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Starship flight test 5

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This article is about the fifth integrated Starship/Super Heavy flight test. For the 2020 fifth flight test of the Starship segment, see List of Starship upper stage flight tests.

Starship flight test 5
Booster 12 on final approach to the launch tower
Mission typeSuborbital flight test
OperatorSpaceX
Mission duration1 hour, 5 minutes, 40 seconds
Apogee212 km (132 mi)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftStarship Ship 30
Spacecraft typeStarship
ManufacturerSpaceX
Start of mission
Launch date13 October 2024, 12:25:00 (2024-10-13UTC12:25Z) UTC (7:25 am CDT)[1]
RocketSuper Heavy (B12)
Launch siteStarbase, OLP-A
End of mission
Landing date
  • Super Heavy: 13 October 2024, 12:31:56 UTC (7:31:56 am CDT)
  • Ship: 13 October 2024, 13:30:40 (13 October 2024, 13:30:40) UTC
Landing site

Mission patch

Starship flight test 5 was the fifth flight test of a SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. The prototype vehicles flown were the Starship Ship 30 upper-stage and Super Heavy Booster 12. This launch is notable for being the first time a large rocket has ever been caught out of mid air.

After launching and delivering the Starship upper stage into a trajectory heading toward space, the Super Heavy booster turned around and fired its Raptor engines to return back to the launch site. As the booster approached the launch pad it slowed to a near hover and did a horizontal slide maneuver to line itself up with two massive "chopstick" arms on the launch tower, dubbed "Mechazilla." The arms then closed around the booster before the engines shut down.

The rocket launched on the morning of 13 October, one day after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a launch permit that had been delayed since early August and after weeks of increasingly public feuding between SpaceX and the FAA.

Development prior to launch

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Technical development

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During a company all-hands in April 2024, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk expanded briefly on the goals of flight test 5, stating that the first tower landing could occur, depending on B11's virtual landing performance during the fourth flight test.[2] In June, Musk stated the heatshield tiles on the flight 5 vehicle will be twice as strong along with a new ablative protection layer underneath.[3] The process of removing the old Thermal Protection System began on 11 June.[4] Multiple tests occurred with the hydraulic arms on the launch tower in preparation for the booster catch.[5]

Vehicle testing ahead of launch

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Design revisions on Ship 30 include a new vent on the liquid methane tank and another vent with a new valve design on the liquid oxygen (LOX) tank.[6] Two arrays of small radio antennas were redesigned and relocated near the payload bay instead of the ship's nosecone, with one array concealed beneath the ship's heat shield.[7]

Static fire testing of Ship 30 occurred in early May in preparation for flight 5.[8] This was the last static fire conducted at the now-demolished Suborbital Pad B,[9] as future tests will use the static fire stand at Massey's Test Site.[10] Booster 12 moved to the launch pad on 9 July.[11] The booster performed a spin prime test on 12 July; it was the first time a spin prime test was performed since Booster 9 in August 2023.[12] A static fire of Booster 12 was completed on 15 July and Ship 30 static fire was conducted on 26 July.[13][14] On 21 September, S30 was stacked onto B12, with SpaceX claiming that this stack was for Flight 5, "pending regulatory approval".[15]

FAA dispute and environmental concerns

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On 12 June, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that no mishap investigation would be required prior to the launch of flight 5.[16] In anticipation of the fifth flight, SpaceX applied for a communications license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with a start date of 19 July.[17] In early August, SpaceX claimed that both stages were ready to fly for flight test 5.[18] In early August Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sent a notice that alleged that SpaceX had violated environmental regulations such as the Clean Water Act[19] by repeatedly releasing water into or near bodies of water without the necessary discharge permit stating that their current permit was insufficient.[20] SpaceX was fined $148,378 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for allegedly discharging industrial water without the specific permit for doing so.[20][21][22] According to the EPA, SpaceX released between 114,000 gallons and 194,500 gallons of fresh water during each violation.[21] SpaceX has since applied for a discharge permit.[21] In response, SpaceX stated that the EPA had issued an administrative order before seeking "a basic understanding of the deflector" or acknowledging its previous TCEQ permit.[23] The company also stated that the TCEQ, the FAA, and the US Fish & Wildlife service evaluated the system and had determined it posed no environmental harm, as the water released was potable drinking water, with negligible traces of contaminants and within drinking water quality standards.[23]

In September, SpaceX communicated that the FAA had shifted their license approval timeframe from later that month to November, and wrote about issues with the FAA's licensing processes for Starship flight tests.[24][23] SpaceX claimed that government paperwork prevented it from flying Starship quickly to meet commitments to the Artemis program.[23] In a statement to journalists, the FAA reiterated that the license authorizing Starship test flight 4 also allowed for multiple flights of the same vehicle configuration and mission profile. However, because SpaceX chose to modify both in an attempt to "catch" the Super Heavy booster through a return-to-launch-site maneuver, it triggered a more in-depth review.[25] This was repeated by the FAA on October 2.[26] Despite this, the FAA issued a license for the launch on 12 October, without offering any explanation as to what prompted the change.[27][28]

Mission summary

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The mission profile for flight test 5 differed substantially from the previous flight. While Ship 30 splashed down in the Indian Ocean, as Ship 29 did,[1] B12 shut off its engines thirteen seconds earlier and returned to the launch site for a catch.[1]

The upper stage Starship spacecraft reached an apogee of 212 km (132 mi) before a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean. Video showed minor damage to the control flaps during re-entry, but despite this, it landed with high accuracy on the water near a pre-positioned buoy that captured footage of the landing. Ship 30, which was never intended to be recovered, erupted in a large fireball about 16 seconds after it hit the water.

Flight timeline

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Time Event[1] 13 October 2024
−01:15:00 Flight Director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading Success
−00:49:50 Starship fuel (liquid methane) load start Success
−00:48:40 Starship oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start Success
−00:40:40 Super Heavy fuel (liquid methane) load start Success
−00:34:03 Super Heavy oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start Success
−00:19:40 Super Heavy and Starship engine chill Success
−00:03:20 Starship propellant load complete Success
−00:02:50 Super Heavy propellant load complete Success
−00:00:30 SpaceX flight director verifies GO for launch Success
−00:00:10 Flame deflector activation Success
−00:00:03 Super Heavy engine ignition Success
+00:00:02 Liftoff Success
+00:01:02 Max q during ascent (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) Success
+00:02:35 Super Heavy most engines cutoff (MECO) Success
+00:02:40 Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging) Success
+00:02:45 Super Heavy boostback burn start Success
+00:03:41 Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown Success
+00:03:43 Hot-stage jettison Success
+00:06:08 Super Heavy is supersonic Success
+00:06:30 Super Heavy landing burn start Success
+00:06:54 Super Heavy landing burn shutdown and catch Success
+00:08:27 Starship engine cutoff (SECO) Success
+00:48:03 Starship entry Success
+01:00:50 Estimated time of max q during Starship's descent Success
+01:02:34 Starship is transonic Success
+01:03:43 Starship is subsonic Success
+01:05:15 Starship landing flip Success
+01:05:20 Starship landing burn Success
+01:05:40 Starship splashdown Success

Reactions

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NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised the flight stating "Congratulations to SpaceX on its successful booster catch and fifth Starship flight test today!".[29] Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield hailed the flight, declaring that "there was an enormous step forward in human capability today." [30]

On October 14, fellow aerospace manufacturer Rocket Factory Augsburg congratulated SpaceX for its "incredible feat of engineering", before noting that at its current pace, the European space industry has "no chance" of catching up to SpaceX.[31] Blue Origin and Stoke Space also congratulated SpaceX.[32][33] This was followed by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics praised Flight 5 and the whole of Starship development.[34]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 5.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Starship's Fifth Flight Test". SpaceX.com. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  2. ^ Bergin, Chris [@nasaspaceflight] (6 April 2024). "Some interesting notes" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 April 2024 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ NASASpaceflight (10 June 2024). Looking Ahead To The Next Starship Flight ALREADY | Starbase Update. Retrieved 10 June 2024 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "The removal of all of Starship 30's heatshield tiles has begun". X (formerly Twitter). 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  5. ^ NASASpaceflight (1 July 2024). SpaceX Gears Up for First Super Heavy Booster Catch! 🚀 | Starbase Update. Retrieved 7 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Jax (1 May 2024). "Moving into the Thirties: What's New on Starship 30?". Ringwatchers. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ^ Weber, Ryan (5 May 2024). "Ship 30 set to Static Fire next week as Flight 4 Preparations Continue". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  8. ^ Angle, Richard (9 May 2024). "SpaceX conducts a successful static fire of Starship". Teslarati. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  9. ^ NASASpaceflight (12 May 2024). Booster 11 Lifted Onto the OLM for Pre-Launch Testing | SpaceX Boca Chica. Retrieved 5 June 2024 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ NASASpaceflight (3 June 2024). It's Launch Week! (BONUS: Ship 26 Static Fire @ Masseys) - Countdown to Launch. Retrieved 5 June 2024 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ NASASpaceflight (9 July 2024). SpaceX Rolls out Potential First Catch Booster – B12. Retrieved 9 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ NASASpaceflight (14 July 2024). Booster 12 Conducts First Super Heavy Spin Prime Since Booster 9 | SpaceX Boca Chica. Retrieved 14 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ NASASpaceflight (15 July 2024). SpaceX Static Fires Booster 12 for Fifth Starship Flight Test. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "STATIC FIRE! Ship 30 fires up at Masseys ahead of Flight 5 of Starship".
  15. ^ "Starship stacked for Flight 5 and ready for launch". X (formerly Twitter). 21 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  16. ^ Clark, Stephen (4 June 2024). "We know Starship can fly—now it's time to see if it can come back to Earth". Ars Technica. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  17. ^ "OET Special Temporary Authority Report". apps.fcc.gov. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  18. ^ Foust, Jeff (11 September 2024). "Congress, industry criticize FAA launch licensing regulations". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  19. ^ Calma, Justine (13 August 2024). "SpaceX faces accusations it violated the Clean Water Act". The Verge. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  20. ^ a b "SpaceX repeatedly polluted waters in Texas this year, regulators found". NBC News. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Lingle, Brandon (12 September 2024). "SpaceX fined nearly $150,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency for water violations, fuel spill". expressnews.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  22. ^ US EPA, REG 06 (10 September 2024). "Proposed Administrative Penalty Order against Space Explorations Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) for Clean Water Act violation". www.epa.gov. Retrieved 13 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ a b c d "STARSHIPS ARE MEANT TO FLY - SpaceX - Updates". spacex.com. 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  24. ^ "SpaceX says Starship launch license delayed to November". The Business Times. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  25. ^ @bccarcounters (11 September 2024). "We asked the @FAANews about the recent @SpaceX update, regarding the timeline leading up to Flight 5. The FAA responded with a statement, about the timeline" (Tweet). Retrieved 11 September 2024 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ Beil, Adrian [@BCCarCounters] (2 October 2024). "We asked the @FAANews about today´s published NOTMARs for Starship Flight 5. The FAA confirmed that the statement from September 11, still stands, and Starship Flight 5 is not expected before late November" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "Dynamic Regulatory System". drs.faa.gov. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  28. ^ Wattles, Jackie (12 October 2024). "SpaceX gets approval for Starship launch amid standoff with FAA". CNN.
  29. ^ Wattles, Jackie (13 October 2024). "Highlights: SpaceX launches Starship test flight 5". CNN. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  30. ^ Chris Hadfield [@Cmdr_Hadfield] (13 October 2024). "There was an enormous step forward in human capability today. Makes me even more excited for our collective future. Congratulations to all @SpaceX!" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ @rfa_space (14 October 2024). "Congratulations to @SpaceX, what an incredible feat of engineering! Mars, here we come" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ @blueorigin (13 October 2024). "Congratulations!" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ @stoke_space (13 October 2024). "Congratulations!" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ Berger, Eric (14 October 2024). "Have we seen this kind of language in an official statement from AIAA before?". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
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