# Continuing discussion of SpaceX launches \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 22, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048 "2015-12-22T00:37:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 54
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1061 "2021-01-29T21:28:58Z")
Did they have to scrub SN9 completely? I’m seeing that SN10 is rolling out. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1062 "2021-01-29T22:16:22Z")
Yep. FAA is still dragging its feet. I’m not sure why, since this is a repeat of the sn8 flight which was already approved. I hope this isn’t the result of political change at the FAA. There were rumblings a while ago about forcing a full environmental review, site survey, and canvassing nearby residents before allowing SpaceX to continue launching Starship - a process some have said could take a couple of years, and open up the site to attempts to shut it down by various activist groups. That seemed to calm down for a while and I haven’t heard more about it, but this is a worrying sign that the regulatory environment may have changed with the new administration. For the FAA’s part, they claim they are working as fast as they can. I guess we will see. One thing for sure - Musk is the kind of person who won’t tolerate excessive regulatory delays. If he keeps getting stalled by bureaucrcy, he could easily decide to move Starship testing out of country. There are lots of equatorial countries that would love to have SpaceX investment. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1063 "2021-01-29T22:19:44Z")
I’m wondering if it could have something to do with the damage to the nose that was repaired. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1064 "2021-01-29T22:24:55Z")
Oh, that’s a good point. It would at least give them an excuse for further review. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1065 "2021-01-29T22:36:20Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > There are lots of equatorial countries that would love to have SpaceX investment. Good luck dealing with the ITAR issues in that case. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1066 "2021-01-29T23:08:41Z")
So… back to the Marshall Islands again? There must be some equatorial countries not on the ITAR sanctioned list. There’s also those oil platforms he bought. They are deep water rigs, and presumably could be dragged out into international waters. But then he’d still have to deal with at least ICAO. But I suspect the FAA will get its act together at some point. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1067 "2021-01-29T23:31:58Z")
Good FAQ at ArsTechnica: > **[What’s really going on with Elon Musk, the FAA, and Starship?](https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/whats-really-going-on-with-elon-musk-the-faa-and-starship/)** > > In the end, it's likely that cooler heads will prevail. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1068 "2021-01-30T19:38:21Z")
Monday (1 February) now. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1069 "2021-02-02T00:25:31Z")
I’m not saying when it is. I’m clearly jinxing it. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1070 "2021-02-02T14:44:59Z")
FAA gives thumbs up: > **[SpaceX crashes a second Starship into South Texas \[Updated\]](https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/today-may-finally-be-the-day-for-starship-prototype-sn9-to-fly/)** > > It's time to see if SN9 can stick the landing in South Texas. No ETA that I can find. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1071 "2021-02-02T19:50:55Z")
Head’s up: Starship is loading fuel, and could fly as soon as 15 minutes from now. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1072 "2021-02-02T19:54:04Z")
Livestream: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wfHqbahPKpY/maxresdefault.jpg "Starship SN9 Flight Test") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfHqbahPKpY) Over 200k watching right now! I love seeing both rockets on pads at the same time; it looks awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1073 "2021-02-02T20:08:55Z")
They must be confident that either Starship won’t RUD on landing again, or that the explosion won’t send shrapnel into SN10. I actually thought they’d move SN10 off the pad before launching SN9. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1074 "2021-02-02T20:09:28Z")
Go big or go home! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1075 "2021-02-02T20:13:56Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I love seeing both rockets on pads at the same time; it looks awesome! I always thought this picture was very cool looking: [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Space_shuttles_Atlantis_%28STS-125%29_and_Endeavour_%28STS-400%29_on_launch_pads.jpg/640px-Space_shuttles_Atlantis_%28STS-125%29_and_Endeavour_%28STS-400%29_on_launch_pads.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Space_shuttles_Atlantis_%28STS-125%29_and_Endeavour_%28STS-400%29_on_launch_pads.jpg/640px-Space_shuttles_Atlantis_%28STS-125%29_and_Endeavour_%28STS-400%29_on_launch_pads.jpg) But it was always kind of bittersweet, too, because the only reason there were two Shuttles queued up like that was because by the point that picture was taken, NASA had realized that the Shuttle was so unsafe that they needed to have a second one ready to go in the event they had another _Columbia_ situation, with a ship in orbit that was already fatally damaged. (The picture is from 2008, at which point the Shuttle was well along to being retired.) But the picture _looks_ like the Shuttle had somehow lived up to its early promise; like Shuttles were lining up to launch like Delta airplanes at Hartsfield or something. There’s even a rainbow! (There’s [another two-Shuttle picture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Space_shuttles_Atlantis_%28STS-125%29_and_Endeavour_%28STS-400%29_on_launch_pads_again.jpg) that’s also cool, but it doesn’t have a rainbow.) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1076 "2021-02-02T20:33:26Z")
Well, darn. We should hire Elon Musk to do the Fourth of July, though! _BOOM!_ ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1077 "2021-02-02T20:34:48Z")
dang so close It sounds like a problem they can fix tho. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1078 "2021-02-02T20:38:46Z")
The second engine didn’t light. That’s a different failure mode than last time. They may have some more design work to do on the Raptors or the fuel system. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1079 "2021-02-02T20:45:57Z")
Disappointing but you can see this thing is going to nail it soon. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048/1080 "2021-02-02T21:03:02Z")
Some piece of… something flew out of the engine skirt when the second engine ignited. Might be a Raptor problem, not a Starship problem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048.md?page=53) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-discussion-of-spacex-launches-edited-title/741048.md?page=55)