Starship Orbital Launch unlikely in 2022 ??

[Startrek (Martin)]

I know Space X is pushing for an orbital launch of Starship in December but the orbital launch mount keeps getting blasted by the huge thrust of the raptors each time a static fire is performed which requires remedial work to repair minor damage (mostly shattered concrete skin and other debris )
For such an incredible, progressive, innovative private space company why didn’t they design some sort of flame diverter or blast shield in the orbital launch mount from day one to mitigate some of the damage caused ??

I can’t image what a 33 raptor 10 to 15 sec static fire will do to the orbital launch mount

Thoughts , comments and any inside information most welcome

Thanks

[mura_gadi (Steve)]

Hello,

Is it using Cape Canaveral or the Kennedy site? If so, they might not have the permissions to make the changes. Might be just testing there at someone else's expense to refine what's needed for the Boca Chica launch site. If the NASA/USAF sites aren't upgraded or unable to upgraded then it just makes the Boca Chica site look better... If the testing is at Boca Chica, then yes, some design engineer's have miscalculated badly.

I would have thought that the blast dispersion designed could have be similar but with a lot deeper wells before the thrusts impacted the concrete.


Steve

[gary]

This has been going on for at least two years.

I understood they were going to use a different formulation of concrete like that used in blast furnaces.

Rather than cosmetic, flying concrete at the velocities involved could be enough to cause a catastrophic failure of the vehicle at launch.

A Raptor engine was destroyed in precisely this way two years ago.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by mura_gadi

Hello,

Is it using Cape Canaveral or the Kennedy site? If so, they might not have the permissions to make the changes. Might be just testing there at someone else's expense to refine what's needed for the Boca Chica launch site. If the NASA/USAF sites aren't upgraded or unable to upgraded then it just makes the Boca Chica site look better... If the testing is at Boca Chica, then yes, some design engineer's have miscalculated badly.

I would have thought that the blast dispersion designed could have be similar but with a lot deeper wells before the thrusts impacted the concrete.


Steve

All testing has been done at Boca Chica , KSC site is still under construction for Starship in Roberts road

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by gary

This has been going on for at least two years.

I understood they were going to use a different formulation of concrete like that used in blast furnaces.

Rather than cosmetic, flying concrete at the velocities involved could be enough to cause a catastrophic failure of the vehicle at launch.

A Raptor engine was destroyed in precisely this way two years ago.

I’ve now read Space X are using “Fondag” alumina calcium concrete which has a much higher resistance to vibration and extremely high temperatures to Portland concrete.
So the latest static fire experienced less shards of concrete particles flying everywhere
Still doesn’t make sense why they don’t protect the launch mount with flame diversion or blast shielding ??