SpaceX's Next Giant Leap: Will Starship's Fourth Flight Test Break New Ground?
Space enthusiasts, buckle up! SpaceX has once again stacked its Starship 29 on top of the mighty Super Heavy Booster 11, gearing up for what promises to be a groundbreaking fourth integrated flight test. This test could launch within the next three to five weeks, and the anticipation is sky-high. Over the coming days, SpaceX plans to conduct various preparatory tests, including a full Wet Dress Rehearsal, where Starship will be fully fueled. Each ground system will also undergo rigorous examination to eradicate any potential complications before the much-awaited flight.
Full stack of Flight 4 Starship pic.twitter.com/TPprnj0zC4
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 16, 2024
But the spotlight isn't just on the hardware. SpaceX is still awaiting the all-important launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Elon Musk and his team are hopeful that this green light will come within the next 3 to 5 weeks, coinciding nicely with their estimated timeframe for the flight. Starship 29 has already proven its mettle with two static fires, while Super Heavy Booster 11 has demonstrated its power with one static fire involving its 33 Raptor engines. Up next could be a spin prime or another static fire test while the two giants are joined together.
Following these rigorous tests, the plan is to de-stack the two rockets, potentially moving them back to the production site for final touch-ups, including completing the heatshield tiles on Starship 29. SpaceX's ambitions don't stop there; they recently performed a static fire of Starship 30 at suborbital pad B. It's likely that Ship 30 will be the star of the fifth flight test, accompanied by Super Heavy Booster 12, which has successfully undergone two cryogenic tests.
The saga took an unpredictable turn when a cryogenic test of Starship 31 encountered issues. A video captured by NASASpaceFlight showed what appeared to be an electrical fire during the detanking process.
Ship 31 appears to have suffered an issue during its cryo testing at Masseys.https://t.co/e3xbqPnwZ5 pic.twitter.com/mTBhutWEX1
— Chris Bergin – NSF (@NASASpaceflight) May 13, 2024
John Cargile from 'What About It' later provided a detailed picture of the damage, revealing extensive impairment to the raceway—a conduit filled with electrical wires running up and down the ship.
SpaceX’s Ship 31 encountered an unknown problem during its last cryo test at Massey’s test site at Starbase.
Here’s the aftermath! 🔥 Extensive damage to the raceway.
Latest Info: https://t.co/KOEx3RANLM
📸@GroundTruthPics ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Avz3tENPWj
— What about it!? (@FelixSchlang) May 14, 2024
While the extent of the damage and the feasibility of repairs remain uncertain, it's worth noting that SpaceX has a history of overcoming such challenges. Previous issues have been repaired, and the rockets have successfully taken to the skies thereafter.
Now, we turn to you, the community. Will SpaceX's fourth flight test indeed take place within the next 3 to 5 weeks as anticipated, or are we looking at another delay? One thing's for sure, the passion and resilience of SpaceX continue to push the boundaries of space exploration.
Have thoughts or comments? Feel free to reach out via email at rangle@teslarati.com, or connect on Twitter @RDAnglePhoto.