https://www.youtube.com/embed/wfHqbahPKpY
Elon Musk and co have been attempting to test the present Starship prototype rocket, the SN9, for a matter of weeks. However, SpaceX has been set back by bad weather, repairs and most notably paperwork.
The company has been denied regulatory approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) several times.
Following one of the numerous cancellations on January 28, Mr Musk tweeted his dismay towards the FAA.
He said: “Unlike its aircraft division, which is fine, the FAA space division has a fundamentally broken regulatory structure.
“Their rules are meant for a handful of expendable launches per year from a few government facilities.
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SpaceX perform 150m hop with Starship SN5
“Under those rules, humanity will never get to Mars.”
However, the FAA has now given approval to SpaceX to launch its SN9.
The SN9 launch will follow in the footsteps of the previous prototype, SN8.
The test of the SN8 saw the rocket launched 7.8 miles (12.5km) into the sky.
Once the rocket was in the air, it began flying effortlessly above the clouds.
The rocket then completed a full circle before landing back on the ground.
However, the rocket exploded on impact with the ground – although SpaceX anticipated faults in this launch.
The SN9 will hopefully launch 10 kilometres into the air, before performing a “controlled descent” for the first time.
A live stream of the event has been embedded on this page, but SpaceX has not given a time as to when the launch might happen.
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SpaceX said on its website: “As early as Tuesday, February 2, the SpaceX team will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 9 (SN9) – the second high-altitude suborbital flight test of a Starship prototype from our site in Cameron County, Texas.
“Similar to the high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 8 (SN8), SN9 will be powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10km in altitude.
“SN9 will perform a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent.
“There will be a live feed of the flight test available here that will start a few minutes prior to liftoff.
“Given the dynamic schedule of development testing, stay tuned to our social media channels for updates as we move toward SpaceX’s second high-altitude flight test of Starship!”
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