SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 5 (IFT-5) will be the fifth integrated flight test of a prototype Starship launch vehicle. The prototype vehicles planned to be flown are the Ship 30 upper-stage and Booster 12.[1]
| Names | Integrated Flight Test-5 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Flight test |
| Operator | SpaceX |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Starship Ship 30 |
| Spacecraft type | SpaceX Starship |
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | NET July 2024 |
| Rocket | SpaceX Super Heavy Booster 12 |
| Launch site | Starbase |
SpaceX Starship flights | |
Based on comments from Elon Musk, the fifth flight test is expected no earlier than mid July 2024.[2] In April 2024, Musk stated that the flight may involve a catch of the Super Heavy booster with the tower, based on the outcome of B11's 'virtual tower' landing during IFT-4, which he reiterated on June 6, after IFT-4 had concluded.[3][4]
Background edit
Development prior to launch edit
During a company all-hands in April 2024, Musk expanded briefly on the goals of flight 5, stating that the first tower landing could occur on IFT-5, depending on B11's virtual landing performance during flight 4.[3] 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.[5]
Vehicle testing ahead of launch edit
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]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ NASASpaceflight (May 8, 2024). SpaceX Static Fires Ship 30 in Preparation for the Fifth Starship Flight. Retrieved May 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ @NosVemosEnM4rte (June 10, 2024). "Elon Musk talks about Starship" (Tweet). Retrieved June 10, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Bergin, Chris [@nasaspaceflight] (April 6, 2024). "Some interesting notes" (Tweet). Retrieved April 6, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ https://x.com/NosVemosEnM4rte/status/1799962142910960112.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Jax (May 1, 2024). "Moving into the Thirties: What's New on Starship 30?". Ringwatchers. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ "Moving into the Thirties: What's New on Starship 30?". Ringwatchers. May 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Ali, Iqtidar (May 9, 2024). "SpaceX readies Flight 5 Starship with a static fire test ahead of Flight 4, Starbase updates". Tesla Oracle. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ NASASpaceflight (May 12, 2024). Booster 11 Lifted Onto the OLM for Pre-Launch Testing | SpaceX Boca Chica. Retrieved June 5, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ NASASpaceflight (June 3, 2024). It's Launch Week! (BONUS: Ship 26 Static Fire @ Masseys) - Countdown to Launch. Retrieved June 5, 2024 – via YouTube.