SpaceX: Starship SN10 successfully lands in Texas
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Serial Number 11 or SN11 will be only the fourth SpaceX prototype to launch from the company’s Boca Chica facility in South Texas. To date, SpaceX’s attempts have ended in disaster as the SN8, SN9 and SN10 were blown to smithereens after their first launch and landing attempts. SN10 was the only prototype to land but the spacecraft was damaged in the process and erupted into a ball of flames just eight minutes after touchdown.
If Elon Musk intends to put humans on Mars before the decade is out, the company will need to ace the SN11’s first flight.
On Monday afternoon, the company wrapped up a static fire test of the rocket’s three Raptor engines.
During a static fire test, the engines are briefly fired at full throttle but the rocket remains tethered to the ground.
The test appears to have gone through without a hitch, which is good news for SpaceX fans worldwide.
Previous tests have been a source of frustration for SpaceX and fans alike, leading to engine replacements and launch delays.
Now, with this final pre-flight rehearsal out of the way, chances are SN11 will fly before the week is over.
Chris Bergin of NASASpaceFlight tweeted: “STATIC FIRE! Starship SN11 has fired up her tree engines ahead of a test flight (as early as Tuesday), pending good test data (Looked/sounded good!)”
SN11 is expected to launch to an altitude of 6.2 miles (10km), after which it will drop back to the ground and attempt a soft landing.
Will Starship SN11 launch this week?
With the static fire finally out of the way, fans are expecting SN11 to launch in the coming days.
Thomas Burghardt of NASASpaceFlight tweeted: “Starship SN11 appears to have successfully completed its pre-flight static fire test, setting up a launch this week.”
Local authorities have scheduled a number of road closures over the next few days, suggesting a launch is imminent.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr issued a notice informing of “spaceflight activities” on Wednesday, March 24.
The notice reads: “Should SpaceX not complete its planned space flight activities on March 24, 2021, the SpaceX may use the alternate date to complete its test launch activities.”
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The closure will be in effect from 7am to 3pm local time or 12pm to 8pm GMT.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also issued temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) over the next three days.
The restrictions cite “space operations” in the airspace around Boca Chica and Brownsville, Texas.
SpaceX fans worldwide have been impatiently waiting for the launch of the SN11.
After the near-success of the SN10 earlier this month, many hope SN11 will be the first to stick the landing in one piece.
One SpaceX fan tweeted: “Who’s excited for SN11 to land without issues??!!”
Another person said: “It’s 2021 and we are witnessing unmanned rockets land vertically on drone pads and landing sights like it’s 2375 in Star Trek Deep Space Nine.
“Thanks #SpaceX for giving us #SN10 and soon #SN11 @elonmusk you are it.”
Once completed, the Starship spacecraft will carry astronauts to the Moon, Mars and possibly beyond.
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