Musk: 3rd Starship/Superheavy test launch expected in early March
According to a tweet on X by Elon Musk, the third test flight of SpaceX’s heavy-lift Starship/Superheavy rocket is now expected in about three weeks, in early March.
The rocket is presently on the launchpad, undergoing final tests.
This confirms my December prediction that the launch would not happen earlier than March. SpaceX was ready to launch in January, but as I predicted red tape in the federal government have left the rocket sitting on the ground.
However, that prediction may have been too optimistic. First, SpaceX has still not gotten its launch license from the FAA, with no word from that agency when it will rubber-stamp SpaceX’s investigation into the second test launch in November. Second, the lawsuit by activists challenging the right of local authorities to close beaches at Boca Chica for launches remains active. It is very possible those activists will be successful in getting the court to issue an injunction preventing any beach closures (and thus launches) while the case is being litigated. If so, the next test launch could be months away.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
According to a tweet on X by Elon Musk, the third test flight of SpaceX’s heavy-lift Starship/Superheavy rocket is now expected in about three weeks, in early March.
The rocket is presently on the launchpad, undergoing final tests.
This confirms my December prediction that the launch would not happen earlier than March. SpaceX was ready to launch in January, but as I predicted red tape in the federal government have left the rocket sitting on the ground.
However, that prediction may have been too optimistic. First, SpaceX has still not gotten its launch license from the FAA, with no word from that agency when it will rubber-stamp SpaceX’s investigation into the second test launch in November. Second, the lawsuit by activists challenging the right of local authorities to close beaches at Boca Chica for launches remains active. It is very possible those activists will be successful in getting the court to issue an injunction preventing any beach closures (and thus launches) while the case is being litigated. If so, the next test launch could be months away.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
I cannot figure out what the political calculation is for the democrat ruling machine. Do they see Elon as a formidable adversary who can sway congressional and senate races away from their candidates? Is there a deal in the making where Elon mutes himself politically in return for clearance to test Starship.
Steve Richter: There is no political calculation from the Democrats. They now are ruled by irrational hatred of anyone who disagrees with them, and an unbridled lust for power. It makes them do stupid things, which sadly might work because too many Americans still refuse to pay attention.
The last publicly available information was that SpaceX has not itself closed out the investigation into IFT-2 and provided their report to the FAA. That info is a couple weeks old now, but I haven’t heard any announcement that they’ve closed it out since then. Obviously they’re not expecting to need any significant actions and are hoping for a very quick turn-around from the FAA if they’re pushing for a WDR this week.
“… There is no political calculation from the Democrats. ..”
Strongly disagree with this. Sure, there are the radical leftists, the shut it all down environmentalists, BLM, riot and destroy Antifa – they all cannot be reasoned with. The ruling democrats – they have and they want to keep control of the country in their hands. These people would make a deal with Elon.
The accepted idea that Biden cannot think straight is just wrong. Who do we think has been holding all of these democrat groups in place during the last 4 years? There have been no Antifa riots. Even with Gaza, the pro Palestinian groups have been held in check. Biden has benefited from a long career being involved in power politics. Experience really matters. Biden left the Fed alone the last 2 years to do what had to be done to reduce inflation. The war on Russia, as misguided and unnecessary as it is, has been effectively done politically.
Getting back to SpaceX and Elon. In the Mossberg book Elon has good working relationships with the people who run the Biden admin. And yeah, Biden cannot remember what he had for breakfast. But he does have a chief of staff who gets done what Biden wants.
Court orders Musk to testify before SEC.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/court-orders-elon-musk-to-testify-for-sec-rejects-his-claim-of-harassment/
I doubt President Biden considers SpaceX particularly. He’s never shown much interest in space to my recollection.
But that doesn’t mean that the beast & bureaucrats that are the Federal Government aren’t. And bureaucrats are always interested in expanding the power & influence their rice bowls. Combined with a religious certainty that expenditures of hydrocarbons are inherently evil & a messianic fervor to “save the planet”, all they have to do is gum up the works. There’s a million ways to do that.
Steve Richter – “Who do we think has been holding all of these democrat groups in place during the last 4 years?”
Obama of course (via Jarrett and Rice). And if the Democrats don’t cheat effectively enough to win the White House next time, he’ll loose the dogs of war again, you can bet on it!