The Starship program is making waves once again with plans to fly Ship 29 and Booster 11 on its upcoming mission, known as IFT-4. Following the successful launch of IFT-3 in March, the team is gearing up for another historic flight, tentatively scheduled for May.
Both Ship 29 and Booster 11 have passed their static fire tests with flying colors and are currently undergoing preparations for the fourth flight of the Starship. Ship 29 even underwent a single-engine Raptor firing from its header tanks, possibly to simulate the process of firing an engine in space during the upcoming mission.
Booster 11 also completed a 33 engine static test firing on April 5, signaling that it is ready for the challenges that lie ahead. IFT-4 will mirror the flight path and reentry over the Indian Ocean that IFT-3 took, with goals including safely reentering the atmosphere and testing the in-space restart of a Raptor engine.
In addition to these exciting developments, Starbase is undergoing infrastructure upgrades, including enhancements to the orbital launch tower and Mechazilla “chopstick” arms. The program is also looking ahead to the future with the development of Starship versions 2 and 3, which will boast increased payload capability, upgraded Raptor engines, and expanded propellant capacity.
Starship version 3, in particular, is designed to be capable of carrying around 200 tons to orbit in fully reusable mode, making it a game-changer in the world of space travel. With all these advancements in the works, the Starship program continues to push boundaries and redefine what is possible in the realm of space exploration. Celebrity Beauty Buzz is eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this groundbreaking journey.
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