It's Official. Thursday Morning is Show Time!

This afternoon, SpaceX was granted their launch license by the FAA.  The 110-minute test window opens at 7:00 a.m. CT, 8:00 AM ET, 5:00 AM Pacific.  The only questionable aspect as of about 5PM EDT is weather.  The Weather Underground forecast is calling for high amounts of cloud cover, in the 70 to 90% range, but more problematic is potential for wind shear.  Unlike launches from the Cape, we apparently don't have a site that tells us the chances of acceptable weather.

SpaceX says:

A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 30 minutes before liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to stay tuned to our X account for updates.

You have your choice of lots of ways to watch it.

• NASA Spaceflight is starting their coverage at 11PM Central time. I find it hard to imagine what they have to say about the mission in that much time. I suppose the other way of thinking about that is they could talk about pretty much everything in the world in eight hours. 
  
• Lab Padre is starting their coverage at 6:30 AM Eastern 
• Space.com - or Video from Space - starts at 7:30AM Eastern
• The Launch Pad is live now and apparently will stay that way.

When I went to the FAA site, I saw something interesting about the notice the license had been issued.  Take a look at this, especially the expiration date on the right. 

Today's launch license expires in 2028?  Does that mean SpaceX can launch more than once on this license, like the hoped for nine launches this year? 

Over on the left hand edge, right of the big buttons, note the text that says, "VOL 23-129 (Rev 1)." When you hover your mouse over it, you'll see it's a download, so I downloaded that to read it.  Short answer: no, not yet.  Longer answer, at the bottom of page 3, top of page 4, there are some "Authorizations" listed.  I'll just quote them:

4. Authorization: In accordance with the representations in the Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. application as of the date of this license, and any amendments to the license application or waivers  approved by the FAA, in writing, Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. is authorized to conduct:
     a. Pre flight ground operations
        i. Using the Starship Super Heavy vehicle.
        ii. At SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Complex, Boca Chica, Texas.
    b. Flights:
        i. Using the Starship Super Heavy vehicle.
        ii. From SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Complex, Boca Chica, Texas.
        iii. To Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean locations specified in its application,                          excluding Starship entry contingency landing locations .
        iv. For the Flight 3 mission only, unless this license is modified to remove this term.

Note the line in blue.  That says that only one mission is covered, unless they remove that line.  

A 110 minute launch window is 10 minutes short of two hours.  With the projected launch time of 8:00 AM ET, that stretches to almost 10:00 AM.  I'll be glued to this computer.