From Today's episode of Texas Tank Watchers...
They just played a big switcharoo... they loaded up veteran SN5 on the blue Roll Lift crawlers and hauled it back to the build area. Where SN6 emerged from the Midbay where it was patiently waiting to greet its victorious compatriot.
https://twitter.com/BocaChicaGal/status/...1286734849
Lab Padre video of SN5's triumphant return
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/vv9rSrCsHDg
But they weren't done. Texas Tank Watchers had more!
SN6 eagerly and bravely climbed atop the blue Roll Lift crawlers and headed back down to the launch area. One of the big yellow rabbit-ear cranes is positioned to place SN6 on the test stand.
Photo by Elon, apparently taken from out of a window of the Stargate building, where SpaceX's Boca Chica offices and test control room are, showing SN5 and SN6 together and the Roll Lift Crawlers which had just delivered SN5 positioning themselves beneath SN6
Notice the pareidolia... the angels are watching over Boca Chica!
Screenshot from LabPadre's stream showing SN6 on its way to the pad, with an escort of cement trucks
Given Elon's recent tweets, they plan to fly additional hop tests and SN5 requires some repairs (to its landing legs mostly) before it flies again. So SN6 is next up at bat for additional hops. Presumably it will receive the usual pressure tests first.
August 8:
Tim Dodd: "@Elonmusk what's gonna happen to our good friend SN-5? Will it fly again? Will it get three raptors and fly a little higher? Will it Hopper and just watch the others fly?"
Elon: "Not sure yet, but hopefully. Will need leg & other repairs. Probably SN6 flies before SN5. We need to make flights simple & easy - many per day."
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1292226279995879426
August 11: That decision is made, SN5 leaves the launch area and SN6 moves there.
Elon: "SN7 will be new alloy test tank taken to burst pressure. SN8 will have body flaps & nosecone"
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1293250108436488194
They just played a big switcharoo... they loaded up veteran SN5 on the blue Roll Lift crawlers and hauled it back to the build area. Where SN6 emerged from the Midbay where it was patiently waiting to greet its victorious compatriot.
https://twitter.com/BocaChicaGal/status/...1286734849
Lab Padre video of SN5's triumphant return
But they weren't done. Texas Tank Watchers had more!
SN6 eagerly and bravely climbed atop the blue Roll Lift crawlers and headed back down to the launch area. One of the big yellow rabbit-ear cranes is positioned to place SN6 on the test stand.
Photo by Elon, apparently taken from out of a window of the Stargate building, where SpaceX's Boca Chica offices and test control room are, showing SN5 and SN6 together and the Roll Lift Crawlers which had just delivered SN5 positioning themselves beneath SN6
Notice the pareidolia... the angels are watching over Boca Chica!
Screenshot from LabPadre's stream showing SN6 on its way to the pad, with an escort of cement trucks
Given Elon's recent tweets, they plan to fly additional hop tests and SN5 requires some repairs (to its landing legs mostly) before it flies again. So SN6 is next up at bat for additional hops. Presumably it will receive the usual pressure tests first.
August 8:
Tim Dodd: "@Elonmusk what's gonna happen to our good friend SN-5? Will it fly again? Will it get three raptors and fly a little higher? Will it Hopper and just watch the others fly?"
Elon: "Not sure yet, but hopefully. Will need leg & other repairs. Probably SN6 flies before SN5. We need to make flights simple & easy - many per day."
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1292226279995879426
August 11: That decision is made, SN5 leaves the launch area and SN6 moves there.
Elon: "SN7 will be new alloy test tank taken to burst pressure. SN8 will have body flaps & nosecone"
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1293250108436488194