SpaceX Concludes 2021 at Starbase With B4 and S20 Tests

Credit: NASASpaceflight

SpaceX has conducted multiple tests of B4 and S20 to prepare for the orbital test flight last month. After B4 was put back on the Orbital Launch Pad, SpaceX started preparing the booster for testing. The first cryogenic proof test was done on December 17 to "prove" the vehicle's structural integrity. Two more cryo tests were performed on December 21 and December 22 each with an increasing amount of frost (from the freezing nitrogen) on the tanks. Booster 4 has now been removed from the Orbital Launch Pad and put on a stand, likely to leave room to remove the scaffolding on the launch tower left over from construction. Although it completed Starship's "traditional" test campaign, Ship 20 had a fourth static fire test and its second six-engine test on December 29. SpaceX attempted to do another static fire the same day, but the test was scrubbed for an unknown reason. Another static fire seems to be planned for January 4 per road closures.

Elon Musk also announced that a future Starships will have nine engines instead of six (three sea-level, six vacuum). He also said that the next Super Heavy booster will have 33 engines instead of 29, which means that Booster 5 will not fly since it has a 29-engine thrust puck. Since Booster 6 was made into a test tank, Booster 7 will be the second Super Heavy to fly (after B4). It is currently being stacked in High Bay.

The first orbital attempt of Starship is now NET March 2022 since the FAA's Environmental Assessment has been delayed to February 28 because of the amount of comments they received.