/c/SpaceX Starship Integrated Flight Test 2 Official Launch Discussion & Updates Thread! (nitter.net)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works

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Welcome to the /c/SpaceX Integrated Flight Test 2 Official Launch Discussion & Updates Thread!

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2023-11-18 13:00 | |

Webcasts

| Stream | Link | |

Stats

☑️ 2nd Starship Full Stack launch

☑️ 299th SpaceX launch all time

☑️ 86th SpaceX launch this year

☑️ 2nd launch from OLM-A this year

☑️ 211 days, 23:27:00 turnaround for this pad

Stats include F1, F9 , FH and Starship

Mission Details 🚀

SpaceX website (archived 2023-11-16): Starship's Second Flight Test (archived)
SpaceX website (archived 2023-11-18): Starship's Second Flight Test (archived)
SpaceX website (archived 2023-11-22): Starship's Second Flight Test (archived)
SpaceX website (current): Starship's Second Flight Test

Link to Starship Dev thread

top 49 comments

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[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 11 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Scott Manley has already chimed in with his thoughts: Why Starship’s Booster Failed After Staging

It seems that several engines weren't just shutting down during the boostback burn, but were violently disassembling themselves. Possible cause could include propellant sloshing during the flip leading to inconsistent pressure fed to the engines/plumbing.

[-] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

Gotta love how quick he is on these.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 7 points 7 months ago

And he's now done a more in-depth analysis: Starship & Superheavy Become The Biggest Rocket In Space.... Before Exploding

He speculates that B9 engine failure during boostback was due to either fuel slosh, fluid hammer, or a combination of both. It's unclear whether the booster FTS was triggered or whether the Booster RUD happened on its own.

For S25, he notes that a puff of gas just after T+7 minutes coincides with a drop in the LOx gauge. This indicates an oxygen leak of some sort, which could have any number of causes.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 9 points 7 months ago

Jonathan McDowell trajectory analysis: https://nitter.net/planet4589/status/1725873032244195495#m

Based on the last altitude/velocity numbers on SpaceX's webcast, I estimate a Starship achieved trajectory of -1740 x 150 km with (if not entirely destroyed by the flight termination system) impact NE of the Turks and Caicos Is.

[-] Player2@sopuli.xyz 8 points 7 months ago

Those engines were beautiful

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

The combined mach diamonds were stunning!

Also super pleased to see the improved raptor reliability.

[-] clothes@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Wow, my skepticism about the engines was silly. There were a few moments during first stage where it I couldn't tell whether the exhaust was nominal, but may be nothing. (Edit: Nvm, I think it was just ice chunks)

Looks like there's some minor debris on the road near LabPadre's camera, but certainly no concrete storm!

[-] CylonBunny@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago

Awesome launch!

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

John Insprucker reports that the second stage may have been lost, likely triggered by AFTS.

SpaceX webcast ending now.

[-] burble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 7 months ago

Ahhh so close to SECO!

Getting through hot staging and that much of the 2nd stage burn was huge, though. On to IFT-3.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Did they not get to SECO? It's not clear whether S25 was lost before, after, or during SECO.

[-] burble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 7 months ago

My understanding was that the engines shut down before the expected SECO time.

[-] clothes@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Prediction time!

Stage Zero: Works with only minor damage.

Booster Engine Failures: 5 :(

Hot Staging: Works, looks cool.

Upper Stage: Flies, with significant issues.

FTS: Big boom, on time!

End result: Booster re-enters in one piece, Ship in many.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

I'd be surprised if they had that many booster engines fail. I suspect we'll see only a couple of engines fail at most.

I'm less confident about the success of hot staging, since they've never tested it before. Excitement guaranteed though!

[-] clothes@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Totally! I don't have an engineering reason to think they'll fail, I'm just suspicious after the static fires couldn't maintain 33. A hot staging failure would be MUCH more exciting.

[-] xvlc@feddit.de 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Hmm, I am a bit more confident in the ships abilities (at least for anything between hot staging and SECO).

Anyways, if it gets to the point to initiate hot staging (regardless of the outcome) and the FTS works, it‘s a success. But we should also remember that SN9 landed (crashed) harder than SN8, and SN12 was way worse than the previous three tests. If stage zero is mostly unharmed, the FTS works, and the authorities are not too unhappy, SpaceX has already produced enough hardware for several tests to get it right within the next few months. A good test is a test where you learn a lot, and can try again soon.

[-] wearling0600@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

This is a really hot take, but I reckon if it manages to make if to stage separation in one piece, and the hot staging works, the ship should fly trouble-free.

It's the one part of the system that they have done significant testing on, not that many engines etc. If they once again don't make it past staging that would be very concerning for the Starship timeline, Artemis, and so on...

It'll be so cool to see the booster soft splash.

Biggest hope is that they manage to get away without sandblasting Boca Chica so the FAA don't ground them for 6 months again.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

MECO! (most engines cut-off)

Hot staging!

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

This thread maybe? This thread definitely!

S25 and B9 are stacked and ready for a Saturday morning launch. The tank farm should start spooling up around 2 a.m. local time.

While we wait, Starlink 6-28 is currently scheduled for 2023-11-18 05:05 UTC. Webcast links in comment.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 months ago

NSF are live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOI35G7cP7o

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Booster RUD!

Ship still looking good!

[-] robotopera@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 months ago

Why weren't there any onboard cameras during the Livestream?

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

Yeah, that was a bit unusual. Last time we got a bunch of different views (booster cam, ship cam, flap cam, etc), but none this time. There was also a communications blackout period just before scheduled SECO where it was unclear whether the FTS had triggered or not.

Were there fewer ground stations along the flight path than for IFT-1?

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

Tim Dodd's (Everyday Astronaut) stream is live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6na40SqzYnU

[-] RoundSparrow@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

Fuel loading has gone well so far!

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

Indeed!

[-] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

Fingers crossed the "not a deluge system cause I didn't get a permit for one" works properly and the pad (and/or rocket) doesn't get torn up again.

[-] clothes@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

It's hard to tell from ground cameras, but I'm wondering whether the booster flipped upsidedown after separation. Seems like it really rotated hard.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

If the SpaceX overlay graphic is accurate, it seems like a number of engines went out shortly after the relight for the boostback burn, around T+02:53. Asymmetric thrust could have contributed to extra rotation and loss of control.

[-] few@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

SpaceX live streaming starts at 12:24 UTC here: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1dRKZEWQvrXxB

[-] few@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Broadcast has started now.

[-] xvlc@feddit.de 1 points 7 months ago

For people like me without an X/Twitter account, there is also the spacex.com livestream (which is just the Twitter livestream embedded, but no login is required).

[-] burble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

My tv doesn't have a Twitter app and I'm too lazy and tired to get off the couch to turn on my computer, so I guess I'll stick with unofficial Youtube streams for now.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

That link seems to be blocked by a login popup. This one doesn't seem to have that issue: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1725852544587727145#m

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

Starship trajectory nominal!

Acquisition of signal, Cape Canaveral.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

Expected loss of signal, Houston. Ship terminal guidance.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

SECO?

Awaiting acquisition of signal from Starship...

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Power and telemetry nominal! All engines looking good so far!

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Ignition and liftoff!

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

https://nitter.net/NASASpaceflight/status/1725839751838658828#m

NASA's WB-57 is in the air and heading to Starbase to capture high-altitude footage of the launch.

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA927

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Vehicles queueing to leave the pad.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Police at the roadblock.

[-] Decronym@lemmy.decronym.xyz 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters	More Letters
AFTS	Autonomous Flight Termination System, see FTS
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FTS	Flight Termination System
MECO	Main Engine Cut-Off
~	MainEngineCutOff podcast
NSF	NasaSpaceFlight forum
~	National Science Foundation
RUD	Rapid Unplanned Disassembly
~	Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly
~	Rapid Unintended Disassembly
SECO	Second-stage Engine Cut-Off
TVC	Thrust Vector Control

Jargon	Definition
Starlink	SpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation

[Thread #17 for this sub, first seen 18th Nov 2023, 06:10] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Max-Q!

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

John Insprucker: Wayward boats are clearing the area. TVC wiggles on booster have been completed.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Rapid recycle called. Countdown is holding at T-40 seconds.

Insprucker: Team is working a delayed pressurization issue.

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

John Insprucker: Teams are not working any significant issues. Propellant load progressing well. Stages are pressurizing for flight. Booster prop load should finish around T-3 minutes. Still a few wayward boats in the area, but the countdown can be held at T-40 seconds if necessary.