SpaceX Starships do less damage to launch pads, which bodes well for Space Coast facilities

Although SpaceX’s massive Starship and Super Heavy rockets are still exploding in mid-air during test flights, the repairs to the launch pad have pleased both company founder Musk and NASA, and could make it possible for plans to build a launch pad on Florida’s Space Coast is a good sign.

“Just checked the Starship launch pad, in good condition!” Musk posted on X on November 18 after the latest orbital launch attempt of the company’s next-generation rocket. “No refurbishment of the water-cooled steel plates will be required for the next launch. Congratulations to the @Spacex team and contractors who engineer and build this type of rocket for a powerful system so quickly!”

On April 20, the first launch of the two-stage combination rocket destroyed the launch pad of the SpaceX test base Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. The 33 Raptor engines of the first-stage Super Heavy were able to produce nearly 17 million pounds of power. Thrust during liftoff.

The damage not only raised concerns about when SpaceX would be able to attempt another test launch from Texas, but also raised concerns about the construction of a similar launch pad at Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39-A.

It’s one of a series of issues SpaceX must solve. The launch ended with SpaceX issuing a self-destruct command because the upper-stage Starship was unable to separate from the first-stage Super Heavy booster.

Musk said adjustments to the pad meant adding more than 35,000 cubic feet of reinforced high-strength concrete underneath it, and also introducing a massive water-cooled steel flame deflector, “basically two thick steel plates welded together” and Through its pipeline,” he said.

“You basically have this water-cooled steel sandwich with perforations on the top, so it actually spits out a lot of water,” he said. “Think of it like a giant inverted shower head. When the rocket is above the launch pad, it basically shoots water upward to counteract the large amount of heat generated by the booster.”

Musk says SpaceX’s efforts to ensure quick turnaround for launches are “a little excessive”

Nearly seven months later, SpaceX and Super Heavy launched again and still suffered not one, but two explosions. Still, it was considered more successful than the first attempt, as the Starship’s upper stage successfully separated from the booster and actually flew into space, but did not reach orbit before the end of the insertion burn.

The booster successfully fell seconds after separation before exploding over the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX later announced that the upper stage’s self-destruct system was activated near the end of the burn.

Still, the launch pad remains relatively intact, meaning SpaceX is ready for its next orbital launch attempt. It has launched its next Starship upper stage, called Ship 28, to a nearby suborbital launch pad for a test launch expected in early 2024, although the rocket technically failed on its second launch It was grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration after the explosion.

“The FAA will oversee the accident investigation led by SpaceX,” the FAA said after the launch. “Starship Super Heavy’s return to flight is based on the FAA’s determination that any systems, processes or procedures associated with the accident did not impact public safety.

NASA has a vested interest in the success of Starship and Super Heavy. One version of the rocket was tasked with carrying astronauts on NASA’s Artemis 3 mission to the lunar surface. If Starship isn’t ready yet, the mission on NASA’s official timeline won’t be completed until December 2025.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said he was encouraged by the launch.

“Congratulations to the team who made progress on today’s flight test. Space flight is a bold adventure that requires a can-do spirit and bold innovation. Today’s test is an opportunity to learn and then fly again. @NASA and @SpaceX will work together Sending humans to the moon, Mars and beyond,” Nelson wrote on X after the launch.

The company needs to successfully complete its first orbital launch test as well as dozens of unmanned test flights, introduce the aerial refueling process required for a trip to the moon, and conduct a successful lunar test landing before NASA. gave the green light for its use on the Artemis 3 mission.

From now on, SpaceX will move launches from test flights in Texas to operational flights at the Kennedy Space Center.

At both sites, the 469-foot-tall Launch Integration Tower (which Musk calls “Mechazilla”) is designed not only to support launches without sustaining damage between launches, but also to withstand the impact of super-heavy boosters The return landing capture is aided by two rotating metal arms called “chopsticks”.

However, any damage caused by such launches and landings at Kennedy Space Center could threaten NASA’s ability to launch manned missions using Falcon 9 rockets. As a result, SpaceX is building a second crew-capable launch tower at Space Launch Complex 40 near Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and replicating its launch pad in Texas ahead of KSC’s first Starship launch Engineering improvements.

SpaceX has not announced a schedule for the Space Coast’s first Starship launch.

“It’s a great time in human spaceflight to be talking about a company launching a launch vehicle and having multiple launch pads or runways to choose from,” said Sarah Walker, director of mission management for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon program.

With the backup option, it leaves some leeway for SpaceX’s Starship launch plans.

“SpaceX is currently making modifications to the perimeter of Launch Complex 39A to support Starship launches while maintaining the ability to launch Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions,” NASA said in a statement after the latest Starship launch. “SpaceX’s activities are included in Its launch pad usage agreement.”

Currently, SpaceX is only allowed to build infrastructure on LC-39A.

“Launch and landing will involve further review and approval, including construction of a launch pad that meets NASA safety and environmental requirements,” NASA said in a statement. “NASA is currently evaluating an update to the LC-39A Starship Operations 2019 Environmental Analysis, which includes Includes operational changes and additional infrastructure required to support the Starship program.”

Nonetheless, NASA noted that the FAA is the final regulator of Starship launch licenses when commercial missions need to be launched from KSC.

“We expect Starships launched by LC-39A to do the same,” NASA said.

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