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SpaceX is counting down to the first launch of its towering Starship vehicle, the world’s largest rocket, on April 17, but when the rocket takes off depends on several factors.
The first spacecraft, a combination Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster, is currently scheduled to launch by Monday from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. 8:00 AM EDT (1200 GMT).it will be 7 am local time. However, it has yet to be determined if SpaceX is actually targeting that time, or choosing to wait until later in the window.
Related: How to Watch SpaceX’s First Starship Launch on April 17
more: How SpaceX’s first Starship space launch will work
What time is SpaceX’s Starship launch?
SpaceX is currently targeting April 17 at 8am EDT/1200 GMT Used to launch the Starship and Super Heavy, but that may not be when the rocket actually takes off.
This is the first full flight test of a combined Starship and Super Heavy at a combined height of 395 feet (120 meters). SpaceX aims to use it as a fully reusable launch system for missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA has chosen Starship as the lunar lander to be used by astronauts on the 2025 Artemis 3 mission. This is the first manned moon landing since 1972. But first SpaceX needs to finalize the design, and that’s what this first flight test will help do. .
According to SpaceX’s mission plan (opens in new tab)Starship, and Super Heavy have 150 minute window Take off from the starbase.This will make a boot attempt at any time 8am and 10:30am EDTThe exact time that SpaceX targets a launch within that 2.5 hour period depends on the readiness of Starship and Superheavy, weather conditions at the launch site, and whether the launch “no-go” zone will be kept offshore as a safety measure. It depends on whether you have
If SpaceX changes the launch time before the webcast begins, the company may share the new T-0 time through Twitter and other channels, as it did with the Falcon 9 rocket launch. for that reason, SpaceX Twitter feed (opens in new tab) for those updates.
Will I be able to watch the launch of SpaceX’s Starship?
Yes, you can see the launch of SpaceX’s first Starship.
SpaceX will provide a live webcast of the launch (opens in new tab) Starts approximately 45 minutes before liftoff. The webcast embedded in this page is currently scheduled to start at: 8:00 AM EDT 7:15 AM EDT (1115 GMT) take down.
Important note: However, that start time may change if SpaceX moves the target launch time deeper into the window.
Several other SpaceX watching sites offer a wider range of commentary with their own live stream services. One site to follow is NASASpaceflight.com. (opens in new tab), regularly provides its own livestream of Starship testing activity at Starbase facilities. NSF likely to have extensive coverage of YouTube livestreams (opens in new tab) Hours before SpaceX’s own webcast.
For Falcon 9 rocket launches, SpaceX typically provides an audio-only YouTube feed from the launch control center. You can listen to the launch team via another of his SpaceX feeds on his YouTube channel, if the company provides a similar feed for his Starship.
The launch countdown timeline begins approximately two hours before launch, with SpaceX’s flight director conducting a propellant loading survey.
If you’re in the Boca Chica area and want to see the launch, there are a few options.
SpaceX has prepared two launch viewing sites for sailors in the waters near Long Island and South Padre Island. SpaceX’s exclusive viewing zone will be South Padre Island at the Cameron County Amphitheater. No matter where you decide to watch the launch, plan to arrive early and bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray if you’ll be outdoors.
How long is SpaceX’s first Starship flight?
From launch to water landing, SpaceX’s first Starship test flight lasts about 90 minutes.
The Starship will not reach orbit in this mission. Instead, it will reach an altitude of about 146 miles (234 kilometers), orbit most of the Earth, and land in the Pacific Ocean. 140 miles (225 km) from the coast of Oahu, HawaiiMeanwhile, the Super Heavy Booster makes its own round trip to land in the Gulf of Mexico. 20 miles (32 km) from Boca Chica Beach.
SpaceX will not attempt to retrieve Starship or Super Heavy boosters. The company hopes to demonstrate the Superheavy’s “soft landing” by hovering over the ocean before landing. SpaceX made a similar soft landing during landing tests of its Falcon 9 booster small rocket.
time (hours:minutes:seconds) | event | Header Cell – Column 2 |
---|---|---|
T-2:00:00 | Flight director vote for fuel loading | row 0 – cell 2 |
T-1:39:00 | Super heavy liquid oxygen/liquid methane loading started | row 1 – cell 2 |
T-1:22:00 | Spacecraft begins loading liquid methane | row 2 – cell 2 |
T-1:17:00 | Starship begins loading liquid oxygen | row 3 – cell 2 |
T-00:16:40 | Chilldown on a Super Heavy Raptor Engine | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
T-00:00:40 | Fluid interface initiates vent down sequence | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
T-00:00:08 | Raptor engine start start | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
T-00:00:00 | Liftoff (“Excitement Guaranteed” as SpaceX calls it) | Row 7 – Cell 2 |
time (hours:minutes:seconds) | flight event | Header Cell – Column 2 |
---|---|---|
T-00:00 | take down | row 0 – cell 2 |
00:55 | Starship/Super Heavy Reach Max Q | row 1 – cell 2 |
2:49 | Super heavy main engine cutoff | row 2 – cell 2 |
2:53 | stage separation | row 3 – cell 2 |
2:57 | spacecraft engine ignition | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
3:11 | super heavy boost backburn | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
7:32 | Super heavy is transonic | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
7:40 | super heavy landing barn | Row 7 – Cell 2 |
8:03 | Super Heavy Landing Burn Shutdown | Row 8 – Cell 2 |
9:20 | spacecraft engine shutdown | Row 9 – Cell 2 |
1:17:21 | spacecraft re-entry | Row 10 – Cell 2 |
1:28:43 | Starship is transonic | Row 11 – Cell 2 |
1:30:00 | Starship landing | Row 12 – Cell 2 |
What should I do if Starship fails to launch on the first try?
If SpaceX fails to start testing Starship on April 17, the company may try again later in the week, depending on the nature of the scrub.
Officials in Cameron County, Texas, which includes SpaceX’s Starbase facility at Boca Chica Beach, issued a beach closure recommendation stating that SpaceX has set aside April 18 and April 19 as backup dates for the launch.
However, once SpaceX fully fuels its towering Starships and Super Heavy boosters and then scrubs the launch, additional downfalls will occur as the company accumulates more liquid oxygen and liquid methane propellants for its next attempt. Time may occur. In the past, the company has said it could take several days to do so.
If there are technical issues during the launch countdown, or interruptions that require repairs, Starship may be delayed even longer. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, SpaceX’s launch license for this Starship test flight is valid for five years, giving the company a substantial cushion until restrictions expire for additional attempts.
Editor’s note: Head over to Space.com on Monday, April 17th to watch SpaceX’s first Starship orbital launch at 8:00 AM (1200 minutes GMT). The live webcast is scheduled to begin at 7:15 AM EDT (1115 GMT).
Email Tariq Malik tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. follow us @space.com, Facebook and Instagram.
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