SpaceX Starship launch: SN10 could launch as early as Thursday after critical engine swap

SpaceX: Starship SN10's Raptor engines cause static fire

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SpaceX’s Starship prototype came to life yesterday, gushing out flames and smoke at the Boca Chica launchpad in South Texas. Static fire tests are the last hurdle – bar approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – SpaceX has to clear before Serial Number 10 (SN10) can launch on the company’s third high-altitude test flight. And after two spectacular crashes so far, many fans are banking on the SN10 to ace its launch and landing attempt.

Static fire tests are a form of dress rehearsal during which the rocket briefly fires its engines at full throttle.

But rather than launch into the skies, the spacecraft that will one one day fly humans to Mars remains firmly tethered to the ground.

Starship SN10 fired its engines after 11pm GMT (6pm local time) last night, sending out a cloud of smoke over the Boca Chica facility.

The static fire test was caught on camera by Mary, a Boca Chica Village resident and NASASpaceFlight contributor.

She tweeted: “Starship SN10 static fire! Hopefully, it was a great test.”

However, not all appears to have gone according to plan because Boca Chica’s residents have been informed of more “space flight activities” today (February 24), suggesting another static fire test is on the table.

Mary tweeted: “I have received another ‘Alert’ notice for tomorrow and a road closure has been scheduled. Possible static fire test tomorrow?”

The alert reads: “There is a risk that a malfunction of the SpaceX vehicle during these activities will create an overpressure event that can break windows.

“Therefore, in order to protect Public Health and Safety, it is recommended that you consider temporarily vacating your self, other occupants, and pets from the area during the Space Flight Activities.”

SpaceX chief Elon Musk then took to Twitter to confirm one of the rocket’s engines needs to be replaced.

He tweeted: “One of the engines is suspect, so we’re swapping it out.”

The same issue haunted the Starship SN9 earlier in January.

Once the engine is replaced, SpaceX will need to conduct a second static fire test.

But once this test is out of the way, road closures around Boca Chica suggest Thursday is the earliest SN10 could launch.

Road closures have been scheduled around Boca Chica between 3pm and midnight GMT (9am and 6pm local time).

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Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr has extended the closures up until Friday, February 26, with additional dates on Monday and Tuesday.

The FAA has also issued flight restrictions over Boca Chica and Brownsville.

The restrictions cite “space operations” in the area on three dates: Thursday through Friday, Friday through Saturday, and Saturday through Sunday.

All three are in place between 2pm and 12.30am GMT (8am and 6.30pm local time).

Starship SN10 two predecessors, SN8 and SN9, both blew up when they crashed into the Boca Chica launch pad at high speeds.

Although both rockets launched without a hitch, touching back down proved tricky.

SpaceX fans are now hoping the company has worked out the kinks for a successful touchdown.

Starship will be SpaceX’s flagship rocket, built to fly humans to the Moon, Mars and possibly beyond.

The spacecraft will launch from Earth on top of the Super Heavy booster rocket and carry up to 100 crew at the same time.

SpaceX is confident this will be the most powerful launch system since NASA’s Saturn V.

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