SpaceX attempts second high-altitude launch of prototype spacecraft

SpaceX is expected to launch Starship’s SN9 prototype later today, in what will be the second high-altitude test of the company’s next-generation rocket. You can watch the action live here.

The window for today’s launch is between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. CST). That said, these things are difficult to predict and there is no guarantee that the rocket will go up even today. Starship prototype SN9 test vehicle set to launch of the company facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

There doesn’t appear to be an official SpaceX feed for today’s launch, but that won’t stop us from watching this candle light up. We have two live streams for you, one of LabPadre and the other of NASA space flight.

Not much is known about today’s planned launch, but it appears to be a repeat of the launch from December 9, 2020, when SpaceX sent the prototype SN8 spacecraft to an altitude of 12.5 km. The rocket exploded in a gigantic fireball while trying to glue the landing.

Other than that, the test appeared to be going reasonably well, with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk describing the test as a “successful climb.” There is no doubt that the data collected during this launch will have been used to refine the one conducted today, in which the rocket will again fly at high altitude and attempt a landing. A successful test would pass the company take one more step to send an unequipped Starship rocket space.

When complete, the 165-foot-high (50-meter) rocket will hopefully be deliver goods and passengers in Earth orbit, on the Moon, on Mars and possibly even farthere in the solar system. Starship is designed as a hybrid vehicle, performing functions either as an independent rocket or as the second stage of a reusable launch system (with a SpaceX Super Heavy serving as the first stage). Incredibly, the company would like “capture“The Super Heavy booster with the launch tower arm and possibly restart the vehicle an hour later.