Starship Testing and Construction Continues
The starship program is proceeding at a now-familiar pace, as testing on Booster 7 progressed to the cryo-proofing phase, and the new launch architecture at Canaveral's 39A pad started taking shape.
Super Heavy Booster 7 (B7) is the first booster prototype designed with the impressive new Raptor V2 engines in mind. Once complete, B7 will have up to 33 V2s capable of pumping out 230 tons or so of thrust each.
A video from Chris Bergin of NASA Spaceflight shows the process of cryo testing the booster with pressurized gas.
At the same time, the booster was placed on a stress-testing rig, simulating thrust with hydraulic rams; although it’s hard to say what exact tests took place without a report from SpaceX themselves. The booster seemed to have made it through the tests well enough, but there will likely be more in the near future.
At the same time, all the way over in Florida, the new Starship launch tower is being built at Canaveral’s pad 39A. The first major concrete supports of the foundation went up quickly, as well as delivery of three sections of the tower.
It seems like SpaceX has learned a few things from building Starbase’s OLS tower, and have decided to build more of the tower parts on the ground where it’s safer before fitting them together.
Lots of work getting done with Starship. With any luck, the FAA will clear the pad for orbital launches soon, and Elon will get his six-month window he predicted earlier.