Trevor Mahlmann
On Wednesday, in South Texas, SpaceX fired its newest prototype starship not once or twice. Instead, engineers and technicians refueled and tested their SN9 prototype and Raptor rocket engines three times in less than four hours.
After the first of three tests, SpaceX’s founder and chief engineer said on twitter, “Today at SpaceX it is about practicing starboard engine startups. The spacecraft is held down by huge pins while the engines are started.” After the third test, Musk confirmed that all three tests were completed without a major problem.
Performing three tests like this in rapid succession is a notable achievement, and points to the maturation of the spacecraft’s hardware, ground-based systems and procedures for the SpaceX spacecraft launch program. Musk said the goal is to reach a point where you can “jump and go” to Mars. That capacity remains years in the future, if it is ever realized. But the company appears to be making progress towards a robust launch system.
Assuming the data from Wednesday’s engine tests are favorable, the next step for the SN9 is likely to come and go. The vehicle is already at its launch stand, and Musk and his engineers will now do a “readiness” review in advance of what is expected to be another test flight of about 12.5 km, similar to the flight performed by the SN8 vehicle in December. The goal will be to land successfully after the SN8 has found a fiery end at the landing site after an almost perfect flight.
SpaceX has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to launch its SN9 vehicle on Thursday, Friday or Saturday from its facility near Boca Chica beach in southern Texas. It is possible that they will be able to turn the SN9 for a flight attempt as early as Thursday. However, there are concerns about higher-level winds, which seem hostile until at least Saturday.
Sources suggested that SpaceX is eager to continue flying with the SN9, as it has almost completed the assembly of the next prototype starship, SN10, at its nearby high-bay facilities. The company is pushing to fly this vehicle perhaps in late January, as it has several other prototypes at various stages of construction.
The short-term goal is to demonstrate an orbital flight capability for the starship. To do this, the company must first build and test the Super Heavy rocket, which will serve as the first stage of the starship. This dramatic test will see a spacecraft launched into orbit and then determine whether it can safely return to Earth using a combination of heat shield tiles on its side facing the atmosphere and a complex set of maneuvers to slow down and finally make a landing check.
In an interview published earlier this month, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell told Ars that she thought this orbital flight test was more likely to occur in 2021.