SpaceX Could Launch SN15 as Early as Tuesday Written 4 May 2021
SN9 on the launch pad before a test flight. | Credit: Jaredkrahn; Wikipedia; CC BY-SA 4.0
CNET News reports that SpaceX is aiming to conduct a test flight of its Starship SN15 prototype as early as Tuesday. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk “said SN15 ‘has hundreds of design improvements across structures, avionics/software and engine,’ including, hopefully, upgrades to cover some of the problems that have prevented SpaceX from sticking the landing so far without a rapid unscheduled disassembly.” SN15 “has undergone some initial testing, and Musk initially tweeted that the aim was to launch last month, but that target continued to slip.” On Thursday, the FAA “said it had approved a launch license covering SN15, SN16 and SN17.” SN15 “could launch anytime (or not at all) within the approved windows once all the required closures and permissions are in place.”
Full Story (CNET News)