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Super Heavy returns to pad ahead of July 24 launch
SpaceX has moved Super Heavy Booster 20 back to Pad 2 in Starbase after engine replacements, with Starship Flight 13 now expected as early as July 24.
Image: iXBT
SpaceX has returned Super Heavy Booster 20 to Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, for final prelaunch testing ahead of the 13th Starship test flight. If preparations stay on schedule, the launch could happen as soon as July 24.
The booster was photographed being transported across the Starbase site in the evening.
Earlier, Booster 20 had already completed cryogenic proof testing, and on July 10 it successfully carried out a static fire test with all 33 Raptor engines igniting at the same time. After a recent launch scrub, SpaceX replaced defective engines.
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The booster now faces a final round of checks, including another set of prelaunch tests, before SpaceX makes a final decision on Starship Flight 13.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via iXBT
