NASA Spaceflight by Chris Bergin May 30, 2021
Just one year after losing Starship SN4 after a Static Fire test, SpaceX’s progress at its Starbase site in South Texas has allowed the company to focus on the debut of its Super Heavy booster. With Starship SN15’s successful landing appearing to conclude the high altitude hop tests, the vast majority of preparation work is focused at the Orbital Launch Site (OLS), while BN3 (Booster 2) stacking continues as key elements of booster hardware arrive on site.
With Super Heavy now set to launch with 29 – and later with 32 – Raptors, the demand for the Methalox engine will be catered for by an increased production rate and additional test capacity.
The Transition from Hops to Orbital Tests:Test launches from Boca Chica began less than two years ago, with Starhopper achieving the first flight to 150 meters under the power of Raptor SN6. This success allowed SpaceX to move into the test program with its prototype Starships.
It was just one year ago this weekend (May 29) that SN4 appeared to pass through its Static Fire test campaign, only for a post-firing quick disconnect failure to put pay to the vehicle as it exploded on the launch mount.
The progress since then has been extraordinary, with SN5 and SN6 both completing successful 150-meter hops before SN8 launched the first high altitude test, along with the major test objective of a controlled “bellyflop” return.
Unfortunately, while SN10 also completed the landing, engine power issues relating to the Header Tank caused a hard touchdown, resulting in the vehicle exploding shortly thereafter.
SN11 also suffered an engine issue, causing it to explode during the landing burn flip, although modifications were already in the pipeline for the next vehicle, SN15. Starship SN15 completed all the test objectives, including a smooth touchdown on the landing pad.
Although Chief Designer Elon Musk has yet to officially note the retirement of Starship SN15, following a previous comment the vehicle could refly, SN15 has since rolled back to the Production Site and is expected to be prepared for display. The three Raptors that were involved with SN15 were also preparing to ship out of Starbase on Sunday.
Starship SN16 is also waiting for its fate, having been sat in the High Bay with no final processing taking place that would have seen it readied for rollout.
Push To Orbital:Concluding the Starship high altitude tests via SN15’s success allows for a focus on the next major milestone of pushing the vehicle into space.
This test objective had already been cited in documentation as involving Super Heavy BN3 and Starship SN20 “with a goal to get to orbit by July 1”. While that date will be ruled out by the huge amount of groundwork required to be in a stance to launch, the potential of such a test flight before or around the Fall would be a massive achievement.
All the elements are currently in play, with sections of Starship SN20 – should that be the vehicle to conduct the test – already spotted several weeks ago by Mary (@bocachicagal), along with the BN3 sections that are now being stacked behind SN16 in the High Bay.
More:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/groundwork-super-heavy-raptor-ramp-up/
