SpaceX keeps testing for its next Starship launch at Boca Chica, Texas. The company moved an upgraded upper-stage rocket to the test stand yesterday after a break from testing since Flight 8 failed in March. Workers filled fuel tanks but later emptied them without firing engines, which remains a major hurdle since the first launch damaged the pad.
The Starship program faces challenges with its second stage. Design changes first appeared in January during Flight 7, which ended when the ship blew up over the Caribbean Sea. Testing showed vibrations caused a fire that shut down an engine. Less than two months later, Flight 8 met a similar fate when the second stage exploded again during ascent, though SpaceX hasn't shared what went wrong.
Following these failures, engineers took extra care with Flight 9 tests. The upcoming mission will mark the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster in the test program. This matters because SpaceX needs to launch often to build orbital fuel stations for trips to the Moon and Mars. The company already test-fired this booster earlier this month.
Yesterday marked the first upper-stage tests for Flight 9. Local footage showed SpaceX filling tanks to levels needed for static fire tests, but just checked pressure this time. The team also tested the ship's flaps during these checks. NASA watches these developments closely as SpaceX must show it can refuel rockets in space for future moon landings.
The Starship program faces challenges with its second stage. Design changes first appeared in January during Flight 7, which ended when the ship blew up over the Caribbean Sea. Testing showed vibrations caused a fire that shut down an engine. Less than two months later, Flight 8 met a similar fate when the second stage exploded again during ascent, though SpaceX hasn't shared what went wrong.
Following these failures, engineers took extra care with Flight 9 tests. The upcoming mission will mark the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster in the test program. This matters because SpaceX needs to launch often to build orbital fuel stations for trips to the Moon and Mars. The company already test-fired this booster earlier this month.
Yesterday marked the first upper-stage tests for Flight 9. Local footage showed SpaceX filling tanks to levels needed for static fire tests, but just checked pressure this time. The team also tested the ship's flaps during these checks. NASA watches these developments closely as SpaceX must show it can refuel rockets in space for future moon landings.
