SpaceX tried the Starship 10 km altitude test for the second time, but unfortunately it still ended with a ball of fire.

SpaceX conducted a test flight of the Starship SN9 earlier. Except for the slightly lower flight altitude (10 kilometers), the rest of the test content was the sameSame as previous SN8. In the previous paragraph, SpaceX basically completely repeated the success of SN8, but unfortunately when it ignited before the final landing, another accident occurred. Only one of the two landing engines successfully ignited, and the other one was suspected of ejecting debris, but failed. ignite. This made SN9 unable to decelerate instantly again, and slammed on the landing platform, again becoming a ball of fire.

However, since one of the two engines was successfully ignited and operating normally, it said The fuel tank pressure problem faced by SN8It seems to have been solved, this time it is more like an engine alone problem than a Starship design problem. Of course, the ultimate reason depends on SpaceX’s investigation and whether it will be publicly available for us to know after the investigation.

The SN9 was actually not “delivering” smoothly. First, it “cropped” in the assembly factory, leaned against the inner wall and crashed the upper control wing, so SpaceX could only remove the SN10 wing to replace it. After moving to the launch pad for ignition testing, although SpaceX reached a new record of three ignition tests a day, it seemed that it also damaged two engines at the same time, so it had to be replaced with new engines and retested. In the end, everything is ready for the rocket, but the FAA in charge of the flight has been slow to approve the flight. This part is a bit of a Rashomon, and SpaceX (Musk)’s statement sounds like the FAA’s regulations and operating procedures are too much. Outdated, but the FAA’s statement seems to be a violation of the SN8 test, making the FAA’s requirements extra strict this time. Regardless of the truth, SN9 took off smoothly today.

Interestingly, while SN9 was waiting for the FAA to stamp it, SpaceX pushed SN10 onto the launch pad next to SN9 (you can see the fireball on the left in the picture above). This has two main meanings: The first is that SpaceX is producing Starship so fast that there is not enough space in the assembly plant. For the assembly of SN11, SN10 can only be pushed out first. The second is that the cost of Starship is so low that it is placed next to another launched rocket and is not afraid of being accidentally affected. Although the landing test of SN9 is now facing another setback, the replacement rockets are already on the launcher, and the waiting time for the next launch can be even shorter!

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