SpaceX is gearing up for the third test flight of its Starship megarocket, with a series of ambitious goals that could redefine space travel. The test, scheduled for the morning of March 14, is part of a $53.2 million contract with NASA and includes a pioneering propellant transfer demonstration. During this test, 10 metric tons of liquid oxygen will be transferred between tanks in space, a first of its kind on such a scale. This demonstration is a step towards SpaceX’s vision of using Starship tankers for orbital refueling, akin to aerial refueling of aircraft. The upcoming flight also aims to achieve the first-ever re-light of a Raptor engine in space and a controlled reentry of Starship. These milestones follow an FAA investigation that resulted in 17 corrective actions after previous flights. The launch is pending FAA approval, but preparations, including the installation of the rocket’s flight termination system, are moving forward at the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
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