Well folks, it's time for the second launch of Starship version 2, as well as another booster RTLS and chopsticks catch attempt! Let's hope the ship fares better this time!
This follows a launch attempt earlier this week which was scrubbed due after a prolonged hold in the countdown while the teams worked multiple issues on the booster, ship, and GSE.
| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-03-06 23:30 | |
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| | Scheduled for (local) | 2025-03-03 17:30 (CDT) | | Launch Window (UTC) | 2025-03-03 23:30 to 2025-03-04 00:30 (60 minutes) | | Launch site | Pad A, SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA. | | Booster | B15 | | Ship | S34 | | Booster landing | Chopsticks catch at Pad A or soft water landing in Gulf of Mexico | | Ship landing | Indian Ocean |
Webcasts
| Stream | Link | |
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| | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQG053ogu20 | | Everyday Astronaut | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUNsegCqQs | | Spaceflight Now | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUnbnm7OKCw | | NASASpaceflight | Stakeout stream, Launch stream | | LabPadre | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yng6SV8yO0Y | | The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rY9T2iLtfY | | VideoFromSpace | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Z1ZUxxObs | | SpaceX | https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1897438948458189156 | | The Space Devs | |
Stats
Sourced from NextSpaceflight and r/SpaceX:
☑️ 2nd launch of Starship version 2
☑️ 2nd Starship Full Stack launch this year, 8th overall
☑️ 2nd launch from Pad A this year, 8th overall
☑️ 49 days, 0:53:00 turnaround for this pad
☑️ 28th SpaceX launch this year, 478th overall
Mission Details 🚀
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SpaceX website (current). Highlights:
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"flight will fly the same suborbital trajectory as previous missions and will target objectives not reached on the previous test"
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"Starship will deploy four Starlink simulators, similar in size to next-generation Starlink satellites"
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Another in-space raptor relight is planned
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"A significant number of tiles have been removed from Starship to stress-test vulnerable areas across the vehicle."
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"Multiple metallic tile options, including one with active cooling, will test alternative materials for protecting Starship during reentry."
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"non-structural versions of Starship’s catch fittings are installed to test the fittings’ thermal performance"
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"flight also includes the launch, return, and catch of the Super Heavy booster"
Disappointing results to say the least. From an external point of view, it looks like SpaceX hasn't learned the lessons from the previous flight (even though we can't be sure it's the same kind of issue). Something seems really wrong with Starship V2.
Now, I'm thinking there is a decent chance they will keep that bad trajectory (pun intended) and try to launch the next starship soonish instead of doing a very careful review.
I would be really sad a few year ago, but given the nazi CEO, my excitement has plummeted. But I already ranted about that on r/spacex (even though my message got removed by the moderators).