SpaceX plans to test several upgrades to its Starship vehicle on its next test flight, scheduled for as soon as January 10. The company will conduct the first payload deployments from Starship and launch a new generation ship with significant improvements.
Key upgrades include changes to the forward flap design to reduce heating, expanded propellant tanks, and a “complete redesign” of its avionics system with new computers, antennas, and power distribution. These updates aim to prepare for future flights where SpaceX will attempt to land the Starship upper stage back at the launch site.
The Super Heavy booster will use previously flown hardware, including a single Raptor engine that was first flown on October 2023’s test flight. SpaceX aims to catch the booster again during the upcoming launch. The Starship upper stage will fly a suborbital profile and deploy ten “Starlink simulators” in space, which will reenter on similar trajectories.
The V3 Starlink satellites, designed for launch on Starship, will have significantly increased capacity compared to current satellites. This upgrade is crucial for SpaceX’s Starlink program, enabling the deployment of more advanced satellites with unparalleled payload capacity and full reusability.
Source: https://spacenews.com/spacex-to-test-vehicle-upgrades-and-payload-deployment-on-next-starship-flight