Friday, May 14, 2021

SpaceX Releases Plan for First Orbital Test Flight

In an FCC filing, SpaceX has published information about the first orbital test of the Super Heavy/Starship combo. 

The Starship Orbital test flight will originate from Starbase, TX. The Booster stage will separate approximately 170 seconds into flight. The Booster will then perform a partial return and land in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 20 miles from the shore. The Orbital Starship will continue on flying between the Florida Straits. It will achieve orbit until performing a powered, targeted landing approximately 100km (~62 miles) off the northwest coast of Kauai in a soft ocean landing.

The purpose of the flight is to get information about how the vehicles perform at orbital flight velocities. Presumably, later flights will return to Boca Chica. 

The filing doesn't say when the first orbital flight will take place, although Elon Musk has suggested a July date. Personally, that seems optimistic, but with SpaceX you never know.  

No comments: