SpaceX has introduced the subsequent take a look at flight for its Starship rocket, and it is prior to you in all probability anticipated. The sixth Starship launch will occur as early as Nov. 18 at SpaceX’s Boca Chica testing facility. SpaceX once more hopes to catch the first-stage booster and also will take a look at reigniting Starship’s engines and new heatshield supplies.
The principle occasion of the fifth built-in take a look at flight (IFT-5) was undeniably the booster catch. After sending the Starship car off to its watery grave, Tremendous Heavy maneuvered again to the launch tower and was caught gracefully by its “chopstick” arms. SpaceX intends a repeat of that efficiency. The crew will monitor the booster’s strategy and OK the catch provided that all methods are nominal. If the command shouldn’t be despatched or automated methods detect a problem, the primary stage will alter its trajectory and goal for the ocean as an alternative.
The subsequent launch will happen at 4 p.m. CT as an alternative of the early morning time-frame of earlier launches. This ensures that Starship will attain the Indian Ocean for splashdown throughout daylight as an alternative of evening. Starship will function a number of new thermal supplies for testing as SpaceX strikes towards what it hopes might be a completely reusable warmth defend. Flying the mission through the day will make it simpler to examine the situation of warmth tiles and thermal surfaces.
A composite picture of the booster catch throughout IFT-5.
Credit score: SpaceX
Earlier than it reaches the water, Starship will conduct an vital engine take a look at. The suborbital trajectory would be the similar because the final flight, however Starship will reignite its engines whereas in area to simulate a deorbit burn. This can be a obligatory milestone to getting Starship in orbit. To date, it has solely flown on ballistic trajectories.
If IFT-6 goes as deliberate, SpaceX hopes to make some upgrades to the subsequent Starship. It is planning to revamp the upward flaps and embrace bigger propellant tanks. Based mostly on the end result of the warmth safety testing, the seventh Starship might additionally embrace new thermal supplies.
SpaceX says a livestream of the launch will start half-hour forward of time on the corporate’s X (previously Twitter) account. With barely a month because the final Starship take a look at, this might signify a major enhance in cadence. It should enhance extra, although. Not solely is Starship on the core of SpaceX’s plans for Starlink and business cargo purposes, NASA plans to make use of it because the human touchdown system (HLS) for Artemis lunar landings. The Artemis III touchdown is at present set for 2026 however could possibly be delayed.
