Starship flight test 7

Last updated

Starship flight test 7
Mission type Flight test
Operator SpaceX
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftStarship Ship 33
Spacecraft type Starship
ManufacturerSpaceX
Start of mission
Launch dateNET January 10, 2025, 22:00:00 (2025-01-10UTC22Z)  UTC (4:00 pm  CST) [1]
Rocket Super Heavy (B14)
Launch site Starbase, OLP-A
End of mission
Landing site
←  Flight 6
Flight 8  →

Starship flight test 7 will be the seventh flight test of a SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. The prototype vehicles expected to be flown are Ship 33, the first Block 2 upper stage, and Booster 14, a Block 1 vehicle.

Contents

According to documents filed with the Federal Aviation Administration, Flight 7 is targeted to liftoff from Texas at 4:00 pm CST on January 10, 2025. [2] The FAA granted a launch license covering multiple flights of Starship, including flight 7, on December 17. [3]

Background

Vehicle testing ahead of launch

Ship 33, a Block 2 Starship, is expected to be flown on flight 7. [4] In October 2024, Ship 33 underwent cryogenic testing. [5] Its counterpart, Booster 14, also underwent cryogenic testing in October. [6] [7] Booster 14 rolled out to OLP-1 and conducted a successful spin prime test and static fire in early December. [8] It then returned to the production site for final pre-flight modifications. [9] Ship 33 also underwent a combination of spin prime and static fire tests later in the month. [10] [11]

NASA imaging of Starship

For this launch, NASA plans to use a specially equipped Gulfstream V aircraft (N95NA [12] ) to capture images of the Starship's re-entry and peak-heating. The aircraft will be positioned to observe the spacecraft as it emerges over the horizon and splashes down in the eastern Indian Ocean. To ensure optimal imaging conditions, the landing must occur at night, and the aircraft must fly with its exterior and interior lights extinguished. This poses significant safety risks, requiring a waiver from aviation authorities and stringent procedures to prevent other aircraft from entering the flight path. [13]

NASA has requested an expedited waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to commence practice flights over the Gulf of Mexico and Southwest Texas in early December. Subsequently, the aircraft will be flown to Perth, Australia on January 3 for additional practice flights in the actual landing zone, ahead of the targeted Flight Test 7 on January 11, 2025. If the FAA approves the waiver, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has indicated its willingness to honor the exemption, allowing for both practice flights and the imaging flight during Flight Test 7. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "An Air Traffic Data Exchange Network for the Caribbean region has published an advisory indicating Starship Flight 7's launch date is Jan 10th in a window from 4 pm - 5:37 pm local. We'll need to see it on FAA notices to firm it up more". X (formerly Twitter). December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  2. ↑ "An Air Traffic Data Exchange Network for the Caribbean region has published an advisory indicating Starship Flight 7's launch date is Jan 10th in a window from 4 pm - 5:37 pm local. We'll need to see it on FAA notices to firm it up more". X (formerly Twitter). December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  3. ↑ Weber, Ryan (December 19, 2024). "FAA gives Flight 7 the Go Ahead, SpaceX to complete final steps ahead of launch". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  4. ↑ McCrea, Aaron (July 31, 2024). "Successful Static Fire Leads to Final Preparation Before Full Stack". NASASpaceflight . Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  5. ↑ New Starship Block 2 Cryo Proof Tested. NASASpaceflight . October 31, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024– via YouTube.
  6. ↑ House, Marcus (October 5, 2024). Good or bad news for Starship Flight 5?, SpaceX Ground Themselves!?, and Vulcan Flight 2 Success! . Retrieved October 5, 2024– via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Bergin, Chris (October 9, 2024). "Starship readying for Flight 5 amid future preparations". NASASpaceflight . Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ SpaceX Tests Booster 14 – Spin Prime. NASASpaceflight . December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2024– via YouTube.
  9. ↑ Weber, Ryan (December 10, 2024). "Ship 33 prepares for engine testing, Booster 14 Completes Static Fire". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  10. ↑ NASASpaceflight (December 14, 2024). Ship 33 Test Campaign Begins | SpaceX Boca Chica . Retrieved December 14, 2024– via YouTube.
  11. ↑ SpaceX’s Starship Prepares for Flight 7: Testing & Expansion at Starbase. NASASpaceflight . December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024– via YouTube.
  12. ↑ "FAA Registry (N95NA)". Federal Aviation Administration.
  13. 1 2 McCrea, Aaron (November 27, 2024). "Starbase continues its rapid pace of advancement after Starship Flight 6". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
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