SpaceX rolled a new Super Heavy rocket prototype with 33 Raptor engines for Starship onto the launch pad
SpaceX made a not entirely successful attempt to send a Starship rocket system into space in the spring. Now the company is preparing for the second launch and has already delivered a new prototype of the first stage to the launch pad.
Here's What We Know
Starship consists of the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy rocket booster, which have six and 33 Raptor engines respectively. The new first stage prototype is called Booster 9. The US company recently sent it to the Starbase launch pad in Texas.
Booster 9 on the pad pic.twitter.com/8ZBCr1J21T
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 21, 2023
SpaceX delivered a prototype spacecraft, dubbed Ship 25, to the platform back in late spring. If Booster 9 successfully passes all tests, the company has a chance to launch Starship into space as early as late summer.
Starship Super Heavy Booster 9 transported to the orbital launch pad at Starbase for testing ahead of flight pic.twitter.com/fF6U13thzs
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 20, 2023
During the first test flight, the rocket system exploded, but that wasn't the only problem. The pad was destroyed during launch. To prevent such incidents, SpaceX installed a steel plate on the platform and made more than 1,000 changes to the spacecraft.
Source: SpaceX