SpaceX is adjusting its Starship plans to expedite development, after the first prototype vehicles \u2013 designated Mk1 and Mk2 \u2013 proved not to be flightworthy. The company now wants to build the improved Mk3 prototype as quickly as possible, with the hope that it will be able to perform the first Starship flight.\n<\/p>\n
As late as November, SpaceX had been working towards a flight of the Mk1 vehicle to an altitude of approximately 20 kilometers from Boca Chica, Texas. However, the vehicle was eventually deemed not to be flightworthy.<\/p>\n
At the time, SpaceX had two competing Starship teams in Cocoa, Fla., and Boca Chica, Texas, respectively. The competition was originally meant to determine which location was better suited for Starship development.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Florida-based team was building a vehicle similar to Mk1, called Mk2. With the pathfinder nature of both vehicles, SpaceX eventually realized that in order to perform the first flight, they were going to need a more robust vehicle, built with lessons learned from the first two prototypes.<\/p>\n
The new vehicle, called Mk3, is already undergoing construction in Boca Chica. It is being built by a unified team, with many of the Florida-based crew members moving to Texas. By building Mk3 with a combined team, SpaceX believes that they can reach the first flight faster.<\/p>\n
Consequently, most Starship operations in Florida are currently on hold. Activity at SpaceX\u2019s Cocoa site has ground to a halt for the past several days. Some progress continues to be made to modify Pad 39A at the nearby Kennedy Space Center to support Starship launches, but for how long this will continue remains to be seen.<\/p>\n
The first signs of collaboration between Florida and Texas-based teams were seen on Nov. 30, when a Starship bulkhead and other equipment was shipped on to the vessel GO Discovery at Port Canaveral, a short drive from SpaceX\u2019s Cocoa facility in Florida.<\/p>\n
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