#Space

#SpaceX is going to attempt this morning another launch of #Starship, at Boca Chica TX. They're targeting 8 AM EST / 7 AM local time.

(The April attempt ended in a big kaboom.)

You can watch live on the Spaceflight Now YouTube feed at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-LFzFWaACo

#Space

NASASpaceflight is also livestreaming the #SpaceX #Starship launch attempt. You can watch at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOI35G7cP7o

#Space

Approaching T-10 minutes to the opening of the 20-minute launch window at 7 AM CST for the test flight of the #SpaceX #Starship, which by far is the most powerful rocket on Earth.

The last test in April went kaboom shortly after launch.

Watch live on Spaceflight Now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-LFzFWaACo

#Space #Starship

From the #SpaceX feed ... They may hold at T-40 seconds due to boats down range refusing to leave the area.

(This is why SpaceX needs a fully armed submarine ...)

Here we go ... or not. They did go into a hold at T-40 seconds.

They're working a late pressurization problem on the upper stage.

The rocket launched without an announcement ...

Nominal so far ...

Upper stage separation ... the first stage just blew up. Upper stage still going ...

The upper stage would have the passengers. If successful, this test version will belly flop into the Pacific Ocean ...

Starship still going at T+6 minutes ...

Starship engine shutdown just short of orbital velocity, awaiting status update ...

Awaiting acquisition of signal ...

Data lost from upper stage, Starship probably lost ...

#Space #SpaceX

It appears that the #Starship flight termination system (AKA auto-destruct) destroyed Starship just before it was to achieve orbital velocity and shut down the engines ...

@WordsmithFL
It will be interesting to find out the reason for the Starship termination.

@pendrag I was watching the velocity; orbital velocity is about 28,000 KPH and they were over 24,000, so it was close to shutdown. Usually an upper stage fails fairly quickly after engine ignition if something is wrong, so my strict speculation is maybe a software error. But I have a Poli Sci degree, so don't trust me.