SpaceX’s Second Gen Starship’s First Test Hints At Major Fuel Capacity Upgrade

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As it works towards Starship Flight 6, SpaceX is also testing its next generation Starship upper stage at Boca Chica, Texas. The second generation Starship upper stage features upgrades to avoid fin damage during atmospheric reentry, and footage from local media covering SpaceX's facilities shows that it might also feature larger propellant tanks.

Since the Starship Super Heavy booster and the upper stage ship are made of steel, their propellant levels are visible outside in the form of frost once the tanks are filled. These levels are key indicators of pre flight preparations, and in the case of the second generation Starship upper stage, they also hint at larger tanks in the newer rocket.

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SpaceX Tests & Ships New Starship Second Stage Back To Production Site

SpaceX's second-generation upper stage Starship first surfaced late last month with an upgraded forward fin design. These fins are located on the top of the ship and are responsible for maneuvering it as it enters the Earth's atmosphere. During reentry, the ship experiences considerable heat, and during Starship's fifth and fourth flight tests, the forward fins caught fire.

To mitigate this, SpaceX has redesigned Starship so that the fins face away from the atmosphere during reentry. This design change is clearly visible on fresh images of the upper stage Starship spacecraft. SpaceX rolled out Starship to its testing facilities late last month and then tested the ship's tanks by filling them with cryogenic fuel.

These pressurization tests, are key to evaluating a rocket's internal structure and ensuring it can handle high pressure propellants. The tests are typically carried out before a launch attempt, but for the new Starship, it appears that SpaceX is evaluating the new rocket post