The upcoming prototype of the Starship spacecraft called SN8 will try to reach a height of 60,000 feet, ie about 18 kilometers, during a test flight. Elon Musk informed about it.
The head of SpaceX and Tesla also revealed that the upper cone (nose cone) and SN8 flaps could be “finished in about a week”.
SN8 Starship with flaps & nosecone should be done in about a week. Then static fire, checkouts, static fire, fly to 60,000 ft & back.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 12, 2020
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While each of the previous SN5 and SN6 prototypes had only one Raptor engine, the SN8 will already have three. However, he will have to pass a series of tests before “jumping” to 18 kilometers.
Experts do they believethat the SN8 will perform an unusual maneuver during this flight, the so-called “belly-flop”. Several enthusiasts have even created a video that shows what it might look like:
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“If it works, it’s going to be the craziest piece of rocket gymnastics since landing Falcon 9,” stated Lars Blackmore ze SpaceX.
Whatever the outcome of this attempt, Musk is excited about the prospect of it. “One way or another, excitement guaranteed!” He said.
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