SpaceX is gearing up for its next significant milestone: the fourth integrated test flight of its Starship vehicle. On May 20, the company successfully conducted a wet dress rehearsal, a crucial step where the vehicle was filled with propellants and taken through a practice countdown. This marks one of the final preparations before an actual launch attempt.
“Starship Flight 4 in about two weeks,” announced Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, on social media following the test. He highlighted that the primary goal for this flight is to successfully navigate the maximum reentry heating phase. During the previous test on March 14, the Starship upper stage disintegrated upon reentry.
Awaiting FAA Launch License
Before proceeding with the test flight, SpaceX must secure an updated launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Kelvin Coleman, the FAA’s associate administrator for commercial space transportation, mentioned at the 39th Space Symposium in April that completing the license modification by May was feasible, although he did not guarantee it.
Kathy Lueders, the general manager of Starbase and a former NASA associate administrator, indicated on May 14 that SpaceX was close to resolving the final details with the FAA. “We’re hoping to have the license by the end of May, early June timeframe,” she said. “The first day we get that license, we’re going to fly.”
Expansion of Starbase Facilities
Much of Lueders’ recent presentation focused on the ongoing development at Starbase, SpaceX’s facility near Boca Chica, Texas. Over 3,000 workers, including employees and contractors, are involved in daily operations at the site. “We’ve been investing billions into this area to prepare the facilities,” Lueders stated, acknowledging the challenges of constructing at the end of Highway 4.
Since breaking ground symbolically in 2014, SpaceX has poured over $3 billion into Starbase infrastructure and currently spends around $1.1 billion annually on its Texas operations. A major project underway is the construction of the “Starfactory,” a million-square-foot production facility intended to replace temporary tents used for building Starship components. This facility is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Enhancing Operational Capacity
In addition to the Starfactory, SpaceX is building an office complex to house its engineering workforce and a second high bay for vehicle assembly. A second orbital launch pad is also under construction to support the increasing launch cadence required for Starship missions.
Beyond Texas, SpaceX is developing a Starship launch complex at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida. On May 10, the FAA began work on an environmental impact statement for the updated Starship infrastructure there. Simultaneously, the Department of the Air Force is evaluating potential Starship launch sites at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Balancing Operations Between Texas and Florida
While Musk suggested that Starbase might serve as the primary R&D hub with Florida handling operational launches, Lueders emphasized the need for both sites to support the ambitious Starship mission schedule. This includes launches for NASA’s Human Landing System program, which requires a substantial number of tanker launches to support a single lunar mission.
“We need two launch areas to meet our manifest,” Lueders explained, noting that a single lunar landing will necessitate approximately 15 tanker launches. This number is higher than previous estimates, which suggested around ten launches.
Community and Infrastructure Improvements
Lueders also highlighted efforts to improve the quality of life for employees and the surrounding community. This includes addressing traffic flow on the road to Starbase and encouraging local development to support the growing workforce. “Right now it’s a critical phase for us,” she noted, mentioning ongoing discussions with local and state officials about infrastructure improvements and long-term business operations at the end of Highway 4.
As SpaceX advances towards its next Starship test flight, the company’s dual focus on vehicle readiness and infrastructure expansion underscores its commitment to revolutionizing space travel while supporting the communities around its key facilities.