SpaceX Next Prototype on Launchpad, Ready for Next Test Flight

Last week, SpaceX wrapped up the formal launch manifesto for the year. But construction at the Starship facility in Texas is still ongoing. After the fiery end to the SN8 launch this month, which saw the prototype rocket struggle to stick its landing, Elon Musk appears to be planning the launch of the Starship Serial number 9 (SN9) model later this week.

On Tuesday, the 165ft-tall (50m) SN9 prototype stepped out on the launchpad despite warnings of road closures across the facilities in South Texas on December 23 and December 28 to December 30.

Ars Technica editor Eric Berger said it had been a few days since SN8 met its doom, SN9 is rolling to the launch pad. He added that in Boca Chica, eight more Starship devices are in separate stages of development.

Since the SN9 temporarily took a break, the hype around this launch is all the more tangible. The Starship project sustained damage earlier this month when it collapsed on its own in Boca Chica. Videos and photographs of the failure show that the stand protecting the production of stainless steel gives way. But thankfully for SpaceX enthusiasts, the assembly building of the rocket kept the rocket from touching the earth.

Just days after the SN8 had its first significant test flight, the crash occurred and achieved a height of around 7.7 miles (12.5 km) before the belly wobbled to the ground. The rocket has been redesigned out and seems ready to be in decent shape after the mishap. Photographer Austin Barnard, who accompanied the path of the SN9 to the launch pad, claimed that they saw the first episodes of human civilization where people will occupy other planets.

And NASASpaceflight.com's Michael Baylor has tweeted that Starship SN9 is heading out to the Boca Chica launch facility. If all goes well, a flight test may carry out within a couple of weeks. He said in another tweet that in the coming weeks the SN9 is scheduled to undergo cryo-proof, static fire, and test flights.

Before the year is done, would Starship SN9 launch?

SpaceX announced that Starship SN9 is "up next" owing to a high-altitude test mission, but a launch date has not been confirmed. SpaceX thanked all the locals who helped our efforts in Cameron County and beyond, following the explosive end of SN8's launch on December 9.

It does, however, seem doubtful that before the year is over, SN9 would be approved for production.

For the concept Mars rockets, SpaceX has built a reasonably fast turnover, churning out new versions while previous ones are being checked.

But the SN9 would need to be evaluated for flight by the engineers of SpaceX, especially in the light of recent rocket damage.

SpaceX will then continue to static fire tests that will cause SN9 to ignite its three Raptor engines while still being bound to the field.

Instead of SN9 rocket fuel, SpaceX will also test the cryo tanks of the rocket, injecting the rocket full of liquid nitrogen.

Check out more news and information on SpaceX on Science Times.