The launch of the spacecraft has become a regular occurrence at SpaceX’s rocket development facilities in Boca Chica, Texas. For the second time this month, the company is preparing to fly an advanced prototype of its next spaceship.
The prototype, called Starship serial number 11, or SN11, could be launched as early as Tuesday. It would roar tens of thousands of feet into the air, turn off its engines, turn sideways and then fall back to earth. Four wing flaps should control the fall of the rocket, and the engines should re-ignite just in time to turn it upright and lower it to the landing system.
SpaceX has already reported three such high-flying flights, but each ended in a catastrophic explosion. The first two prototypes, SN8 and SN9, descended at high speed into the runway and immediately exploded. The third, SN10, ended up in one piece but inflated 10 minutes later.
From left to right: the explosions SN8, SN9 and SN10.
Gene Blevins / Reuters; SPadre.com
All of these prototypes represent the upper stage of a two-part system: Eventually, an approximately 23-story amplifier called the Super Heavy would spin the Starship’s spaceship into orbit. The entire system is intended to be completely and quickly reusable, which could enable SpaceX to reduce the cost of reaching space a thousandfold.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s long-term vision is that the system should fly astronauts to the moon and drive hypersonic travel on Earth. He said he plans to build 1,000 Starships to transport humans and cargo to Mars and establish a Mars settlement.
Spectators gather to watch SpaceX roll out the SN11 prototype.
SPadre.com
SpaceX may try to fly and land SN11 as early as this week. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued airspace closures in the area for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and the Cameron County judge has issued local road closure notices for Wednesday and Thursday. Both aerial and road closures are required for launch.
However, these closures can be rescheduled if SpaceX is not ready to fly. Prior to the SN9 flight, new closures were made week after week before SpaceX made an effort. We will update this post as soon as SpaceX confirms a launch date for SN11.
Watch the Starship prototype fly live
A scream from a SpaceX livestream shows SN10 taking to the air above Boca Chica, Texas, on March 3, 2021.
SpaceX
SpaceX is expected to broadcast the test flight live, as with the last three. The live stream is embedded below as soon as it becomes available.
Meanwhile, a few fans of the company are broadcasting preparation activities at the launch facilities. Some of their video feeds captured a static fire test last week – that’s when SpaceX fires a rocket’s engines to test it before flight.
LabPadre offers six unique views of the Starship launch site. Below is the main feed of the channel in 4K resolution.
Visit SPadre’s 24-hour live feed for a wider view of the launch site – broadcast from the top of a resort on South Padre Island, about 9km away.
NASASpaceflight also covers events at Boca Chica, which offers broadcasts with multiple high-quality camera views and commentary input. Their live stream of the launch will be added as soon as it becomes available.