SpaceX is preparing to rocket the latest prototype of the Starship spacecraft thousands of feet into the air, and then bring it back slowly to the ground.
If the company can reverse this difficult move – cutting back the rocket ‘s engines as it sinks towards the Earth, just in time to turn it upside down, fall slowly, and regularly landed on a landing pad – this is the first time a Starship vehicle has gone so high and returned in one piece.
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX in 2002, wants the latest Starship-Super Heavy system to be deployed fully and quickly.
If Musk’s plan succeeds, Starship may reduce the cost of reaching 1,000-fold space, the power of worldwide travel on Earth, and flying astronauts to the moon.
Musk is on said that his final plan was to build 1,000 Starships that would bring enough people and cargo to Mars to build an independent, self-sustaining city there.
SpaceX first launched a Starship prototype of this type on December 8. Called Starship No. 8, or SN8, was roasting tens of thousands of feet above the company’s expansion facilities at Boca Chica, Texas.
Then SN8 put the nose forward, cut off its engines, and they started to fall. As the vehicle approached the ground in a belly-flop-like crash, it fired its engines to go uphill and slow down its descent.
However, low pressure in the propellant tank caused the spacecraft to fall too fast, slam into the landed package, and explode accidentally.
SpaceX still thought the seven-minute flight was a success, however, as it was basically a test – and one that flew higher than ever and made unparalleled maneuvers.
For example, SN8’s flight achieved the closure of series rocket engines, air flips, and a stabilized belly flop through wing flaps. (Previous test trips have been “hop”, with prototypes launching a few hundred feet into the air, and then landing.)
Now SpaceX is ready for another major test flight, and this time it could continue on its way to land.
Like its predecessor, the new prototype, called SN9, is 16 stories tall and powered by three Raptor engines. SN9 crossed the interior of a gathering building directly on it December 11th, but SpaceX seemed to be making a quick fix and rolling it out to a beachfront launch pack.
In preparation for its launch, SpaceX downgraded the SN9 and tested its engines three times Wednesday – the highest static fire rate for the Starship program.
The company appeared willing to launch this week, but needed to repair two of the engines, Musk tweet on Thursday. Musk added that he hopes SpaceX can speed up the engine exchange process so that it takes “a few hours at most.”
SpaceX appears to be aiming for Monday’s release. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an airport closure notice for a rocket launch from Boca Chica for that day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. The FAA issued similar announcements for Tuesday and Wednesday – backup dates in case weather or wisdom causes SpaceX to delay the test mission.
Both airspace closures and local road closures are required for launch. A Cameron County judge has issued Boca Chica road closure notices for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.
How to watch SN9 launch attempt live
SpaceX can broadcast the launch effort live on YouTube. Several online broadcasters, such as NASASpaceFlight.com and LabPadre, also plan to broadcast live video footage of the flight. We will apply these live feeds below when available.
A series of events usually precede the release of the Starship prototype.
Two hours in advance, SpaceX will be cleaning up a staff launch site. About an hour ahead of the flight, storage tanks at the gas launch site will begin as SpaceX prepares to make fuel with cryogenic fuel. Later fueling causes the Starship to emit gases from its top, indicating that the launch could take place within minutes.
Bad weather, a technical maneuver, or a boat entering the disclosure zone – a new challenge for Starship – could be delayed.
This article was originally published by Business Insider.
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