SpaceX Returns Ship 40 to Texas and Cryogenically Tests Ship 42
Ship 40 returned to Texas after a 75-day sea journey, while Ship 42 was rolled out for a third round of cryogenic testing, marking steps toward the fifteenth flight.
Starship 40 returned to the state of Texas after a 75-day sea journey to the Port of Brownsville, in a move that brings the vehicle back to SpaceX's program headquarters.
At the same time, Ship 42 was rolled out to the test stand for a third round of proof and cryogenic testing, after all six of its engines were removed.
A NASASpaceflight report describes the two steps as direct progress toward Starship's fifteenth flight, which is expected to feature Booster 22 and Ship 42, with a tentative target date between mid-October and early November.
Each Starship prototype undergoes a series of ground tests before flight to verify the fuel tanks' integrity and their ability to withstand pressure and low temperatures. This development is relevant to companies operating in the launch sector and investors in SpaceX stock, as the cadence of these tests dictates the timing of the next flight.
What do these terms mean?
Cryogenic test: A test in which the fuel tank is filled with an ultra-cold liquid to verify its integrity and ability to withstand expansion and contraction.
Booster: The lower portion of the vehicle that carries the main engines and lifts the vehicle during the first stage of launch.
Fifteenth flight: The sequence number of a test flight in the Starship program that pairs a new vehicle and booster.
Port of Brownsville: The seaport in South Texas used by SpaceX's Starbase facility to receive and transport its vehicles.
Weekly Newsletter
Read between the lines before everyone else. Decode the most important economic, tech, and decision-maker movements in the region.. in 5 minutes every Saturday.
