SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 4

Last updated

Starship IFT-4
NamesIntegrated Flight Test-4
Mission type Flight test
Operator SpaceX
Mission duration1 hour, 6 minutes, 10 seconds
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft Starship Ship 29
Spacecraft type SpaceX Starship
ManufacturerSpaceX
Start of mission
Launch dateJune 6, 2024, 12:50:00 UTC (7:50 am CDT) [1]
Rocket SpaceX Super Heavy Booster 11
Launch site Starbase
End of mission
DestroyedJune 6, 2024, 13:56:10 UTC (08:56:10 am CDT) [1]
Orbital parameters
Regime Suborbital [2]
Periapsis altitude -10 km [3] [ disputed – discuss ]
Apoapsis altitude 213 km [4]
Inclination 26.8° [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. [6] The prototype vehicles flown were the Starship Ship 29 upper-stage and Super Heavy Booster 11. [7] [8] SpaceX performed the flight test on June 6, 2024.

Contents

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. [9]

This marks the first integrated test flight where both Starship and Super Heavy successfully reentered and performed a simulated powered vertical landing in the ocean.

Background

Development prior to launch

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. [10] The FAA stated that a license modification might be needed to incorporate corrective actions and meet other requirements. [11] A completed license modification is required for a launch license to be granted for IFT-4. [12] The communications license necessary for Flight 4 was granted by the FCC on April 18. [13] In late April, a NASA official confirmed SpaceX remained on track for the fourth test flight to occur in May 2024. [14]

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. [15] 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. [16] On May 21, a road closure was posted for June 1 and 2, indicating a potential test flight. [17] On May 28, the FAA determined that the IFT-3 mishap did not threaten public safety, [18] which does not constitute approval for launch. [18]

IFT-4 was initially scheduled to launch on June 5, but was pushed back a day to June 6. [19] SpaceX received approval to launch by the FAA on June 4. [20] 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. [21]

Vehicle testing ahead of launch

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. [22] B11 was brought back to the launch site on May 11, [23] while S29 was returned to the launch site on May 12. [24] S29 was lifted onto B11 on May 15, [25] followed by a partial propellant load test on May 16. [26] Full Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) occurred on May 20. [27] On May 26, S29 was lifted back onto B11 after a destack on May 21. [28] On May 28, SpaceX performed a second wet dress rehearsal of S29 and B11, followed by another destack. [29] On May 30, SpaceX installed the flight termination system (FTS or AFSS) on B11 and S29. [30] 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. [31]

Flight profile

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. [32] [ 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 simulated a powered vertical landing over the Gulf of Mexico, finally splashing down into the ocean. [33]

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. Following the hypersonic velocity descent through the atmosphere, S29 performed a simulated powered vertical landing above the ocean before splashing into the Indian Ocean. [6] Elon Musk said that the ship maintained subsonic control but landed approximately 6km away from the target splashdown location. [34]

Flight timeline [2]
TimeEventJune 6, 2024
−01:15:00SpaceX Flight Director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loadingSuccess
−00:49:00Starship fuel loading (liquid methane) underwaySuccess
−00:47:00Starship oxidizer loading (liquid oxygen) underwaySuccess
−00:40:00Super Heavy fuel loading (liquid methane) underwaySuccess
−00:37:00Super Heavy oxidizer loading (liquid oxygen) underwaySuccess
−00:19:40Booster engine chillSuccess
−00:03:30Booster propellant load completeSuccess
−00:02:50Ship propellant load completeSuccess
−00:00:30SpaceX flight director verifies GO for launchSuccess
−00:00:10Flame deflector activationSuccess
−00:00:03Booster engine ignition33 engines ignited with 1 shutting down at T+00:00:03
00:00:02LiftoffSuccess
00:01:02 Max q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)Success
00:02:46Booster most engines cutoff (MECO)Success
00:02:51Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging)Success
00:02:57Booster boostback burn startupSuccess
00:03:47Booster boostback burn shutdownSuccess
00:04:04Hot-stage jettisonSuccess
00:07:04Booster is transonic Success
00:07:09Booster landing burn startup12 of 13 engines ignited [35]
00:07:30Booster landing burn shutdown and splashdown Success
00:08:37Starship engine cutoff (SECO)Success
00:44:54Starship entryVehicle damaged on re-entry
01:03:17Starship is transonicSuccess
01:03:38Starship is subsonicSuccess
01:05:36Starship landing flipSuccess
01:05:39Starship landing burnSuccess
01:05:56Starship splashdown Success

Aftermath

The flight was hailed as a success and marked the first time the Super Heavy booster and Ship achieved controlled splashdowns. An FAA clause for Flight 4, which would allow SpaceX to continue with additional flights of the same profile without a mishap investigation as long as no public safety issues occurred was upheld as the flight did not violate any of the three exceptions. [36] [37]

See also

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References

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