Three Raptor engines for Starships' third high-altitude test flight has been installed into the SN10. With pending results from the upcoming Static Fire Test, SN10 is tasked with repeating the flight of deceased SN9 and SN8. Before landing, it will attempt to utilize a different approach by flipping ahead of landing, allowing redundancy in case one Raptor suffers any issue.
Meanwhile, Starship SN11 has been moved to the High Bay for aero surface and nosecone installation. At the same time, future starships up to at least SN18 are currently being prepared along with the first Super Heavy prototypes.
Starship SN10's Flight Plan
As SpaceX Starship SN9 took to the skies, SN10's preparations were already underway. Last week, SN9 achieved the same flight milestones as SN8 before experiencing issues during the flip maneuver before crashing into the landing pad.
Despite SN9 not causing damage to Pad A, officials have not released official causes for the fatal fate of SN9. A post-flight update from SpaceX says, "During the landing flip maneuver, one of the Raptor engines did not relight and caused SN9 to land at high speed and experience Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly."
Regardless, the implementation of redundancy options can be installed into SpaceX's Starship SN10 when it launches. Although debris from SN9's fatal crash is still being removed, preparations for Starship SN10's flight are currently ongoing.
Three Raptor engines have now been installed on Starship SN10, with two engines spotted confirming that one engine is a brand new strait from McGregor, SN50.
Static Fire tests for the Raptor trio aboard the SN10 may come as early as the coming week. Roadblocks have been arranged although notice to locals is still underway.
During Starship SN9's live stream, an announcement for SN10's launch this month was aired. Although specific dates are still at the mercy of successful pre-launch test campaigns, Static Fire data will prove to be vital as per Flight Readiness Review.
Forwarding SN11
Close to SN10, SpaceX's Starship SN11 took a step in the process flow with a short trip from Mid bay to the High Bay. This is now a part of Starship's preparations taking advantage of High Bay's Super Heavy-related height to allow mating of both aero surfaces and the nosecone.
Prior to its move towards the High Bay, SN11's nosecone has completed preparations around the Windbreak facility during the week.
Sunday, the nosecone was raised for mating operations.
Although SN11 is yet another twin to SN9,9 and 10 continued progress on objectives visible with another increase in Thermal Protection System tiles spotted on various sections of SN11.
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