Third Starship Launch: Liftoff Is A Success But Spacecraft Exploded During Re-Entry
10th Jan 2024
SpaceX’s Starship, which is the largest and most powerful rocket ever flown, failed at some point in its first and second test flights. After a series of investigations, rumours, and setbacks, the third Starship launched was a success. The flight was schedules on 14th March, the day Elon Musk established SpaceX 22 years ago.
OrbitalToday reports on all of the updates and progress around the third Starship launch.
SpaceX’s Third Starship Launch Is Success!
Updated on 14th March
SpaceX successfully launched the Starship rocket on Thursday morning. After two failed flight attempts, the third test launch of the largest rocket went without anomalies. The spacecraft has entered the set trajectory and performed a number of tests in space. However, the vehicle didn’t survive the reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
The Super Heavy booster that provided the initial thrust of power at liftoff landed in the ocean, as expected. Then, the Starship spacecraft continued its journey with its own engines.
“We’re farther than we’ve ever been before,” Dan Huot, a SpaceX communications manager said.
SpaceX also planned to perform some tests during the flight. For instance, the company shared footage of the payload door checkout. These doors will have to open on future flights if Starship deploys satellites.
SpaceX says that Starship reentered Earth’s atmosphere, but the vehicle is lost, the company confirms.
Teams on the ground lost contact with the vehicle after it plunged back toward Earth and re-entered the atmosphere. SpaceX lost two key pieces of communication at the same time: Contact with Starlink, SpaceX’s internet service, and with TDRSS — or Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.
SpaceX’s Dan Huot just made the call: “We are making the call now that we have lost (the) ship,” he said. “No splashdown today, but again, it’s incredible to see how much further we got this time around.”
Upcoming Launch on March 14
The FAA on Wednesday granted SpaceX a license to test-launch the company’s Starship rocket system from Texas.
“The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements,” the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which oversees launch site safety, said in a statement.
The regulatory sign-off came less than 24 hours before Starship’s targeted launch time of 7 a.m. CDT (1200 GMT)on Thursday from SpaceX’s Boca Chica, Texas, launch facilities, where the rocket’s first two attempts to reach space blasted off from last year.
You can Starship launch online on the SpaceX YouTube channel:
[Updated on 7th March]
According to the official X (Twitter) account, Starship is preparing for its third flight test, tentatively scheduled for March 14, pending regulatory approval.
Also, Flight 3 Starship will fly a new trajectory targeted to splashdown in the Indian Ocean instead of off Hawaii as planned for the first two tests to enable new techniques like in-space engine burns.
The live webcast is primed to kick off just 30 minutes before liftoff, available right on X account of @SpaceX. Like any ongoing development testing, the schedule might change unexpectedly. Stay informed by checking this article and our X account for the latest updates.
Crucial Fueling Test Before Starship Launch In March
[Updated on 5th March]
On the 4th March, SpaceX has conducted an important fueling test for Starship in anticipation of its third launch attempt. The rocket was filled with more than 10 million pounds of liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellant. The test was conducted at SpaceX’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach in southern Texas.
“Starship Flight 3 preparing for launch,” Elon Musk recently wrote on X (former Twitter). He has also shared images of the fueling test.
FAA closes investigation into explosive 2nd flight
[Updated on 27th February]
SpaceX is one step closer to its third Starship launch as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the close of its investigation.
SpaceX led an investigation that the FAA oversaw into the second launch of a Starship rocket that reached space before being intentionally destroyed due to a problem.
The FAA noted that SpaceX identified 17 corrective actions from the mishap.
“Prior to the next launch, SpaceX must implement all corrective actions and receive a license. … The FAA is evaluating SpaceX’s license modification request and expects SpaceX to submit additional required information before a final determination can be made,” the federal regulator said in a statement.
SpaceX still needs to submit additional information to the FAA about its responsibility for the safety of people and property on the ground before the agency finalizes its application to launch Starship for the third time. The likely timeline for completing the regulatory process is early to mid-March, according to ArsTechnica.
SpaceX revealed what went wrong during the second Starship flight
During the rocket’s flight, some of the engines on the big booster turned off after the top part of the rocket separated. Then, one engine stopped working, causing a chain reaction that led to the booster breaking apart.
Even after the separation, the main Starship part continued flying for a bit. But there was a problem with a fuel vent in the back, which caused a fire and cut off power to the engines. As a safety measure, the rocket’s system ended the flight.
SpaceX said they’ve already fixed these problems for future test flights. They’ve made improvements to both the big booster and the Starship itself. The second test flight had 17 things they needed to fix, which is much better than the first one, which needed 63 fixes before they could try again.
Starship team is preparing for a full launch rehearsal
[Updated on 14th February]
SpaceX’s third Starship megarocket stands in preparation for its imminent test flight. Recently, the rocket was assembled on the orbital launch mount at the Starbase facility in South Texas, with the Ship 28 upper-stage prototype placed atop its Booster 10 first-stage counterpart.
“Starship team is gearing up for a comprehensive launch rehearsal prior to Flight 3,” SpaceX announced in a post on X on Tuesday (Feb. 13), accompanied by photos showcasing this significant progress. Additionally, the company shared a brief video of the stacking process, executed by the “chopstick” arms of Starbase’s launch tower.
Third Starship launch: date and time
[Updated on 12th February]
Elon Musk said that the next Starship launch attempt will happen ‘in about three weeks’. SpaceX founder shared this insight on X (Twitter) on 12 February, as a reply to Kanye West’s post. However, Musk admits, that it requires a few more test flights before it will be safe for people and distant trips like to the Moon and Mars.
Back in November 2023, Elon Musk announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the third Starship vehicle was expected to be prepared for flight in the next 3 to 4 weeks. That meant that the next launch attempt should have occurred somewhere around Christmas. However, reality had different plans and so, it looks like SpaceX is now targeting February for its next Starship launch. Still, the exact date wasn’t confirmed as SpaceX is still waiting for regulatory approval.
Are there any investigations after Starship’s second flight?
The licensing process is always complicated. Despite the absence of reported injuries or damage to public property, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) labelled the second launch attempt in November as a “mishap.”
Following the incident, the agency declared that “the FAA will oversee the @SpaceX-led mishap investigation to ensure SpaceX complies with its FAA-approved mishap investigation plan and other regulatory requirements.” As of 10th January, there has been no further information provided by the FAA in the month since the announcement.
When is the next Starship launch?
At a media briefing on 9th January regarding NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program, Jessica Jensen, SpaceX’s Vice President of Customer Operations and Integration, emphasized that obtaining an updated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch license stands as the pivotal element dictating the schedule for the impending test flight.
Jensen remarked, “In terms of hardware readiness, our aim is to achieve readiness by January.” The company successfully conducted static-fire tests for both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage designated for this specific launch in the latter part of December.
Jensen expressed confidence in meeting this requirement, stating, “We’re on track for that. We’re expecting that license to come in February. So, it’s looking like Flight 3 will occur in February.”
Earlier, Kathy Lueders, the general manager overseeing SpaceX’s operations at the Starbase launch site near Brownsville, indicated that the company aims to conduct the third test flight in the first quarter of the upcoming year. “It would be great if we were in the first quarter, definitely,” she said. “Elon [Musk] obviously would probably say the end of December, but I don’t think we’ll get there.” And she was right.
The static fire test is done
On 20th December, SpaceX executed a “static fire” test with Ship 28, the prototype for the Starship upper stage. This involved a brief ignition of the vehicle’s Raptor engines while it was securely tethered to the pad at the company’s Starbase site in South Texas.
The purpose of this test is to prepare Ship 28 for Starship’s third test flight, an event eagerly anticipated by SpaceX, and slated for launch in the coming weeks. Encouragingly, the test conducted on 20th December proceeded smoothly, keeping the timeline on track. SpaceX confirmed the positive outcome, stating, “Flight 3 Starship completed a full-duration static fire with all six of its Raptor engines,” in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). The post also included a video capturing the test, providing enthusiasts with a visual glimpse of the successful trial.
We must say, the video is indeed thrilling. SpaceX has always known how to impress!
Surpise-surprise! Third Starship flight could test refueling tech
If the third Starship launch is finally a success that would be a wonderful milestone, but rumours have it, NASA and SpaceX are considering a propellant transfer test.
Recent revelations from Lakiesha Hawkins, the deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Moon to Mars program office, suggest that this mission could include a groundbreaking refuelling test, adding a layer of sophistication to SpaceX’s ambitious endeavours.
During a meeting with a committee of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on 4th December, a slide in her presentation mentioned SpaceX’s recent launch of the second-ever Starship mission. It indicated the company is “moving quickly” toward the third, “which will include a propellant transfer demonstration.”
However, Hawkins ignored this part during the meeting. Subsequently, NASA tempered the statement, with an agency spokesperson informing CNBC that “no final decisions on timing have been made.”
During a recent teleconference, SpaceX’s Jessica Jensen mentioned that they’re looking to test propellant transfer this year and expand those tests next year. In addition, SpaceX aims to land Starship on the Moon and test ascent capabilities in an uncrewed lunar mission before the Artemis 3 mission. This highlights SpaceX’s commitment to advancing space exploration.
Context
Starship rocket is an integral part of the timely completion of the Artemis program. As part of SpaceX’s 2020 $53 million Tipping Point contract with NASA, the upcoming test aims to showcase cryogenic tank-to-tank fuel transfer—an essential skill for larger vehicle-to-vehicle operations, crucial for the lunar lander transporting Artemis astronauts to the Moon.
In the envisioned journey to the Moon:
- SpaceX is projected to launch between 8 and 16 propellant tanker Starships to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in rapid succession. Each tanker will carry 100 to 150 tons of fuel, encompassing liquid oxygen and liquid methane.
- The tankers will rendezvous with a larger orbiting depot in space to facilitate the transfer of fuel.
- Subsequently, the orbiting depot will connect with the Human Landing System (HLS) Starship, loading its 1,200-ton tanks with the acquired fuel.
- The fully fueled Starship lander will then embark on its mission to land on the Moon.
To add to the complexity, NASA and SpaceX face the challenge of addressing the cryogenic boil-off problem, requiring innovative solutions to prevent the transformation of stored propellants into gas due to temperature changes.
How many times has Starship launched?
Both of the Starship’s two launches so far (in April and November this year) faced challenges.
The debut mission had issues with the stages separating, leading to intentional detonation. The second mission saw improvements like successful stage separation but ended with the upper stage exploding eight minutes after liftoff. Both flights fell short of their goal to circle the world from SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas to the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.
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