Flight 9 (Booster 14, Starship 35) pre-flight preparations

[catdlr]

Three side detail views of SS for inspection and later review:

Credit: Starship Gazer

[ChrisC]

From a source that I haven't validated:

She's an aerospace engineering rockstar at SpaceX.  Lots of references on Google.

This is WAY outside the box from someone with no sense of orbital dynamics or energy profiles… Is there any chance SpaceX is testing a profile for SuperHeavy delivery to Florida via flight?  That would save a lot of shipping costs.

Hard no.  I'm sure there are other threads where that idea has been thoroughly discredited, and I'll leave it there without even starting to explain why not.

On to the new threads!  (please?)

[catdlr]

From a source that I haven't validated:

She's an aerospace engineering rockstar at SpaceX.  Lots of references on Google.

Thanks, Chris C. That's good. She sounded sincere and knowledgeable in her post's tone. I just wanted to be sure.

[Kaputnik]

Where would I find out the visibility range on this launch? I'm in the northern Bahamas for the next week or so...

[StraumliBlight]

Where would I find out the visibility range on this launch? I'm in the northern Bahamas for the next week or so...

Flight Club's Photographer's Toolkit (paid app) generates launch visibility maps.

[catdlr]

Starship to be Stacked, as Launch is Three Days Away - Countdown to Launch



 

Scheduled for May 24, 2025
With Starship targeting next week, NSF will start its "Countdown to Launch" series again. In this show, we will answer all of your questions about the upcoming Starship Flight 9, which will include the Block 2 Booster, Booster 14-2, and the Block 2 Starship, Ship 35.

[ChrisC]

Where would I find out the visibility range on this launch? I'm in the northern Bahamas for the next week or so...

Flight Club's Photographer's Toolkit (paid app) generates launch visibility maps.

And I'm happy to report that Declan / FCIO has the Starship IFT-9 trajectory loaded in and ready to go.  I just checked from Crown Haven (northern edge of Bahamas) and a) at SECO he is showing it 7 degrees up from the horizon, and b) as the Starship flies by to the south it peaks at 17 degrees.  I've seen things down to 2 degrees above the horizon (e.g. booster flight from New Orleans) so given a good view (i.e. no obstructions) you should definitely look for that Starship burn rising above the horizon.  Nighttime would help, obviously, but you won't have that yet; maybe the Starship plume will be visible when backlit.  FlightClub.io is definitely worth the money, although the payment / membership method is weird and initially fabulously confusing.

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/VickiCocks15/status/1926463046257348817

8 Dumlinks, the Starlink mass simulators, have been loaded into the payload section of S35. Everything crossed that, this time, we get to see them ejected. previous one.

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/BocasBrain/status/1926417089717240069

[catdlr]

Well....some are taking advantage to film the potential demise of the ship.


https://twitter.com/interstellargw/status/1926352532533583915

INTRODUCING OUR MOST AMBITIOUS MISSION YET; PROJECT SKYFALL

The Interstellar Gateway team brings you LIVE coverage of the potential demise of Starship on the next flight test, from a remote, uninhabited island DIRECTLY in the center of flight path. 🧵

[catdlr]

Just started.

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1926473349988794661

[catdlr]

Hopefull the last set of NOTAMS for this upcoming flight

[catdlr]

I have sent a PM to the mods to create Update and Discussion Threads now that FAA and more definite dates have been posted.

FTS (FutureSpaceTourist), the primary moderator for the Startship threads, is currently unavailable. Chris C has graciously taken the initiative to establish the two threads necessary for this launch. I will refrain from posting any further updates until the appropriate thread has been established. I extend my gratitude to Chris C for undertaking this task on my behalf; my caregiving responsibilities do not permit me the time required for this delicate setup, which involves providing instructions and reference links.

Tony

[ChrisC]

Done!

UPDATES: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=62947.0
DISCUSSION: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=62948.0

Edit 10-Jun: lock request sent