Starship readying for Flight 5 amid future preparations
- by NASASpaceFlight.com
- Oct 09, 2024
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— Chris Bergin – NSF (@NASASpaceflight) October 8, 2024
The flight termination system (FTS) installation also began on Wednesday.
SpaceX is likely fully aware that the approval is close, pressing them to take action for the cited launch date target. Any additional delay is expected to be measured in days rather than weeks.
NSF’s launch article this weekend will publish a full overview of the mission objectives, including the ambitious first attempt to catch the returning booster using the launch pad’s chopsticks.
Flight 6:
Booster 13 and Ship 31 are set to launch Flight 6, with the latter already having conducted its static fire test at SpaceX’s Masseys test site at Starbase.
Following the upcoming launch, and pending the pad’s condition following Flight 5, SpaceX may opt for a speedy turnaround by sending Booster 13 to the OLM for its static fire test.
Like Ship 30, Ship 31 is also undergoing a revamp of its thermal protection system (TPS) tiles, which is hoped to aid the vehicle during re-entry. The new heatshield is more resilient, including having a backup ablative layer in case any tiles are lost.
Future vehicles:
Booster 14, set to fly on Flight 7, is also progressing following its recent trip to Masseys for a cryoproofing test. Since returning to the production site, B14 is being readied to fly with Ship 33, given that Ship 32 is no longer expected to be flown.
Booster 14 during its time at Masseys. (Credit Mary @bocachicagal)
Ship 34 is also making progress, with sections of the ship being moved around the production site, sporting its v2 configuration. Ship 34 is set to fly on Flight 8, showing how far along SpaceX is on the upcoming vehicles.
Additional ships can be seen through the Starfactory window.
Pad B:
With the second tower now assembled at the launch site, work is focusing on the pad. As SpaceX moves away from the current OLM design, all eyes are on the new design that will sit over a flame trench that is currently being excavated.
Sections of that new OLM have begun arriving at the Sanchez site at Starbase, including the intriguing water-cooled plates that were trucked in over the weekend, including a helpful label indicating that they are for the launch mount’s deck.
Mary (@BocaChicaGal) spots two pieces of the new Launch Mount deck for Orbital Pad B. The hollow structure suggests a water-cooled deck, as we have suspected.https://t.co/e3xbqPo4OD pic.twitter.com/TuWhuceQ33
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