SpaceX, the pioneering private space company founded by Elon Musk, is gearing up for its fourth Starship test flight, known as IFT-4 (Integrated Flight Test 4). Starship, the world's largest rocket, has captured global attention due to its ambitious goals: flying humans to Mars and assisting NASA in landing astronauts on the Moon. With its rapid prototyping approach, SpaceX has made Starship one of the most intriguing rocket development programs.
IFT-4 candidates Ship 29 and Booster 11 went through launch rehearsal Pic credit: SpaceX
The Journey So Far
Starship's development journey has been marked by rigorous testing and iterative improvements. SpaceX's commitment to reusability is a driving force behind its design choices. Here are the key highlights leading up to IFT-4:
Super Heavy Lift Vehicle: SpaceX aims to revolutionize space travel by creating a fully reusable launch system. Starship, paired with its booster stage called Super Heavy, will be capable of carrying heavy payloads to orbit and beyond. Super Heavy is the world's first second stage rocket designed for propulsive recovery and reuse.
IFT-3 and Reusability Emphasis: SpaceX's Starship program took a significant leap forward with the successful completion of Flight 3. Despite encountering some challenges, the test provided valuable insights and paved the way for future advancements.
Real-time data transmission via Starlink terminals marked a major achievement during the flight. However, telemetry was lost at 65 kilometres altitude, approximately 49 minutes into the mission. Investigation revealed clogged roll control valves as the likely cause of the unplanned roll.
SpaceX has since implemented upgrades, including additional roll control thrusters and enhanced hardware resilience. The FAA, NASA, and NTSB oversaw the investigation, which concluded that during Flight 3, neither vehicle’s automated flight safety system was triggered, nor vehicle debris impacted outside of pre-defined hazard areas. Pending FAA finding of no public safety impact, a license modification for the next flight can be issued without formal closure of the mishap investigation..
Side by side comparisons of IFT-3 and IFT-4 timelines.
Hot Fire Interstage Jettison: The IFT-4 mission will include a crucial maneuver: jettisoning the Starship hot fire interstage. This ring, equipped with a heat shield base, sits atop the Super Heavy booster. It protects the booster from the intense heat generated by the second stage engines during separation. Its successful jettison is essential for safe re-entry due to mass penalties.
Success Criteria for IFT-4: SpaceX defines success for IFT-4 as Super Heavy executing a precise landing burn followed by a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Learning from IFT-3's hard splashdown, SpaceX aims to demonstrate controlled descent and simulated landing capabilities above water.
The Countdown to IFT-4
SpaceX needs to obtain launch approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before proceeding with IFT-4. The approval process might be accelerated if the FAA determines that the launch poses no risk to the public. According to SpaceX's website, the flight path of IFT-4 prioritizes public safety while ensuring controlled reentry.
The launch window for IFT-4 is scheduled to open on June 5th at 7 a.m. local time in Texas. To prepare for the launch, SpaceX has conducted a battery of tests on the IFT-4 Starship's engines and fuel systems through static fires and full dress rehearsals.
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