SpaceX kicks off Starship Flight 3 test preparations with new vehicle on the launch pad

SpaceX shared some of the most interesting visuals ahead of flight 3 of the world’s most powerful booster rocket and the next Starship vehicle from the launch pad.

“Flight 3 vehicles on the pad at Starbase for testing ahead of Starship’s next launch” confirmed SpaceX.

Starship is composed of Starship spacecraft and a Super heavy rocket referred to as an integrated flight. The company this year conducted two tests one in April and the other in November.

Starship booster and Starship vehicles at Starbase, Image Source – SpaceX

In the first test, the flight took off the launch pad but occurred with a rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD) in the air before hot staging.

The second test came after a long review by the FAA based on various aspects during the first flight. However, SpaceX set November for the second flight and Starship achieved hot staging but once again struck with RUD before reaching the orbit.

A few days after the second launch, SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk shared details of the launch pad, saying “No refurbishment needed to the water-cooled steel plate for the next launch”.

The confirmation comes after the first flight test blasted off a hole inside the launch pad.

SpaceX integrated Starship flight lifting off from Starbase in Texas

In the follow-up, Musk also gave insights into Flight 3 and said that its hardware should be ready to fly within 3 to 4 weeks of the second flight.

Earlier this month, a NASA spokesperson said that the third flight test could demonstrate a “Propellant transfer demonstration”. This could be a major capability demonstration for the Starship integrated vehicle for future NASA missions to the moon and beyond.

For now, SpaceX has not announced a launch date for the Starship flight 3 but the company needs to conduct pre-launch tests until the FAA gives clearance for the flight.