SpaceX achieved another milestone with its Starship fully-reusable launch system. It placed the Starship spacecraft on top of a prototype for its Super Heavy booster. This booster is loaded up to the full extent with 29 Raptor rocket engines and the Starship on the top has six. This spacecraft is now the tallest ever assembled rocket.SpaceX's south Texas development site witnessed this stacking. It is an important development as it marks the first time that the two components of the Starship system have been combined. This configuration will be used to launch the next Starship prototype, which will hopefully reach orbit.The combined height of the combined launch system and the orbital stand on which it rests is nearly 400 feet.Although the stacking is impressive, don't expect it to last. The next step will be for the two halves to be separated once more. Both of these parts will need to undergo further analysis, testing, and work before being reassembled in preparation for eventual orbital launch tests.It is not yet clear when the orbital rocket launch test will take place. Although the disassembly and testing will take time, the company still hopes to have it happen by the end of this year.NASASpaceflight Streams Above
