SpaceX's Starhopper performs a 150-meter test hop

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SpaceX's Starhopper test vehicle – after several days of delay in waiting for approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – successfully completed its 150-meter test flight Tuesday afternoon from Boca Chica, Texas. Monday's attempt was missed at T-0 due to a problem with the SN6 Raptor's ignition system, displacing the next attempt on Tuesday that was successful.

(Main image Jack Beyer for NSF)

The Starhopper vehicle is a test stand for acquiring a flying experience with the new SpaceX Raptor engine by making short jumps. The methane-powered engine is under development to support the next launch vehicle's Super Heavy and Starship vehicles.

The construction of Starhopper started at the end of 2018, with itsThe first shot of Raptor occurring during a static fire on April 3, 2019.

Two more static fire tests in the coming months have finally set the stage for the vehicle's first flight. The plan was to make a brief jump to an altitude of about 20 meters.

After an unsuccessful attempt the day before, shortly after the ignition of the engine, Starhopper managed to reach an altitude of 18 meters on 25 July.

The next step in the test campaign was to push the envelope even further. While the original project was to climb at about 200 meters altitude, the test was slightly modified to target only 150 meters.

The change was made to help meet the FAA's requirements for authorization of the test flight.

Until recently, SpaceX was allowed to operate Starhopper at an altitude of 25 meters. As a result, the objectives of the highest altitude test were only feasible if a revised license was granted.

As a first step, the FAA had expressed concern over SpaceX's proposal for a higher altitude test. The absence of risk analysis has been cited as a particular problem.

Without the required license, SpaceX was forced to delay the 150-meter jump beyond the originally scheduled date of August 12th.

However, in recent days, SpaceX has finally been able to meet the requirements of the FAA, and the agency has finally issued the license.

The 150-meter jump used the Raptor SN6 – the same engine as the 18-meter end of July.

During the 18-meter jump, the methane-powered Raptor engine was able to lift Starhopper off the launch pad, translate the vehicle slightly, and then land on the launch pad.

However, during the greatest hop, Starhopper not only flew much higher, but also landed on a landing area nearby.

The road closures for the flight began at 2 pm, central time, with the opening of the main test window at 4 pm local time.

However, road and airspace closures lasted until midnight – possibly leaving the option for a jump later in the day if this had been required.

After ten minutes of testing, the police sirens went off. The sirens alerted the residents of the nearby village of Boca Chica that it was time to evacuate their homes.

The locals were asked to go to the outside for the flight because the shockwave caused by a possible overpressure could break the windows of their house.

Once the countdown reached zero, the Starhopper engine turned on and the vehicle took off from the carpet.

Several cold gas thrusters located near the top of the vehicle then contributed to the stability of the vehicle when the Raptor engine propelled the vehicle.

Nitrogen propellants are identical to those used by SpaceX to help recover a Falcon 9 first stage.

If SpaceX was not able to perform the jump on Tuesday, Wednesday was designated as a relief day because of the reported road closures.

This test flight is currently scheduled for the grand finale of Starhopper. With the vehicle landing in one piece, it should be converted to a vertical Raptor test rig and flight tests would be upgraded to the larger Starship prototypes.

Currently, SpaceX has two complete prototypes nearing completion, designated Starship Mk 1 and Starship Mk 2 respectively. The Mk 1 prototype is being built at the Boca Chica launch site, while Mk 2 is in the process of being built. construction in Cocoa, Florida.

The construction of both prototypes is progressing well as the primary structures of both vehicles are nearing completion.

According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the two main sections of vehicles (fairing and tanks) will soon be stacked. From there, the technicians will install the control fins, the Raptor engines and the landing gear.

An object resembling a control flap – presumably for the Mk 1 vehicle – has already been spotted in Boca Chica by BocaChicaGal, a NASASpaceflight forum member.

A new delivery to Boca Chica seems to be a fine check. Credit: BocaChicaGal for NSF

Starship prototypes should also feature three Raptor engines instead of just one like Starhopper.

In addition, the Mk 1 and Mk 2 prototypes are designed to reach much higher altitudes in order to push the test envelope further.

Although the start of test flights for new prototype vehicles is not entirely clear, Musk recently tweeted that the prototypes had to be equipped with their engines and control surfaces by mid-September. This suggests that the first flight could take place this fall.

Teams in Texas and Cape Town are currently competing to determine which is the most effective way to build and fly Starship vehicles. At the moment, the prototype of the Starship Mk 1 is probably the favorite of both vehicles to take first place.

While Mk 1 is being built in the same launch facilities as Starhopper, much of the infrastructure needed to execute a launch is already in place.

Quick disconnect umbilicals are used to transport fuel into the vehicle at the launch site. Credit: BocaChicaGal for NSF

On the other hand, Starship Mk 2 will be launched from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center. While this launch site is already used to support SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy fueled kerosene vehicles, modifications will be needed to support a methane rocket like spacecraft.

In addition, SpaceX also plans to install a brand new launch bracket and flame deflector for Starship rather than utilizing the existing 39A Pad Falcon infrastructure.

Although we do not know the exact timing for the completion of the historic platform changes, work is already well advanced.

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