SpaceX Could Be Launching Starship Super-Heavy Next Week

According to a recently-released FAA advisory SpaceX could be attempting the first ever Starship Super-Heavy orbital launch on the 10th of April.

Monday the 10th of April is just around the corner, and so could be the first ever flight test of Starship Super-Heavy. This is after an advisory published by the FAA on its site revealed the 10th of April as the first attempt date for the Starship launch.

It is worth nothing that there has not been any direct confirmation from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (and there usually is) about this, or from SpaceX itself.

But that hasn’t stopped the hype from building. So if SpaceX is launching Starship on Monday, what’s the status of the launch site and the vehicles?

Booster 7
B7 was recently lifted back onto the OLM after most of the work that was being done on it, seemed complete. On April 3rd it underwent what NSF’s Chris Bergin called a booster Wet Dress Rehearsal, as both its methane and oxygen tanks were filled to the brim. Around half an hour passed before it was finally detanked. It still rests on the mount at the time of writing.

Ship 24
On April 1st S24 was moved from the rocket garden back to the launch complex. At the time of writing it had been moved to near the chopsticks and currently rests between them. A lift is expected in the next coming days to compete the full stack.

The OLM
The OLM has been completely covered with steel panels for the most part, while some fuel pipes running below the table itself around the leg extensions remain exposed. It isn’t clear what work was being done on the inner side of the table, but the presence of the booster on top of it obviously suggest the major work is likely done, although some scaffolding still remains on top of it.

Note:

It should be noted that no official confirmation has been issued from/by SpaceX nor Musk. SpaceX still awaits the launch license from the FAA, without which no launch will take place.

As things stand, April 10th is tentative at best, and whatever happens between now and Sunday should give us a decent clue as to what to expect on Monday.