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I am wanting to make a comparison of the expected initial seconds of the ascent of the Starship/Super Heavy compared to the similar time of the Saturn V ascent.

If this chart (from a NASA space math document) of the Saturn V Rocket Launch Speed and Height is correct, the Saturn V was initially moving at a pedestrian rate and was only at highway speeds after 10 seconds.

Saturn V Time/Altitude/Speed chart

Is there an estimate of how fast the Starship/Super Heavy would be moving 5 and 10 seconds after liftoff?

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    $\begingroup$ Probably similar. If your thrust to weight ratio at liftoff is more than about 1.2, it means you didn’t bring enough fuel. $\endgroup$
    – Russell Borogove
    Commented Jan 1, 2020 at 1:25
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    $\begingroup$ The speed after the first second was 3 m/s or 10.8 km/h, faster than a pedestrian. But initial speed was 0. $\endgroup$
    – Uwe
    Commented Jan 2, 2020 at 15:13

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Teslerati's September 2019 article states a T/W ration of 1.5 is desirable. Calculating an estimated table for the first few seconds of flight is trival, as one can assume the mass is constant (it isn't), and the direction is straight up

Approximate time/altitude/speed graph for a 1.5 T/W rocket

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  • $\begingroup$ Should I assume the units are in m/s? $\endgroup$
    – Bob516
    Commented Jan 1, 2020 at 12:40
  • $\begingroup$ They are @Bob516 - I could redo it in furlongs per minute if you would prefer? $\endgroup$
    – user20636
    Commented Jan 1, 2020 at 13:00
  • $\begingroup$ space.stackexchange.com/q/39858/12102 $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Commented Jan 1, 2020 at 13:05
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    $\begingroup$ "Calculating an estimated table for the first few seconds of flight is trivial." Is it simply F=ma? If it is, I should've realized it myself. $\endgroup$
    – Bob516
    Commented Jan 1, 2020 at 13:06
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    $\begingroup$ oops, it was a link off the OP's Wikipedia link @uhoh, good catch $\endgroup$
    – user20636
    Commented Jan 2, 2020 at 0:34

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