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A comment on SpaceX Super Heavy splashes down in the gulf, canceling chopsticks landing. Parent comment

Re:SpaceX Super Heavy splashes down in the gulf, canceling c... by nomilk on Tuesday November 19, 2024 @09:22PM (#42190272)
The utility of test flights doesn't come from delivering a payload; but from collecting data. For example today's test involved intentionally weakening starship's heat shield to see if previous estimates of required shielding had been too conservative.
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Re:SpaceX Super Heavy splashes down in the gulf, canceling c... by soheil on Wednesday November 20, 2024 @12:39AM (#42191083)
Well looks like you imposed a qualification on these types of flights and now by definition they cannot deliver payload.

The flights could deliver cheap payload for example.

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Re:SpaceX Super Heavy splashes down in the gulf, canceling c... by AlessandroF6587 on Wednesday November 20, 2024 @01:58AM (#42191402)
"The payload is data." Elon The data they get from the test and they focus on getting the most and most valuable data. This is an explicit choice. A physical payload at this stage would reduce the overall value that they are able to get from a flight.
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Re:SpaceX Super Heavy splashes down in the gulf, canceling c... by cwillu on Wednesday November 20, 2024 @05:43AM (#42192622)
You can't deliver a payload to orbit if you're not planning on going to orbit. They have a launch licence for a particular mission plan.

The license for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy specifically says “Authorization: SpaceX is authorized to conduct flights of launch vehicles: […] (c) Transporting Dragon 2 to low Earth orbit or a payload to orbit;”

The license for Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle does not include such an authorization.

https://www.faa.gov/media/69476

https://www.faa.gov/media/75501

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