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SpaceX Preparing for Starship’s Fifth Test Flight
SpaceX is currently gearing up for the fifth test flight of its Starship megarocket, despite the fact that the fourth test flight has not yet taken place. The aerospace company recently conducted a “static fire” test with a Starship upper stage at its Starbase site located in South Texas on May 8. During the test, all six of the 165-foot-tall Raptor engines of the vehicle were briefly ignited while it remained secured to the launch pad.
It is customary for SpaceX to perform static fires in preparation for upcoming launches. However, the Starship vehicle that underwent the recent static fire is not the next one scheduled for liftoff. The Flight 4 Starship is expected to be the next in line for launch and could potentially take place later this month. Prior to this, SpaceX had already conducted static fires for both components of the Flight 4 Starship – the upper stage known as Ship, and the massive Super Heavy first-stage booster equipped with 33 Raptors.
The Flight 4 vehicle appears to be in readiness for launch. However, SpaceX is still awaiting the approval of a launch license from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as the agency is continuing to investigate the events surrounding Starship’s previous liftoff.
Recent Developments in Starship Testing
The most recent test involving a full Ship-Super Heavy stack was conducted on March 14, during which Starship performed admirably according to SpaceX. The two stages successfully separated, with the Super Heavy accomplishing a flawless “boostback” maneuver shortly thereafter to position itself for a planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
The upper stage of the Starship reached orbital velocity and sustained flight for approximately 50 minutes, a duration significantly longer than any previous Starship vehicle. However, both stages experienced breakups – the Super Heavy disintegrated at an altitude of about 1,650 feet above the sea, while the Ship met its end during reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
SpaceX’s ultimate goal with the Starship program is to facilitate human and cargo missions to destinations such as the moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. NASA has already chosen the Starship as the primary crewed lunar lander for its Artemis program, underscoring the vehicle’s significance in future space exploration endeavors. SpaceX’s CEO, Elon Musk, has repeatedly emphasized the potential of Starship in enabling economically viable settlements on Mars.
The path to operationalizing the Starship will likely entail numerous test flights, a process that SpaceX aims to expedite. Elon Musk has articulated plans for launching the Starship at least six times within the current year, indicating the company’s eagerness to advance its space exploration objectives.
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