SpaceX - Starship (unofficial) patch.
March 20, 2021
Elon Musk says construction of a new Starship rocket prototype is nearing completion. His test flight will not be long in coming.
The new Starship prototype test is coming soon. On Twitter, Elon Musk said on March 17, 2021 that preparations for the eleventh takeoff were on track: the craft itself is almost ready. There is due to be a static firing very soon, in order to examine the good behavior of the rocket. Observations around the test site show that this final examination is imminent.
Starship SN11 arrives at Pad B. Image Credit: SpaceX
The SN11 prototype (Serial Number 11) must resolve a problem that was observed with the SN10: the three engines of the rocket did not develop sufficient thrust to sufficiently slow the machine upon landing. It did land, but at excessive speed. The structure of the SN10 then underwent significant deformations, on the landing gear side as well as on the lower part of the rocket.
A helium incident observed with the previous prototype
In the days following this essay, some clarification was provided by Elon Musk himself. There was a problem with the helium, which was originally used to pressurize the methane tank and thus solve a problem observed during the SN8 test (a pressurization problem, in fact). At that time, Elon Musk added that SN11 was being corrected to avoid this scenario.
Image above: In this photo, the SN10 prototype has reactivated its engines and is in the process of tipping into an upright position to prepare for landing. He will succeed. Before exploding ten minutes later. Image Credit: SpaceX.
SN11 will be the fourth high altitude flight. The previous two, SN8 and 9, exploded on landing. SN10 had known a somewhat happier epilogue, because it had been able to land before ending up in confetti ten minutes later. SpaceX is set to offer a live broadcast of this test again - you'll have to be on the lookout, as the announcement often comes just minutes before the launch.
Starship | SN10 | High-Altitude Flight Recap
Starship is to be SpaceX's versatile ship in the medium and long term: it will replace the Falcon 9 and its heavy version, Falcon Heavy, for its missions of putting satellites into orbit, delivering equipment and supplies for the ISS and beyond, and astronaut transport. It is also with the Starship that SpaceX will organize a flyby of the Moon in 2023 for a few space tourists.
SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com/
Images (mentioned), Video, Text, Credits: SpaceX/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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