SpaceX
SpaceX Starship 6 completes static fire test amid Flight 5 delay [Video]
SpaceX has started testing Starship 6 spacecraft and conducted a static fire at Starbse, Texas amid an extended license delay for flight 5.
Visuals from NSFspaceflight and StarshipGazer show the ship performing static fire in the evening at Massey’s test site. The static fire lasted for a few seconds.
Static fires are pre-launch tests designed to test components and subsystems at low temperatures similar to Space. These also validate ground support and evaluate performance to find issues.
Early last month, SpaceX announced that Flight 5 is launch-ready and awaiting FAA license approval. In the meantime, the company started testing the next vehicle for Flight 6. Since then, we have been witnessing continuous chopstick tests at the Starbase.
Flight 5’s primary objective of catching the booster on the launch tower after returning from hot staging. The spacecraft will also get design upgrades to endure high heat during atmospheric re-entry. However, Starship won’t attempt real lading on the launch pad with this test.
Starship 5 was expected to fly this month but FAA is now speculating a launch date somewhere in November. That’s a two-month delay in the existing launch date.
SpaceX criticized this move and said that the delay was not based on the launch preparations issues but on unverified media reports. FAA on the other hand said that the rocket maker has made some changes in its license application, which needs to be reviewed prior to launch.
The turf between the two sides increased recently as the FAA proposed a $6,33,009 fine on SpaceX for two missions from 2023. Reacting to this, Founder and CEO, Elon Musk announced a legal battle against the agency.
Starship 31 static fire!
9/18/24 pic.twitter.com/V5xuGCz5g6
— Starship Gazer (@StarshipGazer) September 18, 2024
