Out on the Pad
After quite a few delays, SpaceX’s Starship prototype SN8 is lastly on the launch pad, the place engineers are making ready the huge spacecraft for its first-ever high-altitude take a look at flight.
Out on the pad in South Texas pic.twitter.com/RcYOXXpTc2
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 7, 2020
Livestream
Fortuitously, SpaceX might be streaming the occasion reside on YouTube, beginning at 11am EST — although it’s nonetheless unclear when the precise launch will happen.
Up to now, SpaceX has launched earlier prototypes to solely 150 meters (roughly 500 ft) on two events. Starship prototypes SN5 and SN6 pulled off the feat in August and September respectively.
Stomach Flop
If as we speak’s flight goes in response to plan, we’ll see the 165 foot SN8 rocket hearth up its three Raptor engines to succeed in an altitude of slightly below eight miles, in response to the most recent filings with the Federal Aviation Administration.
After reaching its apogee, the rocket will plummet again all the way down to Earth utilizing its “stomach” to sluggish its descent. As soon as near the bottom, it would proper itself and hearth its thrusters for a clean touchdown.
READ MORE: SpaceX confirms Tuesday Starship launch debut will have an official webcast [Teslarati]
Extra on Starship: Elon Musk “Highly Confident” SpaceX Will Land Humans on Mars Within 6 Years
