SpaceX conduct static fire engine test on Starship SN9
SpaceX is targetting no earlier than Thursday for the launch of Starship SN9 after hitting a number of speedbumps this week. Monday’s launch was called off due to strong winds in the launch area around Boca Chica Beach, South Texas. Tuesday’s back up window was not utilised and Boca Chica road closures scheduled for Wednesday were called off, making today an unlikely launch date.
SpaceX fans have been kept on the edge of their seats all month, with their attention focused on the Boca Chica launch pad.
Just two weeks ago SpaceX wrapped up a triple static fire test that suggested SN9’s launch was just days away.
The tests took their toll on Starship, however, as SpaceX boss Elon Musk announced shortly after two of the rocket’s Starships needed replacing.
Once the engines were swapped out, a subsequent repeat of the static fire test was aborted three times in a row.
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SpaceX was then expected to launch the SN9 on Monday, January 25, but the test flight was delayed by strong winds in the launch area.
SpaceX fans are now desperate for a morsel of good news.
One person tweeted: “Update on the SN9 hop. Weather and other factors have been fickle with the SN9 launch. Really excited to see it fly!”
Another person said: “@elonmusk how’s the weather looking today? We gonna launch this thing or what haha been impatiently waiting for SN9 to Flyyyyyyyy.”
And a third person said: “Would’ve been cool if he tested 7.2 and then launch SN9 right after. I mean the Raptors already fired up. Just sayin’”
SpaceX Starship explodes whilst attempting to land during test
Will SpaceX’s Starship SN9 launch on Thursday?
Thursday, January 28, appears to be the earliest SpaceX could attempt to launch and land the SN9 prototype.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued new temporary flight restrictions for Thursday and Friday.
The restrictions are in effect between 2pm and 11.59pm GMT (8am and 5.59pm CST) on both days.
However, Mr Musk said on Twitter last night the launch was waiting to be reviewed by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
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The delay may have been caused by a vehicle appearing near the launchpad on Tuesday.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Travino Jr issued road closures around Boca Chica for Wednesday, but the closures have since been called off.
Michael Baylor of nasaspaceflight.com tweeted: “The road closure for Wednesday has been cancelled, ruling out Starship testing or a flight test.
“The earliest that Starship SN9 could fly is now Thursday.”
The current iteration of Starship is due to launch on a 6.2 to 7.8 mile (10km to 12.5km) suborbital test flight.
The last Starship model, SN8, went up in a ball of flames last month when it failed to stick the landing at Boca Chica.
The rocket blew up on the launchpad but SN8 successfully carried out a bellyflop manoeuvre.
SN8 flew upright to an altitude of 41,000ft after which it pitched sideways and plummetted to the ground belly-side down.
The move allowed Starship to bleed some speed without having to burn its engines.
The rocket then flipped back up before to attempt a soft landing, but failed.
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