As early as Wednesday, March 3, the SpaceX team will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 10 (SN10) – our third high-altitude suborbital flight test of a Starship prototype from SpaceX’s site in Cameron County, Texas. Similar to the high-altitude flight tests of Starship SN8 and SN9, SN10 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. SN10 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. SN10’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.
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.
10 Comments
eric3579says...It did however blow up ten minutes after landing
w1ndexsays...Hell, it stuck the landing though, I'm sure another one or 2 will blow up as well. Still another step, fun *quality watch.
siftbotsays...Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by w1ndex.
BSRsays...Elon can afford to blow up rockets. It's built into the system. Once a test is a success, celebrate big! It's what the people want.
StukaFoxsays...Unlike profit on his business ventures.
Elon can afford to blow up rockets. It's built into the system.
SFOGuysays...Landing rockets is hard. Really hard. Make your brain hurt from thinking hard. I wonder what actually happened? Sounds like the post-landing fuel venting--created a pool of explosive vapor and stuff came in contact with an ignition source?
Next time it lands, I'm sure we'll see it bathed in a fine aqueous mist.
BSRsays...I wonder what scent it will be. Probably a sweet or woodsy Musk scent.
Next time it lands, I'm sure we'll see it bathed in a fine aqueous mist.
Ashenkasesays...Check out Scott Manley's breakdown of the landing. There where 2 wee little landing legs that did not lock, which meant the skirt hit the ground on the hard bounce. Damage happened, leaks ensued, kablooey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF9mdMI1qxM&ab_channel=ScottManley
Landing rockets is hard. Really hard. Make your brain hurt from thinking hard. I wonder what actually happened? Sounds like the post-landing fuel venting--created a pool of explosive vapor and stuff came in contact with an ignition source?
Next time it lands, I'm sure we'll see it bathed in a fine aqueous mist.
eric3579says...The Lab Padre video Scott highlights is awesome. Will be checking out their stream next flight.
Side note... I need a 4k monitor.
Check out Scott Manley's breakdown of the landing. There where 2 wee little landing legs that did not lock, which meant the skirt hit the ground on the hard bounce. Damage happened, leaks ensued, kablooey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF9mdMI1qxM&ab_channel=ScottManley
eric3579says...slow-motion of landing and subsequent explosion
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