{"id":37307,"date":"2020-11-14T22:49:56","date_gmt":"2020-11-14T14:49:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/starship-sn8-hoping-for-speedy-return-to-testing-as-additional-vehicles-line-up\/"},"modified":"2020-11-14T22:49:56","modified_gmt":"2020-11-14T14:49:56","slug":"starship-sn8-hoping-for-speedy-return-to-testing-as-additional-vehicles-line-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/starship-sn8-hoping-for-speedy-return-to-testing-as-additional-vehicles-line-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Starship SN8 hoping for speedy return to testing as additional vehicles line up"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Following Starship SN8\u2019s eventful Static Fire test, it was feared the test flight would likely suffer from a lengthy delay. However, thanks in part to a burst disk that avoided a damaging \u201cpop\u201d scenario, SN8 may yet still fly to 50,000 feet this month, albeit with a realigned trio of Raptor engines.<\/p>\n<p>While repair work on SN8 is conducted at the Launch Site, there\u2019s been no slowdown of the incredible production cadence a short distance down Highway 4, with three Starships assembled or in a stacking processing flow. The first sections of the BN1 prototype Super Heavy are also into stacking operations in the High Bay.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Boca Chica Weekly Update - Starship SN8 testing, path forward and future vehicles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sDPuqEjIraY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid0\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Starship SN8 was in the process of following up her initial three engine Static Fire test with a new trio of ignitions over the space of around a week.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"widget-title penci-border-arrow\">See Also<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Starship Prototypes Updates<\/li>\n<li>SpaceX Super Heavy\/Starship Section<\/li>\n<li>L2 SpaceX Section<\/li>\n<li>Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The first test involved the first-ever firing of a Raptor engine via the two Header Tanks, one of which \u2013 the LOX Header Tank \u2013 being located at the nosecone\u2019s tip. Previous Starship prototypes (bar the pathfinder MK1) have been tested without a nosecone.<\/p>\n<p>That test went to plan, despite social media speculation citing concerns with the sparks that were seen flying into the air during ignition. Those sparks were from the pad surface, not the engine letting go \u2013 as later confirmed by SpaceX pressing on to the second test promptly without removing any of the engines.<\/p>\n<p>The second test was a near-repeat to the first. However \u2013 this time two Raptors were lit.<\/p>\n<p>The reasoning for the single, then dual, engine firing relates to the latter part of Starship SN8\u2019s test flight, with the Raptors involved with flipping Starship from horizontal to vertical and then conducting the landing burn.<\/p>\n<p>Although a hazard notice was posted to Boca Chica Village residents \u2013 such as Mary (@bocachicagal) \u2013 pointing toward a Static Fire test on Thursday, it was understood that SpaceX would opt to conduct a Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) and shoot for engine ignition in the following window.<\/p>\n<p>Space Shuttle models<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Spaceflight news subscription<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>NASA mission patches<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>However, likely via catching up with testing milestones, the decision was made to fire up the two Raptors as per the test window\u2019s original plan.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Boca Chica - SN8 Static Fire #3 and Pneumatic Anomaly\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gUAj7UdDqfI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid1\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Again, sparks could be seen flying during ignition. However, this time it was expected based on the experience of the previous test.<\/p>\n<p>What wasn\u2019t expected was a stream of molten liquid dripping from one of the engine nozzles onto the pad surface several seconds after engine shutdown. That clearly wasn\u2019t a nominal situation.<\/p>\n<p>Concerned Starship followers bombarded Elon Musk with inquiries into the problem before SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer replied,&nbsp;\u201cWe lost vehicle pneumatics. Reason unknown at present. Liquid oxygen header tank pressure is rising. Hopefully triggers burst disk to relieve pressure; otherwise, it\u2019s going to pop the cork.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That immediately moved the focus on the top part of the vehicle, with the hope of seeing a release of pressure, as opposed to a potential \u201cRUD \u2013 Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, the burst disk \u2013 a specially designed sheet of metal that is weakened to the point an overpressure breaks the sheet before the pressure rises to the point of an explosive event \u2013 worked as planned, mitigating the lack of primary valve control via the loss of pneumatics.<\/p>\n<p>A plume of released LOX was observed emanating from the top of the nosecone, effectively saving SN8.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 387px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1327090548478414850&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2020%2F11%2Fsn8-speedy-return-testing-vehicles-line-up%2F&amp;sessionId=0a961163abc4366ee101843c110f4701aea164cc&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1327090548478414850\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>With SN8 undergoing safing options, the post-test turnaround plan related to swapping out the Raptor at fault for the post-firing incident.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe melted an engine preburner or fuel hot gas manifold. Whatever it is caused pneumatics loss. We need to design out this problem,\u201d added Elon during the test.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, engineers removed one of the Raptors, spotted by Mary (@bocachicagal) as SN32.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Boca Chica - Raptor SN32 removed from Starship SN8\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oa-1qCSxn10?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid2\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>It was not immediately known which Raptor would replace the removed engine.<\/p>\n<p>Options included a repaired SN39 \u2013 which was initially part of Starship SN8\u2019s trio before being replaced by SN36 \u2013 or the newly arrived SN42 could be advanced into action.<\/p>\n<p>Then on Sunday, SN42 made the trip to the launch site, wrapped up to protect it from the dust blowing around the launch site.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-2\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 674px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1328036017857851396&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2020%2F11%2Fsn8-speedy-return-testing-vehicles-line-up%2F&amp;sessionId=0a961163abc4366ee101843c110f4701aea164cc&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1328036017857851396\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Additional Raptors will also be in various stages of preparation for shipping to Boca Chica, following their initial testing at SpaceX\u2019s McGregor Test Facility.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-71466\" class=\"size-full wp-image-71466\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NSF-2020-11-15-00-39-42-957.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1379\" height=\"773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NSF-2020-11-15-00-39-42-957.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NSF-2020-11-15-00-39-42-957-350x196.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NSF-2020-11-15-00-39-42-957-624x350.jpg 624w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NSF-2020-11-15-00-39-42-957-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NSF-2020-11-15-00-39-42-957-1170x656.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1379px) 100vw, 1379px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-71466\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raptor SN42 arrives at Boca Chica \u2013 via Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX likely has at least six flight engines ready to go, based on the potential of losing SN8 during the test flight and the objective of pushing Starship SN9 into action shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n<p>The installation of the replacement engine will automatically call for another Static Fire test, as had been previously planned to follow up the Header Tank-related test firings due to the swap out between SN39 and SN36.<\/p>\n<p>The timing of that three engine Static Fire test could be within a week, ultimately returning Starship to an imminent test flight stance, and potentially still in the month of November. This is, of course, providing the Static Fire test proceeds without incident.<\/p>\n<p>Starship SN9 is all-but ready to be tapped in, hopefully after SN8 safely concludes her test flight \u2013 as much as expectations should be set accordingly when expecting SN8 to achieve numerous first-time test objectives successfully.<\/p>\n<p>It is more likely SN9 will benefit from the data gained from SN8\u2019s flight, with the goal of achieving additional milestones during a likely-repeat test flight.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN9 ready and able to enter the fray\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vNo3-8Cmgr4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid3\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Currently housed in the High Bay, SN9 has gained her aero surfaces and appears to be ready to receive a nosecone. There is room in the lofty High Bay \u2013 when compared to the Mid Bay \u2013 to conduct such a mating.<\/p>\n<p>Providing rollout can be achieved in a full stack configuration; this refined flow would shave days off the pad flow compared to SN8\u2019s nosecone mate at the launch site.<\/p>\n<p>The Mid Bay is back to two Starship flows, with SN10 heading toward aero surface installation and SN11 sections being hoisted into place in the adjacent bay.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-3\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1328px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-3&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1327498686142832641&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2020%2F11%2Fsn8-speedy-return-testing-vehicles-line-up%2F&amp;sessionId=0a961163abc4366ee101843c110f4701aea164cc&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1327498686142832641\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>For SN11, the Common Dome section \u2013 with its Methane Header Tank visible \u2013 was stacked on to the LOX tank sections. Fast progress is being made on SN11, with the LOX Downcomer now installed in its forward dome section, ahead of joining its section comrades in the Mid Bay.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, dome sections for Starship SN12 have already been spotted out in the open. Stacking of the Thrust Section took place this past week.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Boca Chica - Aerocovers Installed on New Nosecone - SN12 Thrust Section Stacked\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qgYEMl4ufmM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid4\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Inside the big tents, a family of nosecones is being prepared, with hinge attachment points being installed \u2013 thus confirming SpaceX Boca Chica has moved away from creating a family of pathfinder test articles and now only producing flight nosecones.<\/p>\n<p>Back in the High Bay, and now keeping SN9 company, are the BN1 (which is now the confirmed name, per labels on sections) Super Heavy Prototype\u2019s opening sections.<\/p>\n<p>This beast of a vehicle will involve the mating of numerous sections before receiving two or four Raptor engines for its own test flight. As of the last reference, Elon Musk noted this Super Heavy would actually follow the same test path as Starship SN5 and SN6, hopping 150 meters in proof of controllability testing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Boca Chica - Super Heavy Booster Stacking Begins - Raptor SN42 Delivered\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qe0t_eK2_oE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid5\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This will involve the new Orbital Launch Mount under construction next door to the Starship pad before this super-tall rocket plants its feet into the landing pad located in an area between the two launch sites.<\/p>\n<p>It remains unknown as to when BN1 will conduct this test. However, the first sign of stacking \u2013 spotted by Mary \u2013 has taken place, involving two lower LOX tank sections, with numerous sections waiting their turn for being lifted into the High Bay.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of how SN8 fares during her test flight, 2021 promises to be a banner year for Starship testing, with an array of Starships and at least one prototype Super Heavy all lining up for their own test flights.<\/p>\n<p>All photos via Mary (@bocachicagal)<\/p>\n<p>**Support NSF\u2019s youtube channel by subscribing and\/or joining here**<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"wneKJN0Ol0\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p>SN8 \u2013 A New Day<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" title=\"\u201cSN8 \u2013 A New Day\u201d \u2014 NASASpaceFlight.com\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/product\/sn8-a-new-day\/embed\/#?secret=wneKJN0Ol0\" data-secret=\"wneKJN0Ol0\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Cool gear and the ability to support our content: https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/shop\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following Starship SN8\u2019s eventful Static Fire test, it was feared the test flight would likely suffer from a lengthy delay. However, thanks in part to a burst disk that avoided a damaging \u201cpop\u201d scenario, SN8 may yet still fly to 50,000 feet this month, albeit with a realigned trio of Raptor engines. While repair work [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37308,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1648,597,8708,8702,8728,8844,8718,316,317,596],"class_list":["post-37307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-boca-chica","tag-raptor","tag-sn10","tag-sn11","tag-sn12","tag-sn8","tag-sn9","tag-spacex","tag-starship","tag-super-heavy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37307"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37307\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}