SpaceX
SpaceX Starship 5 completes propellant load test and preflight checkouts
SpaceX has completed a propellant load test and preflight checks for Starship Flight 5. The company posted some visuals on social media site X (formerly Twitter) showing the integrated space vehicle standing on the orbital launch pad.
The propellant load test helps to verify the correct amount of propellant loaded into the rocket tank. That includes measuring the weight or propellant volume and comparing it with pre-calculated values.
An incorrect propellant value can destabilize thrust, cause premature engine shutdown, or complete failure.
Preflight checkouts on the other hand are pre-launch system readiness inspections. These include electrical, mechanical, guidance and navigation, and payload systems. These checks find bugs and ensure all tech is ready to complete the mission without any related issues.
Starship 5 has completed static fire for both the first and second stages. With its latest test, the flight is now launch-ready, which was also announced in August. This flight aims to achieve a major milestone by recovering the booster stage on the launch tower with chopsticks.
After hot-staging, the booster will descend in its trajectory and reach a landing zone. Then it will perform a final burn followed by chopsticks maneuvering to catch the booster.
The space rocket maker has been testing the launch tower arms for months now and confirmed that these are functioning at full capacity to complete this objective. Recently, it integrated the first and second stages to perform all leftover checkouts.
This ship is waiting for approval from the FAA, an agency seeing launch licenses. SpaceX has received information that Starship 5 could be delayed until November.
This is a two-month delay from a launch date decided earlier this month. However, the launch license could also come by October at the fastest.
Propellant load test and preflight checkouts complete ahead of Flight 5 pic.twitter.com/JfdQYfYsQZ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 23, 2024
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