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SpaceX got closer than ever to a successful landing of one of its Starship prototypes last week, and the next test could be when the company finally passes it.
The Elon Musk-backed rocket maker delivered its latest prototype, called SN11, to its launch site in Boca Chica, Texas on Monday. Photos shared online showed the spacecraft standing at the site after a sturdy crane dubbed “Tankzilla” put it in place.
SpaceX hasn’t said exactly when the next flight test will take place, but it will likely take some time to prepare the spacecraft for the event. NASASpaceFlight.com, an industry news website, estimated that the SN11 could be ready as early as next week, depending on the lead times of previous prototypes.
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In the meantime, SpaceX is expected to launch 60 more Starlink satellites aboard one of its reusable Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral, Florida this week. The first launch window is scheduled for Tuesday evening.
While the Falcon 9 is designed to travel in orbit, the Starship is designed to land on non-terrestrial soil and return. NASA selected the Starship as one of three projects for its future moon missions, and Musk said the spacecraft could even be used for possible human habitation on Mars.
In this image from a video made available by SpaceX, one of the company’s Starship prototypes fires its thrusters as it lands during a test in Boca Chica, Texas on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Both previous attempts have ended in explosions. (SpaceX via AP
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The Starship is 160 feet tall and 30 feet wide. It is designed to carry over 100 metric tons. When launching for missions beyond Earth’s atmosphere, he will also be standing on one of SpaceX’s Super Heavy rockets.
Starship’s previous prototype, SN10, managed to pitch in, perform a “belly flop” maneuver and straighten up before landing mostly standing up last week. The spacecraft had a noticeable tilt, however, and something on or near it seemed to burn for a few minutes before detonating on the landing pad.
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Musk reacted positively to the test, noting in one tweet that the SN10 had “landed in one piece” and in another, referring to Norse mythology, writing that he was “in Valhalla now” with a slow-motion video of the fire. .
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