SpaceX has begun testing Ship 28 and Booster 10 as they appear to fly the third Built-in Flight Take a look at as quickly as doable as soon as given regulatory approval from the FAA.
Each Ship 28 and Booster 10 had been moved from the manufacturing facility to the launch final web site only one month after IFT 2 which noticed Ship 25 and Booster 9 make it via the primary stage portion of the flight with each encountering points shortly after ensuing of their automated self destruct techniques activating.
Booster 10 (left) and Ship 28 (proper) with the brand new Gateway to Mars signal on the launch web site (Credit score SpaceX)
Ship 28 kicked off the check marketing campaign with all 6 engines firing for simply round 4 seconds. Ship 28 has already gone via a few cryogenic checks on the firm’s Massey’s Take a look at Facility after which only a few days in the past carried out a spin prime check which is a speedy circulation of liquid oxygen via the engines.
Flight 3 Starship accomplished a full-duration static fireplace with all six of its Raptor engines pic.twitter.com/Mxn8faKcEv
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 20, 2023
This might be one of many remaining checks for a Ship on the launch web site as SpaceX lately tore down suborbital pad A to make room to construct a second full-size launch tower and will transfer Ship engine testing to the Masseys facility the place they already carry out cryogenic testing.
SpaceX was performing checks with Booster 10 earlier at this time and partially crammed each the liquid oxygen tank and liquid methane tank forward of a possible static fireplace. The check seemingly entered a really lengthy maintain earlier than the tanks had been emptied by way of boil-off and finally underwent the complete depress vent. SpaceX had a check window that ran till 8 PM native time however as soon as the booster was safed, the street was opened again up and groups returned to the launch web site to diagnose any points encountered in the course of the check.
One factor is for sure, SpaceX isn’t losing any time to launch IFT 3, and with the the launch web site performing extraordinarily nicely after IFT 2, the one remaining hurdle could be getting their report back to the FAA and the following approval.
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