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this post was submitted on 14 Mar 2024
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Overall, much more successful than the previous test launch. SpaceX said they plan six more test launches this year so much opportunity for the trend to continue.
I'm hoping this is successful enough to put Starlinks on the next one to actually get operational, but the loss of attitude control and lack of Raptor relight don't make me super optimistic.
It looked to me like the cargo bay door didn't latch securely back in place, either.
Still, SpaceX always seems willing to add a few stretch goals to every launch. Starlinks are cheap enough that they could stick a few in the rack just in case everything works out.
I hope so, but if they launch on the suborbital trajectory again because they aren't certain about the Raptor relight for a deorbit burn, then I'm guessing a Starlink won't be able to deploy and raise its orbit in time to not also reenter.
Yeah, they'd need to be doing an orbital test for it to be worth the bother.