The prototype of the Starship SN15 rocket performed a successful test flight, soaring to an altitude of 10 kilometers. The rocket made a soft landing, but, unlike the prototype SN10, did not explode after that. The broadcast was conducted on the SpaceX YouTube channel.
SpaceX has been developing Starship, a new — generation superheavy rocket, for several years. First of all, it will differ from its predecessors in the possibility of multiple use of both stages, each of which will land on the ground or on a sea platform like the first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket. In turn, according to Elon Musk's plans, this will allow refueling the rocket in orbit: some of the upper stages will be refueling stations that will be able to make several flights in a short time and at no great cost. In total, the Starship will launch more than 100 tons into orbit, and after refueling, it will be able to continue on its way to the Moon, Mars or other planets in the Solar System.
Tests of the new rocket are progressing with varying success. The prototype SN8 took off for 12 kilometers, but could not slow down and crashed on landing. The SN10 tests were more successful: the rocket landed, but a few minutes later, after the official video broadcast was completed, it exploded
On the fifth of May, Starship SN15 completely successfully passed flight tests. The rocket took off at 10 kilometers, turned off the engines, went down with the help of aerodynamic rudders, restarted the engines, turned the engines to the platform and gently landed on it. After that, a small fire from the remaining fuel was visible under the rocket, but it did not lead to an explosion.
A noticeable part of the surface of this prototype was covered with black tiles of thermal insulation. At this stage of testing, it is not needed, but without it, test suborbital flights will be impossible, before which it is necessary to find out how the tiles withstand engine vibration and temperature changes from cryogenic fuel.
At the end of April, NASA instructed SpaceX to develop a lunar version of Starship for a flight to the Moon under the Artemis program, but after a protest from competitors, it asked to suspend work until the verdict of the accounting chamber. Although NASA has put the development of the lunar Starship on pause, the first modules of the Gateway lunar station, a key element for returning people to the Moon in 2024, will still be delivered by SpaceX on a Falcon Heavy rocket.
Vasily Zaitsev
