r/SpaceX Starship SN8 15km Hop Official Launch Discussion & Updates Thread
[](/# MC // section intro)
Welcome to the r/SpaceX Starship SN8 12.5 km* Hop Official Hop Discussion & Updates Thread!
Hi, this is your host team with u/ModeHopper bringing you live updates on this test.
*Altitude for test flight reduced to 12.5 km rather than the originally planned 15km.
Quick Links
r/SpaceX Starship Development Resources
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Starship Serial Number 8 - 12.5 Kilometer Hop Test
Starship SN8, equipped with three sea-level Raptor engines will attempt a high-altitude hop at SpaceX's development and launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. For this test, the vehicle will ascend to an altitude of approximately 15 12.5km, before reorienting from prograde to radial with an angle of attack ~ 70 degrees. At this point, Starship will attempt an unpowered return to launch site (RTLS) where, in the final stages of the descent, all three Raptor engines will ignite to transition the vehicle to a vertical orientation and perform a propulsive landing.
Unlike previous hop tests, this high-altitude flight will test the aerodynamic control surfaces during the unpowered phase of flight, as well as the landing maneuvre - two critical aspects of the current Starship architecture. The exact launch time may not be known until just a few minutes before launch, and will be preceded by a local siren about 10 minutes ahead of time.
| Test window | Wed, Dec 9 2020 08:00-17:00 CST (14:00-23:00 UTC) |
|---|---|
| Backup date(s) | December 10 and 11 |
| Scrubs | Tue, Dec 8 22:34 UTC |
| Static fire | Completed November 24 |
| Flight profile | 12.5km altitude RTLS (suborbital) |
| Propulsion | Raptors SN36, SN39 and SN42 (3 engines) |
| Launch site | Starship Launch Site, Boca Chica TX |
| Landing site | Starship landing pad, Boca Chica TX |
[](/# MC // section events)
Timeline
| Time | Update |
|---|---|
| [](/# MC // row 0) T+45:23 | Confirmation from Elon that low header tank pressure was cause of anomaly on landing.<br> |
| [](/# MC // row 1) T+7:05 | Successful high-altitude flight of Starship SN8. Reaching apogee and transitioning to broadside descent. RUD on landing |
| [](/# MC // row 2) T+6:58 | Explosion |
| [](/# MC // row 3) T+6:43 | Landing |
| [](/# MC // row 4) T+6:35 | Flip to vertical begins |
| [](/# MC // row 5) T+4:53 | Approaching apogee, shift to bellyflop |
| [](/# MC // row 6) T+2:43 | One raptor out, Starship continues to climb |
| [](/# MC // row 7) T-22:46 UTC (Dec 9) | Ignition and liftoff |
| [](/# MC // row 8) T-22:44 UTC (Dec 9) | T-1 min |
| [](/# MC // row 9) T-22:39 UTC (Dec 9) | SN8 tri-venting, T-5 mins |
| [](/# MC // row 10) T-21:45 UTC (Dec 9) | Starship appears to be detanked. Still undergoing recycle. |
| [](/# MC // row 11) T-21:24 UTC (Dec 9) | New T-0 22:40 UTC (16:40 CST) |
| [](/# MC // row 12) T-21:03 UTC (Dec 9) | Countdown holding at T-02:06 |
| [](/# MC // row 13) T-20:58 UTC (Dec 9) | SpaceX webcast live. |
| [](/# MC // row 14) T-20:55 UTC (Dec 9) | SN8 tri-venting, launch estimated within next 15 mins. |
| [](/# MC // row 15) T-20:52 UTC (Dec 9) | Confirmation that NASA WB57 will not be tracking today's test. |
| [](/# MC // row 16) T-20:32 UTC (Dec 9) | SN8 fuelling has begun |
| [](/# MC // row 17) T-20:03 UTC (Dec 9) | Launch estimated NET 20:30 UTC |
| [](/# MC // row 18) T-19:57 UTC (Dec 9) | Venting from SN8 |
| [](/# MC // row 19) T-19:47 UTC (Dec 9) | Venting from propellant farm. |
| [](/# MC // row 20) T-18:34 UTC (Dec 9) | SpaceX comms array locked on SN8 |
| [](/# MC // row 21) T-17:35 UTC (Dec 9) | Pad clear. |
| [](/# MC // row 22) T-15:44 UTC (Dec 9) | Speculative launch time NET 20:00 UTC |
| [](/# MC // row 23) T-14:00 UTC (Dec 9) | Test window opens. |
| [](/# MC // row 24) T-22:37 UTC (Dec 8) | Next opportunity tomorrow. |
| [](/# MC // row 25) T-22:34 UTC (Dec 8) | Ignition, and engine shutdown. |
| [](/# MC // row 26) T-22:26 UTC (Dec 8) | SN8 tri-venting |
| [](/# MC // row 27) T-22:15 UTC (Dec 8) | Propellant loading has begun. |
| [](/# MC // row 28) T-22:03 UTC (Dec 8) | SN8 venting from skirt (~ 30 mins until possible attempt) |
| [](/# MC // row 29) T-22:00 UTC (Dec 8) | NASA WB57 descended to 12.5km altitude. |
| [](/# MC // row 30) T-21:57 UTC (Dec 8) | NASA WB57 approaching Boca Chica launch site. |
| [](/# MC // row 31) T-21:15 UTC (Dec 8) | NASA high-altitude WB57 tracking plane is en-route to Boca Chica |
| [](/# MC // row 32) T-19:50 UTC (Dec 8) | Chains off, crew looks to be clearing the pad. |
| [](/# MC // row 33) T-18:06 UTC (Dec 8) | The chains restraining SN8's airbrakes are being removed. |
| [](/# MC // row 34) T-17:48 UTC (Dec 8) | Pad re-opened. SpaceX employee activity around SN8. |
| [](/# MC // row 35) T-16:25 UTC (Dec 8) | Venting from SN8, possible WDR. |
| [](/# MC // row 36) T-16:06 UTC (Dec 8) | Local road closure in place, tank farm activity. |
| [](/# MC // row 37) T-09:56 UTC (Dec 8) | SpaceX webcast is public, "live in 4 hours" |
| [](/# MC // row 38) T-06:18 UTC (Dec 6) | TFR for today (Monday 7th) removed, TFRs posted for Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th December |
| [](/# MC // row 39) T-18:27 UTC (Dec 6) | Sunday TFR removed |
| [](/# MC // row 40) T-08:27 UTC (Dec 5) | TFR for Sunday 6th December 06:00-18:00 CST, possible attempt. |
| [](/# MC // row 41) T-18:00 UTC (Dec 4) | Flight altitude for the test has been reduced from 15km to 12.5km. Reason unknown. |
| [](/# MC // row 42) T-18:00 UTC (Dec 4) | No flight today, next test window is Monday same time. |
| [](/# MC // row 43) T-14:00 UTC (Dec 3) | Thread is live. |
[](/# MC // section viewing)
[](/# MC // section stats)
[](/# MC // section mission)
[](/# MC // section landing)
[](/# MC // section resources)
Resources
- NASA WB57 Observation Plane Tracking | Flight Aware
- Starship Development Thread #16
- Spadre.com Starship Cam | Channel
- LabPadre 4k Nerdle Cam | Channel
- NSF Texas Prototype(s) Updates Thread | Most recent
- NSF Florida Prototype(s) Updates Thread | Most recent
- Alex Rex's 3D Boca Chica Build Site Map | Launch Site Map | Channel
- Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)
- TFR - NOTAM list
- SpaceX Boca Chica on Facebook
- SpaceX's Starship page
- Elon Starship tweet compilation on NSF | Most Recent
- Starship Test Article Wiki Page
- Starship Users Guide (PDF) Rev. 1.0 March 2020
[](/# MC // section participate)
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[](/# MC // section END)
[](/# MC // let time = 1607553934000) [](/# MC // let launch = null) [](/# MC // let video = QlryDJqWalI)
Posted Dec 3, 2020, 2:25 PM UTC · edited