SpaceX plans to launch its most sophisticated test yet of Starship SN8 on Tuesday, according to a tweet from the company.
There's only a one-in-three chance of completing all mission objectives, according to a tweet from Elon Musk. But this could mark one giant leap closer to a commercial space alternative to lengthy airline flights, in addition to future crewed missions to the moon and Mars.
The launch will stream live between 11:00 AM EST and 6:00 PM EST on the company's YouTube channel (featured below).
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SpaceX's launch debut of starship to 50,000 feet
In the most ambitious-yet test of SpaceX's sleek Starship design, the Prototype SN8 is nearing its fully-operational future with every passing day. The test will see the company try to fly the next-gen rocket nine miles (15 km) in the air.
If everything goes smoothly, the rocket will carry out an aerial flip maneuver to prepare for landing via thrust-vectored descent — much like the numerous successful Falcon 9 first-stage booster landings.
This will also mark the first simultaneous use of three Raptor engines, and a nose cone on a rocket — in addition to the large maneuvering control surfaces called "flaps" (the wing-like structures).
The Elon Musk-owned company was initially granted Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in the area surrounding SpaceX's Boca Chica base — which suggests Starship SN8's launch is about to move forward.
Typically, SpaceX initially refused to confirm what date was officially slated for the Starship launch.
First attempt of Starship SN8’s high-altitude flight test as early as tomorrow → https://t.co/EewhmWmFVP https://t.co/twxwPA6jkO
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 7, 2020
SpaceX's Starship SN8 debut slipped from Sunday, Elon Musk lands in Texas
Lucky for us, SpaceX made good on CEO Elon Musk's promise to broadcast SN8's high-risk first flight "warts and all" — as the live webcast is went live Tuesday morning. But the official timing of the test remains uncertain, which means Starship SN8's launch debut could happen any time between 11:00 and 6:00 PM EST on Tuesday, Dec. 8 — or it could be delayed and aborted.
SpaceX's highly-anticipated Starship launch debut slipped from an earlier Sunday launch to Tuesday at roughly the same time CEO Elon Musk was spotted making his way into South Texas.
Obviously, he didn't cross the state border on foot. Musk flew in on a private jet, which landed in Brownsville, Texas on Dec. 5 — roughly one day before Starship SN8's Monday launch target.
Hydraulic control from Raptor engine debris likely cause of initial delay
At first glance, the roughly 165-ft (50-m) tall Starship rocket is quite smooth. But it's had a rocky trip from factory to flight debut. Non-specific issues with one or more Raptor engines caused an engine swap retesting — which pushed the launch debut back one or two weeks, reports Teslarati.
The most crucial problem — a near-catastrophic loss of hydraulic control from debris blown up by a Raptor engine — was probably at fault for the SN8's launch debut delay of up to two weeks.
This is developing coverage of SpaceX's launch debut for the Starship SN8 rocket from the company's Boca Chica base on Tuesday, so be sure to check-in with us to see if the rocket lands in one piece, or several.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiXGh0dHBzOi8vaW50ZXJlc3RpbmdlbmdpbmVlcmluZy5jb20vc3BhY2V4LWxhdW5jaGluZy1zdGFyc2hpcC1zbjgtdHVlc2RheS1pbi01MDAwMC1mb290LWRlYnV00gFgaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuaW50ZXJlc3RpbmdlbmdpbmVlcmluZy5jb20vc3BhY2V4LWxhdW5jaGluZy1zdGFyc2hpcC1zbjgtdHVlc2RheS1pbi01MDAwMC1mb290LWRlYnV0?oc=5
2020-12-08 16:00:01Z
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