SpaceX is scheduled to conduct the sixth flight test of Starship, its largest rocket ever, starting November 18, following the smooth success of the previous mission less than a month later.
The high-flying cadence is thanks in part to successes that included returning the Super Heavy Booster to the launch pad for the first time. A giant “chopstick” arm protruded from the launcher and caught it in the air. Controlled target splashdown following suborbital flight of the spacecraft upper stage in the Indian Ocean. This sixth test contains many of the same objectives. This fact led the Federal Aviation Administration to simultaneously approve Flights 5 and 6 last month. Until now, SpaceX had to wait (sometimes months) for regulatory approval before each Starship launch.
In a post on its website, SpaceX said it would attempt to replicate the same success on November 18, including capturing the booster at the launch site and performing an accurate Starship splashdown. The company will also continue to test heat shielding and maneuvering for upper reentry “to expand the limits of ship and booster capabilities and move closer to bringing the entire system online for reuse.” Engineers also introduced several upgrades to the system, including increased redundancy in the booster, propulsion system, updated software controls and other changes.
SpaceX will also attempt to refire one of the Ship’s six Raptor engines in orbit, a key feature that will ultimately lead to reuse of the Starship upper stage. Engineers may proceed with this step in other ways as well. The company will test new secondary thermal protection materials. Additionally, as the company stated, “The ship will intentionally fly at a higher angle of attack during the final stages of descent, intentionally emphasizing the limitations of flap control to obtain data for future landing profiles.”
All of these tests will culminate in “massive upgrades” to the ship, starting with Flight 7, such as redesigned flaps, larger propellant tanks and updated thermal protection.
A live webcast of the test will begin approximately 30 minutes prior to launch time at 2:00 PM Pacific Time and can be viewed on the X or SpaceX websites. This late afternoon launch window (starting at 4 p.m. local time in Texas) will provide better observation conditions upon re-entry, SpaceX said.
