New SN10 prototype SpaceX Starship rocket could fly on Thursday

Only a few weeks after its predecessor SN9 flew high then crashed on the Texas Gulf Coast, SN10 could try to improve that performance, and that could happen as early as Thursday.

SN10 and SN9 are the latest versions of the SpaceX and Elon Musk spacecraft prototypes that the company has developed in full view from its facilities in Boca Chica, Texas. Musk promised the new generation rocket will be able to revolutionary point-to-point travel around the globe, as well as to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

In recent years, Starship prototypes have grown from small low-altitude “hops” to high-altitude flight demonstrations. The last two serial numbers, SN8 and SN9, both flew at altitudes comparable to commercial planes, but then came for explosive hard landings.

Musk had warned ahead of testing that he expected such “unplanned quick teardown” events to be part of the development process.

Following SN8’s flight and forced landing in December, SN9’s follow-up flight suffered a series of delays throughout January. It was revealed that SN8 had been launched without all the required approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration, and some sort of start-up competition developed while the FAA was then taking its time to grant the launch license for SN9.

In the end, the FAA was satisfied with the safety precautions for the test flight, and SN9 finally flew on February 2. After her spirited return to Earth that afternoon, the FAA announced it would investigate “the crash” on landing.

On Friday February 19, an FAA spokesperson said by email that the agency had closed the investigation into the landing accident, “paving the way for the SN10 test flight pending approval by the FAA license updates ”.

“The SN9 vehicle failed within the limits of the FAA’s safety analysis. Its unsuccessful landing and explosion did not endanger the public or property. All debris was contained within the designated danger zone. The FAA has approved the final incident report, including probable causes and corrective actions. “

From Monday morning, the Christian Davenport of the Washington Post reported that the FAA launch license was granted, paving the way for the launch of SN10 after a static fire test. Based on the latest temporary flight restrictions, the earliest SN10 launch is Thursday, with opportunities Friday and Saturday as well.

Check back here for updates and a livestream once SN10 is ready to fly.

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