BLUF

SpaceX is trialling a new water deluge system for Starship, designed to minimise damage to the launch pad during liftoff. This initiative follows a previous launch that caused significant damage due to the absence of such a system.

Summary

KEY POINTS:
  1. The system can spray 350,000 gallons of water during ignition.
  2. Water absorbs energy from the rocket, vaporized by engine heat.
  3. April launch scorched the launch pad, and scattered debris widely.
  4. FAA facing lawsuit for allowing launch without deluge system.
  5. SpaceX under NASA contracts to use Starship for lunar missions.
READ: SpaceX Tests Starship Water Deluge System That It Should’ve Built in the First Place

References