Once again, SpaceX has set a new record for the tallest rocket ever built
Summary
SpaceX has assembled a new version of its large Starship rocket, called Starship Version 3, at its launch site in South Texas. This rocket is taller and more powerful than earlier ones and will be used to test in-orbit refueling, a key step for missions beyond Earth orbit, including lunar landings for NASA’s Artemis program.Key Facts
- Starship Version 3 is about 408 feet (124 meters) tall, making it the tallest rocket SpaceX has built.
- It uses upgraded Raptor engines that are more powerful and efficient.
- The rocket has a new lattice structure to help with a stage separation method called hot staging.
- Instead of four, this model has three modified grid fins to help bring the first stage booster back safely to Earth.
- SpaceX plans to use this rocket to practice refueling in space, which is needed for missions to the Moon and beyond.
- The rocket was fully stacked recently, and fueling tests were conducted with super-cold methane and liquid oxygen.
- The launch, possibly on May 19, will be the 12th full-scale Starship test flight and the first from a new launch pad.
- The flight will follow a more southern route over the Gulf of Mexico and aims for a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
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