SpaceX launch - live: Starship SN15 launches and lands in critical flight over Texas
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Your support makes all the difference.SpaceX has successfully launched and landed a prototype of its Mars-bound Starship rocket. The next-generation spacecraft lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on Wednesday.
Starship SN15’s high-altitude flight test follows four previous attempts that all ended in massive explosions. SpaceX boss Elon Musk said previous issues with the rocket’s Raptor engines had been fixed “six ways to Sunday”.
The latest attempt took place at around 5.30pm local time (11.30pm BST) on Wednesday, after airspace clearance was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), road closures were in place with Cameron County, and marine hazard notices had been issued.
An official live stream of the launch was shared by SpaceX, which you can see below.
SpaceX posts official live stream of Starship SN15 launch
You can see it right here:
We have venting!
Starship SN15 is venting! That’s a great sign that the launch is imminent, as it is one of the final stages leading up to lift-off.
Launch is now just over 10 minutes away - hopefully.
Starship SN15 launch preparations continue
There’s still over three hours left in this launch window, though the way things are progressing suggests there will be plenty of time to spare.
We’re seeing test farm activity at the launchpad, which typically takes place roughly 30-40 minutes ahead of the launch.
First Starship test since $3bn Nasa deal
Last month Nasa awarded SpaceX a $2.89 billion contract to develop Starship in order to take humans to the Moon.
This is the first flight test of Starship since that deal was made, so there may be added pressure for it to be a success - especially considering the US space agency’s hope of putting boots on our celestial companion within three years.
Nasa astronauts visited SpaceX’s Starbase back in March ahead of the Starship SN11 test. That one didn’t end to well, but luckily it didn’t scupper the deal.
Crowds gather to watch Starship SN15 launch
Visibility may be poor, and conditions may not be ideal, but that hasn’t stopped people from heading down to nearby beaches to watch Starship SN15 fly today.
Starship launch back on track
Launch procedures are back underway in Boca Chica. Launchpad is cleared, again, and things are looking hopeful for a high-altitude flight test today.
SpaceX may not publicly release its schedule for Starship tests, but we do have some idea about the broader timeline.
By piecing together comments and statements from Elon Musk and other SpaceX executives, this is what we can expect over the coming days, months, years and decades:
May 2021: Starship SN15 high-altitude flight test.
July 2021: Starship SN20 or earlier will perform the first ever orbital flight with a super heavy booster attached.
2022: Starship enters production, with Elon Musk hoping to produce up to 100 per year and a fleet size of 1,000+ in the early 2030s.
2023: First commercial flight of Starship. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maeawa bought the first ticket and plans to bring eight members of the public with him on the trip around the moon.
2024: First uncrewed Starship mission to Mars.
2026: First ever crewed Starship mission to Mars.
2050: First self-sustaining colony established on Mars, transforming humanity into a multi-planetary species.
Vehicles returning to Starship launchpad
Uh oh. There’s currently a convoy of vehicles heading back towards the launchpad, including the trailer for the Raptor engines.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the launch has been scrubbed, just that some more work needs to be done.
Just under fiver hours left of the launch window, so still plenty of time to get things fixed in time for a flight test today. We’ll just have to wait some more.
Starship launchpad clear!
It appears that the launchpad is finally clear. Judging by the timetable of previous Starship launches, it will likely be between one and two hours from now before lift-off.
SpaceX doesn’t publicise these tests ahead of time, due to the number of variables that need to line up in order for the launch to get the go-ahead.
Usually SpaceX’s website is updated at about this time, while sometimes Elon Musk gives a clue that a launch is going ahead. We’ll only know for sure when SpaceX posts the official live stream to its YouTube channel, which normally happens a few minutes prior to launch.
Speaking of SpaceX’s previous live streams, this is their footage of Starship SN10, which is so far the closest they’ve come to landing successfully (shortly after this video concluded, Starship SN10 exploded):
SpaceX launchpad for Starship SN15 still not clear
Nearly three hours into the launch window and there remains a single white pickup truck in the launchpad area.
Once the launchpad is clear, there are a number of critical steps that need to be completed before lift-off can take place, including fuelling, venting and engine chilling.
There’s still five hours left of the launch window. There’s also a back-up window for tomorrow, but something would need to go very wrong for that to be needed.
If you’re looking for something to do while we wait, we have a lot of SpaceX and Starship-related content here at The Independent to read and watch. Including the most basic of all: What actually is Starship?
What actually is the Starship spacecraft Elon Musk wants to send people to Mars on
The rocket is unlike any spaceship that has ever flown before, featuring private cabins, large common area and a viewing gallery
Boca Chica Village evacuated for Starship SN15 launch
Two hours into the launch window opening and the nearby Boca Chica village has been evacuated.
SpaceX issues evacuation notices for local residents in case any bits of exploding rocket cause damage, or even in case a dramatic change in pressure causes windows to break.
There is still activity at the launch pad, so we’ve still got a bit longer to wait, but things are progressing well towards a launch taking place today.
This is what one of those evacuation notices look like, courtesy of @BocaChicaGal:
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