Significant Upgrades On Next-Gen Ship

E-I-C Note: The Starship 7 test flight has slipped back two days since the original publication of this story and it has been updated top note that fact.

SpaceX has confirmed a new target date of Wednesday January 15 for the 7th Starship test launch following a weather delay at the Boca Chica Beach Starbase. The launch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CST but the could change due to any number of unforeseen circumstances.

SpaceX will be introducing a “significantly” upgraded next-gen ship for this test launch. The forward flaps are now smaller and repositioned away from the heat shield to reduce their exposure to reentry heating.

The propellant volume has been increased by a full 25 percent, and a new fuel feedline system for the Raptor vacuum engines has been installed along with an improved propulsion avionics module the will control the valves and reading sensors.

The avionics went through a total redesign and now have additional capability and redundancy to accommodate more complex missions.

The launch will also deploy 10 Starlink simulators similar in weight and size to the next-gen satellites. The company said on its website, “While in space, Starship will deploy 10 Starlink simulators, similar in size and weight to next-generation Starlink satellites as the first exercise of a satellite deploy mission. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship, with splashdown targeted in the Indian Ocean. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned."

FMI:  www.spacex.com/