Constellation Research founder Ray Wang notes that Texas has no state income tax, capital gains tax and is a favorable environment for ‘lots of cheap land’ business.
SpaceX appears to be preparing for a test launch of its SN9 Starship prototype, which could happen as early as this weekend.
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The aerospace company conducted a triple Raptor Static Fire Test of the next generation space flight system on Wednesday at SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas, which briefly showed the three engines of the test vehicle lit.
“It looked like it was just a second or more, but it can be designed to protect the block and still get the data they want,” said Chris Bergin of NASASpaceflight.com.
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The static fire test is part of a series of routine checks before a test is launched. Due to a shorter-than-expected firing test on Wednesday, a second static fire test can be performed on Thursday. If everything goes according to plan, the test launch could happen on Friday.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. ordered the closure of roads around the facility area for “early test launch activities for SpaceX” from 8 am to 5 pm local time on Thursday and Friday. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, airspace restrictions are also in effect around Boca Chica for Saturday and Sunday.
A SpaceX spokesman did not immediately return FOX Business’s request for comment.
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A potential test launch for the SN9 comes after its predecessor, the SN8, made its first successful flight at significant altitude last month, reaching the same altitude as commercial jets.
The successful test was followed by a fall back to Earth with a new “flip maneuver” that seemed to be successful in orienting the rocket. However, the ship entered the launch pad too quickly, meeting a fiery end.
“Successful climb, switch to main tanks and precise control of the flap to the landing point!” Musk tweeted at the time. “The pressure of the fuel collector tank was low during the landing burn, making the touch speed high and RUD, but we got all the data we needed!”
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Starship is a fully reusable transport system designed to transport crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. The starship is expected to be the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the capacity to transport more than 100 metric tons to Earth’s orbit.
In addition to the SN9, the SpaceX SN10 is reportedly close to completion. In response to an unofficial aerial photo edited to show two starships on SpaceX’s launch pad in southern Texas, Musk said test operations with several starships could become a reality “soon”.