Elon Musk discusses future of SpaceX's Starship system
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SpaceX will attempt to launch and land the Starship Serial Number 9 (SN10) mere weeks after crashing the previous iteration, SN9. SpaceX chief Elon Musk is looking to send humans to Mars and Starship is his ticket to the Red Planet. But the spacecraft still has a long way to go before orbital flight – let alone interplanetary flight – is an option.
SpaceX has so far only launched two Starship prototypes on high-altitude test flights, both of which ended up in flames.
The Starship SN8 first crashed into the launch pad at Boca Chica, South Texas, after soaring to an altitude of 7.8 miles (12.5km).
The SN9 followed suit just two months later, acing its 6.2 miles (10km) hop but failing to stick the landing.
But not all hope is lost and despite both rockets being blown to smithereens, Mr Musk is confident Starship is on the right development track.
The South African billionaire appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast this month where he explained Starship is being developed at an unprecedented pace.
Each prototype is virtually expendable and it would have been surprising to see any of them touch down in one piece.
Mr Musk went on to say Starship will reach orbit before the year is out and should become fully operational by 2023.
SpaceX fans are, therefore, hopeful SN10 will be the first prototype to nail the landing.
One person tweeted: “Can’t wait to see SN10 fly. Hopefully land well. I love SpaceX.”
SpaceX Starship explodes on landing during a test
What time will Starship SN10 launch from Boca Chica?
SpaceX has not confirmed a launch date for the SN10 and the test flight has hit a stumbling block this week.
After concluding a static-fire test of the rocket’s Raptor engines on Monday – the final dress rehearsal before launch – Mr Musk took to Twitter to reveal one of the engines needed to be swapped out.
Starship SN9 was hit with the same delay last month, much to the disappointment of fans worldwide.
Once the engine is swapped out, SpaceX will need to repeat the static fire test at least once more.
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But there is some good news: road closures around Boca Chica suggest the test could still go ahead before the week is over.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr has ordered the roads to be closed on Thursday, with backup closures on Friday, Monday and Thursday.
The closures are all in effect between 3pm and midnight GMT (9am and 6pm CTS).
If the Starship launches this week or at the start of next, it will be in this time window.
Similarly, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued flight restrictions for the airspace around Boca Chica and Brownsville, Texas.
The restrictions cite “space operations” up to an unlimited altitude on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The restriction are in place from 2pm to 12.30am GMT (8am to 6.30pm CST).
The so-called note to airmen (NOTAMs) have been issued to “provide a safe environment for rocket launch and recovery”.
Follow Express.co.uk to find out when the Starship prototype will launch.
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