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Merged SpaceX’s Starship Rocket Explodes After Launch/Starship hop

Looking forward to this. I still have a photo in my screensaver slide show of the original Grasshopper hop test that led to the Falcon 9 first stage recovery.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf83yzzme2I&feature=emb_title

Starship | SN8 | High-Altitude Flight Test

As early as Tuesday, December 8, the SpaceX team will make the first attempt of a high-altitude suborbital flight test of Starship serial number 8 (SN8) from our site in Cameron County, Texas. The schedule is dynamic and likely to change, as is the case with all development testing.

This suborbital flight is designed to test a number of objectives, from how the vehicle’s three Raptor engines perform, and the overall aerodynamic entry capabilities of the vehicle, including its body flaps, to how the vehicle manages propellant transition. SN8 will also attempt to perform a landing flip maneuver, which would be a first for a vehicle of this size.

With a test such as this, success is not measured by completion of specific objectives but rather how much we can learn as a whole, which will inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances development of Starship.

This will be a live feed of the flight test and will start a few minutes prior to liftoff. Stay tuned to our social media channels for updates as we move toward our first high altitude flight test of Starship!

SpaceX to attempt major Starship SN8 prototype test flight Tuesday. Here's how to watch live.
SpaceX's webcast is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT).
(About 10 PM Japan time; or 8 hours from now, if my math is correct)
 
I just looked in on the live streams. They've got about five more hours in the launch window, but I don't think it is going to go today.

There are people on cranes looking at the fins, and it does not seem to be fueled yet - no vapor venting off.
 
I just looked in on the live streams. They've got about five more hours in the launch window, but I don't think it is going to go today.

There are people on cranes looking at the fins, and it does not seem to be fueled yet - no vapor venting off.

The people on the cranes are removing securing chains and a NASA WB-57 is due to be overflying the area later to observe, so the flight is certainly possible for 1600-1800 EST.
 
The people on the cranes are removing securing chains and a NASA WB-57 is due to be overflying the area later to observe, so the flight is certainly possible for 1600-1800 EST.

Yes - there are some vapors venting here and there now. The little live status window says they are at "SNB Venting", whatever that is. After that the next steps are


Raptor Chill
Siren
Liftoff
Landing
Abor/Scrub

Still no venting from the rocket itself though
 
Unfortunately I'll be working when this happens, but I'm sure I'll catch up on Scott Manley's take when I get home.
 

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