[ad_1]
SpaceX’s most powerful rocket system, central to Elon Musk’s dream of colonising Mars, may have its first orbital test launch next week.
Starship, which will one day carry astronauts, sits atop a huge Super Heavy booster for a combined height of 394ft.
The booster, which has 33 rocket engines, was put through its paces in a stationary launch test in February, generating enough power to reach orbit.
But another trial run earmarked for next week would be the first orbital flight test, when the entire Starship system would lift off from SpaceX‘s facilities in Boca Chica, Texas.
The rocket system’s second stage – the craft that would carry a crew of astronauts in the future – would then be deployed and complete a full orbit of the Earth, before re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down off Hawaii.
Meanwhile, the Super Heavy booster would attempt a landing back near the launch site.
A notice posted by America’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suggests a test may happen on Monday, with backup dates listed as Tuesday and Wednesday.
It will be dependent on a launch licence being granted, which the flight regulator said it had not yet done.
Read more tech news:
ChatGPT-powered Furby will haunt your dreams
International sting takes down criminal marketplace
Ship moved into position
The FAA’s listing comes after the spacecraft section of Starship, dubbed Ship 24, was moved to the launch pad.
The rocket section for the test flight is a Super Heavy prototype called Booster 7.
SpaceX is building prototypes of both sections of Starship for future launches, but the company says it will be a fully…
[ad_2]
