SpaceX seems to be getting ready for the test launch of its SN9 Starship prototype, which could happen as early as this coming weekend.
According to a Fox Business report, the aerospace company did a "triple Raptor Static Fire Test" for the next-gen spaceflight system on Wednesday at the Boca Chica, Texas-based SpaceX facility briefly exhibited lighting up of the three engines of the vehicle.
Chris Bergin of NASASpaceflight.com said it appeared like it was just a second or so, although it could be by design to shield the pad and still "obtain the data they want."
This static fire trial is a part of a routine series of checks before a test launch. A second static fire test may take place the day after because of a shorter-than-anticipated test firing this Wednesday. If everything goes well as planned, the test launch could come earlier, like, this Friday.
The Test Launch
In connection to the said space event, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. has given directives for road closures around the facility's area for expected activities for the SpaceX test launch between 8 am and 5 pm local time Thursday or Friday.
The Federal Aviation Administration said airspace limitations are in place, too, around Boca Chica for Saturday and Sunday, too.
Meanwhile, a SpaceX spokesperson did not comment right away when the said business news agency asked for it.
A potential test launch of the Starship SN9 takes place after its precursor, the SN8, attained the initial successful flight of substantial altitude in December, reaching a similar altitude as commercial jets.
The said successful trial was followed by a contingency to Earth with a fresh "flip maneuver," which seemed to have succeeded in the rocket's orientation. Nonetheless, the ship came into the launch pad quite fast, encountering a so-called fiery end.
After the Starship SN9 Launch
On a Twitter post, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said, "Successful ascent, switchover to header tanks & precise flap control to landing point!"
Also, on the post, he said, "fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn," leading to touchdown velocity to be "high & RUD" although all the data needed were obtained.
Starship is a totally reusable transportation mechanism designed to carry both cargo and crew to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and even beyond.
Starship is expected to be the most powerful launch vehicle of the world ever developed to carry weight exceeding 100 metric tons to Earth orbit.
On top of the SN9 launch, the SN10 of SpaceX is reportedly near completion. Responding to the unofficial aerial photo edited to exhibit two Starship at the South Texas launch pad of SpaceX, Musk hinted that multi-Starship trial operations could turn into reality "real soon."
Early last week, Observer reported that "after a record-setting 2020" marked more than 20 orbital launches, which included flights to International Space Station, SpaceX has an even more ambitious series of plans for this year.
Check out more news and information on SpaceX on Science Times.
