Inside SpaceX’s upgraded Starship rocket
Thursday, July 13, 2023 | Chimniii Desk
Since Starship’s first orbital flight test nearly three months ago, SpaceX has been working around the clock modifying the rocket, rebuilding the launch pad, and defending itself against an environmental lawsuit as the launch giant prepares for its second orbital attempt.
- New Raptor engines: The number of Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster has been increased from 28 to 33, and the number of Raptor engines on the Starship spacecraft has been increased from 6 to 9. This will give the Starship rocket more thrust and allow it to carry heavier payloads.
- Water deluge system: A new water deluge system has been installed on the launch pad to protect the rocket from the heat of the engines. This will help to prevent the rocket from being damaged during launch.
- Electric thrust vector control: The Super Heavy booster will now use electric thrust vector control, instead of hydraulic thrust vector control. This will make the rocket more agile and allow it to control its trajectory more precisely.
- Upgraded heat shield: The heat shield on the Starship spacecraft has been upgraded to protect it from the heat of re-entry. The new heat shield is made of a new material called PICA-X, which is more heat-resistant than the previous heat shield material.
- Refurbishable design: The Starship rocket is designed to be fully reusable, which will save SpaceX a lot of money on launch costs. The rocket can be refueled and re-launched multiple times, which will make it much more cost-effective than other launch vehicles.
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These are just some of the key upgrades to SpaceX's Starship rocket. The company is constantly making improvements to the rocket, and it is expected to become even more powerful and capable in the future.