Over the weekend, SpaceX continued its test campaigns at Starbase, Texas. Booster 9 was fully stuffed with cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid methane.
That is the primary time because the Starship Integrated Test Fight that a booster has been fueled on the orbital launch mount. There have been many questions on how long it could take for SpaceX to start the technique of testing on the launch site considering the damage that occurred in the course of the test flight.
SpaceX made very rapid progress within the repairs and upgrades to the orbital launch mount and the world around it. One among the massive questions was how did the fuel farm delay after it was pelted with cement and left noticeable dents within the casings, but appears it didn’t suffer anything but cosmetic damage.
Propellant load tests recently accomplished for Starship Super Heavy Boosters 9 and 10 pic.twitter.com/2JbUnYEu5o
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 24, 2023
During a test just a few days ago, a valve froze open and dumped an unlimited amount of liquid nitrogen, which has been the one major issue SpaceX has encountered since repairs began and will have happened at any time.
Also recently, SpaceX moved Booster 10 to Massey’s Test Facility for its own cryogenic proof test, partially filling the tanks. Once SpaceX accomplished this test, they moved the booster back to the production site, and Ship 28 was attached to a thrust simulator and moved to the Massey’s Test Facility.
It is extremely likely that for the third Integrated Test Flight, which can thoroughly be the primary full orbital attempt, Ship 28 and Booster 10 will fly together.
Ship 27 was cut in half as mentioned in a previous article, nonetheless, a local photographer took photos during a flyover and noticed the common dome appeared to have imploded. It’s unknown if it was simply human error and pressure being lost or if this was a design error and SpaceX is moving on from the design. It might be likely that Ship 26 can be scrapped within the near future as well.
If the fueling tests went well, SpaceX might be taking a look at performing a static fire test with Booster 9 in the approaching days, which can be a real test for the launch mount and recent water deluge system.