In between Starlink launches, SpaceX put in its model new Crew Entry Arm on the just lately constructed Crew Launch Tower at Area Launch Complicated 40.
To assist with its ever-increasing launch cadence, SpaceX constructed a brand new Crew Launch Tower at Area Launch Complicated 40 in Florida to take strain off Launch Complicated 39A, which is at present the one launch pad in the USA actively launching astronauts into orbit.
Final nights Starlink launch following set up of the model new Crew Entry Arm (Credit score SpaceX)
Even whereas below building, it nonetheless hasn’t slowed the tempo of missions from SLC 40 with it being the world’s busiest launch website. Final evening’s launch introduced the yearly complete to 46 launches from this pad alone.
Initially, the primary missions to benefit from this new infrastructure have been going to be resupply missions to the Worldwide Area Station, however wanting on the upcoming launch manifest for LC-39A, the schedule is pretty busy with CRS 29 launching as quickly as this Thursday adopted by a Falcon Heavy mission early to mid-December which is a decent turnaround time to change the pad configuration from Falcon 9 to Falcon Heavy and again.
The Falcon Heavy launch might be adopted up by a lunar mission NET January 12, 2024. The mission, Intuitive Machines lunar lander Nova C, will want a novel functionality solely obtainable at LC-39A which SpaceX just lately made upgrades to permit the fueling of liquid methane to the payload to make sure the lander has loads of gasoline for its journey to the Moon.
With the log jam at LC-39A, SpaceX is probably going to make use of SLC-40 for the Axiom 3 mission which can be scheduled for early January 2024 and it will make it the primary crewed launch from Cape Canaveral Area Pressure Station in over 5 many years when it was then often known as Cape Kennedy.
These further capabilities might be obligatory for SpaceX to assist them obtain their goal of over 100 launches in 2024.
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