SpaceX’s Starship Prepares for Seventh Test Flight
SpaceX is gearing up for the seventh test flight of its Starship rocket, scheduled for January 15, 2025, from Starbase in South Texas. The mission will be the first Starship launch of 2025, with a scheduled lift-off time of 22:00 UTC (01:00 Moscow time on January 16). This upcoming test will mark a significant step forward as SpaceX works to refine the capabilities of its next-generation spacecraft.
Key Changes and Objectives for Starship’s New Version
The latest version of Starship, known as Block 2, has been enhanced with several crucial updates. Last week, the rocket was delivered to the launch pad and mounted on the Super Heavy booster for the upcoming test. One of the most notable changes is the repositioning and resizing of the front flaps, which are now closer to the ship’s nose. This modification aims to protect these components from the intense heat encountered during atmospheric reentry, an issue that previously caused overheating and damage.
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has acknowledged that the thermal shield remains one of the biggest technological challenges for Starship. During the past three test flights, thermal tiles had detached due to the extreme conditions of reentering the atmosphere. To address this, engineers have removed some tiles to test the durability of vulnerable parts of the spacecraft and redesigned the edges of the tiles to prevent ignition points.
Advanced Features and Goals for Starship’s Flight
For this flight, SpaceX will attempt to replicate maneuvers from previous test flights, including recovering the Super Heavy booster. The company plans to capture the booster with mechanical grips on the launch tower approximately 7 minutes after launch. While the fifth test successfully achieved this goal, the sixth test was interrupted due to sensor failures. To ensure better precision, SpaceX has upgraded the sensors and added radar tools to improve the accuracy of booster retrieval.
Moreover, SpaceX has made strides toward improving the reusability of both the booster and the spacecraft itself. One of the 33 Raptor engines installed on the current Booster 14 has already been refurbished following a previous test flight in October 2024. The new version of Starship is also equipped with an upgraded avionics system, which includes a more powerful onboard computer and new antennas for communication with Starlink satellites and GPS. This system will allow Starship to transmit high-quality video and telemetry at speeds exceeding 120 Mbps throughout the entire flight.
Preparing for Future Missions
In addition to its enhanced systems, the fuel tanks of Starship have been expanded by 25%, giving the rocket a total fuel and oxidizer capacity of over 4.7 million pounds. This increased capacity not only supports current test flights but also prepares Starship for future missions, including crewed expeditions to the Moon and Mars. SpaceX has ambitious plans for even larger versions of Starship, such as the Version 3 model, which will feature nine engines and a payload capacity of up to 200 tons to low Earth orbit.
SpaceX’s work on Starship is also part of its collaboration with NASA in the Artemis program, which aims to use a modified Starship to transport astronauts to the lunar surface and back. Lisa Watson-Morgan, NASA’s program manager, has emphasized the importance of successful engine relaunch tests in space to ensure safe landings and takeoffs on the Moon.
With the growing interest and investment in the program, SpaceX’s progress with Starship is poised to revolutionize space travel, while also setting the stage for further advancements in reusable space technology.
