SpaceX Is Already Manufacturing The Next Orbital Launch Vehicle – Starship SN21

Featured Image Source: @StarshipGazer via Twitter 

Imagine a future where hundreds of humans are capable of visiting the Moon and Mars… SpaceX’s Starbase facility in South Texas is where it all begins. Engineers are working long shifts to develop the Starship spacecraft. SpaceX founder Chief Engineer Elon Musk is racing against time to develop a fleet of fully-reusable Starships in his lifetime. He hopes to set the foundation for future generations to create a spacefaring civilization.

The aerospace company’s goal is to have a space-ready Starship before the year 2023, when they plan to conduct the first crewed voyage around the Moon. The ‘Dear Moon’ mission will launch Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa on a circumlunar voyage alongside a small group of passengers who are expected to be artists. SpaceX aims to land the first Starship on the lunar surface by 2024, the first crewed lunar landing will transport professional NASA astronauts under the Artemis program.

Launch complex:

7:09 pm 10/13/21 pic.twitter.com/IVVF0aCVpc

— Starship Gazer (@StarshipGazer) October 14, 2021

With a very ambitious launch schedule SpaceX has no time to waste. For the past six months the company has been working on preparing the Starship SN20 and Super Heavy Booster 4 prototype for an orbital flight test. While it prepared the full-scale launch vehicle this year, it conducted multiple high-altitude flight tests with stainless-steel test vehicles – Starship SN9, Starship SN10, Starship SN11, and Starship SN15 soared into the sky around 15-kilometers above Boca Chica Beach. Each test provided SpaceX with valuable insight towards the spacecraft's development. As Starship SN20 and Super Heavy Booster 4 are undergoing pre-flight testing needed before it flies to orbit, SpaceX is already manufacturing the next orbital launch vehicle – Starship SN21 and Booster 5. Read More: Let’s Look Back At Starship’s Amazing Development!

Superman putting one of Starship 21's nose tiles in place:

5:08 pm 10/13/21 pic.twitter.com/PNQHYI88UC

— Starship Gazer (@StarshipGazer) October 14, 2021

Local Boca Chica photographer, Starship Gazer, took great photos showcasing SN21 inside a hangar where teams are installing the Starbrick heat shield to the nosecone. Starbase employees appear to have fun working on Starbrick installation, Starship Gazer also captured a photograph of a turtle drawing on one of the ceramic tiles, pictured below. The Starbricks appear to be thick, maybe a bit thicker than previous iterations. SpaceX designed the black-color ceramic tiles to protect Starship from the scorching temperatures it will experience when it crosses Earth’s atmosphere. 

Someone drew a turtle on one of the tiles. lol pic.twitter.com/271uYUwlmE

— Starship Gazer (@StarshipGazer) October 14, 2021

NASA Langley Research Center partnered with SpaceX to assess the heatshield’s performance during an orbital flight test. The agency’s researchers will utilize a new thermal monitoring system aboard an aircraft that will monitor Starship’s flight while in motion as it reenters Earth. Starbricks are designed to withstand temperatures over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Engineers are also working on Booster 5's assembly, they installed four car-sized grid fins on the massive rocket this week, pictured below. Grid fins are used to guide the rocket as it descends after propelling Starship to orbit. On Friday afternoon the company conducted another ambient proof test on SN20, it is likely that testing will resume until Monday. According to Boca Chica road closure announcements, the company plans a static-fire test of the Starship SN20 vehicle for next week during a timeframe scheduled from October 18 to 20. 

Another Grid Fin has been installed on Booster 5 in the High Bay.

Picture from Mary (@BocaChicaGal) pic.twitter.com/53EhdAOaRW

— Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) October 13, 2021

Featured Image Source: @StarshipGazer via Twitter