Yes, according to SpaceX, that is the first date that they are looking at. However, we're still listening to crickets from Fish and Wildlife, so that's far from a firm date.

For those wondering what takes Fish and Wildlife so long I offer this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdUw6olCTvQ&t=221s

Our government at work. Enjoy.

And while we’re at it, why is it Fish and Wildlife? Aren’t fish already wildlife?

Maybe they think it means fishing and hunting?

Watching a podcast last night they said Friday was unlikely as it doesn't give them consecutive backup days since they won't launch over the weekend due to some agreement about beach-goers.

I am pretty darn excited for this spectacle.

Tj

Maybe they think it means fishing and hunting?

The Fish people are done (yesterday).
No impact from the deluge system and they can use it up to 30 times per year.

Maybe Friday is the day after all!!

Cool! I'll be watching. It's guaranteed excitement.

More interesting and meaningful than a car race in Las Vegas, that's for sure.

Mike C.

More interesting and meaningful than a car race in Las Vegas, that's for sure.

Mike C.

The Perez and Alonso battle made the last race the best of the season (for me at least)

Launch license in hand.
Friday is the day I guess.

Weather is going to be perfect. Clear, sunny, high of 82 F, wind under 5 MPH.

That almost certainly means the launch will be scrubbed.

Mike C.

Such a vastly different vehicle this time. I hope they get to Hawaii intact with LOTS of video before sinking into the Abyss for eternity

Well, half of it is slated to sink into the abyss off of Hawaii, the other half is supposed to take a swim in the not so abyssal Gulf of Mexico. Whatever happens, it's going to be exciting to watch.

The hot staging is a big wildcard since they haven't done that with any of their rockets before. Bringing the booster back is a relative gimme assuming they did their math correctly. In my estimation (which is worth very little), the big question mark is the same one as last time: The engines. Yes, many of those on the first flight were victims of self inflicted wounds from the concrete tornado, but a couple of them were not. SpaceX can get through this test with less than 33 Raptors, but ultimately they need to all work all of the time, and up until now that hasn't happened. Hot staging is next. The risk there I think is loss of the booster due to damage from the staging. If it gets to that point, Starship should be able to complete the suborbital flight, which leaves the last obstacle; surviving atmospheric entry. This would be the first flight test of the heat shield, so that will be interesting. It's unfortunate that they don't intend to soft "land" the spacecraft; I would think that having a good look at those tiles would be important, but apparently they're saving that for IFT3.

Another interesting bit is that SpaceX has filed with the FCC for a license to transmit from the spacecraft to the Starlink network which is intended among other things to allow them to maintain the data stream during the entry phase when communication is usually "blacked out" by ionization of the atmosphere ahead of and below the vehicle (where all of the action is taking place). The hope is that a signal on the opposite side of the vehicle will not be blocked.

I thought I had read that the prior engine outs were not rock-nado inflicted?

Regardless, hoping for more engines for sure. Totally different engine design, totally different gimble (Electric). Plus a lot better shielding. That first go was mostly a 420 play lol. (Okok you've had your fun, now do it right.)

I'm with you on the Ship landing. Wish that was a Flip and Splash.

We're talking tomorrow morning IF it goes... I'll be up early.

TJ