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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

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.

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. 



10 comments:

  1. Everyday Astronaut is doing a live feed and they've got a pretty sophisticated setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixZpBOxMopc

    WAI (What About It) also is doing a live feed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHq2jhP1efI

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    1. I was watching Everyday Astronaut for a while as I was preparing this. I tuned away when he was talking about needing to shut down. I see now he's talking about starting up at midnight Eastern.

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    2. thought you might like to hear about it, but the WAI link really dinged my machine; was unable to remove the site nor was I able to get onto any other site. the anti-virus (Kaspersky) didn't pick it up. took about 10 minutes work to get the problem righted.
      will be advising Kaspersky of the prob.

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  2. Wind at ground level looks pretty smooth right now. Not sure what their mph cutoff is for launch, but the clouds from the chillers and tanks is just moseying along. Upper level though...could be a whole different story.

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    1. In the last half hour, the time for the coverage to start on SpaceX's launches site (the link "SpaceX says") has slipped from 7:56 to 8:37. The guys on NASA Spaceflight have commented that it doesn't look like fueling has started, and that has to start 53 minutes before launch. It's looking like it will be toward the end of the 110 minute window.

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  3. Thanks for the heads up. Switched on Lab Padre when I saw your post. Hopefully it's not on the backside of that window because the wife had mumbled something about going to Costco today 😬

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  4. Watching the launch was fun. I had to rewind to get the launch itself, because by the time I found it about it, Starship was in orbit by herself. They were playing elevator music. Something this cool needs a soundtrack with is not soporific.

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  5. More success than last time and I am looking forward to ITF-4. According to telemetry, the booster hit the water at just over 1000 kph, ouch! And S28 was lost just as it got into full atmospheric heating. But there was some neat video of the initial heating. I am waiting for the initial SpaceX pronouncements on what happened.

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  6. I'm with you guys. It was a hoot to watch. Not perfect (need I say?) but much better than the last one and closer to what's needed. The videos as the hot plasma was starting to swallow Starship 28 were mind-blowing. I was surprised to see the cameras inside S28 showing the light streaming in when they opened the "Pez dispenser." Now, I'm anxiously awaiting their updates on what they accomplished.

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  7. Glorious . . . next time we get actual re-entry. Probably a bit goofed up and the craft is lost. Probably (70%?) save the first stage.

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