The third high - altitude run of a SpaceX Starship prototypeended with a successful landingon March 3 — and then , moments later , end for a second meter with an explosion .
Although the SN10 , as the image was known , join its two most late predecessor in the fiery great beyond , it was still celebrated as a success for becoming the first of Elon Musk ’s Mars - bound Starship prototypes to stick the landing . On Tuesday , Musk engage to Twitterto elaborateon why the SN10 came in a little too hot , and elucidate that a serial of fixes was already in the piece of work for the next prototype in the serial , the SN11 .
“ SN10 engine was low on jabbing due ( probably ) to fond atomic number 2 ingestion from fuel header tank , ” Musk tweeted . “ encroachment of 10 m/s crushed legs & part of skirt . ”
Photo: Loren Elliott / Stringer (Getty Images)
In subsequent tweet , Musk confirm that the atomic number 2 uptake was potential the result of a pressurization organisation that had been added to the CH4 lintel tank to correct an misplay that had occurred antecedently with the SN8 .
“ If autogenic pressurization had been used , CH4 house of cards would most likely have regress to liquid , ” Muskwrote . “ Helium in header was used to preclude ullage collapse from slosh , which take place in anterior flight . My mistake for O.K. . Sounded practiced at the time . ”
picture footage of the SN10 ’s launching and subsequent soft landing at SpaceX ’s test facility in Boca Chica , Texas , shows the rocket come in for a speedy landing place before settling in at a tilted angle , slimly afire . nigh a full arcminute after successfully completing the run flight of steps , the rocket explodes in a massive fireball .
Oof . SN10 has determine to join SN8 and SN9 .
Still a nifty advancement with the landing place .
➡ ️https://t.co / bOsEo1u0u0pic.twitter.com / RiXV6e3u04
— Chris Bergin – NSF ( @NASASpaceflight)March 3 , 2021
Musk ’s tweet came as a reply to a series of photos tweeted out by a photographer that look gaining control SpaceX employees test out the landing legs of SN11 to ensure that they will deploy properly as it prepares for its own close at hand test flight of stairs . Although SN11 is currently sitting on the launching tablet in Boca Chica , SpaceX hasnot yet confirmedexactly when the next flight test is scheduled to pass off — although some industry experts judge it could be ready to launchas before long as next workweek .
Elon MuskHyperloopMuskOuter spaceSpaceflightSPACEXSpaceX spaceship
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