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SpaceX is gearing up for the seventh test flight of its Starship vehicle in south Texas. The prototypes that will perform Flight 7 are identified as Starship 33 and Booster 14. This Starship iteration is the second-generation (V2) of the spacecraft with significant upgrades that will be tested for the first time, including a first-of-its-kind payload deployment test, and several critical reentry experiments, bringing Starship one step closer to realizing its goal of reusable, fully integrated space missions.

Launch from Starbase is currently scheduled for January 10th at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT). UPDATE: The launch date was delayed. The seventh flight test of Starship is preparing to launch as soon as Wednesday, January 15. “Teams at Starbase are keeping an eye on weather conditions for preflight operations,” shared SpaceX. The launch window will open at 4:00 p.m. CT for 97 minutes, with backup launch opportunities running through January 16 (date is subject to change).

A major highlight of this upcoming test will be the deployment of 10 Starlink simulators, designed to mimic next-generation Starlink satellites. These simulators will share the same size and weight as their future counterparts and will be deployed out the Starship payload door while in space, as shown in the video animation example below.

SpaceX Starship Starlink Satellite Payload Deployment pic.twitter.com/Bnzx9eWPOc

— Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo (@JaneidyEve) January 6, 2025

The mission will also attempt a relight of a single Raptor engine, a key experiment for enhancing the vehicle’s capabilities during extended space missions. Following deployment, the simulators will follow the same suborbital trajectory as Starship, with splashdown targeted in the Indian Ocean.

The second-generation Starship upgrades are aimed at improving performance and reliability. The upper-stage has undergone significant changes, including a redesign of its forward flaps, which have been resized and repositioned for better reentry performance. Propulsion system enhancements, such as a 25% increase in propellant volume and a more efficient fuel feedline system, promise to extend Starship’s operational range. As a result, the Starship V2 is now taller, with a height of approximately 170.9 feet tall for the upper-stage. This represents an increase of ~5.9 feet compared to Starship V1.

The company also shared that the ship’s heat shield has also been upgraded with the latest generation tiles, alongside a backup layer to mitigate risks associated with potential tile damage during reentry.

Further enhancements include a complete overhaul of Starship’s avionics system, which now boasts increased redundancy and the ability to handle more complex missions, such as propellant transfer and ship return. The new avionics system features a more powerful flight computer, integrated antennas for enhanced communication, and a range of new sensors, including 30 cameras for monitoring vehicle performance during Flight 7. Real-time data transmission, powered by Starlink, will provide engineers with high-definition telemetry and insights to support rapid system iteration.

Flight 7 will also feature experiments focused on Starship’s return to the launch site and its launch tower catch mechanism. In a bid to test the vehicle’s vulnerability to reentry forces, a number of tiles will be removed to stress-test areas of the vehicle. Various metallic tile options, including some with active cooling, will be tested for their effectiveness in protecting Starship during reentry. Additionally, the vehicle will undergo a reentry profile designed to push its structural limits and test its ability to withstand the highest dynamic pressure during reentry.

The Super Heavy rocket (Booster 14), which provides the initial liftoff thrust for Starship launches, also will undergo testing firsts. The booster will reuse a Raptor engine from a previous mission for the first time.

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The launch tower has also been upgraded to ensure higher reliability, with protective measures added to prevent damage to sensors upon liftoff. “Hardware upgrades to the launch and catch tower will increase reliability for booster catch, including protections to the sensors on the tower chopsticks that were damaged at launch and resulted in the booster offshore divert on Starship’s previous flight test,” shared the company.

The company has ambitious plans for 2025 to increase the speed of Starship development to enable NASA astronauts’ return to the Moon by 2027, and build the foundation for future Mars missions.

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