Last Wednesday, in South Texas, SpaceX launched the engines of its newest prototype spacecraft Starship more than once or twice. Engineers and technicians refueled and tested their SN9 prototype and its Raptor rocket engines three times in less than four hours.
After the first of three tests, SpaceX founder and chief engineer Elon Musk tweeted, “Today at SpaceX we will practice launching Starship engines. The ship is supported by massive fasteners and the engines are running." After the third test, he confirmed that all three tests passed without major problems.
All three static fires completed & no RUDs!
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 13, 2021
Performing three such tests in such rapid succession is a notable achievement, and it points to the rapid development of spacecraft hardware, ground systems, and SpaceX Starship launch program routine procedures. Mr. Musk said the goal is to simply hop aboard the ship and go to Mars. Such an opportunity will remain unattainable for many years if ever realized. But the company appears to be making headway in creating a reliable launch system.
If the data from Wednesday's engine tests are as expected, the SN9's next step will likely be flight. The vehicle is already at its launch pad, and engineers are conducting a readiness check before launching the massive rocket to an altitude of about 12.5 km - as was the case with the SN8 launch in December. The goal this time will be to successfully land the prototype, because SN8 was unable to absorb the momentum gained during the fall and crashed, despite an almost perfect flight and a successful turn before landing.
SpaceX has received FAA approval to launch SN9 on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday from its facility near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. SpaceX is in a rush with SN9 as it has nearly completed assembly of the next Starship prototype, the SN10. The company may launch the latter at the end of January, and several more prototypes are in various stages of assembly.
The key goal for the near future is to demonstrate the possibility of Starship entering orbit. To do this, the company must first build and test a super-heavy rocket that will serve as the first stage of the Starship. During this test, the ship will be launched into orbit, and then the company will try to return it safely to Earth. This is not easy, because he will have to withstand enormous heat loads when entering the dense layers of the atmosphere - this should be helped by special tiles that form a heat shield on the side facing the Earth. The ship must then perform a complex set of maneuvers to slow down and ultimately make a controlled landing.
In a recent interview, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell told reporters that she believes the Starship test will take place this year.
Sources: Ars Technica | Spacex
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