SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 4

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Starship integrated flight test 4
Mission typeFlight test
OperatorSpaceX
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftStarship S29, Super Heavy B11
Start of mission
Launch dateNET June 1, 2024[1]
RocketStarship
Launch siteStarbase
ContractorSpaceX
← IFT-3
IFT-5 →
 

SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 4 (IFT-4) will be the fourth integrated flight test of a prototype Starship launch vehicle. The prototype vehicles planned to be flown are the Ship 29 upper-stage and Booster 11.[2][3]

SpaceX is expecting to perform the flight test in late May or early June 2024.[4]

The main test objectives of this flight are 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 peak heating during atmospheric re-entry.[5]

Background[edit]

Development prior to launch[edit]

After the third test flight (IFT-3) in March 2024 ended in the destruction of the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft, a SpaceX-led mishap investigation overseen by the FAA was triggered. The FAA stated that a license modification may be needed to incorporate corrective actions and meet other requirements.[6] Both approval of SpaceX's final report on the investigation and a completed license modification are required for a launch license to be granted for IFT-4.[7] The communications license necessary for flight 4 was granted by the Federal Communications Commission on April 18.[8] In late April, a NASA official confirmed SpaceX remained on track for the fourth test flight to occur in May 2024.[9] SpaceX aims to attempt a booster landing with the tower arms as soon as IFT-5 if the virtual landing is successful during IFT-4.[10] On May 17, 2024, SpaceX asked that the FAA to 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.[11] A road closure was declared for June 1st and 2nd, a strong indicator for the test flight.[12]

Vehicle testing ahead of launch[edit]

After IFT-3, Ship 29 was lifted onto Suborbital Pad B for 3 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 rolled back to Mega Bay 1 afterwards for modifications. B11's vented interstage was later installed in early May.[13] B11 returned to the launch site on May 11,[14] while S29 returned to the launch site on May 12. [15] S29 was lifted onto B11 on May 15,[16] followed by a partial Wet Dress Rehearsal on May 16.[17]Full WDR occurred on May 20.[18]

Flight profile[edit]

According to the NASA Human Landing Systems Program Manager, the flight profile for Flight 4 will match Flight 3 without prop transfer demo, payload door demo, or raptor in-space relight demo.[19]

Mission timeline[20]
Time Event June 1 2024
−01:15:00 SpaceX Flight Director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading
−00:53:00 Starship oxidizer loading (liquid oxygen) underway
−00:51:00 Starship fuel loading (liquid methane) underway
−00:42:00 Super Heavy oxidizer loading (liquid oxygen) underway
−00:41:00 Super Heavy fuel loading (liquid methane) underway
−00:19:40 Booster engine chill
−00:03:30 Booster propellant load complete
−00:02:50 Ship propellant load complete
−00:00:30 SpaceX flight director verifies GO for launch
−00:00:10 Flame deflector activation
−00:00:03 Booster engine ignition
00:00:02 Liftoff
00:00:52 Max q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:42 Booster most engines cutoff (MECO)
00:02:44 Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging)
00:02:55 Booster boostback burn startup
00:03:50 Booster boostback burn shutdown
00:06:36 Booster is transonic
00:06:46 Booster landing burn startup
00:07:04 Booster landing burn shutdown
00:08:35 Starship engine cutoff (SECO)
00:49:05 Starship entry
01:02:16 Starship is transonic
01:03:04 Starship is subsonic
01:04:39 Starship splashdown

See also[edit]


References[edit]

  1. ^ Salazar, Roberto (May 21, 2024). "Order Closing Boca Chica Beach and State Hwy 4; Saturday, June 1, 2024, with alternative dates of Sunday, June 2 or Monday, June 3 from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m." Cameron County. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Musk, Elon (April 26, 2024). "Tweet by Elon Musk regarding the Matter". X. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  5. ^ Davenport, Justin (April 19, 2024). "As IFT-4 prepares for launch, Starship's future is coming into focus". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "FAA Statements on Aviation Accidents and Incidents". FAA. March 14, 2024. March 14, 2024, Commercial Space / Boca Chica, Texas. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  7. ^ "Marcia Smith on X: "At media bfg at Space Symp now, FAA/AST's..."". X. April 10, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "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".
  9. ^ Beil, Adrian (April 28, 2024). "NASA Updates on Starship Refueling, as SpaceX Prepares Flight 4 of Starship". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Bergin, Chris (April 6, 2024). "Some interesting notes". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Beil, Adrian (May 17, 2024). "Statement of FAA provided to @NASASpaceflight about SpaceX led investigation". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  12. ^ https://x.com/BocaRoad/status/1793034804113346739. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ Weber, Ryan (May 5, 2024). "Ship 30 set to Static Fire next week as Flight 4 Preparations Continue". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  14. ^ SpaceX Rolls Out Booster 11 for Fourth Starship Flight Test Campaign. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  15. ^ SpaceX Rolls Out Ship 29 for Fourth Starship Flight Test Campaign. Retrieved May 13, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  16. ^ NASASpaceflight (May 15, 2024). Fullstack: SpaceX Stacks Ship 29 on Booster 11. Retrieved May 15, 2024 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ SpaceX Tests the Full Stack of the Fourth Starship Flight Test. Retrieved May 16, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  18. ^ NASASpaceflight (May 20, 2024). SpaceX Performs Wet Dress Rehearsal of Fourth Starship Flight Stack. Retrieved May 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ Clark, Stephen (May 21, 2024). "Surviving reentry is the key goal for SpaceX's fourth Starship test flight". Ars Technica. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  20. ^ "Starship's Third Flight Test". SpaceX. Archived from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.