Engineers at aerospace company SpaceX moved their Starship interplanetary spacecraft to the launch pad at their Starbase launch site in Texas this weekend. According to the source, the first orbital flight of the Starship system may take place as early as April 10.
Image Source: SpaceX
Earlier this week, SpaceX engineers installed the first stage of the Super Heavy launch vehicle on the launch pad. The next step will be the installation of the Starship spacecraft above the first stage. Although SpaceX has previously assembled the Starship system on the launch pad for testing, this time the preparation should end with a full-fledged orbital launch.
Over the past few weeks, SpaceX has completed lining the launch pad with panels needed to protect the launcher and other infrastructure from heat during the Super Heavy launch, the first stage of which is powered by 33 Raptor engines. The SpaceX rocket will have about twice the thrust of the two most powerful rockets ever to reach orbit, the Saturn V and the Space Launch System.
With the preparatory work at the spaceport coming to an end, SpaceX still has one more hurdle to overcome that separates the company from conducting the first Starship orbital launch. We are talking about obtaining a license from the US Federal Aviation Administration. It is expected that SpaceX will be able to obtain the necessary permits in the first half of April.
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