Starship flight test 1

Last updated

Starship flight test 1
StarshipLaunch (crop 2-3).jpg
Starship vehicle during its first flight
NamesIntegrated Flight Test-1
Mission type Flight test
Operator SpaceX
Mission duration3 minutes, 57 seconds (achieved)
90 minutes (planned)
Orbits completed0
<1 (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftStarship Ship 24
Spacecraft type Starship
ManufacturerSpaceX
Start of mission
Launch date13:33,April 20, 2023 (2023-04-20T13:33)  UTC (8:33 am  CDT) [1]
Rocket Super Heavy (B7)
Launch site Starbase, OLP-A
End of mission
Destroyed13:37,April 20, 2023 (2023-04-20T13:37) UTC (8:37 am CDT)
Orbital parameters
Regime Transatmospheric Earth orbit (planned)[ citation needed ]
Periapsis altitude −6,340 km (−3,940 mi) (achieved) [2]
50 km (31 mi) (planned)
Apoapsis altitude 39 km (24 mi) (achieved)
250 km (160 mi) (planned)
Inclination 26.4° [2]
Starship flight test 1 patch.png
Mission patch
Flight 2  →

Starship flight test 1 was the maiden flight of the integrated SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. SpaceX performed the flight test on April 20, 2023. [3] The prototype vehicle was destroyed less than four minutes after lifting off from the SpaceX Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. [4] The vehicle became the most powerful rocket ever flown, breaking the half-century-old record held by the Soviet Union's N1 rocket. [5] The launch was the first "integrated flight test," meaning it was the first time that both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft flew together as a fully integrated Starship launch vehicle. [6]

Contents

The launch was part of SpaceX's Starship development program, which follows an iterative and incremental approach involving frequent, and often destructive, test flights of prototype vehicles. [7] Before the launch, SpaceX officials said they would measure the mission's success "by how much we can learn" and that various planned mission events "are not required for a successful test". [8] The flight was generally regarded as having furthered Starship's development, and a variety of public officials congratulated SpaceX, including NASA administrator Bill Nelson and European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher. [9] [10]

It was planned for the Starship spacecraft to complete nearly one orbit around the Earth before reentering the atmosphere, performing a controlled landing and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. [11] The Super Heavy booster was to have performed a similar landing in the Gulf of Mexico, about 20 mi (30 km) off the Texas coast about 8 minutes after liftoff. [11]

The rocket lifted off at 13:33  UTC (8:33 am  CDT, local time at the launch site) from SpaceX's private launch site near Boca Chica, Texas. The liftoff damaged the launch pad [12] and its surrounding infrastructure, [13] which SpaceX said was unexpected. [14] Some debris spread into Boca Chica State Park. Three engines did not start or aborted before liftoff, and several others failed during the flight. [15] The vehicle passed max q and entered supersonic flight, but, due to a lack of thrust or thrust vector control, no attempt was made at stage separation. [15] Starship began to tumble, triggering the autonomous flight termination system (AFTS), which took 40 seconds to destroy the vehicle, nearly 4 minutes into the flight. [16] [15]

After the test, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the launch program pending results of a standard “mishap investigation” overseen by the agency and performed by SpaceX. [17] The FAA said that a return to flight would depend on the agency's determination that future launches would not affect public safety. [18] In August 2023, SpaceX submitted to the FAA the 63 "corrective actions" that it would need to take before another Starship launch would be allowed. [19] [20] [21] Dust scattered by the launch initially caused some health concerns, but was later found by a laboratory to be ordinary beach sand, not posing a health hazard. [17] [22]

A second flight test of the Starship vehicle occurred on November 18, 2023. [23] The launch did not repeat issues encountered on the first flight and the vehicle successfully performed stage separation, but both vehicles were lost thereafter. [24]

Background

Starship

Developed by SpaceX, Starship is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle, [25] the largest and most powerful ever developed. Standing 121 m (397 ft) tall, it is projected to be able to carry 150 t (330,000 lb) of payload in a fully reusable configuration. Its 33 first-stage Raptor engines nominally generate more than 16,000,000 lbf (71 MN) of thrust. This is roughly twice that of NASA's Saturn V (7,750,000 lbf (34.5 MN) [26] ) which flew between 1967 and 1973; more than NASA's SLS, which produced 8,800,000 lbf (39 MN) of thrust at liftoff in 2022; and well above the 10,000,000 lbf (44 MN) of thrust from the 30 engines that powered the Soviet Union's N1 rocket between 1969 and 1972. [5]

On its first orbital test flight, Starship broke N1's half-century-old record for the most powerful rocket-stage ever launched. [5]

Both of Starship's stages are designed to perform controlled landings at the launch site enabling them to fly multiple times. [27] SpaceX plans to use the launch vehicle for launching satellites, space tourism, and interplanetary spaceflight. [28] [29]

Development

Starting in 2019, SpaceX built several prototypes for the upper stage and launched them a total of nine times, culminating with the launch of Starship SN15 on May 5, 2021 that completed a successful high-altitude flight test of six minutes. [30] SpaceX continued to build new upper stages, completed several first stages, and performed ground tests while waiting for governmental launch clearances.

In 2021, SpaceX filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission in which it described the planned first flight test of the Starship-Super Heavy booster stack. The application said that, after liftoff from Starbase, the booster would separate and land about 20 miles (30 km) offshore while Starship would continue flying east and land about 62 miles (100 km) off the Hawaiian island of Kauai. [31]

In June 2022, the environmental review of the launch site concluded with a "mitigated FONSI" (Finding of No Significant Impact) ruling, requiring the company to implement various mitigations to local wildlife and historical sites but otherwise permitting a launch license to be issued. [25]

On February 9, 2023, SpaceX performed a final static fire of the Super Heavy booster. [32] A flight readiness review was completed on April 8, 2023. [28] An April 11 launch rehearsal was canceled. [33] The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an orbital launch license for the vehicle on April 14, 2023. [34]

Opinions before launch

Before the launch, 27 organizations including the Sierra Club, South Texas Environmental Justice Network, Another Gulf is Possible, Voces Unidas, and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe signed a letter expressing their concerns and opposition to it. They cited gentrification and overpolicing of the area, wildlife habitat and native ceremony disruption, and risk of methane-emitting accidents, among others. [35]

Test objectives

SpaceX said it would measure the mission's success "by how much [SpaceX] can learn" and that completion of mission milestones were "not required for a successful test". [8] Before the April 20 launch, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk estimated a 50% chance for a successful test, saying that if the rocket gets "far enough away from the launchpad before something goes wrong, then I think I would consider that to be a success. Just don't blow up the launchpad." [36]

Launch

Flight profile

The spacecraft flight plan was to lift off from SpaceX's Starbase facility along the south Texas coast, then conduct a powered flight until reaching the desired transatmospheric Earth orbit, estimated to be around 250 × 50 km (155 × 31 mi), which would have caused Starship to re-enter the atmosphere after roughly 1 hour, 17 minutes of flight, nearly completing a full orbit. [37] [ citation needed ]

Though both of Starship's rocket stages are eventually intended to be reusable, SpaceX planned to discard both stages at the end of this flight. [38]

The test flight consisted of prototype vehicles Ship 24 and Booster 7. Both the booster and the spacecraft would have performed controlled touchdowns on the ocean surface. [37] According to filings with the FCC, the booster would have performed a boostback burn and sought to land about 20 mi (32 km) offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Starship spacecraft would have sought to land in the Pacific Ocean about 62 mi (100 km) northwest of Kauai. [39]

Flight timeline

April 17 2023 attempt

The Starship and Super Heavy stack was loaded with propellant at Starbase and was set to launch at 13:20 UTC (8:20 a.m. CDT). However, the launch was aborted at T-8:05 due to a frozen pressurization valve on Booster 7. Before the abort, SpaceX launch control worked to fix the problem, aiming to proceed with a launch the same day. Due to the valves exhibited low responsiveness, SpaceX changed the scheduled flight to a wet dress rehearsal that ended at T-40 seconds. SpaceX said it would need at least 48 hours to prepare for a second attempt. [46] [47]

April 20, 2023, 2nd attempt

The liftoff as viewed from Mexico
NASA's partial recording of the Starship launch

A 62-minute launch window opened at 8:28 a.m. CDT (13:28 UTC) on April 20, 2023. [48] At 08:33 CDT (13:33 UTC), the vehicle successfully lifted off, albeit while causing damage to the launch pad. Starship slid laterally off the launchpad, as three engines failed to ignite upon liftoff. [49]

Multiple Raptor engines failed during flight. [50] [3] At about 27 seconds into the flight, SpaceX lost communications with another engine because of "some kind of energetic event". [49] SpaceX shows a discrepancy in its webcast, between the number of engines seen not working in the live video, and the number of engines shut down in the superimposed graphics. [51]

It has been suggested that a small explosion visible around T+0:30 was the failure of a hydraulic power unit, but this has not yet been confirmed. [52]

Eighty-five seconds into the launch, SpaceX lost thrust vector control of the 13 central engines and thus the ability to steer the rocket. [49] The vehicle rose to about 39 km (24 mi) before losing altitude and entering a spin, [53] after which its AFTS (autonomous flight termination system) was activated. [49] The AFTS was intended to immediately destroy the vehicle, [15] however, the booster's engines continued to fire until 40 seconds after the AFTS was triggered, [49] about four minutes into the flight [10] at a height of 29 km (18 mi). [16] No injuries or public property damage were reported by the Federal Aviation Administration. [36]

Aftermath

Technical assessments

The launch was generally regarded as an important step in Starship's iterative and incremental developmental progress. [9] [54] [55] A variety of public officials and figures congratulated SpaceX on the outcome of the test flight, including NASA administrator Bill Nelson, [9] European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher, [10] retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, [44] and executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Dan Dumbacher. [3]

University of Chicago space historian Jordan Brimm said that "it fell somewhere between a small step and their hoped-for giant leap, but it still represents significant progress toward a reusable super-heavy lift rocket". [54] Bloomberg News space reporter Loren Grush said the explosion "highlights the challenges ahead for Musk's grandiose plan for Starship to open up space to human travel", and that beyond the engineering work required for Starship to successfully land, SpaceX will still need to work on Starship's life support systems and ability to refuel in outer space. Grush also described the booster's first takeoff as a "win", and noted that commercial rockets' first launches are rarely successful. [55] Ars Technica editor Eric Berger reported that launch industry officials believed that "getting the Super Heavy rocket and Starship upper stage off the launch pad was a huge success". [50]

According to Elon Musk, requalification of the flight termination system would be the main delay to the next launch, as despite the system activating and setting off the explosives, it "took way too long to rupture the tanks". [15]

On September 8, 2023, SpaceX summarized the root cause of the loss of vehicle control in a company blog post: "During ascent, the vehicle sustained fires from leaking propellant in the aft end of the Super Heavy booster, which eventually severed connection with the vehicle’s primary flight computer. This led to a loss of communications to the majority of booster engines and, ultimately, control of the vehicle." [45]

Launch site

The launch pad was built without flame diverters, water deluge systems or sound suppression systems, [56] systems commonly used to prevent damage during liftoff. SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk tweeted in 2020, "Aspiring to have no flame diverter in Boca, but this could turn out to be a mistake." [57]

After the launch, photos showed damage to the concrete under the launch pad and to infrastructure at the launch site. [58] SpaceX video of the launch showed debris shooting into the ocean nearly half a mile away. [59] The rocket exhaust scattered debris for hundreds of yards, leaving a crater under its launch mount, and dented inert storage tanks near the launch pad. [59] Musk said large chunks of concrete hit the launch tower but caused no meaningful damage. [49]

On April 21, 2023—the day after the launch—Musk tweeted that SpaceX workers had planned three months earlier to add a "massive water-cooled steel plate" to the pad but that the team had "wrongly thought, based on static fire data, that [the concrete in use on the pad] would make it through the launch". [60]

SpaceX told NASA administrator Bill Nelson in April that it would take at least two months to rebuild the launchpad. [61] For the next launch, the company planned to put water-cooled steel plates under the launch mount. [49] Installation began on July 5, 2023, [62] and finished on July 17. The system's first full-pressure test was conducted on July 28.

Effects on environment

The National Weather Service radar in Brownsville, Texas briefly showed the plume from the rocket's breakup Brownsville TX NWS Radar of Starship Launch.gif
The National Weather Service radar in Brownsville, Texas briefly showed the plume from the rocket's breakup

Residents and researchers were "scrambling" after the launch to assess its effects on local communities' health and wildlife. [63] Soon after the launch, residents of Port Isabel, Texas, a town roughly 6.5 miles (10.5 km) from the launch site, reported particulate matter falling from the sky. [64] A Port Isabel spokesperson called the debris a "thick, granular, sand grain that just landed on everything", adding that the debris posed no "immediate concern" to resident health. [56] Several Port Isabel residents reported shaking and shattered windows. [56] [65] Representatives of Another Gulf is Possible, [66] the Sierra Club, and Center for Biological Diversity expressed concerns that the particulate matter might harm Port Isabel residents and nearby endangered species, The latter two groups' representatives also said the blast's damage to roads had kept wildlife biologists from investigating the launch site until April 22, two days after the launch. [63]

GOES-16 satellite image of South Texas taken at the time of Starship flight Launch and explosion of Starship Integrated Flight Test captured by GOES-16 (unannotated).jpg
GOES-16 satellite image of South Texas taken at the time of Starship flight

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Texas Division reported that the launch scattered debris across 385 acres (156 ha) on SpaceX property and Boca Chica State Park. It deposited a pulverized material, thought to be concrete dust, up to 6.5 miles (10.5 km) northwest. [67] [22]

A wildfire started and burned 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) of state parkland to the south of the pad. [67] Olivier de Weck, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets and a MIT professor, said that much of the dust and debris could have been better contained by flame trenches diverting the engine blast underground or a "pipeline...bring[ing] seawater" to the launch site. [68] (de Weck nevertheless called the event "more of a success than a failure". [12] )

Similarly, Eric Roesch, an expert in environmental compliance and risk assessment, criticized SpaceX for not disclosing the launch's risks and for failing to use a trench or water system to dampen the launch's impact. [56] Roesch said that a chemical analysis would be required to determine whether the dust and debris would be harmful to health. [56] A later chemical analysis by the University of Central Florida and another by Rice University identified the dust-like material as harmless beach sand from below the launchpad. [22] The heat and pressure went through fresh cracks in the launch pad, causing an eruption that propelled sand six miles to Port Isabel. Though large amounts of dust measuring between 1 and 10 microns can be harmful to breathe, the researchers did not find them in enough quantity and concluded that the sand was not a health hazard. [22]

A pre-launch FAA assessment had stated there would be "no significant impact" on the region. [56] After the launch, SpaceX activated the FAA required "anomaly response plan", but otherwise refused to comment on the situation. [69] [56] The US Fish and Wildlife Service's Texas division said it had not found evidence of dead birds or wildlife, [67] though Texas Public Radio reported finding a charred quail's nest. [70] Biologist David Newstead suggested that the delay in conducting a survey may have skewed the result, noting, for example, that predators would be likely to consume a "dead bird on the flats" within an hour. [71] Justin LeClaire, a biologist who was allowed into the area 54 hours after launch, said that SpaceX has "altered a habitat on a wildlife refuge", and that it would take time to understand the effects. [71]

On May 1, 2023, ten days after the launch, four environmental groups—the Center for Biological Diversity, Surfrider Foundation, American Bird Conservancy, and Save Rio Grande Valley (Save RGV)—and the Carrizo Comecrudo Nation of Texas jointly sued the FAA for having granted SpaceX a launch license. [72] [73] SpaceX requested that it be allowed to join the FAA as a defendant, which was granted in June. [74] [75] [76]

FAA investigation

Following Starship's first flight failure, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required SpaceX to conduct an investigation on the mishap, grounding Starship pending the outcome of their investigation. [77] [63] The FAA would oversee the investigation, a standard practice when a vehicle was lost in flight. [78] The agency grounded Starship flights during the investigation, also a standard practice, [63] [79] and said that "a return to flight of the Starship/Super Heavy vehicle is based on the FAA determining that any system, process or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety" and that there were no reports of injuries or public property damage. [36] [18] The FAA also announced that it would monitor the cleanup, which included the standard removal of launch debris from "sensitive habitats". [80] On May 15, SpaceX filed a request for FCC approval for a second flight between June 15 and December 15, using Booster 9 and Ship 25. [81] In August, SpaceX submitted an initial mishap report to the FAA for review and approval. [82] [83]

The FAA stated in September 2023 [77] [84]

Following the launch, the FAA [...] required SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation in accordance with its approved mishap plan under FAA oversight. The FAA conducted a final review of the mishap report, dated August 21, 2023 . The primary focus of this review was to ensure [...] the identification of root cause(s) and implementation of corrective actions to avoid a recurrence of the event. The FAA has been provided with sufficient information and accepts the root causes and corrective actions described in the mishap report. Consequently, the FAA considers the mishap investigation that SpaceX was required to complete to be concluded. The final mishap investigation report [submitted by SpaceX in August, [82] as part of the investigation conducted by SpaceX and required by the FAA [77] ] cited a total of sixty-three (63) corrective actions for SpaceX to implement. These included actions to address redesigns of vehicle hardware to prevent leaks and fires, redesign of the launch pad to increase its robustness, incorporation of additional reviews in the design process, additional analysis and testing of safety critical. [77]

Following SpaceX's final report, the FAA closed the investigation on September 8, 2023. [84] [85] In the same statement, FAA officials emphasized that "The closure of the mishap investigation does not signal an immediate resumption of Starship launches at Boca Chica." [84] [86] And that SpaceX first had to "implement all corrective actions that impact public safety" and applied for a "license modification from the FAA" that addresses the FAA's "safety and other environmental regulatory requirements". [84] [21] The FAA also announced that the full investigatory report would not be released due to confidential contents including export control information. [21]

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Reusable launch vehicle</span> Vehicles that can go to space and return

    A reusable launch vehicle has parts that can be recovered and reflown, while carrying payloads from the surface to outer space. Rocket stages are the most common launch vehicle parts aimed for reuse. Smaller parts such as rocket engines and boosters can also be reused, though reusable spacecraft may be launched on top of an expendable launch vehicle. Reusable launch vehicles do not need to make these parts for each launch, therefore reducing its launch cost significantly. However, these benefits are diminished by the cost of recovery and refurbishment.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX</span> American private spacecraft company

    Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly referred to as SpaceX, is an American space technology company headquartered at the SpaceX Starbase near Brownsville, Texas. Since its founding in 2001, the company has made numerous advancements in rocket propulsion, reusable launch vehicle, human spaceflight and satellite constellation technology. By the late 2010s, SpaceX had become the world's dominant space launch provider, its launch cadence rivaling that of the Chinese space program and eclipsing all those of its private competitors. SpaceX, NASA and the United States Armed Forces work closely together by means of governmental contracts.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">VTVL</span> Method of takeoff and landing used by rockets; vertical takeoff, vertical landing

    Vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) is a form of takeoff and landing for rockets. Multiple VTVL craft have flown. A notable VTVL vehicle was the Apollo Lunar Module which delivered the first humans to the Moon. Building on the decades of development, SpaceX utilised the VTVL concept for its flagship Falcon 9 first stage, which has delivered over three hundred successful powered landings so far.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon Heavy</span> SpaceX heavy-lift launch vehicle

    Falcon Heavy is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle with partial reusability that can carry cargo into Earth orbit, and beyond. It is designed, manufactured and launched by American aerospace company SpaceX.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon 9 prototypes</span> Test vehicles developed by SpaceX

    Falcon 9 prototypes were experimental flight test reusable rockets that performed vertical takeoffs and landings. The project was privately funded by SpaceX, with no funds provided by any government until later on. Two prototypes were built, and both were launched from the ground.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX launch vehicles</span> Launch vehicles developed and operated by SpaceX

    SpaceX manufactures launch vehicles to operate its launch provider services and to execute its various exploration goals. SpaceX currently manufactures and operates the Falcon 9 Block 5 family of medium-lift launch vehicles and the Falcon Heavy family of heavy-lift launch vehicles – both of which are powered by SpaceX Merlin engines and employ VTVL technologies to reuse the first stage. As of 2024, the company is also developing the fully reusable Starship launch system, which will replace Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Dragon.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX reusable launch system development program</span> Effort by SpaceX to make rockets that can fly multiple times

    SpaceX has privately funded the development of orbital launch systems that can be reused many times, similar to the reusability of aircraft. SpaceX has developed technologies over the last decade to facilitate full and rapid reuse of space launch vehicles. The project's long-term objectives include returning a launch vehicle first stage to the launch site within minutes and to return a second stage to the launch pad, following orbital realignment with the launch site and atmospheric reentry in up to 24 hours. SpaceX's long term goal would have been reusability of both stages of their orbital launch vehicle, and the first stage would be designed to allow reuse a few hours after return. Development of reusable second stages for Falcon 9 was later abandoned in favor of developing Starship. However, SpaceX still developed reusable payload fairings for the Falcon 9.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX Starbase</span> SpaceX private launch site

    Starbase is an industrial complex and rocket launch facility that serves as the main testing and production location for Starship launch vehicles, as well as the headquarters of the American aerospace manufacturer SpaceX. Located at Boca Chica, near Brownsville, Texas, United States, Starbase has been under near-continuous development since the late 2010s, and comprises a spaceport near the Gulf of Mexico, a production facility at Boca Chica village, and a test site along Texas State Highway 4.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX facilities</span> Launch facilities used by SpaceX

    As of 2023, SpaceX operates four launch facilities: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Vandenberg Space Force Base Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E), Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A), and Brownsville South Texas Launch Site (Starbase). Space Launch Complex 40 was damaged in the AMOS-6 accident in September 2016 and repair work was completed by December 2017. SpaceX believes that they can optimize their launch operations, and reduce launch costs, by dividing their launch missions amongst these four launch facilities: LC-39A for NASA launches, SLC-40 for United States Space Force national security launches, SLC-4E for polar launches, and South Texas Launch Site for commercial launches.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">History of SpaceX</span> History of a space corporation

    This is a corporate history of SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company founded by Elon Musk.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX Starship</span> Reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle

    Starship is a two-stage fully reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by American aerospace company SpaceX. On April 20, 2023, with the first Integrated Flight Test, Starship became the most massive and most powerful vehicle ever to fly. SpaceX has developed Starship with the intention of lowering launch costs using economies of scale, aiming to achieve this by reusing both rocket stages by "catching" them with the launch tower's systems, increasing payload mass to orbit, increasing launch frequency, mass-manufacturing the rockets and adapting it to a wide range of space missions. Starship is the latest project in SpaceX's reusable launch system development program and plan to colonize Mars.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX Raptor</span> SpaceX family of liquid-fuel rocket engines

    Raptor is a family of rocket engines developed and manufactured by SpaceX. It is the third rocket engine in history designed with a full-flow staged combustion (FFSC) fuel cycle, and the first such engine to power a vehicle in flight. The engine is powered by cryogenic liquid methane and liquid oxygen, a mixture known as methalox.

    Boca Chica is an area on the eastern portion of a subdelta peninsula of Cameron County, at the far south of the US State of Texas along the Gulf Coast. It is bordered by the Brownsville Ship Channel to the north, the Rio Grande and Mexico to the south, and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. The area extends about 25 miles (40 km) east of the city of Brownsville. The peninsula is served by Texas State Highway 4—also known as the Boca Chica Highway, or Boca Chica Boulevard within Brownsville city limits—which runs east–west, terminating at the Gulf and Boca Chica Beach.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX Super Heavy</span> Reusable first stage developed by SpaceX

    Super Heavy is the reusable first stage of the SpaceX Starship super heavy-lift launch vehicle, which it composes in combination with the Starship second stage. As a part of SpaceX's Mars colonization program, the booster evolved into its current design over a decade. Production began in 2021, with the first flight being conducted on April 20, 2023, during the first launch attempt of the Starship rocket.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX Starship (spacecraft)</span> Reusable spacecraft under development by SpaceX

    Starship is a spacecraft and second stage under development by American aerospace company SpaceX. Stacked atop its booster, the Super Heavy, the pair compose SpaceX's new super heavy-lift space vehicle, also called Starship. The spacecraft is designed to transport both crew and cargo to a variety of destinations, including Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars. It's designed to be reusable and capable of landing propulsively by firing its engines to perform a controlled descent in the arms of a tower on Earth or with landing legs on other planetary bodies. It is intended to enable long duration interplanetary flights with a crew of up to 100 people. It will also be capable of point-to-point transport on Earth, enabling travel to anywhere in the world in less than an hour. Furthermore, it will be used to refuel other Starship spacecraft, enabling them to reach higher orbits and other space destinations. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, estimated in a tweet that eight launches would be needed to completely refuel a Starship in low Earth orbit, enabling it to travel onwards.

    Before settling on the 2018 Starship design, SpaceX successively presented a number of reusable super-heavy lift vehicle proposals. These preliminary spacecraft designs were known under various names.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Starship flight test 2</span> Second launch of SpaceX Starship

    Starship flight test 2 was the second flight test of the SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. SpaceX performed the flight test on November 18, 2023. The mission's primary objectives were for the vehicle to hot stage—a new addition to Starship's flight profile—followed by the second stage attaining a near-orbital trajectory with a controlled reentry over the Pacific Ocean, while the booster does a boostback burn with a propulsive splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Starship flight test 3</span> Third launch of SpaceX Starship

    Starship flight test 3 was the third flight test of the SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. SpaceX performed the flight test on March 14, 2024.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Starship flight test 4</span> Fourth launch of SpaceX Starship

    Starship flight test 4 was the fourth flight test of the SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. The prototype vehicles flown were the Starship Ship 29 upper-stage and Super Heavy Booster 11. SpaceX performed the flight test on June 6, 2024.

    References

    1. ↑ Wattles, Jackie; Vogt, Adrienne (April 20, 2023). "SpaceX's uncrewed Starship explodes on launch attempt". CNN. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    2. 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan (May 13, 2023). "Jonathan's Space Report No. 819" (TXT). Jonathan's Space Report . Retrieved March 13, 2024.
    3. 1 2 3 Foust, Jeff (April 20, 2023). "Starship lifts off on first integrated test flight, breaks apart minutes later". SpaceNews . Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
    4. ↑ "SpaceX's gigantic Starship rocket blasts off and then explodes in its first test flight". NBC News. April 20, 2023. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
    5. 1 2 3 Simpson, Clive (April 17, 2023). "How SpaceX's Starship stacks up to other rockets". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    6. ↑ Berger, Eric (April 20, 2023). "SpaceX launches its massive Starship rocket for the first time". Ars Technica. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
    7. ↑ Wall, Mike (April 21, 2023). "What's next for SpaceX's Starship after its historic flight test?". Space.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
    8. 1 2 "Upcoming: Starship Flight Test". SpaceX. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
    9. 1 2 3 Olson, Emily; Archie, Ayana (April 20, 2023). "SpaceX's massive rocket Starship explodes 4 minutes after liftoff". National Public Radio . Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    10. 1 2 3 Therrien, Alex; Whitehead, Jamie (April 20, 2023). "SpaceX Starship live: SpaceX Starship finally launches but blows up after take-off". BBC News . Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    11. 1 2 Jones, Andrew (April 15, 2023). "SpaceX's 1st Starship and Super Heavy launch: How it will work". Space.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    12. 1 2 Fallon, Patrick; Aubourg, Lucie (April 23, 2023). "Giant SpaceX rocket leaves crater, serious damage at Texas base". Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023– via Yahoo! News.
    13. ↑ Dvorsky, George (April 20, 2023). "Powerful Blast from SpaceX's Starship Damages Launch Pad and Wrecks Nearby Minivan". Gizmodo . Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
    14. 1 2 Foust, Jeff (April 29, 2023). "Musk predicts next Starship launch in a "couple months"".
    15. 1 2 3 4 5 Bergin, Chris (May 3, 2023). "Elon Musk pushes for orbital goal following data gathering objectives during Starship debut". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
    16. 1 2 K, Jay (April 20, 2023). "SpaceX Starship Experiences Anomaly In Flight - TLP News". The Launch Pad. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
    17. 1 2 Kolodny, Lora (April 24, 2023). "SpaceX Starship explosion spread particulate matter for miles". CNBC. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
    18. 1 2 "FAA Statements on Recent Aviation Accidents and Incidents | Federal Aviation Administration". April 23, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
    19. ↑ "FAA Letter to SpaceX". September 8, 2023. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
    20. ↑ "FAA Closes SpaceX Starship Mishap Investigation". Federal Aviation Administration. September 8, 2023. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
    21. 1 2 3 Kolodny, Lora (September 8, 2023). "FAA orders Musk's SpaceX to take 63 corrective actions on Starship, keeps rocket grounded". CNBC . Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
    22. 1 2 3 4 Leinfelder, Andrea (August 2, 2023). "SpaceX Starship sprinkled South Texas with mystery material. Here's what it was". Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
    23. ↑ Roulette, Joey (November 15, 2023). "US FAA okays SpaceX license for second launch of Starship Super Heavy". Reuters. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
    24. ↑ @FAANews (November 18, 2023). "This information is preliminary and subject to change: A mishap occurred during the @SpaceX Starship OFT-2 launch from Boca Chica, Texas, on Saturday, Nov. 18. The anomaly resulted in a loss of the vehicle. No injuries or public property damage have been reported" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    25. 1 2 "Starship". SpaceX. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
    26. ↑ Thorne, Muriel, ed. (May 1983). NASA, The First 25 Years: 1958-1983 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. p. 69. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
    27. ↑ Wattles, Jackie (September 29, 2019). "Elon Musk says SpaceX's Mars rocket will be cheaper than he once thought. Here's why". CNN Business . Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
    28. 1 2 Roulette, Joey (February 11, 2022). "What Is Starship? SpaceX Builds Its Next-Generation Rocket". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    29. ↑ Petrova, Magdalena (March 13, 2022). "Why Starship is the holy grail for SpaceX". CNBC . Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    30. ↑ Timmer, John (May 5, 2021). "SpaceX successfully lands a Starship test flight". Ars Technica . Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
    31. ↑ "Starship Orbital - First Flight FCC Exhibit". Federal Communications Commission. May 13, 2021. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
    32. ↑ Chang, Kenneth (February 9, 2023). "SpaceX Test Fires 31 Engines on the Most Powerful Rocket Ever". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
    33. ↑ Alcantarilla Romera, Alejandro (April 14, 2023). "Starship into final preps for launch targeting the second half of April". NASASpaceFlight . Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
    34. ↑ Sheetz, Michael (April 14, 2023). "SpaceX cleared by FAA to launch first orbital Starship flight". CNBC. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
    35. ↑ "Press Statement: Rio Grande Valley Community React Ahead of SpaceX Rocket Launch Blast on the South Texas Coastline" (PDF). Sierra Club . April 19, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
    36. 1 2 3 Davenport, Christian (April 20, 2023). "Unmanned Starship explodes over gulf after liftoff". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
    37. 1 2 3 "Starship Flight Test". SpaceX. April 11, 2023. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
    38. ↑ Berger, Eric (April 10, 2023). "SpaceX's Starship vehicle is ready to fly, just waiting for a launch license". Ars Technica . Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
    39. ↑ "Starship Orbital - First Flight FCC Exhibit". Federal Communications Commission . Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    40. ↑ Berger, Eric (May 1, 2023). "Elon Musk provides detailed review of Starship's first launch—and what's next". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
    41. ↑ "SpaceX's Starship blew up after launch — it also caused 'catastrophic' damage on the ground". April 26, 2023. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023. The damage to the launch pad went far beyond what experts were expecting. And nearby residents are left dealing with the environmental fallout.
    42. ↑ "Powerful Blast from SpaceX's Starship Damages Launch Pad and Wrecks Nearby Minivan". April 20, 2023. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
    43. ↑ "Why did SpaceX Starship's debut launch cause so much damage to the pad?". Space.com . April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023. When the dust cleared at Starbase after the liftoff, a scene of wreckage emerged: Starship's 33 first-stage Raptor engines blew out a crater beneath the orbital launch mount, pummeling nearby infrastructure with flying chunks of cement and other debris.
    44. 1 2 CTV News (April 20, 2023). "Chris Hadfield on SpaceX rocket exploding: It was 'enormously successful'". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
    45. 1 2 Clark, Stephen (September 8, 2023). "FAA says SpaceX has more to do before Starship can fly again". Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
    46. ↑ Wall, Mike (April 17, 2023). "SpaceX scrubs 1st space launch of giant Starship rocket due to fueling issue". Space.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    47. ↑ Chang, Kenneth (April 17, 2023). "Highlights From SpaceX's Scrubbed Starship Rocket Launch Attempt". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    48. ↑ Clark, Stephen (April 17, 2023). "SpaceX's Starship test flight delayed until Thursday after valve problem". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
    49. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sheetz, Michael (April 30, 2023). "SpaceX to spend about $2 billion on Starship this year, as Elon Musk pushes to reach orbit". CNBC. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
    50. 1 2 Berger, Eric (April 20, 2023). "So what was that? Was Starship's launch a failure or a success?". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
    51. ↑ SpaceX (April 20, 2023). Starship Flight Test. Event occurs at 46:25. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
    52. ↑ "Jonathan's Space Report - Latest Issue". May 31, 2023. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
    53. ↑ Skipper, Joe; Gorman, Steve (April 20, 2023). "Elon Musk's Starship explodes minutes after first test flight's liftoff". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    54. 1 2 Dunn, Marcia (April 20, 2023). "SpaceX giant rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas". Associated Press . Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    55. 1 2 Grush, Loren (April 20, 2023). "Starship Explosion Shows Just How Far SpaceX Is From the Moon". Bloomberg News . Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    56. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Albeck-Ripka, Livia (April 21, 2023). "SpaceX's Starship Kicked Up a Dust Cloud, Leaving Texans With a Mess". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
    57. ↑ Musk, Elon (October 7, 2020). "Tweet". Twitter. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
    58. ↑ Angle, Richard (April 2, 2023). "Starship delivers excitement, but launch pad damage comes into question". Teslarati. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    59. 1 2 Davenport, Christian (April 21, 2023). "SpaceX didn't want to blow up its launchpad. It may have done just that". Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
    60. ↑ @elonmusk (April 21, 2023). "April 21, 2023 tweet" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    61. ↑ Sheetz, Michael (April 29, 2023). "What's next for SpaceX's Starship after a dramatic first launch". CNBC. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
    62. ↑ Bergin, Chris [@NASASpaceflight] (July 5, 2023). "Starbase OLM water deluge system steel plate rotation!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    63. 1 2 3 4 Kolodny, Lora (April 24, 2023). "SpaceX Starship explosion spread particulate matter for miles". CNBC. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
    64. ↑ Rosane, Olivia (April 25, 2023). "SpaceX Explosion Sparks Environmental Concerns After Coating Texas Community in Ash". Common Dreams . Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    65. ↑ Karlis, Michael (April 25, 2023). "FAA grounds Elon Musk's SpaceX pending investigation into potential environmental damage". San Antonio Current . Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
    66. ↑ "'Colonizing Our Community': Elon Musk's SpaceX Rocket Explodes in Texas as Feds OK New LNG Projects". Democracy Now!. April 21, 2023. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
    67. 1 2 3 Grush, Loren; Hull, Dana (April 26, 2023). "SpaceX's Starship Launch Sparked Fire on State Park Land". Bloomberg News . Retrieved April 26, 2023.
    68. ↑ Dugan, Kevin T. (April 26, 2023). "Elon Musk's Messy 4/20 Rocket Launch May Delay SpaceX for Months". New York . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
    69. ↑ Davenport, Christian (April 20, 2023). "SpaceX's Starship lifts off successfully, but explodes in first flight". The Washington Post . ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    70. ↑ Davila, Gaige (April 27, 2023). "SpaceX is grounded after rocket explosion caused extensive environmental damage". Texas Public Radio . Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    71. 1 2 Lingle, Brandon (April 27, 2023). "Lingle: Full impact of SpaceX launch comes into focus". San Antonio Express-News . Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    72. ↑ Kolodny, Lora (May 1, 2023). "FAA sued over SpaceX Starship launch program following April explosion". CNBC – via NBC News.
    73. ↑ Gorman, Steve (May 1, 2023). "Environmentalists sue FAA over SpaceX launch license for Texas". Reuters. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
    74. ↑ Kolodny, Lora; Sheetz, Michael (May 22, 2023). "SpaceX set to join FAA to fight environmental lawsuit that could delay Starship work". CNBC. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
    75. ↑ Killelea, Eric (May 23, 2023). "SpaceX joins FAA as defendant in lawsuit over private space company's launch from South Texas". San Antonio Express-News . Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
    76. ↑ Michael Sheetz, Lora Kolodny (May 22, 2023). "SpaceX set to join FAA to fight environmental lawsuit that could delay Starship work". CNBC . Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
    77. 1 2 3 4 "FAA Letter to SpaceX". September 8, 2023. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
    78. ↑ Amos, Jonathan (April 20, 2023). "SpaceX Starship: Elon Musk's big rocket explodes on test flight". BBC News . Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
    79. ↑ Clark, Steve (April 25, 2023). "FAA investigating Starship explosion". The Brownsville Herald . Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023– via Yahoo News.
    80. ↑ Smith, Marcia (April 21, 2023). "FAA Monitoring SpaceX's Clean-Up After Starship Launch". SpacePolicyOnline.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
    81. ↑ "SpaceX Sets Possible Dates for Starship's Second Orbital Test Launch". The New York Observer . May 17, 2023. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
    82. 1 2 Mike Wall (August 16, 2023). "SpaceX submits Starship mishap report to the FAA". Space.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
    83. ↑ Clark, Stephen (August 15, 2023). "Let the review begin—SpaceX takes another step toward launching Starship again". Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
    84. 1 2 3 4 "FAA Closes SpaceX Starship Mishap Investigation". September 8, 2023. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023.
    85. ↑ Fisher, Kristin; Wattles, Jackie (September 8, 2023). "FAA won't issue license for SpaceX mega-rocket test launch until 'corrective actions' implemented". CNN. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
    86. ↑ Wall, Mike (September 8, 2023). "FAA closes investigation of SpaceX's Starship rocket launch mishap, 63 fixes needed". Space.com . Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.