Hours apart, SpaceX launches Starlink, stacks the biggest rocket in the world, and successfully completes Starship.
In 15 hours, the world's largest rocket was rolled to its South Texas launch and test facilities, reassembled, and used to launch Starlink satellites. There was a burst of activity at the Starbase rocket factory in Boca Chica, Texas, when a new orbital-class Starship prototype left its nest for the first time. The spaceship was rolled a few miles down the highway to its nearby launch and test facilities, where workers connected it to a large crane and waited for daylight.
Advertisement
Advertisement
On October 20th, the ship was lifted onto one of the two test stands, where it will attempt to complete several qualification tests. While Ship 25 was still suspended in mid-air, the Starbase launch pad's orbital launch tower began lifting a different prototype, Ship 24, into the air with a pair of giant 'chopsticks' - mechanical arms designed by SpaceX to replace one of the largest mobile cranes in the world While it was stacking Ship 24 on top of Super Heavy Booster 7 and installing Ship 25 on a test stand, a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 54 new Starlink satellites lifted off.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The reused Falcon 9 booster was craning off one of its drone ship landing platforms in a port ten miles south. The Falcon launch program simply doesn't have time to waste since Starlink 4-36 was the 48th and 56th launch in less than a year. The Just Read The Instructions returned to port with the Falcon 9 booster about 12 hours after it left the ship. The company will now be able to remove B1069's legs and complete any necessary booster and drone ship refurbishments, which will ensure that both will be ready for their next missions in the near future. As early as Monday, October 24th, the company will begin testing a fully-stacked rocket for the first time. After the pair was disassembled for several days, Booster 7 was reinstalled for that purpose. The test campaign is expected to begin with the first full wet dress rehearsal of a two-stage Starship, meaning that the rocket will be fully loaded with thousands of tons of liquid methane and oxygen propellant and run through a simulation launch countdown that ends just before engine ignition.
Advertisement
Advertisement
If successful, the company will likely restart Booster 7 static fire testing and continue to work its way up to the first simultaneous ignition of all 33 of its Raptor 2 engines. If the pair survive WDR and static fire testing, the same rocket could be prepared for the launch. If significant issues arise during testing, the company could retire Ship 24 and/or Booster 7 and move on to a new and improved pair. The prototype of the Super Heavy Booster 8 has been sitting untouched at the launch site for weeks, making it uncertain if it will ever be used. Booster 9 will be ready to begin proof testing when it is just one stack away from completion. B9 will be more resistant to mid-flight engine failures according to CEO Musk.
Advertisement
Advertisement
It could be the first Super Heavy booster that doesn't have a mechanical system. As early as next week, the S25 could begin its own proof testing. The test stand that Ship 25 went to was modified with six rams. The rams will mimic the thrust of six Raptor 2 engines. While the Starship is simultaneously loaded with liquid oxygen and nitrogen, combining peak mechanical and thermal stresses into one test. Once ship 25 is done, it will be rolled back to the factory and then returned to the pad for static fire testing.
Advertisement