Caption: “Sounds like Raptor SN06 is good to roar and StarHopper is going to get to hoppin’ and hovering real soon. Exciting times at Boca Chica.” / Image via Twitter: @BocaChicaGal
SpaceX and Elon Musk’s Starhopper almost ready for first untethered hop
Progress! Starhopper, a prototype for Elon Musk and SpaceX’s future Mars-colonising Starship vehicle, is nearly ready to be let off its leash.
Caption: “Sounds like Raptor SN06 is good to roar and StarHopper is going to get to hoppin’ and hovering real soon. Exciting times at Boca Chica.” / Image via Twitter: @BocaChicaGal
Prototypes of SpaceX’s 100-passenger Starhopper vehicle are currently being built in Florida and Texas; and Musk confirmed that the ship is almost ready for its first untethered hop.
The ‘hopper– which is set to be used for SpaceX’s future Mars-colonising Starship vehicle – is starting to look more like a bona fide spaceship with every passing day.
Brief test hops in Texas
To date, the Starhopper has conducted two brief tests hops; the last taking place back in April at SpaceX’s Boca Chica test site in Texas. Both hops employed a tether, which ensures that the ‘hopper remained close to the ground.
SpaceX was reluctant in taking the next big step – removing the tether and letting Starhopper fry freely – due to an issue with the vehicle’s Raptor engine.
The engines, which are still in development, are fueled by a combination of liquid methane and liquid oxygen.
It packs about twice the punch of the Merlin engines currently powering the company’s Falcon 9 series of rockets.
Navigating mechanical failures
Back in June, Elon Musk said that the Raptor “liberated its oxygen turbine stator”.
He added that SpaceX needed to update the design and replace parts, following the mechanical failure. He said at the time:
“Production is ramping exponentially, though. SN6 almost done. Aiming for an engine every 12 hours by end of year.”
Starhopper is “almost ready to hover”
The problems have now been solved. Musk updated his followers over the weekend. He said on Twitter that the progress at Boca is “exciting.” He also added that Starhopper is “almost ready to hover.”
“Based on tonight’s test, [it] looks like [the] 600 Hz Raptor vibration problem is fixed.”
In another tweet that afternoon, the billionaire entrepreneur implied that SpaceX aims to conduct the first untethered Starhopper flight in the next week or so.
“Will do Starship presentation a few weeks after Hopper hovers, so prob late July. If that timing works, free LJ chips for all present!”
Starhopper stats for nerds
Starhopper currently has only one Raptor engine. Future, high-flying versions of the ‘hopper will have three Raptors engines, while a fully-operational Starship will boast six Raptor engines.
The 100-passenger Starship will then launch atop a huge rocket called the Super Heavy. The Super Heavy, in turn, will be powered by 31 Raptor engines. Amazing, right?
Moreover, SpaceX will use Starhopper to test a number of design elements for the Starship. However, the primary purpose of the testing will be to test the powerful Raptor engines which have been created for the deep-space rocket.
Starhopper’s future
The Starship is said to head out to space as soon as 2021; SpaceX is talking to several telecommunications companies about a potential satellite launch.
Following that, the Starship Super Heavy is booked for 2023 when Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and a handful of artists will head to the moon. He paid for the trip already.
Also read – SpaceX’s Starhopper almost ready for its first flight [photos]
