Next Starship test flight to go to 60,000 feet
Capitalism in space: SpaceX has decided, after two successful 500 foot hops using its fifth and sixth Starship prototypes, to forego further hops with those prototypes and instead test fly prototype number eight to a height of 60,000 feet, about 11 miles.
Starship SN5 and SN6 were set to become a tag-team, flying 150-meter hops to refine the launch and landing techniques that SpaceX has pioneered with its Falcon 9 rocket. However, with SN5’s hop proving to be a success, followed by a notable improvement with SN6’s leap to 150 meters a few weeks later, it’s likely SpaceX is now confident of advancing to the next milestone.
The company has applied for an FCC license to do the flight anytime from Oct ’20 to April ’21, with October 11th being the first available date.
In the meantime the company plans a pressure tank test to failure of prototype #7, probably later this week.
In other related news at the second link, Boeing and Firefly have also applied for FCC licenses, the former for a Starliner demo mission from November ’20 to May ’21, the latter for its first launch of its smallsat Alpha rocket, also from November ’20 to May ’21.
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Capitalism in space: SpaceX has decided, after two successful 500 foot hops using its fifth and sixth Starship prototypes, to forego further hops with those prototypes and instead test fly prototype number eight to a height of 60,000 feet, about 11 miles.
Starship SN5 and SN6 were set to become a tag-team, flying 150-meter hops to refine the launch and landing techniques that SpaceX has pioneered with its Falcon 9 rocket. However, with SN5’s hop proving to be a success, followed by a notable improvement with SN6’s leap to 150 meters a few weeks later, it’s likely SpaceX is now confident of advancing to the next milestone.
The company has applied for an FCC license to do the flight anytime from Oct ’20 to April ’21, with October 11th being the first available date.
In the meantime the company plans a pressure tank test to failure of prototype #7, probably later this week.
In other related news at the second link, Boeing and Firefly have also applied for FCC licenses, the former for a Starliner demo mission from November ’20 to May ’21, the latter for its first launch of its smallsat Alpha rocket, also from November ’20 to May ’21.
Please consider donating to Behind the Black, by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, as outlined in the tip jar below. Your support will allow me to continue covering science and culture as I have for the past twenty years, independent and free from any outside influence.
Your support is even more essential to me because I keep this site free from advertisements and do not participate in corrupt social media companies like Google, Twitter, and Facebook. I depend wholly on the direct support of my readers.
You can provide that support to Behind The Black with a contribution via Patreon or PayPal. To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation. For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If Patreon or Paypal don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
The tweet from Musk did not make it clear that SN5/6 are to be retired, just that SN8 is getting ready for 20K flight. I think it is a jump, possibly too far to assume they are done with 5/6. However, could be correct and time will tell.
Don’t you mean FAA license, not FCC?
The previous flights or hops were 500 ft or 150 meters.
Rod: Oy. I keep making this dump mistake. Post fixed. Thanks!
Musk is insane!!
This is just insane!
“You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic
You’re looking for”
Billy Joel
“You May Be Right”
1980
“this dump mistake. Post fixed. ”
Post fixed? I’m still seeing FCC.
Willi, FCC is correct.
These are not flight permits or launch licenses, but FCC STA (Special Temporary Authority) licenses for the operation of communication and/or radar tracking equipment for the flight. Since the database for these license applications is public, the applications are a useful tool for rocket watchers.
Unfortunately, Parabolic Arc seldom provides links to what they are reporting. I’ll see if I can locate this STA application.
Here it is: https://fcc.report/ELS/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp-SpaceX/1401-EX-ST-2020
Willi: FCC is correct.
Look out, Bob! I think Joe Biden hacked your account, and he still hasn’t learned that changing a single punctuation mark doesn’t make it not plagiarism. ;^)
Hey, anybody crazy enough to make billions might just be insane enough to launch a car into orbit….just saying!
That was the best.
If he had just placed solar panels on the bottom just to keep the cameras and transmitters working.
And left the left turn blinker on.