Building the Full Metal Starship testbed: Starhopper

[Grendal]

There was a smoke plume that the Everyday Astronaut got some shots of. Maybe it hopped but probably not. This upcoming week the testing continues and there is a NOTAM from the FAA about a 1000 foot area above the test site for next week. So expect more testing and possibly a higher hop.
9/1046 NOTAM Details

 

[ecarfan]

Any hop is a good hop as long as at touchdown the Hopper remains vertical.

 

[e-FTW]

Any hop is a good hop as long as at touchdown the Hopper remains vertical.

As always, it’s all about the landing!

 

[Grendal]

Article on the tests:
SpaceX's Starship hopper steps towards first hop with several cautious tests

 

[Grendal]

Starhopper hopped!!
Chris B - NSF on Twitter

 

[e-FTW]

Starhopper hopped!!
Chris B - NSF on Twitter

Water Tower to Mars!

 

[Nikxice]

That thing no longer looks like your typical everyday Water Tower. Tonight, more like an angry red eyed beast.

 

[HVM]

 

[RDoc]

I'm still amazed they are doing this without a flame trench. The ends of those "fins" are going to get pretty hot!

 

[mongo]

I'm still amazed they are doing this without a flame trench. The ends of those "fins" are going to get pretty hot!

Toasty while on the ground, but still less than re-entry...

 

[ecarfan]

I'm still amazed they are doing this without a flame trench.

As am I.

I could not see the Starhopper rise up in that video, too much exhaust in the way and likely the movement was only a couple of feet. Still, pretty exciting to see!

 

[e-FTW]

I still cannot believe this thing is actually a functional rocket, or very close to one.
Go SpaceX, you beautiful maniacs!

 

[RDoc]

Toasty while on the ground, but still less than re-entry...

I don't think the TankHopper is ever going to see reentry. Of course, unless they start digging, the next, orbital, test article is.

 

[mongo]

I don't think the TankHopper is ever going to see reentry. Of course, unless they start digging, the next, orbital, test article is.

Ya, just speaking in terms of the temperature range unshielded stainless steel can handle. It's hot, but not too hot (or at least not too hot for too long)

 

[e-FTW]

“I think it moved...”
Elon Musk on Twitter

 

[e-FTW]

Lots of good investigative work here: SpaceX BFS - Phase 1 - StarHopper - Photos and Updates
And you can see it hop:

tl;dr by one calculation, it lifted off about 3 feet. Only 4,456,789,399,309,927,552 left to go!

 

[ecarfan]

Starhopper has gone quiet lately. I wonder if more Raptors are being installed before the next hop?

 

[ecarfan]

Maybe the Raptor that was just fired at McGregor yesterday for 40 seconds is assigned to be installed in Starhopper soon?

 

[Grendal]

Starhopper will hop again. Sometime in the next ten days according to Elon. Hopefully.

Elon Musk on Twitter

 

[HVM]

Steampunk(ish):