How long do you think it will take SpaceX to repair the launch pad damage and launch Starship again?

[AviatorTom]

Damage to Starship's Launch Pad at Boca Chica Texas

On Thursday 20-Apr-2023, SpaceX launched its massive Starship rocket for the first time, making it the most powerful rocket to ever fly. The launch was a qualified success, although its failure to separate the second stage led to a manual "rapid unscheduled disassembly" just 4 minutes into the flight.

However, the concrete launch pad was severely damaged and and nearby tanks were dented by concrete debris caused by the rocket's 33 Raptor engines, which Elon Musk called "a miscalculation" of the power of all those engines. He further said that the pad will be repaired with a steel plate and water deluge system, which should prevent damage from future launches. He then went on to way that they will launch again in a few months.

We've all seen how much damage was done, and we know that SpaceX is pretty good at doing things quickly. But how soon do you think the launch pad can be repaired and another Starship launched.

1-2 months, like Elon Musk said

3-4 months

5-6 months

by the end of 2023

sometime in 2024

Something else - please tell us

Updates

+1 y

The second launch actually took place on 18-Nov-2024, about 7 months after the first launch.

So, "by the end pf 2023" is ultimately the correct answer. 12% of the voters picked that.

[purplepoppy]

Perhaps if they stopped trying to do things quickly they'd do things right and these things wouldn't happen. I don't buy the "oh it's a risky learning curve " type of excuse. You wouldn't accept new planes blowing up.


.

[exitseven]

Getting a steel plate made and get a few truckloads of ready mix and it will be good as new. 1-2 months probably,

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[AimeeKyle]

It’s a private company (but utilizing government funding)….. so I would double Elon’s initial estimate.

[strateguy632]

.5th

[Christoff92]

1 year assuming