Topic: Interesting stuff about SpaceX Starship (hate the name)

[Nemesis]

IFT 8 has flown.  Good news and bad news.

Booster - launched all 33 engines, perfect separation.  Re-ignition only 11 of the 13 engines ignited (last time it was 12 of 13).  Second re-ignition 12 of 13 engines ignited (last time it was all 13).  Final re-ignition all 3 ignited and it was a 3rd perfect catch.

Starship - Separation perfect all 6 engines.  At about 8 minutes and 5 seconds they quickly lost one of the vacuum raptors and all 3 sea level engines (needed for attitude control).  It spun out of control and lost the last 2 engines before explosion (detonated or breakup I don't know).  It was about 20 seconds from planned engine shut off.

This may be a failed fix of the IFT 7 issue (but still improved as it lasted longer) or it may be something new.

On to IFT 9.  Previous prediction was April, will it happen then????

[Nemesis]

A Falcon 9 was relaunched only 9 days after landing, a new record speed.

[Nemesis]

IFT 9 will reuse booster 14 and 29 engines (+4 new engines for 33 total). One of those engines has already flown twice.  Rumours have it that there will be no attempt to catch it but no reason is given.  Could it be they are going to try for a Starship catch?  Perhaps booster 14 has damage that prevents a catch but not a launch?  It has had a static fire done this last week.

Still no date for the launch.  Perhaps mid to late May. 

[Tus-XC]

A starship test would be great, but I don't think that is the case.  Likely they don't want to risk the platform with damage should something go wrong with reuse.