SN10 and its predecessor SN9 at the starting point in Boca Chica, Texas, in early February.
SpaceX
The prototype tests come very quickly before SpaceX’s StarsX program. Only a few weeks after his predecessor SN9 flew high and then crashed On the Gulf Coast of Texas, SN10 will try to improve performance, and that could happen on Wednesday. If you want to follow the flight test at high altitude live, we’ll have a link here shortly before SpaceX’s live stream begins.
SN10 and SN9 are the latest versions of SpaceX and Elon Musk’s Starship prototypes that the company has fully developed at its factory in Boca Chica, Texas (or Starbase, as it will soon be known). Musk promised that the next generation rocket will be able to make revolutionary point-to-point journeys around the world, as well as sending civilians to the moon, Mars and beyond.
Over the past few years, Starship’s prototypes have progressed from making short “hops” to high-flying demonstrations. The last two serial numbers, SN8 and SN9, both flew to altitudes comparable to where commercial aircraft fly, but then came for explosive landings.
Musk warned in advance of the tests that he would expect such ‘rapid, unplanned disassembly’ events to be part of the development process.
SpaceX SN8 flew high and landed hard.
SpaceX CNET video recording by Jackson Ryan
Following the flight and crash of SN8 in December, the follow-up flight of SN9 suffered a series of delays during January. It was revealed that SN8 was launched without the necessary approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration, and that a kind of star contest was developed, as the FAA then took the time to award the launch license for SN9.
Finally, the FAA was satisfied with the safety measures for the test flight and SN9 finally flew on 2 February. After the fiery return to Earth this afternoon, the FAA announces that it will investigate the landing ‘accident’.
On February 19, an FAA spokesman said in an email that the agency had closed the investigation into the landing accident, “opening the way for the SN10 test flight pending the FAA’s approval of license updates.”
“The SN9 vehicle failed within the limits of the FAA safety analysis. The successful landing and explosion did not endanger the public or property. All debris was contained in the designated danger area. The FAA approved the final accident report, including the probable causes and remedies. “
From 22 February The Washington Post’s Christian Davenport reports that the FAA license has been granted, paving the way for SN10 to start after a static test fire.
The test took place on Tuesday and SpaceX was not entirely happy with the results. One of SN10’s Raptor engines was swapped and another test fire was completed on Thursday. An early Friday was ruled out, and over the weekend, SpaceX also chose not to try Monday with Wednesday, now the earliest we expect to see an explosion of Boca Chica.
Check here for updates and a live stream once SN10 is ready to fly.
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