Starship: When will SpaceX's next 'chopstick' test flight go ahead?
- by New Scientist
- Oct 11, 2024
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SpaceX
SpaceX has had a Starship ready and waiting for its fifth test flight since August, and now the company claims that it could launch as soon as this weekend.
What is Starship?
Starship is the most powerful rocket ever to fly. SpaceX aims to develop it into a rapidly reusable vehicle that can take large payloads into orbit, land back on Earth and launch another mission within hours. The company has been taking a “fail fast” approach to research and development more commonly seen in Silicon Valley than the conservative world of space exploration.
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But the FAA does not work on the time scales that SpaceX is pushing for. It wants SpaceX to conduct an investigation of each launch, suggest remedies for any failures and comply with strict licensing requirements ahead of each subsequent attempt. In essence, the tension stems from a speedy startup-like operation rubbing against a conservative, risk-averse government body.
The FAA has previously stated that SpaceX has not properly carried out an analysis of the effect of the sonic booms caused by launches; that it has polluted the environment with its water deluge system designed to counter Starship’s powerful rocket exhaust; and failed to get all the appropriate permits. In response, SpaceX founder Elon Musk threatened to sue the FAA.
What happened during previous Starship launches?
Test flight 1 on 20 April 2023 saw three of the first stage’s 33 engines fail to ignite. Several more subsequently failed during the flight. The rocket then span out of control, causing its self-destruct feature to kick in.
Test flight 2 on 18 November 2023 got further, gaining enough altitude that the first and second stages separated as planned. But as the first stage rotated to begin its slowdown and landing procedure, it exploded. The second stage successfully continued to an altitude of about 149 kilometres, passing the Kármán line that marks the beginning of space. However, a safeguard feature destroyed it when it stopped sending data, before it had a chance to complete an orbit or make its way back to Earth.
Test flight 3 on 14 March 2024 was at least a partial success as it reached space, carried out fuel transfer tests and travelled further and faster than ever before. But the craft failed to make its scheduled soft landing after losing attitude control mid-flight.
Test flight 4 on 6 June this year was the most successful so far, with Starship reaching orbit at an altitude of over 200 kilometres and travelling at more than 27,000 kilometres per hour. Both the booster and upper stage completed soft splashdowns in the ocean. There were dramatic scenes when Starship re-entered Earth’s orbit, as the vast temperatures caused the skin of one of its control fins to burn away – something the company says it has fixed with new heat-resistant tile designs.
What's the weather in space?
Suzie Imber will explain how activity on the sun can drive auroras on Earth and the other planets in our solar system in her talk on 13 October.
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