Starship SN11 prepares for rollout as SpaceX plans for the future

03/08/2021 USA



A few days after the first completion of the SN10 – despite the rigors – the starship prototype landing, the SN11 is ready to rollout to the launch site for its own effort. Additional progress is being made with test flights, with another tweak to the landing sequence for implementation, based on data obtained from SN10. Meanwhile, the first super heavy prototype stacking operations continue while parts up to Starship SN20 are being held at the production site.

These future vehicles are scheduled to take up residence at the launch site, SpaceX, plans to expand according to updated documents.

Starship SN10:

The SN10 has continued to clean up the debris following what was a successful test flight.

Despite the rapid unplanned dis sembly s (place (RUD)) that occurred minutes after landing, the SN10 achieved more targets than its SN8 and SN9 sisters – both of which crashed into the pads and exploded.

The SN10 is a reflection of the main objectives successfully undertaken by the SN8 and SN9, including ascending profile, raptor operation, and static returns using arrow surfaces. However, the SN10 went one step further, actually staying down on the landing pad in part.

This was in part due to the pure relief process for the Raptors, with three engines burning in front of the flip maneuver. The S.N. There was an improvement to remove the issue raised by suffered, which called for relief to the two Raptors, only one engine to fail, resulting in the vehicle being unable to complete the flip towards the ip too.

With all three Raptors lighting up during the SN10 flip, the maneuver was complete. However, there was supposed to be an immediate dissection of a raptor, which is understood to be “at least with the lever arm”. All three raptors were running throughout the flip before the two raptors quickly shut down as the SN10 also came for vert touchdown on the same engine.

SN10 was heading for a smooth landing. However, some of his descending legs were unable to place during his deployment – which was believed to be the reason why the vehicle eventually came down hard on his aft and exploded, resulting in him leaning on the pad.

It was then said that the landing burn was at fault, Chief designer Elon Musk saying, “Currently the trust was low despite the commanded command for unknown reasons, so strict touchdown. We have never seen this before. ”

As such, if all landing legs were locked in place, it would not be able to protect the SN10 from rigid landings. “It simply came to our notice then. They squash hard, ”Elon added.

Regardless, this was the first starship to make it back on the pad in one piece. The challenge for the SN11 is to meet targets until re-landing, with landing burn correction for a reduction against hard touchdowns.

“Next time, Mean (IMM) two engines go all the way to the ground and restart the engine 3 if there are problems in engine 1 or 2,” Elo pointed out.

Starship SN11:

In typical SpaceX Boca Chika fashion, it could be “next time” just a week or so away, with Starship SN11 rolling to launch site early Monday, when the local road closes.

SpaceX The time between rollout and launch is reduced with each starship flow – and should hold the initial schedule of SN11, it will break the pad flow record once again.

Based on Monday’s rollout – and the understanding that all three Raptors are already installed on the SN11 – the vehicle could be put through proof testing a few days later, with a static fire test next week.

Everyone should plan – at least not with static fire testing where all three raptors provide acceptable results – Starship SN11 could be in the trend of launching in the following week.

The vehicle will be the last of the current version of the prototypes, in which the front vehicle will sport the most-unknown changes hinted at on social media by Elon Musk some time ago.

SN15 forward and BN1 super heavy:

Starship SN15 is currently in Mid Bay, S.N. Awaiting the departure of the 11th. Once the SN11 is on the pad, the SN15 will be moved to the high bay and receive its nose.

The SN15 will include a new design for the thrust puck And host more TPS (Thermal Protection System) tiles.

Considering the impressive production cadence, the future will be stable within SN16 and SN17, Mid Bay. However, parts up to SN20 – including her leg skirt – have already been discovered by Mary (bocachicagal).

To aid the test flight schedule, Mary’s camera has seen an increasing amount of raptor delivery.

The latest arrival was the SN88, pointing to the acceleration between H, Thorne, California’s SpaceX headcorn to McGregor, Texas’ SpaceX test center, and delivery to Boca Chika for delivery to future test vehicles.

With continuous progress on the first prototype vehicle, the BN1, some of these Raptors will be delivered to Super Heavy.

BN1 is currently located inside High Bay, behind SN11, and is now in the second phase of stacking operations.

Now that all sections have been assembled, a new heavy-duty mount has been rotated on High Bay, ready to host the second phase of stacking, ahead of integration with the already completed tank.

Launch site:

New placing documents of the space to greatly expand the launching site were recently posted online.

The site expansion includes an additional landing pad, two super heavy mounts – complete with their huge launch integration towers including cranes to match the starship with the booster – along with numerous other additions.

Large-scale work is already underway at the BBL launch site, mostly related to ground support equipment (GSE) structures and groundwork for the first integration tower.

Orbital launch site function – by Mary (@bokachikgal)

The expansion was always on the cards, based on SpaceX’s plans to increase the frequency of flights from its South Texas site.

Notably, the future of Super Heavy includes the Kennedy Space Center’s 39A and mobile facilities currently covered by the use of two ocean platforms, Phobos and Demos.

As shown in the update before and after the photos above, work is underway on Phobos in Mississippi, its bridge deck is being demolished and the third star of the front building has been removed.

According to the photographer, Workers have now begun to cut equipment from the tower, and its helicopter pad – a play on words “Speaks Phobos” – has been cut in half.

Most content By Mary (bocachicagal)

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