SpaceX may attempt to make the first Starship orbital test flight next month. The next few weeks will be decisive for the company.
SpaceX may attempt the first and long-awaited orbital test flight of its Starship rocket as early as next month. At least, that’s what Elon Musk said recently. Responding to a question on Twitter this Sunday, the billionaire said the company targeted the assassination sometime in March. “If the remaining tests go well, we will attempt to launch Starship next month,” the post reads.
SpaceX may attempt first orbital test flight for Starship next month
While the date for this first orbital test flight of Starship has changed a lot in the last eighteen months, there is good reason to believe in this launch and its success. In January, Starship successfully completed its first ever full fuel test. In a “wet dress rehearsal,”the famous dress rehearsal for rocket launches, SpaceX filled the spacecraft’s two stages with more than 4,500 tons of propellant (liquid oxygen and methane). The company was also able to carry out the countdown procedures it would have to complete on launch day.
The next few weeks will be decisive for the company.
Among the many tests SpaceX has yet to perform, perhaps the most important is the static firing of 33 Super Heavy Stage Raptor engines. To date, the company has lit only 14 at a time. SpaceX will need to go further to get approval for an orbital test flight from the Federal Aviation Administration. In late January, there were signs that SpaceX was preparing static fire tests for the first week of February. However, this did not happen. However, Elon Musk’s comment may indicate that she will try very soon. To be continued!
If the rest of the tests go well, we will try to launch Starship next month.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2023