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posted by martyb on Wednesday August 28 2019, @04:55PM   Printer-friendly
from the History-in-the-Making dept.

SpaceX's Starhopper has successfully completed a 150-meter test hop. Due to two orbital prototypes of Starship already nearing completion, Starhopper will not fly again, and will instead be converted into a vertical test stand for Raptor engine static fire tests:

SpaceX's Starhopper test vehicle – after finally gaining the required Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permit for its highest hop yet – successfully carried out its test on Tuesday. The approval was required to pave the way for the 150 meter jump out of Boca Chica, Texas. Monday's attempt was scrubbed at T-0 due to an issue relating to the ignitor system on the SN6 Raptor, moving the next attempt to Tuesday which was successful.

[...] Currently, SpaceX has two full-scale prototypes nearing completion which are designated Starship Mk 1 and Starship Mk 2 respectively. The Mk 1 prototype is being built at the Boca Chica launch site while Mk 2 is being constructed in Cocoa, Florida.

Construction of both prototypes is progressing well, with the primary structures of the two vehicles nearing completion.

According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the two major sections of the vehicles (fairing and tanks) will soon be stacked together. From there, technicians will install the control fins, Raptor engines, and landing gear.

A presentation revealing new details about Starship has been tentatively rescheduled for mid-September.

Also at Ars Technica and Teslarati.

A video of the flight is available on YouTube.

Previously: SpaceX Launches CRS-18 Using Twice-Flown Booster, Starhopper Finally Flies
SpaceX 'Starhopper' Highest-Ever Test Flight Early Next Week
SpaceX's Starhopper 150-Meter Test... Scrubbed for Monday; Try Again Tuesday at Same Time [Updated]


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  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday August 28 2019, @05:26PM (5 children)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday August 28 2019, @05:26PM (#886895) Journal

    Scott Manley's video [youtube.com] (10m22s) highlights some potential problems with the test (starting at 4:44).

    Basically some unexpected exhaust products that caused the flame to briefly change color even before it got close to the ground, maybe indicating breakage inside the engine and causing it to land harder than expected. And you can see a COPV flying away from the rocket in Everyday Astronaut's footage.

    They might have learned a lot more from this test than we thought. Raptor and/or Starship may need tweaks before the orbital prototypes can be fired up.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 28 2019, @07:10PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 28 2019, @07:10PM (#886936)

    Before the rocket got close to the ground, but not before the exhaust plume started interacting with the ground.

    At slow speed, it almost looks like the yellow stuff grew up from the ground to the engine.
    (there is a period with blue on top and yellow below.)

    Not sure how that could be if something changed in the engine first?

  • (Score: 2) by mhajicek on Wednesday August 28 2019, @09:39PM (3 children)

    by mhajicek (51) on Wednesday August 28 2019, @09:39PM (#886990)

    I heard that they were changing the mixture as part of the throttling, and that this would account for the color change.

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    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 28 2019, @11:24PM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 28 2019, @11:24PM (#887036)

      maybe, if they made it rich, it might turn yellow,
      but would that go yellow from top to bot or bot to top?

      This rocket science stuff is, well rocket science...

      • (Score: 2) by sjames on Thursday August 29 2019, @01:01AM

        by sjames (2882) on Thursday August 29 2019, @01:01AM (#887082) Journal

        The yellow would first appear at the tip. In this case closer to the ground.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 29 2019, @02:14AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 29 2019, @02:14AM (#887126)

        Rocket science it may be, but a rocket engine is not entirely unlike an oxyfuel torch. Play with one sometime if you get a chance.