The first attempt to launch the Starship in April ended with the explosion of the rocket.
SpaceX last week moved the latest prototype of its massive Starship Super Heavy booster to Starbase’s orbital launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, USA, for pre-launch testing.
If the booster, known as Booster 9, passes all scheduled tests, including engine firing tests, it will eventually be assembled on the Starship 25 prototype starship and sent on a test flight into space.
The Starship 25 was delivered to the test center on May 19. It has already been subjected to various tests, including engine ignition.
The first attempt to launch the Starship in April of this year ended with the explosion of the rocket. Also during the test, part of the launch pad structure was destroyed and debris was scattered over a wide area. Although thankfully no one was injured, the accident led to lawsuits against the company and the regulator that authorized the launch.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said last month that, after the failed April test, the aerospace company has decided to go for the hot start method, a process in which the spacecraft’s engines are turned on while the Super Heavy propellant remains attached. He also noted that more than a thousand modifications have been made to the rocket design, which is supposed to contribute to the launch success.
Source: RT
