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 |
Orbital parameters | |
Regime | Suborbital (planned) [1] |
SpaceX Starship flights |
The 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 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]
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 concluded the investigation on May 28, deeming it non-dangerous for the public. [5] The FAA stated that a license modification may be needed to incorporate corrective actions and meet other requirements. [6] A completed license modification is 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 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] On May 21, a road closure was posted for June 1st and 2nd, an indicator for the test flight. [12] However, SpaceX confirmed that IFT-4 was NET June 5 just three days later. [13] On May 28, the FAA determined that the IFT-3 mishap did not threaten public safety, [14] which does not constitute approval for launch. [14]
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. [15] B11 returned to the launch site on May 11, [16] while S29 returned to the launch site on May 12. [17] S29 was lifted onto B11 on May 15, [18] followed by a partial propellent load test on May 16. [19] Full Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) occurred on May 20. [20] On the 26th of May S29 was lifted back onto B11 after a destack on the 21st of May. [21] On the 28th of May SpaceX performed a send wet dress rehearsal of S29 and B11 this was followed by a destack. [22] On the 30th of May SpaceX installed the flight termination system (FTS or AFSS) on B11 and S29. [23]
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 using a landing burn, rather than a hard splashdown. [24] Another change will be the jettisoning of the Super Heavy's hot-staging ring to reduce mass during its descent, culminating in a powered splashdown. [13]
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 | — |
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