Due to an automatic Raptor engine abort at T-1 second, the SpaceX team postponed the attempted high-altitude suborbital test flight of spacecraft serial number 8 (SN8). The attempt would take place yesterday, Tuesday (09/12), at the site in Cameron County, Texas.
Further testing opportunities may take place on Wednesday, December 9th and Thursday, December 10th. The schedule is dynamic and must change, as is the case with all development tests. Stay tuned for more information on the next target test date and time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf83yzzme2I
This suborbital flight is designed to test a range of objectives, from the performance of the vehicle's three Raptor engines to the vehicle's overall aerodynamic input capabilities (including body flaps) and how the vehicle manages propellant transition. SN8 will also attempt a flip landing maneuver, which would be a first for a vehicle of this size.
With a test like this, success is not measured by completing specific objectives, but by how much we can learn, which will inform and increase the likelihood of future success as SpaceX rapidly advances Starship development.
Last year alone, SpaceX completed two low-altitude flight tests with Starship SN5 and SN6 and accumulated more than 16.000 seconds of runtime during 330 ground engine starts, including multiple Starship static fires and four Starship flight tests. reusable full-flow metallox staged Raptor combustion engine. Additionally, with the acceleration of production and increased fidelity, SpaceX has built 10 Starship prototypes. SN9 is almost ready to move to the pad, which now has two active s for rapid development testing.
The SN8 flight test is an exciting next step in the development of a fully reusable transport system capable of transporting crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. As we venture into new territory, we continue to appreciate all the and encouragement we receive.
Source: SpaceX
