Μια ακόμη πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα αν και όχι και… τόσο επιτυχημένη δοκιμαστική πτήση για την ομάδα του SpaceX. Το νέο…
…high-altitude τεστ αφορούσε το Starship serial number 10 (SN10) και ήταν το τρίτο “high-altitude suborbital flight test” για ένα πρωτότυπο Starship. Από το SpaceX site στην Cameron County του Texas των ΗΠΑ.
Η δοκιμή είχε παρόμοιους στόχους με αυτούς των Starship SN8 και SN9.
“SN10 will be powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN10 will perform a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent.
The Starship prototype will descend under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of two forward and two aft flaps on the vehicle. All four flaps are actuated by an onboard flight computer to control Starship’s attitude during flight and enable precise landing at the intended location. SN10’s Raptor engines will then reignite as the vehicle attempts a landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down on the landing pad adjacent to the launch mount.
A controlled aerodynamic descent with body flaps and vertical landing capability, combined with in-space refilling, are critical to landing Starship at destinations across the solar system where prepared surfaces or runways do not exist, and returning to Earth. This capability will enable a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration, interplanetary flights and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond”.
Το αποτέλεσμα ήταν… σχετικά καλό!