# Starship development and progress \[previous title: Will Musk's starship reach orbit this year?\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** elon-musk\ **Created:** [July 7, 2022, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583 "2022-07-07T22:05:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 38
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/741 "2024-03-06T17:42:16Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Beware the Ides-of-March-eve! Maybe they chose it because it’s 🥧 day. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/742 "2024-03-06T22:10:19Z")
Mmm, pi. Though I still prefer tau day. Two pies! Some more info from SpaceX: > **[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-3)** > > SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. Similar to the previous timeline, but with the addition of a payload door test and a propellant transfer demo. We knew about the propellant demo, though not much in the way of detail. Probably a transfer between the header and main tanks, though. Didn’t know about the payload door test. And I’m curious about the order of events: it goes _Payload door open, Propellant transfer demo, Payload door close_. Are the two things related somehow? I don’t see how they would be, but I dunno. Maybe there’s a venting event that needs to have the door open or something. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/743 "2024-03-09T01:17:21Z")
Edited: Fake FAA account. Well, they got me. The explosives guys are real, though. ETA2: In my defense, they got the Washington Post space reporter (Christian Davenport) first. The Flight Termination System explosives crew is on their way: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/XJOzz9b.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/XJOzz9b) ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/744 "2024-03-13T21:00:40Z")
Ok, the license is actually real this time: > **[The FAA grants SpaceX a license ahead of third Starship launch attempt](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/03/13/spacex-starship-faa-license/)** > > The test, the third of a fully assembled Starship and booster, could happen as soon as Thursday. Tomorrow is still a go, though weather looks dicey. Launch window opens at 8 am Eastern. Excitement guaranteed! ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/745 "2024-03-14T02:36:23Z")
The actual FAA tweet: > I should have looked for the grey checkmark previously. But whatever, it’s here now and in time for the launch. Less than 10 hours away, in principle. Couldn’t tell you the odds, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/746 "2024-03-14T11:10:16Z")
Zero chance, they usually never launch when they’re supposed to ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/747 "2024-03-14T12:03:10Z")
IFT-2 was delayed a day, but that happened two days earlier. Once they reached the targeted day, they launched only 2 minutes into the window. For IFT-3, they were initially targetting 7:30 central, but apparently there are some wayward boats and are now shooting for 8:02. So a bit delayed. Not bad, though, if they keep to it. Everyday Astronaut stream is going here: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ixZpBOxMopc/maxresdefault.jpg "[4K] Watch SpaceX launch Starship, LIVE up close and personal!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixZpBOxMopc) He’s a bit more excitable that I’d usually like, but he does have good cameras. SpaceX will have a stream going here: > **[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-3)** > > SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. But they’re streaming via Twitter and the quality is probably not as high as YouTube. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/748 "2024-03-14T12:06:22Z")
Now targeting 8:10 due to the boats. You’d think they could install some missiles or lasers or something to make chasing them down easier. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/749 "2024-03-14T13:24:29Z")
T-one minute! ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/750 "2024-03-14T13:26:26Z")
It’s off! Looking good so far. ETA: Hot staging success! ETA2: Looks like the booster didn’t explode on boostback this time. Still alive. ETA3: Whoa, some wild swings on the booster on the touchdown burn. Looks like the booster was lost. Probably fuel starvation. Upper stage still going, though. ETA4: Nominal engine cutoff for Starship. It’s in (almost) orbit! ETA5: I think we can say that Raptor reliability is a solved problem. Two flights in a row now with all 39 engines firing correctly. Only problem so far is booster controllability in the atmosphere. Maybe a grid fin problem? They didn’t seem to be doing the job. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/751 "2024-03-14T13:37:20Z")
Amazing! I happened to catch the stream right when it was starting. Sad to see the booster fail at what is basically the last stage (it lined up for its landing burn but either blew up or failed to stop, it couldn’t light all the engines and then connection was lost) but that was a reach goal anyways. If they manage to complete the orbit with Starship, can we finally put this thread out of its misery? Or at least edit the title? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/752 "2024-03-14T13:39:24Z")
Are we in orbit? I tuned out for a second and when I came back they said “come back in 40 minutes for the deorbit burn” ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/753 "2024-03-14T13:39:52Z")
From the feed (and we had great onboard footage this time), the booster was rotating axially with greater and greater movements. I expect that the fuel was being flung out to the sides or just generally agitated and that led to starvation. Could be some of the grid fins weren’t working, or their control loop needs tweaking. That’s an element that hasn’t been tested before. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/754 "2024-03-14T13:40:52Z")
Yep, Starship is in orbit. Or at least their planned almost-but-not-quite orbit. Nominal, at any rate. They plan a deorbit burn over the Indian ocean. And in the meantime, some payload door and prop transfer tests. ETA: I would say this is orbit for the purposes of this thread. It was always planned to be less than a full loop around the Earth. But it’s at orbital velocity and a totally nominal flight of the upper stage so far. ETA2: Oooh, some nice views of the inside of the payload bay now. We don’t get to see that often. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/755 "2024-03-14T13:45:27Z")
And only 2 years late to answer the thread with a ‘yes’. Honestly, not all that bad at all. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/756 "2024-03-14T13:54:51Z")
I’m confident the booster problems will be worked out. For me the big issue is, did/can the upper stage survive reentry intact? That’s _everything_; the entire vision for Starship depends on that. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/757 "2024-03-14T13:56:12Z")
Reentry is still about 20 minutes off. ETA: Maybe having trouble with closing the payload door? Should have closed by now. I saw it move but it didn’t look smooth. They still have a few minutes to figure things out… ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/758 "2024-03-14T14:02:07Z")
Any word yet on how the launch pad held up to takeoff? ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/759 "2024-03-14T14:02:38Z")
Computer issues with the pod bay doors? I’m sorry Dave, I can’t do that. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/760 "2024-03-14T14:03:18Z")
It held up perfectly with IFT-2, so I anticipate the same with this test. The new water deluge system worked as expected. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-development-and-progress-previous-title-will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583.md?page=39)