Starship Flight 15 reportedly set for Nov. 13, Space.com reports
Space.com says the next Starship test could light up skies from Texas to the Gulf states.
TL;DR
- Space.com reports SpaceX aims for Starship Flight 15 as soon as Nov. 13 from South Texas.
- According to Space.com, the Super Heavy booster targets a tower catch while the Ship plans 14 orbits and 26 Starlink V3 deployments.
- According to Space.com, the 171-foot Ship could appear as a bright twilight object visible across much of the U.S.
Space.com reports that SpaceX plans its 15th Starship flight test as soon as Nov. 13, with a 75-minute window opening at 5:45 p.m. EST from the Starbase site in South Texas.
Space.com reports the launch happens about an hour before sunset locally, so folks nearby might catch a dramatic plume as the rocket heads southeast. Space.com notes the Super Heavy booster is meant to return and get caught by the tower arms, while the Ship upper stage aims for roughly 14 orbits over 22 hours.
During that time, Space.com says the Ship is expected to release 26 Starlink V3 satellites before trying its own catch back at Starbase. According to Space.com, visibility depends on size, orbit, and sunlight angle, but the 171-foot-tall Ship should stand out more than typical Starlink sats.
Space.com quotes one expert saying it will be visible in twilight hours and considerably brighter than the Starlink satellites due to its size. According to Space.com, the train of objects could appear as bright, evenly spaced lights for viewers between 30.5 degrees north and south of the equator, with lower views possible up to 40 degrees.
“It should be very bright, considerably brighter than the Starlink satellites due to its size.”
Space.com adds that the Ship might look like a fast-moving bright star, similar to the ISS but potentially brighter, while the smaller satellites range from 2nd to 4th magnitude. According to Space.com, tracking sites like Heavens-Above are suggested for updates.
The Tea
One more big test flight on the books means we’re inching closer to routine heavy-lift orbital runs. If it works, the catch attempts and satellite drops could shift how quickly SpaceX scales its constellation and Mars dreams.
Sources
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