Elon Musk shares view from the top of Starbase's high bay
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Space fans were up in arms when SpaceX chief Elon Musk released an aerial view of Starbase. Starbase is the launch site of SpaceX’s Starship prototypes, and could one day be the central point in getting humans to Mars. Mr Musk has shared a view of what the facilities look like from the top of the Starbase High Bay.
The High Bay is the structure which has held the Starship prototypes in place before their launch.
From the view, one can see employees busy at work, despite it being in the dead of night.
Alongside the video, Mr Musk said: “From the top of Starbase high bay.”
The next Starship up to launch is likely the SN16 – but it is still unclear when.
On May 5, after an eight-minute flight, the SN15 made its way back to the ground where it smoothly landed back in Boca Chica, Texas.
The previous four Starship landings all ended in a spectacular ball of flames, so SpaceX was rightly lauded when the SN15 touched back down.
Shortly after the momentous occasion, Mr Musk said there is a chance the SN15 could fly again.
However, weeks have passed since the SN15’s landing and there has been no indication that the SN15 is preparing to re-launch.
Similarly, there is no launch date for the SN16 either.
On May 25, the SN15 was reinstalled on one of SpaceX’s two suborbital launch mounts.
This had many excited that the SN15 was set to launch.
However, just one day later, SpaceX removed the SN15 and took it back to the Texas Starship factory in Boca Chica.
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This is likely the biggest sign that SpaceX has retired the most successful Starship prototype to date.
This has ultimately left SN16 in the docking bay alone.
When the SN16 will launch, however, is currently anyone’s guess.
SpaceX has not requested any temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) over Boca Chica, nor issued any road closures around the base.
On average, SpaceX has launched a rocket every two months since the SN8 launched in December 2020.
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