After years of designing, testing and explosions, Elon Musk-led SpaceX is ready for another milestone mission. The company is one step closer to the first orbital launch of its behemoth Starship spacecraft that could one day take humans and their cargo to the Moon and then on to Mars.
SpaceX loaded the Starship with 10 million pounds of propellant as part of the first full flight-like wet dress rehearsal at Starbase in Boca Chica. This was the first time that the aerospace company has fully integrated the Starship and the booster and loaded the full-capacity fuel tank.
"Starship completed its first full flight-like wet dress rehearsal at Starbase today. This was the first time an integrated Ship and Booster were fully loaded with more than 10 million pounds of propellant," SpaceX said in a tweet.
The full wet dress rehearsal was conducted to verify a full launch countdown sequence, as well as the performance of Starship and the orbital pad for a future flight-like situation. "Today’s test will help verify a full launch countdown sequence, as well as the performance of Starship and the orbital pad for flight-like operations," the company said.
Starship is a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The spacecraft will be powered by a reusable Super Heavy rocket and, together, it will be the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the ability to carry in excess of 100 metric tonnes to Earth orbit.
The 120-meter-tall spacecraft, together with the Super Heavy rocket, has a nine-meter diameter and has the largest usable payload volume of any current or in-development launcher. It has been designed to "deliver satellites further and at a lower marginal cost per launch than our current Falcon vehicles," SpaceX says on its website. Read More on..
