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]
| Mission type | Flight test |
|---|---|
| Operator | SpaceX |
| Mission duration | 1 hour, 5 minutes, 48 seconds (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Starship S29, Super Heavy B11 |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | NET June 5, 2024[1] |
| Rocket | Starship |
| Launch site | Starbase |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
SpaceX Starship flights | |
SpaceX expects to perform the flight test on June 5th, pending regulatory approval.
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.[4]
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 began. The FAA stated that a license modification may be needed to incorporate corrective actions and meet other requirements.[5] A completed license modification is required for a launch license to be granted for IFT-4.[6] The communications license necessary for flight 4 was granted by the Federal Communications Commission on April 18.[7] In late April, a NASA official confirmed SpaceX remained on track for the fourth test flight to occur in May 2024.[8] 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.[9] On May 17, 2024, 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.[10] A road closure was declared for June 1st and 2nd, a indicator for the test flight.[11] However, SpaceX confirmed that IFT-4 was NET June 5 just three days later.[12]
Vehicle testing ahead of launch edit
After IFT-3, Ship 29 was lifted onto Suborbital Pad B for 2 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 propellent load test on May 16.[17] Full Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) occurred on May 20.[18] On the 26th of May S29 was lifted back onto B11 after a destack on the 21st of May.[19] on the 27th of May SpaceX performed several pad system tests of the Detonation Supression System and the Water Cooled Steel Plate.
Flight profile edit
According to the NASA Human Landing Systems Program Manager, the flight profile for Flight 4 will match Flight 3, but without the propellant transfer demonstration, payload bay door demonstration, or Raptor relight demo. Unlike previous test flights, the ship will attempt a powered soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, rather than a hard splashdown.[20]
| Time | Event | June 5, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| −01:15:00 | SpaceX Flight Director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading | — |
| −00:49:00 | Starship oxidizer loading (liquid oxygen) underway | — |
| −00:47:00 | Starship fuel loading (liquid methane) underway | — |
| −00:40:00 | Super Heavy oxidizer loading (liquid oxygen) underway | — |
| −00:37:00 | 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 | — |
| 00:01:02 | Max q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) | — |
| 00:02:41 | Booster most engines cutoff (MECO) | — |
| 00:02:44 | Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging) | — |
| 00:02:49 | Booster boostback burn startup | — |
| 00:03:52 | Booster boostback burn shutdown | — |
| 00:03:55 | Hot-Stage Jettison | — |
| 00:06:39 | Booster is transonic | — |
| 00:06:43 | Booster landing burn startup | — |
| 00:07:04 | Booster landing burn shutdown | — |
| 00:08:23 | Starship engine cutoff (SECO) | — |
| 00:47:25 | Starship entry | — |
| 01:03:11 | Starship is transonic | — |
| 01:04:01 | Starship is subsonic | — |
| 01:05:38 | Starship Landing Flip | — |
| 01:05:43 | Starship Landing Burn | — |
| 01:05:48 | Starship splashdown | — |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "STARSHIP'S FOURTH FLIGHT TEST". SpaceX. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Davenport, Justin (April 19, 2024). "As IFT-4 prepares for launch, Starship's future is coming into focus". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "FAA Statements on Aviation Accidents and Incidents". FAA. March 14, 2024. March 14, 2024, Commercial Space / Boca Chica, Texas. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ "Marcia Smith on X: "At media bfg at Space Symp now, FAA/AST's..."". X. April 10, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ "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".
- ^ Beil, Adrian (April 28, 2024). "NASA Updates on Starship Refueling, as SpaceX Prepares Flight 4 of Starship". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Bergin, Chris (April 6, 2024). "Some interesting notes". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ Beil, Adrian (May 17, 2024). "Statement of FAA provided to @NASASpaceflight about SpaceX led investigation". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "STARSHIP'S FOURTH FLIGHT TEST". SpaceX.com. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Weber, Ryan (May 5, 2024). "Ship 30 set to Static Fire next week as Flight 4 Preparations Continue". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ SpaceX Rolls Out Booster 11 for Fourth Starship Flight Test Campaign. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ SpaceX Rolls Out Ship 29 for Fourth Starship Flight Test Campaign. Retrieved May 13, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ NASASpaceflight (May 15, 2024). Fullstack: SpaceX Stacks Ship 29 on Booster 11. Retrieved May 15, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ SpaceX Tests the Full Stack of the Fourth Starship Flight Test. Retrieved May 16, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ NASASpaceflight (May 20, 2024). SpaceX Performs Wet Dress Rehearsal of Fourth Starship Flight Stack. Retrieved May 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved May 26, 2024. Starship Flight 4 Full stack
- ^ Clark, Stephen (May 21, 2024). "Surviving reentry is the key goal for SpaceX's fourth Starship test flight". Ars Technica. Retrieved May 22, 2024.