SpaceX - Starship (unofficial) patch.
Jan. 31, 2021
Image above: SpaceX's Starship SN9 Successfully Completes Tests to Prepare for Launch. Image Credit: SpaceX.
As early as Monday, February 1, the SpaceX team will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 9 (SN9) – the second high-altitude suborbital flight test of a Starship prototype from our site in Cameron County, Texas. Similar to the high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 8 (SN8), SN9 will be powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN9 will perform a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent.
The Starship prototype will descend under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of two forward and two aft flaps on the vehicle. All four flaps are actuated by an onboard flight computer to control Starship’s attitude during flight and enable precise landing at the intended location. SN9’s Raptor engines will then reignite as the vehicle attempts a landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down on the landing pad adjacent to the launch mount.
SpaceX Starship SN9 High Altitude Flight Animation
A controlled aerodynamic descent with body flaps and vertical landing capability, combined with in-space refilling, are critical to landing Starship at destinations across the solar system where prepared surfaces or runways do not exist, and returning to Earth. This capability will enable a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration, interplanetary flights and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond.
There will be a live feed of the flight test available here that will start a few minutes prior to liftoff. Given the dynamic schedule of development testing, stay tuned to our social media channels for updates as we move toward SpaceX’s second high-altitude flight test of Starship!
Image above: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted this photo Friday of "Starship SN9 & SN10." They're prototypes of the company's next-generation rockets that it hopes will head to the space station, moon, and Mars. Image Credits: SpaceX/Elon Musk.
SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket (collectively referred to as Starship) represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. Starship will be the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the ability to carry in excess of 100 metric tonnes to Earth orbit.
Related article:
Starship SN9 prototype fires engines to prep for high-altitude test flight
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2021/01/starship-sn9-prototype-fires-engines-to.html
Related link:
SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com/
Images (mentioned), Video, Text, Credits: SpaceX/C-bass Productions.
Best regards, Orbiter.ch
