Space X Starship Test Flight

[robin h 25]

Next up will soon be SN16

It looks like SN16 will no longer be having a test flight, as SN17 / SN18/ and SN19 have all been scrapped,
SN16 is now going to sit on a display stand, right next to SN15,
Due to Space X pushing forward with their development, there jumping straight to SN20, which will be the first orbital test flight as well as the test flight of the Super Heavy Booster BN3,

The orbital test flights are due to start at around the end of July as Space X are rapidly constructing their orbital launch platform and orbital launch tower,

This is just a video of the most recent events at Space X Starship launch facility of what going on,

Next set of test flights will be SN20 and BN3, aimed towards end of July, going into August and onward's.

 

[TomBerry]

It looks like SN16 will no longer be having a test flight, as SN17 / SN18/ and SN19 have all been scrapped,
SN16 is now going to sit on a display stand, right next to SN15,
Due to Space X pushing forward with their development, there jumping straight to SN20, which will be the first orbital test flight as well as the test flight of the Super Heavy Booster BN3,

The orbital test flights are due to start at around the end of July as Space X are rapidly constructing their orbital launch platform and orbital launch tower,

This is just a video of the most recent events at Space X Starship launch facility of what going on,

Next set of test flights will be SN20 and BN3, aimed towards end of July, going into August and onward's.

Was quite upset when I saw SN16 heading to the display stands if I'm being honest, was excited to see one final 10km hop to see if their successful landing with SN15 wasn't just a fluke 😢 Ah well...roll on the end of July!

 

[robin h 25]

Starship Super Heavy Booster BN3 has been rolled out and now sits on a suborbital launch pad for testing, though it won't be having a test flight, just a ground test of fuel tank pressure testing and then maybe some engines installs for some engine static fires??, then scrapped,

Super Heavy Booster BN4 is going to fly with SN20 stacked on top, which is going to be a sight to see,

Another video of recent events at SpaceX with BN3 rolling out,

Edited:
Super Heavy Booster BN3, 3 engine static fire...

More engines will be added soon, for a 9 engine static fire.

 

[robin h 25]

Super Heavy Booster BN4 is now being rolled out to the orbital launch platform with 29 raptor engines already installed on it,

Starship SN20 is almost complete, the nose cone just needs stacking and then the remaining of the heat shield tiles to be applied, then it should be ready soon to roll out to the orbital platform to be stacked on top of the booster,

Sad part is that BN4 and SN20 may not survive as SpaceX will be landing them both in the ocean.

I found animation video that someone has done, that shows how the test flight should be, when it's ready to fly...

 

[robin h 25]

Starship SN20 is now being rolled out to the orbital launch platform to be stacked on top of the booster.

 

[robin h 25]

The first fully stacked Starship and Booster.

Edited:..
Starship has been destacked from the booster and is heading back to the high bay to have the rest of it's heat shields tiles finished off,

some much better pictures.

 

[Bigfoot]

Captain Kirk is due to go to the edge of space today. I must say that William Shatner doesn’t look bad for a 90 year old.

 

[ubuysa]

Captain Kirk is due to go to the edge of space today. I must say that William Shatner doesn’t look bad for a 90 year old.

Wait until you see what he looks like when he gets back!

 

[SpyderTracks]

Wait until you see what he looks like when he gets back!

He'll be 10 years younger surely?

 

[Martinr36]

Just hope doesn't put a red shirt or jumper on...................

 

[Bigfoot]

Just hope doesn't put a red shirt or jumper on...................

I would then be worried for those not wearing a red shirt. In Star Trek it was always obvious who was going to get killed on a new planet.

 

[robin h 25]

We should be getting closer to Starship first orbital launch, at the start of this year, Space X had planned to do it's first orbital Starship test towards the end of July, but their plans are always changing,

We could be looking at a late December or sometime just after the new year for the first orbital flight to happen,

Starship made history again with the test firing of all six engines, three sea level engines and 3 space vacuum engines at the same time...

Time to get the super glue out as Ship20 lost a few heat shield tiles during the static fire test.

 

[robin h 25]

Even more delays for Starship first orbital launch test, Due to the FAA delaying their inspection until 28th February, so we won't see a launch attempt until March or even April.

The orbital launch tower comes alive as their testing the "Mechazilla" lift crane, that will stack the booster and starship onto the orbital launch platform,
also the crazy thing that "Mechazilla" will also do, is to catch the booster or starship in mid air as it comes back to earth, without them having to land,
When ever SpaceX are ready to do the first mid air catch of the booster or starship, that's going to be one hell of a site to see, it's a huge risk vs reward, reward is they catch the booster/starship mid air and it will be a historical moment for space flight, risk is likely the booster/starship will hit the tower, explodes and brings the tower down or it slips off the catch arms and hitting the ground and exploding at the base of the tower, which could also bring down the tower,

Latest video from SpaceX starbase with the latest events and the testing of the "Mechazilla" catch arms aka "chopsticks"

 

[robin h 25]

Starship 20 and Super Heavy Booster 4 have been fully stacked for a 2nd time, on the orbital launch platform,

The "Mechazilla" catch arms of the launch tower was used for the first time on Starship 20 for the stacking after weeks of testing the arms,
The biggest test for those arms is to come when space x attempts to catch the booster in mid-air for the first time, when ever that will be?,

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1491639263686844418

Elon Musk is to host a Starship Presentation and update later tonight with whats happening and the state/future of the Starship program.

 

[robin h 25]

Elon's Starship Presentation/Update...

Update Edit

Even more delays for Starship first orbital launch test, Due to the FAA delaying their inspection until 28th February, so we won't see a launch attempt until March or even April.

I swear down the FAA are trying to sabotage/delay the test flight, they have now delayed their inspection until the 28th March, so we now may not see the first orbital launch until around May / June or beyond, if more delays on the inspection.

 

[robin h 25]

Space X display area is starting to get a little overcrowded,
from left to right...
Super Heavy Booster 5, SN15, Ship22, SN16 and Ship20 at the launch tower.

 

[robin h 25]

Nothing to do with SpaceX but NASA has finally rolled out their SLS Artemis 1 moon rocket, which was a sight to see, the last time NASA rolled out a moon rocket from their vehicle assembly building (VAB) was 50 years ago with Apollo 17...

Artemis 1 will be an unmanned automated launch around the moon, Artemis 2 will be a crew launch around the moon, Artemis 3 and beyond will be crewed moon landings.

 

[TonyCarter]

Wow, it's already rusty

 

[Bhuna50]

Have to ask if they are your pics @robin h 25 as that last one is really good with the full moon behind it.

 

[AgentCooper]

Have to ask if they are your pics @robin h 25 as that last one is really good with the full moon behind it.

I doubt it. Bio says he’s from Yorkshire so I suspect he lacks the opposable thumbs necessary to operate a camera.

(Sorry @robin h 25 - as a Lancastrian I’m legally required to make comments like this. You are more than welcome to clap back, I like to keep the embers of the War of the Roses glowing 😜👍)