The next Starship launch could take place before the end of summer
SpaceX has delivered the latest prototype of the huge Starship Super Heavy booster to its Starbase orbital launch pad in Boca Chica for testing ahead of its next launch.
The rocket, known as Booster 9, is installed at the Starbase launch site in South Texas after a failed attempt to launch the entire Starship complex on April 20, 2023. At that time, the Starship upper stage failed to separate from the Super Heavy launch vehicle as planned. SpaceX sent a command to self-destruct the ship a few minutes after launch. The incredibly powerful rocket even damaged the orbital launcher on Starbase and made a large crater in the concrete.
SpaceX rolled out a huge new Starship Super Heavy rocket to the pad ahead of the next launch
Since then, SpaceX has been busy repairing and upgrading the launch pad. For example, a steel plate was added to protect the platform during launch.
The next start has not yet been scheduled for a specific date. It can take place in a few weeks or in a few months. If the rocket tests go well, SpaceX will test-fire the engine and then install the Starship upper stage on the rocket.
