Posted on by

SpaceX Starship Test from Texas on the Horizon; how it impacts Brevard

SpaceX Starship Test from Texas on the Horizon; how it impacts Brevard

play

The world’s largest rocket is about to take off again from Boca Chica, Texas, for the SpaceX spacecraft’s fifth fully-crewed test flight.

As early as Sunday, October 13, the giant rocket could launch on another orbital test flight, this time with the plan to return the first stage, the Super Heavy booster, to the launch pad – captured by arms called “chopsticks.” “

It may still sound like science fiction, but SpaceX is taking advantage of the risk. SpaceX, which is currently capable of landing the first stage of its Falcon 9 back on a drone ship or in a landing zone, will now attempt to do so with this larger rocket. If this is successful, the question arises as to when Starship will launch from Cape Canaveral.

What happened on the fourth test flight of the SpaceX Starship?

When is the next launch in Florida? Is there a launch today? SpaceX, NASA and ULA’s upcoming rocket launch plan from Florida

On June 6, SpaceX launched its fourth Starship flight test in Boca Chica, Texas. The huge spacecraft launched into space and the first stage landed on water in the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, the spacecraft emerged unscathed after coasting before catching fire on landing and sinking into the Indian Ocean. It was a success for SpaceX. It went exactly as they intended – the first soft landing of the Super Heavy booster.

The company’s goal is to reuse the entire spacecraft – recovering the Super Heavy booster and the spacecraft for re-flight after landing.

This fifth flight will take this even further, as the company hopes for a return of the Super Heavy booster to the launch pad and will also repeat the water jettisoning of the spacecraft.

Off Cape Canaveral: Does the SpaceX spacecraft pose a risk to security in Texas?

While SpaceX recently received approval from the Federal Aviation Authority to proceed with the spacecraft’s launch and landing attempt, some still have doubts about public safety.

Under the description of this fifth flight test, SpaceX stated the following:

“SpaceX engineers have spent years preparing and months of testing for the booster capture test, with technicians putting tens of thousands of hours into building the infrastructure to maximize our chances of success. We will not accept compromise when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public.” Our team, and return will only be attempted if conditions are right.

According to SpaceX, if the landing does not go correctly, the Super Heavy launcher will automatically switch to a trajectory that takes it into the Gulf of Mexico, where it will splash down in the water.

SpaceX spacecraft and Cape Canaveral, Florida

There is currently no update on the FAA and Space Force environmental impact studies conducted earlier this year that are necessary before SpaceX can attempt a launch from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. These environmental impact studies, open to the public in Brevard Country, closely examined potential environmental impacts on the Space Coast. Concerns ranged from the rocket’s vibrations on surrounding buildings to impacts on wildlife.

Although there is no official schedule for Starship’s launch from Kennedy Space Center, it is notable that SpaceX has had a Starship launch tower at Pad 39A – where it will launch – for quite some time. There is currently no update on progress.

SpaceX has many plans for Starship, including some national security missions. Although official details and data are not available, the Department of Defense (DOD) hopes to use Starship for point-to-point transport of supplies on Earth. Taking off from point A and landing at point B would significantly reduce transportation time.

NASA is also waiting for Starship. The space agency has commissioned SpaceX to build a human lander “Starship” to return astronauts to the moon as early as the end of 2026. While the Artemis III crew will launch on NASA’s SLS rocket, they will dock at the Gateway in lunar orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft. There, astronauts who go to the surface will transfer to a human spacecraft called Starship.

Brooke Edwards is a space reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected] or at X: @brookeofstars.