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Gene Blevins / reuters
The next major stage of development for SpaceX’s Starship rocket will arrive as early as tonight. The company is scheduled to begin preparations for the 12.5 km SN8 flight at 10 p.m. local time. Although this does not guarantee that a test flight will take place today, at least all preparations are in place, just waiting for the rocket to fire.
Starship SN8 High Altitude Flight Test First Attempt As Soon As Tomorrow → https://t.co/EewhmWmFVP https://t.co/twxwPA6jkO
– SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 7, 2020
Starship’s last major test was a 150-meter flight test conducted by brothers SN5 and SN6. This test was designed to verify the operation of the Starship ground launcher, the fuel supply lines within the spacecraft, and the behavior control systems. No nose cone or control wing surface is installed. Today’s 12.5 km altitude test flight (reduced from the previous 15 km, but should not affect the content of the test) is Starship’s attempt to demonstrate that its control wing can provide deceleration and attitude control during the fall, and must also be used before landing. At the last moment, from the “face down” attitude, use the rocket to adjust the tail down and the rocket power landing. Such a huge rocket used the drag from the fuselage flanks to slow down during the fall, but in the end it landed on the tail for the first time, making the SN8 test particularly striking.
Probably 1/3 chance to complete all mission objectives
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 8, 2020
Musk himself gave the SN8 a “1/3 chance” to complete all the test objectives. He believed that as long as the data on the deceleration of the aerodynamic profile and belly is obtained, the goal will be achieved and the ability to restart the engine will be obtained. As for the landing, it depends luck. In short, whether the result is a successful landing or a fireball, SN8 is guaranteed to be worth it.
The current status of SpaceX’s Starship & Superheavy prototypes. December 5th pic.twitter.com/J4alSB33Rr
– Brendan (@ brendan2908) December 5, 2020
After SN8, its twin brother SN9 has basically completed the assembly, no matter the outcome of SN8, SpaceX has a replacement machine that can be repeatedly tested. Moving forward, SN16 components have been witnessed at SpaceX’s Boca Chica factory, which means there are still 7 Starships left in different stages of assembly. SpaceX does not intend to slow down development at all.
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