Latest at Starbase with LabPadre: August 21

STARBASE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Flight 10's expected launch date is approaching, so let's take a deeper dive into some of the changes SpaceX is making to ensure the next launch and future launches are more successful.

In other starship news, SpaceX shared pictures of the first grid fin for the heavy booster's future generation. These are about one and a half times larger than the current grid fins and are designed to be stronger.

There will only be three of those per booster, allowing the rockets to descend at a steeper angle while still maintaining control.

SpaceX also says that these fins are moving down the booster with the actuator and associated hardware now at the top of the methane tank.

A catch point has also been added to the new fins, allowing them to be used for lifting and catching.

As the saying goes, the best part is no part, and SpaceX is removing the dedicated lifting points and integrating the function into the grid fins.

Following the news on Friday that the FAA had completed its investigation into flight nine and that flight 10 was now approved.

SpaceX released a new update on the previous test flight. While the first flight of a reused booster performed well through most stages of the launch and return, the booster did experience an anomaly shortly after starting its landing burn.

This was presumably caused by a failure of the methane downcomer due to the high-angle-of-attack experiment.

SpaceX says that they will be using a lower angle from the remaining flights of block two boosters, implying that the block three downcomer will be more robust and not need this concession.

SpaceX also gave an update on the rapid unscheduled disassembly of ship 36, tracing its demise to the damage of a composite overwrapped pressure vessel, which led to its failure.

SpaceX has adjusted its testing qualification, installation, and operating procedures for copvs moving forward to address this issue.

Its plan for the upcoming flight 10 was also released, which is currently slated to launch next Sunday, at 6:30 p.m. Central time.

On this flight booster, 16 will not return to the launch site for a catch but will instead attempt multiple landing burn tests.

This includes the intentional failed start of one of the center three Raptors to observe how the vehicle is able to compensate with an engine from the middle ring of 10.

The rocket will then attempt the final phase of the burn on two center engines before entering a full hover above the Gulf before splashing down.

Much of the ship's flight profile appears the same as previous tests, including the deployment of dummy Starlink satellites and an in-space single-engine burn.

SpaceX also plans to stress the tests of the vehicle as much as possible during re-entry to gain as much data as possible, as they look towards catching a ship in the future.

One thing is certain: excitement is always guaranteed with starship flights. So make sure to tune in here next week for the launch.

Stay tuned to LabPadre for continued live coverage and other detailed Starbase content. Visit the LabPadre YouTube channel or LabPadre.com.