Starship from high altitude

Starships first not-exactly-successful launch was filmed not only from the ground, but from the NASA WB-57 flying at altitude. Apparently at least five cameras were trained on the launcher; video from two have been released, while three remain classified. i would *assume* that the classified three display some combination of:

1) better tracking

2) Better image quality – better sensor and/or telescope

3) Different spectra… IR and the like

Even with the somewhat dodgy tracking and potato-quality images, these are interesting. You really get a sense of how Starship flopped around the sky at the end there. Which was both sad and incredibly impressive… no other rocket would have survived as long flying *sideways.*

 

One response to “Starship from high altitude”

  1. EdH Avatar
    EdH

    “ …no other rocket would have survived as long flying *sideways.*”

    I strongly suspect the FTS charges are going from 1’s of pound’s to 10’s of pounds and in more locations.

    Which raises a question: when are they no longer required? How many hundreds of successful launches before you treat it like an airplane, with none at all?