Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has transported yet another Starship upper-stage spacecraft to its test site for testing in preparation for Starship's seventh flight, which will lay the foundation for the rest of the rocket testing campaign. Starship's seventh flight could take place in January, a fact bolstered by SpaceX's increased speed in testing rockets.
Yesterday, SpaceX conducted a static fire on the 232-foot-tall Super Heavy booster before transporting the final stage to the launch site. This could be the last test before launch, assuming SpaceX meets all test goals.
Like Flight 6, Flight 7 will feature the upper stage, with testing focusing on the re-entry phase of the mission as the company flies the rocket at a flatter angle before performing a flip maneuver for water landing. Starships typically enter the atmosphere at a steep angle, exposing their heat shields to the flowing air below, allowing the spacecraft to withstand the heat of reentry.
After re-entry is complete, the front fins (upper part) of the Starship begin working to guide the spacecraft to a final vertical landing. Of course, if the spacecraft is lying flat as it enters the atmosphere, the flaps have to work harder to adjust direction. However, despite the increased pressure, the spacecraft, its heat shield and fins were delivered on the sixth flight, resulting in a soft landing in the Indian Ocean.
Flight 6 was the last flight of the first-generation final-stage starship. Before the sixth flight, SpaceX had already begun testing the upper-stage spacecraft, verifying its structural integrity through a series of fuel tank tests. The tests also confirmed that the new spacecraft has larger fuel tanks that can carry more propellant.
Ahead of its seventh flight, SpaceX first rolled the 232-foot-tall Starship Super Heavy booster off the launch pad over the weekend. A static fire test was conducted after rollout, after which the rocket was transported back to the assembly facility. SpaceX subsequently transported the second-generation upper-stage Starship to the new test bed. Ahead of the upcoming comprehensive test flight, the company may conduct a static fire of the upper stage engine to check its performance.
The rocket uses six engines, three of which have larger nozzles and are designed for use in space. Starship Flight 6 was SpaceX's first attempted and successful test of launching a Raptor engine in space. This is an important test for the entire project because it allows the company to prove to the Federal Aviation Administration that it can control Starship while in orbit.
Other key areas of focus for Starship Flight 7 will be the performance of the new heat shield and redesigned front flaps. Additionally, if SpaceX successfully splashes Starship into water and tests the capture hardware, the eighth flight will be the first Starship test of the world's first reusable second-stage rocket for pylon capture.