SpaceX’s Starship is getting ready to take off again in June
SpaceX lost contact with Starship during its launch in March. | Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images
SpaceX is getting ready to launch its Starship into space again. On Friday, the company announced that the massive rocket’s fourth flight test could happen as soon as June 5th, so long as regulators approve it.
Starship successfully launched into space during its last test flight in March, but SpaceX lost contact with the vehicle as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere. The company says the booster had “lower than expected landing burn thrust” during reentry, which was likely caused by “continued filter blockage.”
The fourth flight test of Starship could launch as soon as June 5, pending regulatory approvalhttps://t.co/XjreI7nQOp pic.twitter.com/2tv2s1yJ5F— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 24, 2024
Despite this, the test still marked the first time SpaceX could test its payload door in space and complete a propellant transfer demonstration. Starship’s first two launches ended with fiery explosions. SpaceX first began developing Starship in 2012 as part of its goal of creating a fully reusable spacecraft. Eventually, the 165-foot-long Starship will be able to shuttle crew and cargo into space.
During Starship’s next flight, SpaceX will focus on the ability to return and reuse Starship and its Super Heavy booster, adding that it has made several hardware and software updates to achieve this. The fourth flight will follow a similar path as the previous one and aim for a splashdown of Starship in the Indian Ocean.
The US Federal Aviation Administration still has to sign off on the next test flight, so the June 5th date is not yet set in stone.
SpaceX lost contact with Starship during its launch in March. | Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images
SpaceX is getting ready to launch its Starship into space again. On Friday, the company announced that the massive rocket’s fourth flight test could happen as soon as June 5th, so long as regulators approve it.
Starship successfully launched into space during its last test flight in March, but SpaceX lost contact with the vehicle as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere. The company says the booster had “lower than expected landing burn thrust” during reentry, which was likely caused by “continued filter blockage.”
The fourth flight test of Starship could launch as soon as June 5, pending regulatory approvalhttps://t.co/XjreI7nQOp pic.twitter.com/2tv2s1yJ5F
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 24, 2024
Despite this, the test still marked the first time SpaceX could test its payload door in space and complete a propellant transfer demonstration. Starship’s first two launches ended with fiery explosions. SpaceX first began developing Starship in 2012 as part of its goal of creating a fully reusable spacecraft. Eventually, the 165-foot-long Starship will be able to shuttle crew and cargo into space.
During Starship’s next flight, SpaceX will focus on the ability to return and reuse Starship and its Super Heavy booster, adding that it has made several hardware and software updates to achieve this. The fourth flight will follow a similar path as the previous one and aim for a splashdown of Starship in the Indian Ocean.
The US Federal Aviation Administration still has to sign off on the next test flight, so the June 5th date is not yet set in stone.