Starship SN9 Test No. 1 (High Altitude) Launch Discussion & Updates Thread
#This thread has been archived, click here for the new SN9 test thread.
[](/# MC // section intro)
Welcome to the r/SpaceX Starship SN9 High-Altitude Hop Official Hop Discussion & Updates Thread!
Hi, this is u/ModeHopper bringing you live updates on this test.
Quick Links
Starship Development | SN9 History
| Live Video | Live Video | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPADRE | LIVE | LABPADRE | PAD - NERDLE | |
| NSF | LIVE | EDA | LIVE | |
| SPACEX | TBA | Multistream | LIVE |
Starship Serial Number 9 - Hop Test
Starship SN9, equipped with three sea-level Raptor engines will attempt a high-altitude hop at SpaceX's development and launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. For this test, the vehicle will ascend to an altitude of approximately 12.5km (unconfirmed), before moving from a vertical orientation (as on ascent), to horizontal orientation, in which the broadside (+ z) of the vehicle is oriented towards the ground. At this point, Starship will attempt an unpowered return to launch site (RTLS), using its aerodynamic control surfaces (ACS) to adjust its attitude and fly a course back to the landing pad. In the final stages of the descent, two of the three Raptor engines will ignite to transition the vehicle to a vertical orientation and perform a propulsive landing.
The flight profile is likely to follow closely the previous Starship SN8 hop test (hopefully with a slightly less firey landing). The exact launch time may not be known until just a few minutes before launch, and will be preceded by a local siren about 10 minutes ahead of time.
| Test window | 2021-01-28 17:45 to 2021-01-29 06:00 UTC (likely non-hop test) |
|---|---|
| Backup date(s) | 2021-01-29 12:00 to 2021-01-30 06:00 UTC |
| Static fire | Completed 2021-01-22 |
| Flight profile | 12.5km^† altitude RTLS |
| Propulsion | Raptors ?, ? and SN49 (3 engines) |
| Launch site | Starship launch site, Boca Chica TX |
| Landing site | Starship landing pad, Boca Chica TX |
^(† expected or inferred, unconfirmed vehicle assignment)
[](/# MC // section events)
Timeline
| Time | Update |
|---|---|
| [](/# MC // row 0) 2021-01-28 21:54:21 UTC | No flight today. |
| [](/# MC // row 1) 2021-01-28 21:01:25 UTC | Farm and SN9 venting. |
| [](/# MC // row 2) 2021-01-28 20:59:27 UTC | Local siren sounded, recycle seems probable. |
| [](/# MC // row 3) 2021-01-28 20:52:51 UTC | Depress vent. Recycle possible. |
| [](/# MC // row 4) 2021-01-28 20:46:01 UTC | Cars cleared road block. |
| [](/# MC // row 5) 2021-01-28 20:40:49 UTC | Tri-venting, indicates ~T-10 minutes. |
| [](/# MC // row 6) 2021-01-28 20:33:14 UTC | Propellant loading underway |
| [](/# MC // row 7) 2021-01-28 18:50:15 UTC | New TFR posted for today, 21-01-28 17:45:00 to 21-01-29 06:00:00 UTC.. |
| [](/# MC // row 8) 2021-01-28 17:29:17 UTC | Today's TFR has been removed. |
| [](/# MC // row 9) 2021-01-28 13:38:03 UTC | Launch expected today, pending FAA approval confirmation. |
| [](/# MC // row 10) 2021-01-27 15:41:52 UTC | Today's TFR has been removed. |
| [](/# MC // row 11) 2021-01-26 17:14:02 UTC | New TFR posted for 2021-01-28 and 29, today's TFR has been removed. |
| [](/# MC // row 12) 2021-01-26 17:00:58 UTC | SN7.2 undergoing pressure test. |
| [](/# MC // row 13) 2021-01-25 23:29:21 UTC | Flight now expected tomorrow 2021-01-26 |
| [](/# MC // row 14) 2021-01-25 18:30:34 UTC | Targeting pad clear by 21:00 UTC. |
| [](/# MC // row 15) 2021-01-22 15:35:09 UTC | Short duration static fire, followed by tank depressurisation. |
| [](/# MC // row 16) 2021-01-21 17:54:08 UTC | TFRs posted for 25th, 26th and 27th. |
| [](/# MC // row 17) 2021-01-21 15:29:59 UTC | Pad clear expected at 11:00 AM local time (17:00 UTC) |
| [](/# MC // row 18) 2021-01-20 16:01:47 UTC | Possible static fire of SN9 or SN7.2 pressure test today. |
| [](/# MC // row 19) 2021-01-18 19:55:18 UTC | Road Closure canceled |
| [](/# MC // row 20) 2021-01-18 18:45:52 UTC | Road currently still open |
| [](/# MC // row 21) 2021-01-15 23:48:00 UTC | Eric Berger reports lengthy delay to SN9 test. |
| [](/# MC // row 22) 2021-01-13 21:36:00 UTC | Third static fire completed (short duration). |
| [](/# MC // row 23) 2021-01-13 20:24:00 UTC | Second static fire completed (short duration). |
| [](/# MC // row 24) 2021-01-13 18:28:00 UTC | First static fire completed (short duration). One more static fire expected today. |
| [](/# MC // row 25) 2021-01-12 22:57:00 UTC | Pad cleared (almost), extension to road closures. Static fire possible today. |
| [](/# MC // row 26) 2021-01-11 15:04:00 UTC | Road closure cancelled, static fire unlikely today. |
| [](/# MC // row 27) 2021-01-11 11:31:00 UTC | Notice handed to residents, static fire likely today. |
| [](/# MC // row 28) 2021-01-10 12:03:00 UTC | TFRs removed for Sunday and Monday. Flight no earlier than Tuesday 12 Jan. Static fire possible Monday. |
| [](/# MC // row 29) 2021-01-08 22:32:00 UTC | Unlikely to proceed today, SpaceX look to be standing down. |
| [](/# MC // row 30) 2021-01-08 16:28:00 UTC | Pad clear for static fire, take two. |
| [](/# MC // row 31) 2021-01-08 10:02:00 UTC | New temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) posted. |
| [](/# MC // row 32) 2021-01-06 22:09:00 UTC | Static fire complete? (short duration) |
| [](/# MC // row 33) 2021-01-06 21:59:00 UTC | The siren has been sounded, expect static fire in ~ 10 mins. |
| [](/# MC // row 34) 2021-01-06 10:52:00 UTC | Thread is live. |
[](/# MC // section viewing)
[](/# MC // section stats)
[](/# MC // section mission)
[](/# MC // section landing)
[](/# MC // section resources)
Resources
- Starship Development Thread #17
- Spadre.com Starship Cam | Channel
- LabPadre 4k Nerdle Cam | Channel
- LabPadre Launch Pad Cam | Channel
- NSF Texas Prototype(s) Updates Thread | Last Post
- NSF SN9 Test Campaign Thread | Last Post
- Alex Rex's 3D Boca Chica Build Site Map | Launch Site Map | Channel
- Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)
- TFR - NOTAM list
- SpaceX Boca Chica on Facebook
- SpaceX's Starship page
- Elon Starship tweet compilation on NSF | Most Recent
- Starship Test Article Wiki Page | r/SpaceX
- Starship Users Guide (PDF) Rev. 1.0 March 2020 | SpaceX
- Starship Models | AXM
[](/# MC // section participate)
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[](/# MC // section END)
[](/# MC // let time = 1599155280000) [](/# MC // let launch = null) [](/# MC // let video = Z72Au8Px7mM)
Posted Jan 6, 2021, 10:51 AM UTC · edited · locked