What happened to SpaceX’s Starship SN9?

SpaceX launched its Starship prototype Serial Number 9 (SN9) on Tuesday, 2nd of February. They successfully flew it high as 10 kilometers (32,800 feet). But they failed in landing, as it hit the ground explosively, just like previous Starship’s SN8 prototype launched on December 9. The Starship is the spacecraft that aims to send humans to Mars. But still, it’s in the earlier stage. We brought the full explanation on how Starship works and plans of SpaceX on it.

Landing issues in SpaceX’s Starship prototypes

While reaching its highest altitude, it shut down 3 raptor engines as they planned. Then it performed belly flop-like maneuver decently using its flaps and fins while reaching down. But SpaceX’s Starship SN9 didn’t manage to slow down because it only ignited 2 engines out of 3 during landing. That all caused the explosion like a massive fireball for SN9.

“Remember, this was a test flight, (only) the second time we’ve flown Starship in this configuration. We demonstrated the ability to transition the engines to the landing propellant tanks, the subsonic reentry looked very good and stable,” SpaceX principal integration engineer John Insprucker said on the live SpaceX webcast on the launch.

SpaceX engineers hope they would be able to go through the data and master the landing of the next Starship prototypes. “We’ve just got to work on that landing a little bit. We’ve got a lot of good data, and (attained) the primary objective to demonstrate control of the vehicle and the subsonic reentry.” Insprucker said.

FAA on Starship operations

SpaceX expected to fly their SN9 prototype before the end of January. But surprisingly Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sent them a surprising advisory saying the launch had been scrubbed. According to FAA, SpaceX has violated a public safety agreement had with them during the previous SN8 test launch. So, FAA required SpaceX to conduct an investigation and suspended them until they introduce corrective actions for future launches. That’s why SpaceX was unable to fly SN9 on January 28.

But prior to the SN9 launch on February 2, FAA approved corrective actions implemented by SpaceX to enhance public safety with a statement. But they still haven’t revealed what are those actions introduced by them.

However, FAA will conduct an investigation on the landing failure of SN9. It will help SpaceX to identify causes for the landing mishap. According to the FAA spokesperson, their intention of regulating commercial space transportation is to ensure the safety of space operations even if there is an anomaly.

FAA defines a mishap in space operations as a “launch or reentry accident, launch or reentry incident, launch site accident, failure to complete a launch or reentry as planned, or an unplanned event or series of events resulting in up to $25,000 worth of damage, a fatality or serious injury”.

When SN10 will happen?

SpaceX simultaneously developing and assembling multiple Starships in its development facility in Boca Chica. We were able to see SN10 parking on the second launch pad near the SpaceX’s Starship SN9 during its launch also. The SN10 will attempt to launch within a month as the next Starship prototype they testing. We hope they would be able to successfully land it on the pad since Elon Musk hope to develop Starship as a fully reusable rocket.

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