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SpaceX conducted a second hot check of its Super Heavy booster on Friday afternoon, likely taking a key step toward the upcoming launch of its new, large rocket.
Minutes after the test launch, SpaceX founder Elon Musk called it “successful” on the social network formerly known as Twitter. SpaceX later showed that all 33 Raptor engines ignited the test and the remaining two ran for the full six seconds.
This Super Heavy booster, the largest and toughest rocket ever launched, serves as the first tier for SpaceX’s megarocket, which pushes the Starship level into orbit.
The first tier in action on Friday, dubbed Booster 9 because it’s the ninth to be built as part of SpaceX’s iterative design methodology, underwent its first static chimney test on Aug. 6. This hot chimney test ended prematurely, after 2. 74 seconds. , 4 of the rocket’s 33 Raptor main engines did not ignite or shut down prematurely.
After this verification in early August, the first level returned to the production site, where it was supplied with a “hot ring”. This middle ground is located in the most sensitive part of the first terrain and below the upper terrain of the Starship. This new hardware is intended to facilitate “hot feeding”, a complicated maneuver a few minutes after the start of flight level separation, which the Starship’s top-level engines fire before the first Super Heavy level has finished burning.
The Booster Nine traveled a few miles to the launch site this week ahead of Friday’s static chimney test. If further data reviews confirm this performance, it is very likely that SpaceX has completed the last major hardware test needed before the second flight of Starship’s launch. The top level of the spacecraft flying on this booster, spacecraft 25, has already passed a static chimney test.
– SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 25, 2023
In addition, the rocket’s terrestrial formulas appear to be ready. This was a factor in the rocket’s failed first test flight in April, when the lack of a noise-cancelling formula led to major damage, adding chunks of concrete from the launch pad that rained down. felling debris for miles around the starbase location in South Texas. About 4 weeks ago, SpaceX effectively checked a new deluge of water and a flame deflector installed under the starship’s launch stand.
A static litmus test like Friday’s is the last practice session of a rocket before liftoff. The floor systems and propeller handling serve as a general launch, following test procedures as if you were flying. This is an opportunity to make sure the rocket and floor system paints as planned.
Given the test’s obvious good fortune, the last major hurdle between SpaceX and the Starship rocket’s second test flight is regulatory. The company must obtain an authorization license from the Federal Aviation Administration, which reviewed an “accident investigation report” submitted through SpaceX after the April control flight.
After accepting or modifying this report, the Federal Aviation Administration and SpaceX will identify corrective actions the company will need to take prior to its second test flight to ensure the protection of people, property and wildlife in the vicinity of the release site in South Texas. , surrounded by wetlands and Gulf of Mexico.
SpaceX has yet to set a public launch goal for Starship, and resources said it has yet to get clear guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration on when a launch license can be obtained. However, it is moderate to conclude that the timing of the launch of The Starship could take position in two or three weeks. Further delays are always possible and even likely.
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