Starhopper, the cutback version of SpaceX's Starship (BFS) lifted off at Boca Chica, Texas, slowly rose to 150 metres, then moved sideways to the landing pad. If you watch the video closely, you can see the single Raptor engine gimballing and the cold-air thrusters at the top of the aircraft firing to keep the rocket vertical and to push it sideways over the landing pad. Extraordinary.
This successful test means that Starship Mk1 and Mk2, one of which is being built at Boca Chica and another at Cocoa, Florida, will be able to do the next tests, which will take each prototype to much higher altitudes. They will each be fitted with 3 Raptor engines. If those tests are successful, SpaceX will then test suborbital launches and then orbit. The next really big hurdle is re-entry, when the spacecraft will have to face temperatures in the thousands of degrees. If that works, SpaceX plans to make its first commercial launches in 2021. This rapid progress means an uncrewed mission to Mars in 2022, a circumlunar expedition in 2023 and a crewed mission to Mars in 2024 are all on track.
Musk will be updating us all in a few weeks about the latest design for the Starship and Super Heavy, and perhaps the timetable too.
An extraordinary and magnificent achievement.
No comments:
Post a Comment