Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) lifted the Super Heavy booster prototype of its Starship next-generation rocket using a crane in its Boca Chica, Texas testing facility on Friday as part of its Mars rocket launch campaign. Unlike its Falcon 9 rockets, which are constructed before being shipped to the launch pad, SpaceX intends to hoist the two components of Starship on the launch pad itself, for which it has erected a massive crane structure. The operational profile of Starship includes SpaceX landing its rockets on the pad, refurbishing them for flight, and then lifting the spaceship on the booster.
The Super Heavy booster arrived at the launch pad earlier this week, and it is the prototype that is virtually finished, with many expecting that it will also be the one to launch the rocket later this year.
SpaceX is nearing a static fire test of the largest rocket ever built in the United States.
SpaceX’s latest rocket, the Falcon 9, employs nine Merlin engines to deliver payloads weighing up to 23 tonnes to low Earth orbit (LEO). The business intends to enhance this fivefold with Starship by employing bigger engines and other materials. While the Merlin 1D+ engine on the Falcon 9 can produce 221,000 pounds-force (lbf), the Raptor 2 engines on Starship can produce 510,000 lbf, more than double the amount produced by the Merlin.
Furthermore, the Raptor 2 is substantially more powerful, and the Starship Super Heavy booster has 33 Raptor 2 engines instead of the Falcon 9’s nine. This allows the rocket to transport up to 100 tonnes to LEO, which is approximately five times the capability of the Falcon 9. The Falcon Heavy, SpaceX’s other rocket, has 27 Merlin engines and can carry up to 64 tonnes to LEO.
Yesterday, SpaceX brought out its newest Super Heavy rocket to the launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, where it was lifted by a crane. According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the rocket will be 270 feet tall, 30 feet wide, and weigh up to 200 tonnes.
Musk’s business advanced its application earlier this month to undertake an orbital test flight of Starship after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed an environmental study of the facilities. However, while SpaceX may conduct static fire tests of its rockets, which include engine testing on the ground as well as low-altitude flight tests, it will require further FAA certification to launch the vehicles into space.
On the subject of static fires, it looks like SpaceX is moving quickly – as their culture is built to do. A bogus Marine Safety bulletin published by the United States Coast Guard on Friday (posted on Twitter) advises readers that a hazard area would be present near SpaceX’s facilities from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from June 27th to June 30th. Another copy of the bulletin is available here.
Furthermore, local officials have declared traffic restrictions for the Boca Chica roadway and beach for the same period on June 27th and 28th.
A static fire test is critical for a rocket the size of Starship. It will familiarise SpaceX with the complicated activities that lead to rocket fueling, and more crucially, it will allow the business to test the appropriate systems on the booster. A prior, unrelated test had resulted in the same booster’s fuel line deforming, which SpaceX rectified within weeks.