SpaceX Super Heavy and Starship updates

[SALSN]

On 11/12/2021 at 05:35, DocM said:

The FCC has issued a Special Temporary Authority (STA, frequency license) for the Starship orbital test flight.  FAA Environmental Assessment  and flight license pending.

 

December 20, 2021 - March 1, 2022

What exactly does that mean?

First flight is go, but still assessing whether they can use it as a permanent launch site?

[DocM]

On 11/12/2021 at 08:16, SALSN said:

What exactly does that mean?

First flight is go, but still assessing whether they can use it as a permanent launch site?

 

The Federal Communications Commission issues these STA's to allocate telemetry and other frequencies for the launch, often with 3-6 month windows to accommodate delays.

 

A Federal Aviation Administration statement about the Starbase  Environmental Assessment should come by New Years.

 

If the EA is good then FAA evaluates issuing a launch license when SpaceX asks for it.

[DocM]

Prepping for booster tests

 

 

 

[DocM]

SpaceX LC-49 at KSC

 

NASA is doing an environmental assessment for a new SpaceX Starship launch complex. 

 

LC-49 will be located north of LC-39A & LC-39B, roughly where NASA originally planned to build LC-39C.

 

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-conducts-environmental-assessment-practices-responsible-growth

Quote

 

Dec 15, 2021

 

NASA Conducts Environmental Assessment, Practices Responsible Growth

 

In response to an inquiry from SpaceX, NASA is preparing to conduct environmental assessments to develop a proposed new launch site, Launch Complex 49, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

 

The 175-acre site, located north of Launch Complex 39B within the center’s security perimeter, would support the launch and landing of the company’s Starship and Super Heavy launch vehicle. NASA and SpaceX are moving forward with the initial environmental analysis before concluding a potential agreement to develop the property.

 

“LC-49 has been a part of Kennedy’s master plan for several years,” said Tom Engler, Kennedy’s director of Center Planning and Development. “The Notice of Availability was updated in 2014.”

>

 

 

[TrevorLahey]

Any reason they aren't sticking with the LC-39C name?  I kind of liked it.  Is it because the Tower structures will be very different?

 

The original plan was to put it on the LC-39A site right?  Did NASA not want it there so they offered up the LC-39C location?  I think this is the better plan anyways.

Edited December 16, 2021 by bguy_1986
hopefully making it clearer

[Skiver Veteran]

On 16/12/2021 at 13:24, bguy_1986 said:

Any reason they aren't sticking with LC-39C?  Tower structures being very different?

 

The original plan was to put it on the LC-39A site right?  Did NASA not want it there so they offered up the LC-39C location?  I think this is the better plan anyways.

39-A is where Space X launch from today with the Falcon 9 

39-C was only built up 6 years ago as a small sat launch site but I'm not sure if it's still being used.

[TrevorLahey]

On 16/12/2021 at 08:31, Skiver said:

39-A is where Space X launch from today with the Falcon 9 

Correct, but earlier this month SpaceX was breaking ground on 39-A for starship launches.

https://spaceexplored.com/2021/12/03/starship-orbital-pad-construction-at-lc-39a-has-begun/

 

So are they going to have 2 pads for Starship or are they just moving Starship to LC-49?

[Astra.Xtreme]

If LC-49 gets placed there, I'm guessing Playalinda beach (one of the best launch viewing locations), will get some added restrictions.

[+Warwagon MVC]

They should have just called it WD-40

[TrevorLahey]

On 16/12/2021 at 09:10, warwagon said:

They should have just called it WD-40

First thing that popped in my mind was Idiocracy.  Startship launches sponsored by WD-40

[DocM]

On 16/12/2021 at 08:47, bguy_1986 said:

Correct, but earlier this month SpaceX was breaking ground on 39-A for starship launches.

https://spaceexplored.com/2021/12/03/starship-orbital-pad-construction-at-lc-39a-has-begun/

 

So are they going to have 2 pads for Starship or are they just moving Starship to LC-49?

 

This is some serious stuff.

 

Sounding like both LC-39A and LC-49 (NASA named it), and there's room for 2+ pads at the latter. Perhaps more pads as their stated plan is to evolve away from the Falcons to Starship because it'll be cheaper to operate (100% reusable, methane fuel so no coking in the engines). 

 

It's also very likely the Roberts Road SpaceX Operations Area (SOA), now housing the HangarX refurb hangar, gets expanded - they're clearing more ground  now. They've also widened the roads from SOA all the way to LC-39A.

 

 

[DocM]

Super Heavy booster engine gimbal video 😎

 

 

 

[DocM]

Canadian astronaut (RCAF) flying over Boca Chica

 

 

[DocM]

NASA Marshall (Manned Spaceflight Center) pays Starship a visit,

 

 

[DocM]

Booster 7 rises....

 

 

 

[DocM]

NASA paper: "Mission Architecture Using the SpaceX Starship Vehicle to Enable a Sustained Human Presence on Mars"

 

The biggest thing about this is that NASA made the paper public.

 

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/space.2020.0058&ved=2ahUKEwjU-Kzs14T1AhXnlIkEHSLGA7wQFnoECA8QAQ

[DocM]

Sounds like Static Fire Tuesday. All times +1 hour for Eastern.

 

 

 

[DocM]

And Mary reports another hot notice for Wednesday. 

[DocM]

Ship 20 static fire

 

 

[DocM]

Static fire #2 coming up

 

 

[DocM]

11 months from the initial Raptor 2 tests to now running at 300 bar... (spec chamber pressure)

 

 

[DocM]

Mechazilla lives

 

 

[DocM]

The new Raptor 2 says "hi!" 

 

With over half a million pounds of thrust, there are reports that when on the horizontal test stand this engine can be heard 25 miles away. Starship's  Super Heavy booster will have up to 33 of them.

 

 

 

[DocM]

Starship official update scheduled

 

 

[DocM]

Ongoing work at Starbase, and Inspiration 4's Jared Isaacman and 3 friends do a flyover in Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets.

 

https://youtu.be/SlbJp7PaLds