SpaceX is making significant strides in its Starship program, with the company preparing for its fourth test flight and continuing expansion at its Texas facilities.
On May 20, 2024, SpaceX successfully completed a wet dress rehearsal for the next Starship test flight. The procedure involved filling both stages of the vehicle with supercold liquid oxygen and liquid methane in preparation for launch.
Starship, which stands about 400 feet tall and is powered by six Raptor engines, is a crucial component of SpaceX's ambitious plans to help humanity settle on the moon and Mars. The rocket has already flown three times, with each test yielding valuable data for SpaceX engineers.
The first flight in April 2023 ended prematurely when the two stages failed to separate. In November 2023, Starship achieved stage separation but broke apart upon reentry to Earth's atmosphere. The third test flight on March 14, 2024, saw Starship reach near orbital velocity before breaking apart during reentry.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk aims to launch the fourth test flight in about two weeks, with the primary goal being to get through max reentry heating. However, the timing may not be entirely up to SpaceX, as the company is still waiting for a launch license modification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In addition to preparing for its next test flight, SpaceX is also expanding its facilities in Texas. The company has invested over $3 billion in Starbase infrastructure since 2014 and is currently building a 1 million square feet production facility called the 'Starfactory.' This new facility will replace the tents used for building Starship components and will help SpaceX scale up production.
SpaceX's ambitious plans don't stop there. The company is also constructing a second launch pad in Texas and plans to have two Starship launch sites in Florida to support a faster launch cadence. However, there is still much work to be done before the Starship becomes operational.
