Well, a preliminary "No Earlier Than" date, as they always are this far in advance.
SpaceX has not yet announced a launch date for Starship's seventh test flight, but the company appears to be eyeing Jan. 11; an email sent by NASA to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration identifies that date as the target. (According to that email, NASA plans to deploy a Gulfstream V jet to observe the upcoming flight.)
The date is just under eight weeks from FT 6 on November 18, which was closer to six weeks after FT 5 on October 13. I've seen claims that this will be the next generation Starship, and FT6 was said to be the last flight of the 1st generation. There is talk about new, heat shield tiles that aren't the sort of ceramic tiles that have been used since the Shuttle days as well as on Starship, but I've come across nothing with any detail. I'll be trying.
More importantly, work is progressing and today featured a static firing of the SuperHeavy booster. SpaceX documented the test on X today, posting three photos and a short video of the test.
Static firing of the booster for FT7. Image credit: SpaceX
While not an official channel, the SpaceX Launch Manifest site has always seemed to be doing their best to keep up with SpaceX, which is no small task. It shows that FT-7 is planned for Booster 14 and Ship 33.
It's the busy time of year and by the calendar, Jan. 11 is only five Saturdays away. It'll be here before we know it.
SpaceX has said they want to launch the maximum allowable this next year - 24 launches on the license. That's every two weeks. I can hardly wait!!
ReplyDeleteAt some point, they're going to have to get the KSC going. I really want to see Starship go. I've met a lot of people who were here in the days of the Saturn V and they're all still in awe of it. Starship is twice the thrust of those.
DeleteI love that SpaceX just moves along like it's nothing, nothing really gets in their way.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, there are rumors that BO is having issues with New Glenn before the first launch. To the point they can't get the engines firing.
Go, SpaceX, go!
Pssht. Just squirt a little starting fluid up the nozzles and they'll go.
DeleteWhy not? What have they got to lose? Something like 8 BE-4s have flown already (1 SLS, 1 Vulcan) so they have to know the engines aren't the problem.
DeleteRead few weeks back mention of metallic alloy cladded tiles. My first thought was why not, why not employ 304L cladding over their present tiles? The stuff is rugged as get out, one of those great alloys just the right balance of alloying agents, the low carbon content keeps it from corroding at temps up to 1800-1900 degs F, anneals with every heat cycle, so maybe they came up with a snap over or slide over config, when they get worn eventually replace them, still have the back-up ceramic tile beneath.
ReplyDeleteHad a custom tuned race exhaust business for 15 years, gave a lifetime no questions asked warranty, not once did a 304L exhaust I made fail that I am aware of. Used a chassis dyno for tuning, got to see some pretty crazy exhaust gas temps near the exhaust ports and under turbos, few times almost white, just at the last bit of yellow, my temp gun topped out at 1850 F, and that is high orange color, and with the super corrosive exhaust gasses ever had any trouble in any way with 304L mandrel bent tubing, either 16 or 18 gauge wall thickness. Something about the type of alloying really works very well.
When you look at how the 304L on the Starship's body handled the temperatures, rippling up and then "healing itself" as the temperature went back down, it seems like a candidate. I thought I heard there'd be no tiles, but I'm not sure of that.
DeleteRegenerative cooling of of some type of the skin maybe?
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