Starship/Superheavy test launch delayed to November 18, 2023
SpaceX has pushed back the orbital test launch of its Starship/Superheavy rocket one day, to November 18, 2023, because one of the rocket’s grid fins was not working properly during a prelaunch test.
The new launch window opens at 7 am (Central), but is now only twenty minutes long. SpaceX says it will begin its live stream on X and here 35 minutes before liftoff.
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SpaceX has pushed back the orbital test launch of its Starship/Superheavy rocket one day, to November 18, 2023, because one of the rocket’s grid fins was not working properly during a prelaunch test.
The new launch window opens at 7 am (Central), but is now only twenty minutes long. SpaceX says it will begin its live stream on X and here 35 minutes before liftoff.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
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Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Sat morning, I think I can deal with that!
https://time.gov
Yes, Saturday is better for me too. Thank you.
I wonder what drives the launch window for partial orbits? The Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean will be there in position the whole day.
John, my thoughts exactly!!!
I suspect the shortened launch window has mostly to do with range and airways conflicts.
And what of warnings for ships and aircraft in the Starship landing area in the North Pacific? Outside FAA’s jurisdiction I assume? In any case I’d expect SpaceX to be pro-active on that one given the downsides (“Starship Crashes on Oil Tanker!”
Also, isn’t the graphic of the flight plan on the other Starship Test #2 a little out of date given the new Hot Sep procedure, or does that not work graphically?
Tom Hunter: Yes, I am sure that flight plan is out of date, but it was what I had at the moment. If you or anyone spots one more up-to-date, please comment here.
I should say that the differences should not be significant, based on what I’ve read.
Robert, there is a new graphic with the hot-staging over at SpaceX.com under IFT-2.
My only problem with an 8AM EST is launch is that by the time SS hopefully splashes down in once piece off of Hawaii, it will be very dark and it would be nice to have some video of how the heat shield etc. held up after re-entry. An 11AM or later launch would solve this problem. In other news, Sx found issues with 2 other actuators making 3 that had to be replaced so far. Fingers crossed for a successful test flight.
Grid Fin Actuator Replaced on Booster 9. Starship is Ready for Flight! | SpaceX Boca Chica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jjMdsKSzYw&t=1s
Is it not amazing that SpaceX can decouple a HUGE, fully stacked orbital class rocket as it sits on a launch pad, replace a large critical component and then re-assemble the ship, test it and have it ready for launch …. all within 24 hours. This level of agility, and the obvious array of capabilities born from it, could never be the result of a modern-era, Government-run program regardless of the amount of money thrown at it. This is Capitalism on parade for the world to see; Capitalism used to realize great big dream.
Tom
Space X runs on a real budget with the goal of saving money and not keeping jobs like NASA does.
Granted in many cases this could and often does lead to dangerous situations but Space X seems to be doing a good job at on the job safety.
It also looks like they take the advice to the guys who actually do the physical work instead of always sending their ideas upstairs to engineers who in the end take the credit.
SpaceX is building a working freight/passenger spaceline. Their equipment can’t require science-project kid-glove treatment if that is going to succeed – and it appears they fully understand that.
It’s the difference between Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Emmett L. Brown.