On April 20, Starship took off for the first time in its complete configuration from the base of Boca Chica, in the state of Texas (south). But on this occasion several engines did not work and the SpaceX teams deliberately blew up the rocket after a few minutes of flight.
The FAA then opened a safety investigation, which concluded at the end of October. It has not yet completed its environmental investigation, carried out in collaboration with federal authorities.
The first takeoff had generated a cloud of dust several kilometers northwest of the launch pad, which itself was heavily damaged. Chunks of concrete had been catapulted with the power of the engines.
SpaceX then announced 63 fixes for its second attempt that include “redesigns of the vehicle’s hardware to prevent leaks and fires” and also the “redesign of the launch pad to increase its robustness.”
In addition, a water “deluge” system was installed and tested with showers that are discharged when the engines are started in order to attenuate acoustic waves and limit counterproductive vibrations.