The first orbital flight with the Super Heavy prototype is close to being conducted. The message was conveyed by Musk when he posted an image on August 23rd of the launch tower loading the prototype onto the launchpad. A few weeks from now, the six engine SN 24 Starship and the full complement of 33 Raptor engines will be available for purchase.
A month after an engine spin start test resulted in a small explosion on the launch pad, a single-engine test firing of the BN 7 took place. The launch stand would be returning to it's previous location next week, according to Musk. The fact that the booster is stacked and sitting on the launch pad together suggests that the FCC is waiting for the launch license to be granted.
It is possible that Musk will conduct another round of static fire tests to see how the vehicle will hold up during launch. The last time that the Super Heavy and the Starship were on the same launch pad was in July of this year. It seems likely that the test results are positive and that the company is ready for its Orbital Test Flight.
The Orbital Test Flight will consist of the B7 and the SN 24 and will take about 170 seconds to reach its destination. The booster element will make a soft landing at the sea near the Texas shoreline. After reaching a maximum altitude of 200 km, the SN 24 will make a soft landing off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. If successful, the total flight time will be about 90 minutes and will confirm the launch system for a number of missions.
The Artemis III mission includes the deployment of Starlink V2.0 satellites into Low Earth Orbit, the landing of astronauts near the lunar south pole, and transporting crew and equipment to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations. When the Starship gets to make its first flight to space, things are going well.
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