Starship Launch Readiness - August 4th 2022
Estimated Launch Date - September 14th 2022
Source: @Grandpajoe42

‍Watch Falcon 9 launch KPLO to orbit → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTrkHZjiO_8
Source: @SpaceX

Liftoff of KPLO.
Source: @SpaceX

The Falcon 9 program is just a machine: Now launching a very large rocket every 6.3 days in 2022. Super hard and super impressive engineering and technical work.
Source: @SciGuySpace

Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship
Source: @SpaceX

Deployment of KPLO confirmed
Source: @SpaceX

Hustling to get Starship Booster 7 back to pad to test outer ring of 20 engines
Source: @elonmusk

Moving rocket to launch pad
Source: @elonmusk

Hydraulic failure on the chopsticks. No lift tonight...

https://youtu.be/G88b6mzmCuI
Source: @nextspaceflight

‍I love the smell of hydraulic fluid in the morning
Source: @elonmusk

Booster 7 moving into active testing. It's a mystery what testing they will conduct, from Spin Prime to Preburner to Static Fire (no overpressure notice at this time).

➡️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KufFt0JpoWw
Source: @NASASpaceflight

🚀 Next launch Starlink Group 4-26
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5
From LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center 🇺🇸

🕙 Launch time
August 9th, 22:57 UTC

🌍 Mission information
Type Communications
Orbit Low Earth Orbit

🚀 Booster information
Core B1073.3 (3rd flight ♻️)
Landing Unknown (ASDS 🌊)

ℹ️ A batch of 53 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
#Launch

Ship 24 starts today's testing with another spin prime test. We're awaiting to see what comes next for the Starship and Booster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KufFt0JpoWw
Source: @NASASpaceflight

ℹ What is a Spin Prime test?

During the spin up (also referred to as a spin prime) test, the fuel passes through the engine systems, but is not ignited in the gas generators.

Instead of hot gases, the turbine spins cold gas supplied from the outside. It spins the turbine up to operating speeds, and the pumps pump fuel at nominal pressure.

Booster 7 single engine Spin Prime test it would appear.

So that's two Ship 24 six engine Spin Primes and one Booster 7 single engine Spin Prime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KufFt0JpoWw
Source: @NASASpaceflight

‍Northrop Grumman has bought three Falcon 9 missions from SpaceX to launch its Cygnus cargo spacecraft, a spokeswoman says, as the company looks to replace Antares' Russian-made RD-181 engines with Firefly's Miranda engines.

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/northrop-taps-rocket-startup-firefly-replace-antares-russian-engines-2022-08-08/

Booster 7 descending from the heavens
Source: @NicAnsuini

Updated Google Maps satellite imagery for SpaceX Starbase.
Source: @arctechinc