Largest rocket in history launch thread!!!

[Legend]

Launch license has arrived, rocket is ready to go!!!

[Legend]

Starship FTS (Flight Termination System) Explosives are on the move and about to be installed! A sure sign that launch is happening as soon as Nov. 15th!

11/9/23https://t.co/qn7TnVzx7p pic.twitter.com/xtDzDV4vKn

— Starship Gazer (@StarshipGazer) November 9, 2023

Big bombs for a big rocket.

[Legend]

Starship preparing to launch as early as November 17, pending final regulatory approval ? https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK pic.twitter.com/qRKv9ugWsR

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 11, 2023

Really great hype video

[Legend]

Was just informed that approval to launch should happen in time for a Friday launch https://t.co/NshoTHdqew

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 14, 2023

Heck yeah hope it comes through.

[Legend]

Random fun coincidence.

Last launch was booster 7 and ship 24. Easy to remember as 24 7, always open business hours.

This launch is booster 9 and ship 25. Easy to remember as 9 to 5, common work hours.

Won't work for future launches though. Boosters 10, 11, and 12 are all ready to go and ship 26, 28, and 29 are ready to go. No fun combos with those. I really just hope the government is done holding spacex up. Would be awesome to see a third flight in January.

[Legend]

Fish and Wildlife have published their review. Pretty funny that they used the same calculations and justifications that fans have been using for months, like showing the deluge water has an insignificant impact compared to rain.

Really incredible that a multibillion dollar program was held up by this. It's always good to double check numbers on things that seem obvious but I think everyone expected FTS recertification to be the long pole. (that's the thing that blows up the rocket if it goes off course, and it partially failed last flight)

[Legend]

Targeting Friday, November 17 for Starship’s second flight test. A two-hour launch window opens at 7:00 a.m. CT ? https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK pic.twitter.com/4t3AfRke8h

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 15, 2023

[Legend]

All systems and weather are go for the second integrated flight test of Starship. Today's webcast will go live ~35 minutes ahead of liftoff ? https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK https://t.co/NHKUwGYYkY

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023

[Legend]

That was amazing! Perfect first stage launch.

[Legend]

@SpaceX @austinbarnard45 @WholeMarsBlog @SawyerMerritt @elonmusk

Starship Entry in Puerto Rico ???????? pic.twitter.com/L6H1YZbW3E

— Elias J. Sobrino Najul (@eliassob) November 18, 2023

For comparison here is the estimated trajectory pic.twitter.com/CcPFovXnTZ

— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) November 18, 2023

Second stage parts reentered around Puerto Rico. Best guess is that there was an explosion of some sort that caused a leak. That led to fuel running out 30 seconds early, leading to the RUD.

First stage was just damage from hot staging, either from the fire or the rapid movements. Or an engine exploded on relight, but that seems less likely.

Magnificent Machine with a 1000 ft plume
 pic.twitter.com/wsyXJQJr3v

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2023

Tracking camera views of hot-staging separation pic.twitter.com/wcCidOh5K0

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023

Starship launches off the pad under the power of all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster pic.twitter.com/79hC7yI1X9

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023

Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting second integrated flight test of Starship!

Starship successfully lifted off under the power of all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster and made it through stage separation pic.twitter.com/JnCvLAJXPi

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023

So freaking incredible. The shockwaves are crazy looking.

[Legend]

The world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, powered by 33 Raptor engines, lifting off from Starbase pic.twitter.com/PqynIneFln

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 19, 2023

Just inspected the Starship launch pad and it is in great condition!

No refurbishment needed to the water-cooled steel plate for next launch.

Congrats to @Spacex team & contractors for engineering & building such a robust system so rapidly! pic.twitter.com/py5m1uhtEi

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 19, 2023

Starship’s hot-stage separation was the first time this technique has been done successfully with a vehicle of this size pic.twitter.com/nlfhcPo8m7

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 19, 2023

Watch the three center engines on Starship’s upper stage gimbaling just after separation. Right before they ignite for hot-staging, the engines angle themselves outward to direct their exhaust towards the vented interstage before re-centering for ascent. pic.twitter.com/CCSVXfLcuE

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 19, 2023

First stage explosion was indeed from the rapid movements. Just delay the turn and engine relight in software and it seems like it would have been fine. Reminds me of the Falcon 1 failure where staging happened too fast.

Still no clue what caused the second stage to initially fail. Everything looks good until the leak shows up. Depending on what is needed to fix it, next launch could be in January (but probably later).

[Legend]

Slow motion tracking shot of Super Heavy's 33 Raptor engines shortly after liftoff pic.twitter.com/tzx0ToGGu4

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 21, 2023

All the engine plumes combine, forming giant mach diamonds.