SpaceX starship prototype, serial number 8 (SN8), is standing tall at the launch pad in Boca Chica, Cameron County, Texas. SpaceX has hinted that its first high altitude test flight could soon take place. The flight is scheduled for Tuesday 8th December, 11 AM EST.
However, as stated by SpaceX representatives, the schedule of the launch is uncertain and could change as it goes for most testing schedules. They said, “The schedule is dynamic and likely to change, as is the case with all development testing.” We are pretty sure the Starship SN8 launch will occur in the next hour.
The altitude or peak height that the new space vehicle is expected to reach is 50,000 feet (approximately 15 KM). However, the company has claimed the success of this mission will not be calculated by the predefined goals it will achieve but preferably by what the group learns as a whole from this experience.
READ: SpaceX reveals giant Starship rocket
In September 2019, Elon Musk stated that they plan on deploying flight with crew members in a year-long time. Even though the company is running late on its schedule, it has made massive progress since then.
Live stream SpaceX Starship SN8 historic launch
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The SN8 Starship
The Starship, SN8, is SpaceX’s concept of a transportation system that will help travel people to destinations like the moon or mars. The architecture has a 50 meters tall spaceship and a giant first-stage booster attached, called Super Heavy. Both elements of the new prototype are stated to be reusable by the company CEO, Elon Musk.
The SN8 is powered by six Raptors rocket engines and a giant first-stage booster, i.e., Super Heavy. The Super Heavy booster will take power from 28 rockets, initially planned 30 or 31, making it much more powerful than the models introduced before.
SpaceX prototypes Starhopper, SN5, and SN6 were single-engine prototypes that reached a maximum height of 150 meters during tests. The starships could be used in the future to power other SpaceX projects like Starlink.
Starlink
Starlink is a SpaceX project for low-latency, broadband internet service through the satellite constellation. The grouping will consist of thousands of satellites in Low Earth Orbit. Starlink’s goal is to provide better satellite internet service than traditional sources across the globe, with the US and Canada’s initial target.
READ: Elon Musk estimates 1000 Starships and 20 years for a sustainable city on Mars
According to the company, SpaceX, the Starlink project will bring internet service to areas previously scarce of this service and will bring internet service to places where access has been inadequate, costly, or completely unavailable.
Featured image: SpaceX
