This has simply got to be the most important drone in the whole world today! There surely cannot be any other that will top this one?!
Of course, I'm referring to the SpaceX drone that frequently appears above the launch pad at Boca Chica, Texas. And, yes, we're all getting very excited that today could be The Day that we'll see Starship SN9 ignite its three Raptor engines to perform its test launch. (We've already seen them ignite for no less than six static fire tests.) Nothing has captured the imagination about space travel so well since I watched the Apollo 11 Moon landing way back in 1969.
SpaceX's drone will probably be aloft for the launch. But it will certainly be up for recording the astonishing landing sequence, which comes after that amazing skydiving belly-flop decent. And, this time, SpaceX is likely to nail the actual landing - after SN8 crash-landed on their "landing pad" after an otherwise phenomenally successful and pioneering flight up to and back from 12.5 km.
If, by some miracle, the drone pilot gets to read this (which is highly unlikely to be the case because he or she will be piloting an Inspire 2), let us know how you're feeling. Cue music, as in "Under pressure!"
Am I excited? Do I really need to answer that question? This is genuinely historic.
I'm sure there'll be plenty of people who haven't yet woken up to all that SpaceX are doing at Boca Chica - nor indeed with Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starlink. This is your chance to get with the program. Mars, he we come. And before that will be the Moon. Meanwhile, it's all on show for us to follow the test program in great detail.
Disclaimer: NET is short for "Not Earlier Than". Delays are always possible or likely because of weather and a thousand things that can go wrong. Today's weather is looking good. But this is a test program. For SN8, we had an abort just before T-0, then the next day there was a "Hold" before a recycle and launch. Anyway, put away your own drone from 3.00pm UTC or GMT today and follow what's hopefully going to happen. SpaceX.com will have their own live feed at T-5 minutes before takeoff and there'll be various good coverage beforehand.
Of course, I'm referring to the SpaceX drone that frequently appears above the launch pad at Boca Chica, Texas. And, yes, we're all getting very excited that today could be The Day that we'll see Starship SN9 ignite its three Raptor engines to perform its test launch. (We've already seen them ignite for no less than six static fire tests.) Nothing has captured the imagination about space travel so well since I watched the Apollo 11 Moon landing way back in 1969.
SpaceX's drone will probably be aloft for the launch. But it will certainly be up for recording the astonishing landing sequence, which comes after that amazing skydiving belly-flop decent. And, this time, SpaceX is likely to nail the actual landing - after SN8 crash-landed on their "landing pad" after an otherwise phenomenally successful and pioneering flight up to and back from 12.5 km.
If, by some miracle, the drone pilot gets to read this (which is highly unlikely to be the case because he or she will be piloting an Inspire 2), let us know how you're feeling. Cue music, as in "Under pressure!"
Am I excited? Do I really need to answer that question? This is genuinely historic.
I'm sure there'll be plenty of people who haven't yet woken up to all that SpaceX are doing at Boca Chica - nor indeed with Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starlink. This is your chance to get with the program. Mars, he we come. And before that will be the Moon. Meanwhile, it's all on show for us to follow the test program in great detail.
Disclaimer: NET is short for "Not Earlier Than". Delays are always possible or likely because of weather and a thousand things that can go wrong. Today's weather is looking good. But this is a test program. For SN8, we had an abort just before T-0, then the next day there was a "Hold" before a recycle and launch. Anyway, put away your own drone from 3.00pm UTC or GMT today and follow what's hopefully going to happen. SpaceX.com will have their own live feed at T-5 minutes before takeoff and there'll be various good coverage beforehand.
