SpaceX has been working hard to finally launch Starship for the first time, and they are closer than ever. The company is set to launch a rehearsal next week, which paves the way for the spacecraft's first integrated flight test.
Starship, Preparing for Launch
SpaceX just posted a photo of the Starship rocket at Starbase, which is in Boca Chica, Texas. The tweet, along with photos of the super heavy rocket, stated that it was fully stacked and that the team is working toward the launch rehearsal next week.
After that, SpaceX intends to conduct the first integrated flight test, given that it gets its regulatory approval. The company's CEO Elon Musk posted a tweet two days after SpaceX's saying that Starship is ready for launch.
The super-heavy rocket has already been through other tests. As mentioned in Engadget, SpaceX successfully conducted its first stack fueling test in early February. SpaceX tried to static fire all of the rocket's 33 Raptor engines as well.
Although the trial proved that Starship was close to becoming ready, two engines failed before the firing test ended. Still, it was the first time that SpaceX tested the rocket's engine out, so it was justifiable to still have a few kinks to iron out.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has different plans. They set a launch window of April 17th for the Starship, and it is yet to be determined whether they will grant SpaceX the launch license for the rocket to legally fly.
Starship
The Starship, which is comprised of the Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket is a fully reusable transportation system that can carry both cargo and humans, which SpaceX designed to go to Earth, the Moon, and Mars.
SpaceX claims that Starship is the most powerful launch vehicle developed yet, which can carry up to 150 metric tons that's fully reusable, along with another 250 metric tons that are expendable. It has a height of 120 meters and a diameter of 9 meters.
It can carry up to 100 people on a long space flight, as well as enable satellite delivery, develop a base on the Moon, and point-to-point transport on Earth. It's also capable of being refilled om low-Earth orbit before it makes its way to Mars.
According to SpaceX, refilling while in orbit allows the transport of up to 100 tons all the way to Mars. Granted that the tanker ship gas has a high reuse capacity, the primary cost will just be for oxygen and methane, which is "extremely low."
Read Also: SpaceX Starship FAA Environmental Review is Out: What Does It Say?
Starbase
The base is located in Cameron Country, Texas just near the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the first commercial spaceports for orbital missions and the location for many sub-orbital test flight that has been done for the Starship.
SpaceX broke ground on the launch and catch tower at Starbase back in 2021. The tower is about 480 feet high, which makes it the tallest launch tower in the world. It is designed to support a super heavy rocket booster.
