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Comment by mkl | Hacker News Reader

From https://www.space.com/spacex-faa-license-second-starship-lau...:

> The liftoff is set to occur Friday (Nov. 17) from Starbase, a SpaceX facility in South Texas, during a two-hour window that opens at 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT; 7 a.m. local time in Texas).

2-4am in NZ. Don't think I'll be staying up.

View on HN

If I understood timezones correctly, it will be Friday 6pm for me (utc+5) for once I am in good timezone-wise, for falcon heavy I had to stay late at night.

Elon tweeted that now the launch attempt will be on Saturday due to having to fix an actuator on a grid fin.

gotta get it right, I'll be able to see it

In my favourite way: The window starts when this comment is 26.5 hours old.

*26.36583333...

You posted the comment @1700131083 (2023-11-16T10:38:03Z) (see https://hacker-news.firebaseio.com/v0/item/38287917.json?pri...) and the start will be @1700226000 (2023-11-17T13:00:00Z)

1700226000 - 1700131083 = 94917 seconds = 26.36583333... hours → 1 day 2 hour 21 minutes 57 seconds

While I appreciate the pedantry, there's no need for the Firebase thing: just hover your mouse over the comment's timestamp.

Doesn't work on mobile

Desktop: "Look at what they need to mimic a fraction of our power"

True. Not hard to see it in view-source:https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38287917 though (HN doesn't understand that "view-source:" is part of the address).

Here is the launch window in your current timezone:

http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/event?lid=5&h=5&sts=28336620&s...

Edit: it's probably fine.

Might be daylight savings adjustments making things look weird. The adjusted time is correct when I view the site.

Its correct.

> 7 a.m. local time in Texas

So, 5am Pacific? Texas is Central I assume?

Yes, 5am Pacific. Texas is mostly Central except for a sliver containing El Paso

Are countdowns scheduled such that the launch ideally happens right as the launch window opens?

Not exactly right as the window opens (as they have to ensure the area is clear before launching) but pretty close to when the window opens. Especially with experimental rockets like this because as we've seen before, it isn't guaranteed that the rocket passes all checks and lifts off at the first attempt. So that gives them the largest amount of time to reset and try again before having to give up for the day and schedule the next try.

I heard they want to launch as soon as possible within the window so that conditions don’t turn to shit and lose the chance. So possible it’ll happen at 7am?

Normally yes, to maximize the amount of time they have for a do-over if something goes wrong in the initial countdown.

That doesn't seem right. They'll be crashing into the Ocean off Hawaii in the dark.

If they get anywhere near Hawaii they'll be very happy. They don't need to see it crater in.

It’s my understanding a soft water landing is being attempted.

That's a serious reach goal, and they still don't need to see it.

I still don't think you need light for that. It is going to the bottom of the ocean either way

Not for starship, for the booster.

That would be considered a win.

Make that Nov. 18th (same time).

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