Spacex is said to be planning to carry out the first test launch of its entire giant rocket Super Heavy together with its spaceship Starship already in August, reports Ars Technica.
The test flight would mean that Starship would travel close to an orbit around the earth before the rocket and spacecraft make a controlled impact in the Pacific Ocean north of Kauai, Hawaii.
On May 5, the private space company tested sending a Starship prototype at 10 km altitude, followed by a safe landing. Since then, no additional flights have been operated.
Instead, Spacex has designed a large launch tower and fuel system to be used to support a fully built Super Heavy rocket with Starship.
Spacex engineers have also been in the process of building together Super Heavy’s various rockets, of which Booster 3 will carry out a static ignition test already on 15 July. Booster 3 consists of three Raptor engines while the finished version of Super Heavy will have a total of 33 Raptor engines.
In addition to all the technical work that needs to be completed, Spacex also needs permission from the US Air Force to carry out a rocket launch from Boca Chica in South Texas.
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