SpaceX is poised to conduct its ninth Starship-Super Heavy test flight, scheduled for May 27th at 7:30 p.m. EDT from its launch facility at Starbase in South Texas . This upcoming mission represents a significant milestone for the company, as it will be the first attempt to reuse a Super Heavy booster, which has undergone modifications including the replacement of four out of its thirty-three engines. The primary objectives of this flight include testing various systems and executing in-space maneuvers, thereby contributing to SpaceX's iterative development approach .
The company is betting on the testing and improvements made since the first flight of its Block 2 Starship upper stage will allow that part of the rocket to fly as intended. It’s a feat that eluded SpaceX in its previous two launches for the program.
SpaceX is aiming for the mission, dubbed Starship Flight 9, to launch from Pad A at Starbase, Texas, during a window that opens on Tuesday, May 27, at 6:30 p.m. CDT (7:30 p.m. EDT, 2330 UTC).
Spaceflight Now will have joint live coverage with LabPadre beginning about two hours prior to liftoff.
The fires ultimately resulted in the vehicle losing control and breaking up in the atmosphere over the Turks and Caicos Islands. However, the Flight 7 booster, Booster 14, completed its full flight profile and was successfully caught back at the launch site, becoming the second Super Heavy booster to be recovered after a flight. Booster 14 was returned to Mega Bay 1 for refurbishment and is now set to fly its second flight on Flight 9.
The FAA noted that the AHA for Flight 9 extends east from Starbase for about 1,600 nautical miles (2,960 kilometers) past the Straits of Florida, including the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. By comparison, the AHA for Flight 8 extended for 885 nautical miles (1,640 kilometers).
SpaceX’s plan to use a previously flown Super Heavy booster on the upcoming Flight 9 also led to the expanded AHAs. “The FAA is expanding the size of hazard areas both in the U.S. and other countries based on the updated flight safety analysis and because SpaceX intends to reuse a previously launched Super Heavy booster rocket for the first time,” it stated.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently granted SpaceX an updated launch license that permits an increase in the number of annual launches from Starbase to twenty-five. However, approval for Flight 9 remains contingent upon the completion of investigations into mishaps from previous flights . The expanded hazard area now encompasses regions including The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, reflecting heightened safety considerations associated with these ambitious test flights .
As preparations intensify at Pad B, significant developments have been observed regarding Booster 14's re-rollout and Ship 35's final adjustments . Following two earlier unsuccessful launches this year, stakeholders are keenly awaiting the outcomes of this mission. A successful launch would not only validate SpaceX's engineering capabilities but also enhance public interest through live webcasts on multiple platforms . Ultimately, the success or failure of Flight 9 will play a pivotal role in shaping future endeavors in commercial space exploration.
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