From: jfindley@cinci.nospam.rr.com   
      
   In article <3af0H.176165$HY4.15924@fx37.iad>,   
   jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca says...   
   >   
   > Starship is to have 6 engines, right?   
   > 3 sea level and 3 vaccum.   
   >   
   > So far, the various prototypes have had just one engine   
   > SN5 had an engine that was off centre.   
      
   Yes, because its thrust structure was designed for three sea level   
   engines.   
      
   > Have the SNs that we have seen so far been designed with hardware and   
   > plumbing that can support 6 engines (but ony one attachjed) or were then   
   > "custom" designs for a single engine test and the hardware for final   
   > configuration has yet to be built?   
      
   So far, it looks like the prototypes have all been built for three sea   
   level engines.  But, so far, we've only seen a short "hop" with one   
   engine on SN5.   
      
   SN6 just had a static fire, I believe with one engine installed.   
      
   > At what poimt in this iterative design will testing require more than 1   
   > engine to take off from the rig?   
      
   When they fly  more than a short "hop".   
      
   > From a hardware engineering point of view, how much of a challenge   
   > remains between now (single engine) and final 6 engine config?   
      
   The engineering has clearly already been done for three sea level   
   engines, which will allow flights to considerable heights.  From memory,   
   they've filed paperwork with the FAA for test flights to something like   
   120,000 feet.  This will allow them to test the high drag "belly flop"   
   as well as engine restart and transition back to vertical flight for   
   landing.   
      
   > Any hints on how Super Heavy will be developped? Will it start from   
   > scratch or start at almost final config since much of the Starship   
   > devekopment can be applied to it (same fuselage, same engines).   
      
   Super Heavy is not much more, conceptually, than a scaled up Falcon 9   
   first stage, only built using the same materials and techniques as   
   Starship.  It's therefore far less risk than Starship itself, which is   
   quite novel in many ways.   
      
   From what we're seeing at Boca Chica, there is a new "high bay" being   
   constructed that looks to be big enough for building Super Heavy   
   boosters.  Also, there is construction going on for a large launch pad.   
   Again, this new large pad looks to be big enough for launching a Super   
   Heavy.   
      
   Also, construction at KSC is proceeding on a launch pad for Super Heavy.   
      
   So, there is progress which is happening at speeds that would make an   
   "old space" company's head spin.   
      
   Jeff   
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