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SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 4

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Starship IFT-4
NamesIntegrated Flight Test-4
Mission typeFlight test
OperatorSpaceX
Mission duration1 hour, 6 minutes, 10 seconds
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftStarship Ship 29
Spacecraft typeSpaceX Starship
ManufacturerSpaceX
Start of mission
Launch dateJune 6, 2024, 12:50:00 UTC (7:50 am CDT)[1]
RocketSpaceX Super Heavy Booster 11
Launch siteStarbase
End of mission
DestroyedJune 6, 2024, 13:56:10 UTC (7:50 am CDT)[1]
Orbital parameters
RegimeSuborbital[2]
Periapsis altitude-50 km
Apoapsis altitude234 km
Inclination26.5°
← IFT-3
IFT-5 →
 

The SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 4 (IFT-4) was the fourth integrated flight test of a prototype Starship launch vehicle, the world's most powerful rocket.[3] The prototype vehicles flown were the Starship Ship 29 upper-stage and Super Heavy Booster 11.[4][5] SpaceX performed the flight test on June 6, 2024.

The main test objectives of this flight, both of which were accomplished, were for the Super Heavy booster to simulate a landing at a "virtual tower" just above the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, and for Starship to survive at least peak heating during atmospheric re-entry.[6]

This marks the first integrated test flight where both Starship and Super Heavy successfully reentered and splashed down.

Background[edit]

Further information: SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 3 § Aftermath

Development prior to launch[edit]

The third test flight (IFT-3) in March 2024 attained full duration burns of both the Super Heavy booster and Starship and the ship attained orbital velocity, but the flight testing continued to additional objectives as SpaceX is also developing the technology to return both vehicles through the atmosphere. The late stages of the flight, during atmospheric return, resulted in the destruction of the booster and the spacecraft and a SpaceX-led mishap investigation, overseen by the FAA, was initiated. The FAA concluded the investigation on May 28, deeming it non-dangerous for the public.[7] The FAA stated that a license modification might be needed to incorporate corrective actions and meet other requirements.[8] A completed license modification is required for a launch license to be granted for IFT-4.[9] The communications license necessary for Flight 4 was granted by the FCC on April 18.[10] In late April, a NASA official confirmed SpaceX remained on track for the fourth test flight to occur in May 2024.[11]

SpaceX aims to attempt a booster landing with the tower arms as soon as IFT-5 if the booster virtual landing is successful during IFT-4.[12] On May 17, SpaceX asked that the FAA make a public safety determination regarding the IFT-3 mishap event, which would allow SpaceX to launch the test flight while the mishap investigation is in progress if determined there was no public safety danger.[13] On May 21, a road closure was posted for June 1 and 2, indicating a potential test flight.[14] On May 28, the FAA determined that the IFT-3 mishap did not threaten public safety,[15] which does not constitute approval for launch.[15]

IFT-4 was initially scheduled to launch on June 5, but was pushed back a day to June 6.[16] SpaceX received approval to launch by the FAA on June 4.[17] Additionally, the FAA listed three outcomes that would not trigger a mishap-investigation: the ship burning up in entry, the flaps not having sufficient control, and the Raptor 2 engines failing to relight for landing.[18]

Vehicle testing ahead of launch[edit]

See also: SpaceX Super Heavy § B9-B12, and SpaceX Starship (spacecraft) § Ship 28 – Ship 32

After IFT-3, Ship 29 was lifted onto Suborbital Pad B for two static fire tests in late March 2024, and was later returned to the High Bay for pre-flight modifications. Booster 11 conducted a 33-engine static-fire on Orbital Launch Mount A on April 5, and was then rolled back to Mega Bay 1 for modifications. Booster 11's hot-staging ring was installed in early May.[19] B11 was brought back to the launch site on May 11,[20] while S29 was returned to the launch site on May 12.[21] S29 was lifted onto B11 on May 15,[22] followed by a partial propellant load test on May 16.[23] Full Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) occurred on May 20.[24] On May 26, S29 was lifted back onto B11 after a destack on May 21.[25] On May 28, SpaceX performed a second wet dress rehearsal of S29 and B11, followed by another destack.[26] On May 30, SpaceX installed the flight termination system (FTS or AFSS) on B11 and S29.[27] On June 1, S29 was stacked on top of B11 again. According to SpaceX, two TPS tiles were intentionally omitted, and one was replaced with a thinner tile intentionally. This was to test how the loss of tiles would affect the ship. [28]

Flight profile[edit]

IFT-4’s mission profile mirrored that of IFT-3, with the exception of the propellant transfer demonstration, the payload bay door demonstration, and the Raptor engine relight demonstration.

One of the 33 Raptor engines on Booster 11 failed to light during the initial burn, as did one of the thirteen used for the landing burn. Neither engine failure affected the outcome of the flight as SpaceX has designed in redundancy with its multiple-engine design. To reduce mass during descent, SpaceX is using a temporary design change on this test flight to jettison the booster hot-staging ring.[29][non-primary source needed] Longer term, SpaceX intends to redesign the hot-staging ring for lighter weight and tight integration with the booster, which will then not be jettisoned.

B11 successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, in what SpaceX confirmed was a soft landing.[30]

After completing the engine burn to an orbital energy trajectory, Ship 29 successfully re-entered the atmosphere, maintaining attitude control despite significant visible damage to the structure and loss of some number of heat shield tiles. S29 accomplished a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean following the hypersonic velocity descent through the atmosphere.[3]

Flight timeline[2]
Time Event June 6, 2024
−01:15:00 SpaceX Flight Director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading Success
−00:49:00 Starship fuel loading (liquid methane) underway Success
−00:47:00 Starship oxidizer loading (liquid oxygen) underway Success
−00:40:00 Super Heavy fuel loading (liquid methane) underway Success
−00:37:00 Super Heavy oxidizer loading (liquid oxygen) underway Success
−00:19:40 Booster engine chill Success
−00:03:30 Booster propellant load complete Success
−00:02:50 Ship propellant load complete Success
−00:00:30 SpaceX flight director verifies GO for launch Success
−00:00:10 Flame deflector activation Success
−00:00:03 Booster engine ignition 32 of 33 engines lit
00:00:02 Liftoff Success
00:01:02 Max q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) Success
00:02:41 Booster most engines cutoff (MECO) Success
00:02:44 Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging) Success
00:02:49 Booster boostback burn startup Success
00:03:52 Booster boostback burn shutdown Success
00:03:55 Hot-stage jettison Success
00:06:39 Booster is transonic Success
00:06:43 Booster landing burn startup 12 of 13 engines lit
00:07:04 Booster landing burn shutdown Success
00:08:23 Starship engine cutoff (SECO) Success
00:47:25 Starship entry Structure damaged on entry
01:03:11 Starship is transonic Success
01:04:01 Starship is subsonic Success
01:05:38 Starship landing flip Success
01:05:43 Starship landing burn Success
01:05:48 Starship splashdown Success

Aftermath[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "STARSHIP'S FOURTH FLIGHT TEST". SpaceX. June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "STARSHIP'S FOURTH FLIGHT TEST". SpaceX. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Harwood, William (June 6, 2024). "SpaceX's Super Heavy-Starship rocket launches on "epic" test flight". CBS News. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  4. ^ "SpaceX Revving Up for Starship Flight 3: | Starbase Update". NASASpaceFlight. January 29, 2024. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Bergin, Chris [@NASASpaceflight] (March 7, 2024). "We are live with testing of Ship 29, which is the upper stage of the fourth Starship Flight Test" (Tweet). Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Davenport, Justin (April 19, 2024). "As IFT-4 prepares for launch, Starship's future is coming into focus". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Bell, Adrian (May 30, 2024). "As SpaceX Completes Second Starship WDR, FAA Closes Safety Investigation Into Flight 3". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "FAA Statements on Aviation Accidents and Incidents". FAA. March 14, 2024. March 14, 2024, Commercial Space / Boca Chica, Texas. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  9. ^ "Marcia Smith on X: "At media bfg at Space Symp now, FAA/AST's..."". X. April 10, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  10. ^ "License granted: Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Dates: 04/25/2024-10/25/2024 Purpose: Launch vehicle communications for test flight mission launching from Starbase, TX".
  11. ^ Beil, Adrian (April 28, 2024). "NASA Updates on Starship Refueling, as SpaceX Prepares Flight 4 of Starship". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  12. ^ Bergin, Chris (April 6, 2024). "Some interesting notes". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  13. ^ Beil, Adrian (May 17, 2024). "Statement of FAA provided to @NASASpaceflight about SpaceX led investigation". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  14. ^ "Primary Date: Possible Closure June 1 , 2024 from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm". X (formerly Twitter). May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Beil, Adrian (May 28, 2024). "Statement by the FAA provided to @NASASpaceflight". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Wall, Mike (June 3, 2024). "SpaceX targeting June 6 for next launch of Starship megarocket". Space.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  17. ^ "VOL 23_129 SpaceX Starship Super Heavy rev 3.pdf". drs.faa.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  18. ^ Clark, Stephen (June 5, 2024). "We know Starship can fly—now it's time to see if it can come back to Earth". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  19. ^ Weber, Ryan (May 5, 2024). "Ship 30 set to Static Fire next week as Flight 4 Preparations Continue". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  20. ^ SpaceX Rolls Out Booster 11 for Fourth Starship Flight Test Campaign. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  21. ^ SpaceX Rolls Out Ship 29 for Fourth Starship Flight Test Campaign. Retrieved May 13, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  22. ^ NASASpaceflight (May 15, 2024). Fullstack: SpaceX Stacks Ship 29 on Booster 11. Retrieved May 15, 2024 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ SpaceX Tests the Full Stack of the Fourth Starship Flight Test. Retrieved May 16, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  24. ^ NASASpaceflight (May 20, 2024). SpaceX Performs Wet Dress Rehearsal of Fourth Starship Flight Stack. Retrieved May 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved May 26, 2024. Starship Flight 4 Full stack
  26. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  27. ^ Starship Gazer (May 30, 2024). "FTS (Flight Termination System) explosives are being installed on both Ship 29 and Booster 11 this morning for the upcoming Starship test flight 4. Very exciting pre-launch milestone!". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  28. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  29. ^ "STARSHIP'S FOURTH FLIGHT TEST". SpaceX.com. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  30. ^ SPACE.com, Mike Wall. "SpaceX Starship Blasts through Plasma on Return from Ambitious Test Flight". Scientific American. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
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