They did consider SN9 as a new bird, but had to re-consider it as a new bird again after they swapped some engines, even though it had not flown. It seems they didn’t know this until after it was on the pad and ready to fly.

*Just my understanding and may be wrong*

Elon Musk, serving up SciFi pictures in real life! That is so very cool.

Fingers crossed that SN9 flies tomorrow, but isn't SN10 kinda in close proximity?

This is neat. Someone want to chip in and pay for me to take a ride? :)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Announcing the first commercial astronaut mission to orbit Earth aboard Dragon → <a href="https://t.co/MbESvnakAD">https://t.co/MbESvnakAD</a> <a href="https://t.co/ukLsjFfRjk">pic.twitter.com/ukLsjFfRjk</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1356354006814060547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

They seem to have a level of confidence that I'm not sure I'd share.

You can enter to win a trip on Dragon here if you are in the mood to donate:

https://www.prizeo.com/campaigns/l/i...n=Inspiration4

Ugh:

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/2...tion-elon-musk

SpaceX’s first high-altitude test flight of its Starship rocket, which launched successfully but exploded in a botched landing attempt in December, violated the terms of its Federal Aviation Administration test license, according to two people familiar with the incident. Both the landing explosion and license violation prompted a formal investigation by the FAA, driving regulators to put extra scrutiny on Elon Musk’s hasty Mars rocket test campaign.

Yeah, these theories confuse me. Did they assume SpaceX could guarantee a landing? Doesn't make sense to me. Also saw someone saying it was because wreckage was found up to 4km away. Which is well within the 5mi exclusion zone. So again, doesn't make sense. I don't doubt that the FAA may believe they violated something, but the complete lack of transparency is annoying as ****.

EDIT: The FAA considering SN9 a completely new vehicle after two engines were swapped out makes the most sense to me, but I really haven't been paying much attention.

I also read a theory that the SN8 flight did not conform to the approved envelope. Not sure which theory, if any, is correct.

SpaceX has a green light from the FAA, and Starship SN9 is free to fly

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021...pe-sn9-to-fly/

TODAY IS GOING TO BE THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN FEEL IT

Seeing some tank farm activity, fellas!

Any idea where the landing area is in relation to this picture?