqP3gAAAJM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZzaBEIV9VxBt4bCF0GqP3gAAAJM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZzaBEIV9VxBt4bCF0GqP3gAAAJM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/14/all_bark_no_bite_musks/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/11/spacex_dragon_iss_boost/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/07/spacex_plans_next_starship_flight/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/14/spacexs_falcon_heavy_launches_nasas/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZzaBEIV9VxBt4bCF0GqP3gAAAJM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Tiles b gone
John Robson
Oh woe is me - a test article which hasn't aimed for orbit hasn't ended up there accidentally - they've had the energy - but deliberately not gone there.
They might not be taking a particularly efficient ascent profile (I wouldn't), they certainly aren't the final design.
Re: Tiles b gone
Killing Time
I think its pretty clear these flights are still a test programme, albeit with huge strides being made on each flight so far, ( it's really not that long ago that they destroyed the launch pad!). If you are not currently carrying payload why would you load unnecessary fuel? You would load as per the intended flight profile.
Regarding the payload estimates, I am sure these come from an extremely capable engineering team, its just that Musk chooses to personally articulate it to the public, I suppose he feels he can as majority Space X shareholder and top gobshite, not many in the organisation are likely to strenuously object.
"Banana for scale"...
Sorry that handle is already taken.
...is a meme that originated in the early 21st century and has nothing to do with engineering.
Repeating old internet memes is right up Musk's alley.
Tiles b gone
Removing heat tiles will lower the mass which can be add to payload capability, yet, Starship/Booster V1 is still woefully below spec. Elon estimates that it can ferry 30-50t so cut that by at least half for true figures and likely still be short. Thus far, Starship hasn't been sent into orbit and has had zero payload but the tanks still show as being nearly dry.