They are going to have to streamline this approval system, as SpaceX is obviously putting a display on for the FAA: “we are building a fleet, and this piecemeal stuff is not gonna work.”
Looks like Elon liked a tweet with a Tuesday TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) for #SN9’s flight! Could this mean they made some progress with the FAA over the weekend like some are reporting? Tuesday might be the day?!?! https://twitter.com/erdayastronaut/status/1356035080511234053?s=21&fbclid=IwAR2GTv5qcPCk09yg6GKPcNN9EOJ6YGeeoisizRrNBdAVaqt2fWVeUzycDpQ
"Confirmed: The FAA late last night granted SpaceX its launch license modification for the SN9 Starship flight. It appears from reports on the ground that they are proceeding with a launch attempt today." https://twitter.com/wapodavenport/status/1356566130056433664?s=20
One hour to launch estimated by: Multistream.co 90 minute estimated by: https://twitter.com/neverson42/status/1356681654601977858
Oops. Looked like it had some attitude control issues. When it first turned off the engines at 10km, it might have been pointed down too much. And then when it did the landing flip, it totally botched it, landed partially sideways. Still fun watching this massive ship freefall in a belly flop!
Wow. What a boom! Very close to the other prototype! They are clearly very confident that they won't hit it....
To me it looked like unusual flame activity in the engine bay at about T+1:10 Normal or not norminal?
SN10 has no engines fitted yet. It has to pass cryo proof, engine install, static fire, then it can think about flying.
And they have to resolve whatever happened today. I'm just suggesting that I don't think we're talking another month-plus. They seem very much stuck in 'go' mode these days.
"On Tuesday, February 2, Starship serial number 9 (SN9) completed SpaceX’s second high-altitude flight test of a Starship prototype from our site in Cameron County, Texas. Similar to the high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 8 (SN8), SN9 was powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 kilometers in altitude. SN9 successfully performed 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 descended 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. During the landing flip maneuver, one of the Raptor engines did not relight and caused SN9 to land at high speed and experience a RUD. These test flights are all about improving our understanding and development of 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." -SpX