Segundo vuelo de prueba de Starship de SpaceX infographic
El gráfico muestra las actualizaciones del cohete Starship para su segundo vuelo de prueba.
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SPACE

El Starship modificado está listo para su segunda prueba

By Jordi Bou

April 20, 2023 - SpaceX se prepara para un segundo vuelo de prueba del cohete más grande del mundo, habiendo hecho varios cambios de diseño luego de que el vuelo de debut del Starship tuvo que ser abortado poco después de su lanzamiento.

SpaceX’s giant Starship rocket may fly again as soon as Friday, November 17, provided it receives the final regulatory approvals.

The potential launch from Boca Chica Beach, Texas, will mark the company’s second test flight of an orbital class Starship and Super Heavy booster – the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. SpaceX launched its first Starship test flight on April 20, but it exploded shortly after liftoff.

The first flight was marred by a number of problems, including the failure of at least five of the 33 Raptor engines in the first stage, but the final nail was the failure of the second stage to separate.

SpaceX has made a variety of design changes in the wake of that debut, aiming to increase the chances of success on future Starship flights.

Key questions include whether the 16 million pounds of thrust produced by the Raptor engines will damage the launch mount despite a new water deluge system, if all 33 Raptor engines will ignite successfully, whether SpaceX will achieve hot-staging on its first attempt, and if Starship can survive reentry.

Standing 121 metres tall, Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built. The megarocket is crucial for SpaceX as it’s central to the company’s goals for more ambitious space missions, including potential trips to Mars.

For NASA’s Artemis Moon programme, Starship promises a revolutionary leap, as the rocket will allow for more flexible and cost-effective missions to space.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 15/11/2023; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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