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SpaceX has been very busy lately with the development of its Starship prototypes. Based on recent activity at their Boca Chica facility and recent footage provided by Musk himself, it appears they are about to take their biggest leap yet. Yesterday in October 14th, Musk announced that the eighth prototype of the Starship (SN8) has received the three Raptor engines that it will use to complete the planned 15.25 km (50,000 ft).
The addition of the three Raptor engines came after the SN8 underwent three rounds of cryogenic testing last week. The first was a success by testing parameters, but as Musk indicated on twitter, a small leak “opened near the engine mounts, possible due to differential shrinkage.” After affecting repairs, a second and third round took place in the next few days.
Similarly, the company tested its SN7.1 test tank to failure on the night of September 23.rd, which came after two successful jump tests with the SN5 and SN6 prototypes, which flew to 150 m (~ 500 ft) and landed safely. On Sunday, after the Thrust Rams were removed from under the SN8’s fuselage, three Raptor engines (SN 39 models) were installed.
With these engines now integrated, it is clear that SpaceX is preparing for the first static fire test in which multiple engines will be fired simultaneously. In preparation for this, ground crews will run an extensive battery of tests with the SN8, consisting of fuel load tests, a turn priming test, and pre-combustion tests.
Once the static fire test has been completed, the ground crew will review the data to determine the performance of the engines and related systems. This will be followed by the integration of the nose cone, which currently has its aerodynamic surfaces (its front wings or canards) attached, similar to how the fuselage received the two large flags attached to its sides.
Live-streamed images captured by Mary McConnaughey of NASA Spaceflight (aka. @BocaChicaGal) showed the StarshipThe nose of the nose gets its fins and is then moved to the facility windbreak (video below). Once the entire fuselage is stacked and combined, a second static fire test is expected, only this time, the propellant will remain in the header tank inside the nose.
If all goes according to plan, the SN8 will attempt its highest jump test to date. Until now, the highest altitude reached by a prototype was 150 m (~ 500 ft), which was first reached by the Starship hopper, followed by SN5 and SN6. The ~ 15.25 km jump test will also involve a “bellyflop” maneuver that will test the Starship’s aerodynamic surfaces.
This maneuver will begin once the SN8 reaches its maximum altitude and begins to descend, at which point the ground crew will shut down the engines and tilt the prototype fuselage toward the ground. The SN8 will then rely on its maneuvering fins to control its descent and its engines will restart at the last second so that it can safely climb up and land.
Meanwhile, the prototype SN9 is currently inside Mid Bay in Boca Chica while preparations are made to stack the SN10 in the opposite bay. The SN11 is also preparing for stacking operations, and sections have been seen arriving at the facility that are expected to be used to design the SN12, SN13 and SN14 prototypes (video below).
In August, Musk tweeted that the newer SN40 Raptor engine is being tested at the company’s test facility in McGregor, Texas. Additionally, work is nearing completion at the High Bay facility, where Super heavy will be stacked, sections of which have also been seen around Boca Chica. All of this is in keeping with SpaceX’s policy of rapid prototyping and test to failure, which requires backing prototypes to be in place.
It’s unclear when this high-altitude jump test will take place, but Musk has indicated several times over the past month that it will happen soon. Musk has also said that he hopes to achieve orbital flight with one of his prototypes next year, which will be the last hurdle before commercial space launches can be made with the vehicle.
Further reading: Teslarati, NASA space flight
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