SpaceX conducted its sixth test flight of the Starship mega-rocket on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, continuing its ambitious efforts to create a fully reusable launch system designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. While the 36-story rocket system successfully launched, plans to catch the Super Heavy booster with the company’s unique "chopstick" arms were abandoned mid-mission due to technical concerns. Despite the setback, the flight achieved critical objectives and provided valuable insights into the performance of both stages of the Starship system.
Credit: SpaceX
Technical Breakdown of Flight 6
Flight 6 featured Booster 13 and Ship 31, launched from Orbital Launch Pad A at 4:00 PM CST. For this mission, SpaceX pushed its 33 Raptor 2 engines to full throttle for the first time, rather than the previous 90% power. This adjustment resulted in a faster ascent, highlighting the increasing efficiency of the system.
Booster 13's Performance
The Super Heavy booster performed flawlessly during the ascent phase, with all 33 engines firing as planned. At stage separation, the booster initiated its boost-back burn in preparation for a controlled return. A critical milestone was reached when the callout “Go for Catch” confirmed SpaceX’s intent to catch the booster with its chopstick arms, mounted on the orbital launch tower.
However, shortly after the boost-back burn, an issue arose with either Booster 13 or the tower systems, prompting SpaceX to divert the booster offshore. The abort led to a soft water landing in the Gulf of Mexico. While the booster successfully splashed down, it tipped over, causing its methane fuel tank to rupture and explode upon contact with the water.
Ship 31's Flight to Space
After separation, Ship 31 ignited its six Raptor engines, achieving orbital velocity. During its coast phase, the spacecraft performed a critical in-space maneuver: a brief relight of a single Sea-Level Raptor engine. This test demonstrated Starship's ability to fire its engines mid-flight, a feature
essential for controlled landings on other celestial bodies or Earth.
Credit: SpaceX
Reentry posed a significant challenge for Ship 31, particularly for its thermal protection system (TPS). Despite utilizing older-style heat shield tiles, the spacecraft survived reentry, albeit with noticeable burn-through damage on its forward flaps, a recurring issue in previous flights. Ship 31 maintained stability and executed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
Progress Through Iteration
The Starship program’s iterative testing approach has been pivotal in advancing the technology. Flight 6 serves as a culmination of lessons learned from previous flights:
Flight 1: Focused on clearing the tower and gathering data on booster performance, though it only reached an altitude of 40 km before failing.
Flight 2: Introduced hot staging, where the upper stage ignites while still attached to the booster, resulting in smoother stage separation. Ship 25, however, was lost before completing its burn.
Flight 3: Saw Booster 10 complete its boost-back burn but fail during landing, while Ship 28 experienced roll control issues and burned up during reentry.
Flight 4: Achieved a near-perfect booster landing but with tip-over and explosion, giving SpaceX the confidence to attempt a catch in Flight 5.
Flight 5: Marked the first successful booster catch using the chopstick arms and improved thermal protection for Ship 30 during reentry.
Significance of Flight 6
Although SpaceX did not attempt to catch Booster 13, Flight 6 tested the limits of Block 1 hardware, paving the way for the upcoming Block 2 designs, starting with Ship 33 and Flight 7. The enhanced version will feature improved TPS, structural reinforcements, and more refined aerodynamics.
The in-space engine relight demonstrated by Ship 31 is a crucial capability for future missions, particularly for lunar landings, where precision burns are required for soft touchdowns. The consistent performance of the Raptor 2 engines also showcased SpaceX’s ability to scale and improve propulsion technology.
SpaceX's ultimate goal is to create the first fully and rapidly reusable rocket system. Unlike the Falcon 9, where only the first stage is reused, Starship aims to recover both stages. The Super Heavy booster is designed to return to the launch site and land using the chopsticks, while the Starship itself is expected to perform controlled landings on solid ground or designated splashdown zones.
Achieving this reusability could reduce launch costs by a factor of ten, enabling more frequent and affordable space missions. This capability is central to CEO Elon Musk's vision of building a self-sustaining city on Mars within the next decade.
President Elect Donald Trump with Elon Musk at Starbase, Texas. Credit: SpaceX
Political and Strategic Implications
Tuesday’s launch attracted political attention, with President-elect Donald Trump attending the event in person. Trump expressed his admiration for the project on Truth Social, signaling potential support for SpaceX under the upcoming administration. Such backing could accelerate regulatory approvals and funding for the Starship program.
Looking Ahead
SpaceX has set its sights on Flight 7, where the upgraded Block 2 hardware will undergo rigorous testing. With the rapid pace of development—this launch occurring just one month after Flight 5—SpaceX remains on track to meet Musk's goal of deploying Starships to Mars within two years.
Tuesday’s flight underscored the iterative nature of innovation, with every test advancing SpaceX closer to its goal of revolutionizing space travel. As Starship edges closer to operational readiness, the world watches as Musk's vision for interplanetary exploration inches toward reality.
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