After the test, SpaceX moved quickly as the Booster was removed from the Orbital Launch Mount just hours later.

 After the test, SpaceX moved quickly as the Booster was removed from the Orbital Launch Mount just hours later.

 It was then moved down Highway 4 and returned to the Production Site for further work and inspection. Should the potentially malfunctioning Raptors need replacement, SpaceX could also perform this replacement here.

Meanwhile, the Hot Staging ring could also see installation in the Mega Bay once the test article has conducted its structural testing at the Masseys test site.

The test article is on the ” Can Crusher device,” which can apply vertical forces onto the ring, just as it would experience during flight. It is installed between a Ship aft section and a Booster forward section to simulate the whole area. At this point, it is unclear if this test article is also the designated section for Booster 9 or if SpaceX might test the ring to fail to fully explore its structural limits before putting another ring on top of Booster 9.

With the Ship Quick Disconnect modification, the connection point to the Ships is now raised by one ring section or approximately two meters. With this modification, SpaceX is locked into raising the Booster by one ring section for the next flight. This is expected to be the hot staging ring. 


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