SN10
 | This page documents a current test. Information may change rapidly as the test progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest changes to this page may not reflect the most current information. |
 SN10 being lifted onto the Test Stand | |
| Also Called | SN10 |
|---|---|
| Status | Destroyed |
| Testing History | |
| Ambient Temperature N2 Pressure Test | Complete |
| Cryogenic N2 Pressure Testing | Complete |
| Static Fire 1 | Complete |
| Raptor Swap | Complete |
| Static Fire 2 | Complete |
| Flight | Complete |
Serial Number 10 is a Starship prototype that flew to approximately 10km in Boca Chica, Texas. SN10 is the third fully-constructed Starship, and incorporates several changes from the previous prototypes. Most noticeable amongst these is the moving of one ring from the Nosecone Barrel section to the Top Dome Sleeve section, which streamlines the production process by making the largest ring stack assembled in the tents four rings high.
Construction
The first components of SN10 appeared on site with the Top Dome sleeve and Methane Downcomer and Thrust Puck assembly spotted on September 2, 2020.[1] The forward dome itself was soon sleeved on September 8.[2] Construction continued with the sleeving of the Common Dome on September 16,[3] with the partially-completed Aft Dome appearing the same day before itself being sleeved on September 22.[4] The Aft Dome was flipped on September 24, before being mated to the lower skirt on October 3.[5]
Assembly commenced on October 14[6] with the Mid Lox section being moved into the Mid Bay, with the Common Dome following two days later on October 16.[7] The Methane Downcomer was fitted before the Top Dome was added on October 22.[8] With SN9 moving to the High Bay, there was room in the Mid Bay to finish stacking the tank section of SN10 by lifting the previously-assembled stack onto the Aft Dome and skirt on November 2.[9] At this point, major construction slowed as the nosecone could not be added until SN9 left the High Bay. During this period much of the fitting out of the tank section was progressed.
After a delay from SN9's fall, SN10 finally moved to the High Bay on December 22 - the same day that SN9 left it for the Launch Site. During the delay, SN10's nosecone received its first Flamp on December 15 - the second possibly being loaned to SN9 to replace one damaged in the fall. Of note, the flamp had a small number of heat shield tile studs on the leeward side. The nosecone was mated to its barrel on December 19, still missing one flamp.[10] The second flamp was eventually installed on December 26, before the nosecone joined the tank section in the High Bay on December 30 and was mated on January 2, 2021. Fitting out work continued for the remainder of January, with the left Fling being fitted on January 14. Again, this fling was noted to have a number of heat shield tiles attached to the leeward surface. The second fling was fitted on December 23, completing the major assembly of SN10 and leaving it ready to be moved to the Launch Site for testing.
Testing
SN10 was rolled out to Test Stand 1 on 29 January 2021, where it joined SN9 on Test Stand 2. It appeared to undergo ambient pressure tests on February 1, with the three Raptors (including SN50 and SN39) being installed on February 5/6. A series of cryogenic tests were conducted on February 8. After some delays due to a severe winter storm, testing resumed with RCS testing and an aborted static fire attempt on February 22, followed by a successful firing the following day. Unfortunately, suspect data lead to one Raptor being exchanged.[11] A second Static Fire was conducted on February 25 after one of the fastest engine swaps to date. With the second static fire appearing normal, the Flight Termination System was installed on the morning of February 28. On 3 March 2021 SN10 successfully flew to 10km, transitioned into a horizontal position, and descended to roughly 500m where all 3 raptor engines re-ignited, flipping SN10 to vertical, then transitioning to a single engine for the final landing. SN10 descended at a roughly constant speed of 10m/s making a hard landing on the landing pad. This was caused by helium ingestion from the fuel (CH4) header tank.[12] 8 minutes and 16 seconds after touchdown SN10 exploded from the thrust dome.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 29 Jan 2021 | Rollout to Test Stand 1 |
| 01 Feb 2021 | Ambient Pressure Tests |
| 05-06 Feb 2021 | Raptors Installed |
| 08 Feb 2021 | Cryogenic Pressure Tests |
| 22 Feb 2021 | RCS testing |
| 22 Feb 2021 | Static Fire Attempt (aborted) |
| 23 Feb 2021 | Static Fire 1 |
| 24 Feb 2021 | Raptor Swap |
| 25 Feb 2021 | Static Fire 2 |
| 03 Mar 2021 | 10km Flight with Hard Landing and RUD 8 minutes later |
References
- ↑ https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1301990565144178688
- ↑ https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1303783796148379648
- ↑ https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1306494681891577856/photo/1
- ↑ https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1308631225918058496
- ↑ https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1312521601494118400
- ↑ https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1316663256811880449
- ↑ https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1317215331719409664
- ↑ https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1319172201107451904
- ↑ https://twitter.com/brendan2908/status/1323765318825648128
- ↑ https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1340317915250384896
- ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1364473175279620096
- ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1369379914139451406