The third test flight of Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket in the world, could take place on March 14, SpaceX announced on Wednesday, which must still obtain authorization from the American air regulator.
• Read also: OpenAI (ChatGPT) rejects Elon Musk’s accusations of “betrayal”
• Read also: Space-X: Crew-8 astronauts have arrived at the International Space Station
• Read also: Elon Musk is no longer the richest man in the world
However, it is “likely” that the timetable will change, warned the space company of billionaire Elon Musk.
The two previous tests of this immense 120 meter high rocket, whose takeoffs take place from the SpaceX base in Boca Chica in Texas, ended in explosions.
The rocket is made up of two stages: the Super Heavy propulsion stage, and above it the Starship, which by extension gives its name to the entire rocket.
The development of Starship is very important for NASA, which is counting on this vessel to land its astronauts on the Moon during its Artemis 3 mission, planned for 2026.
For this third test, SpaceX will seek to accomplish several “ambitious goals,” the company wrote.
Among them: carrying out “a controlled reentry” of the vessel, which will have to fall “into the Indian Ocean” to end the flight.
SpaceX also wants to test the opening of the hatch which could be used in the future to release cargo, for example satellites, into space.
The company also wants to carry out the “demonstration of a fuel transfer” in flight. According to the specialist press, this transfer could take place between two tanks inside the vessel.
Developing this function is essential, because to reach the Moon, Starship will have to refuel once in space, thanks to a vessel previously filled by others, and serving as a space fuel station.
Starship’s last test flight took place in mid-November, less than four months ago. The rocket’s two stages had successfully separated but then both exploded.
The American air regulator, the FAA, announced at the end of February that it had closed its investigation into this incident, and had accepted the “17 corrective measures” proposed by SpaceX.
Before it can take off again, however, SpaceX must have put all of these measures in place and obtain a modified flight license from the FAA.
SpaceX claims a development technique based on successive tests at a rapid pace — even if they end in impressive fireballs.
“It’s always better to sacrifice hardware than to sacrifice time,” Elon Musk said in a speech to SpaceX employees in January.
He then said that the third Starship flight should “reach orbit”, which the first two had not done.
