After explosion: Second "Starship" test planned for Friday
Around six months after the largest rocket system ever built in the history of space travel exploded during a test flight, the next attempt is to be launched on Friday. At 2 p.m. (CET), a two-hour launch window will open at the spaceport in the US state of Texas, and a livestream is also planned, SpaceX announced.
At the same time, Elon Musk's space company sent out a noise warning to the residents of the surrounding Cameron County: there may be a "loud noise" from the 33 engines in the area. "But what people will experience will also depend on weather and other conditions."
FAA urged numerous improvement measures
The "Starship" set off on its first unmanned test launch in mid-April - and four minutes later exploded and broke up. Billionaire Musk, whose aerospace company SpaceX developed and built the Starship rocket system, did not see this as a setback, however, but as an "exciting test launch". Musk has always emphasized that a next test launch should follow as soon as possible.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had investigated the incident and demanded numerous improvement measures as a condition for such a next test launch. SpaceX announced that it had implemented numerous improvements and changes.
The "Starship" - consisting of the approximately 70-meter-long "Super Heavy" booster and the approximately 50-meter-long upper stage, also called "Starship" - is intended to enable manned missions to the moon and Mars. The system is designed in such a way that the spaceship and rocket can be reused after returning to Earth. The system, which is around 120 meters long, should be able to transport well over 100 tons of cargo in the future. NASA wants to use the "Starship" to take astronauts to the moon. SpaceX hopes to reach Mars one day.
Despite the previous explosion, Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing for another test flight of the Starship, following their intent for immediate tests after setbacks. The next attempt will utilize the improved Starship, as a response to the FAA's demands for improvement measures following the explosion.
Source: www.dpa.com
