Upgrades ahead of starship’s second flight test

SpaceX's first flight test of a fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy was a success, but it also provided valuable lessons that will be used to improve future flights.

The vehicle successfully lifted off on April 20, 2023 and reached an altitude of 39 kilometers (24 miles) before experiencing a problem with the Super Heavy booster. The booster suffered a propellant leak, which caused a fire in the aft end of the vehicle. The fire severed communication with the primary flight computer, leading to a loss of control and the eventual breakup of the vehicle.

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SpaceX has since implemented a number of corrective actions to address the problems that occurred during the first flight test. These include:

• Leak mitigations and improved testing on both engine and booster hardware.
• A significant expansion of Super Heavy's pre-existing fire suppression system.
• Enhancement and requalification of the Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS).
• A hot-stage separation system, in which Starship's second stage engines will ignite to push the ship away from the booster.
• A new electronic Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system for Super Heavy Raptor engines.
• Significant upgrades to the orbital launch mount and pad system.

SpaceX is also implementing a number of other system performance upgrades that are not directly related to the problems that occurred during the first flight test. These upgrades are designed to improve the overall reliability and performance of the Starship system.

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The company is committed to a rapid iterative development approach, which has been the basis for all of its major innovative advancements. This means that SpaceX will continue to learn and improve as it develops Starship. The first flight test was a valuable learning experience, and the company is confident that the lessons learned will help to ensure the success of future flights.

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SpaceX is working to build a fully reusable launch system capable of carrying satellites, payloads, crew, and cargo to a variety of orbits and Earth, lunar, or Martian landing sites. The company is confident that the Starship system will revolutionize space travel and make it more accessible and affordable.