SpaceX advances with Starship's seventh orbital test flight
On January 15, 2024, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, SpaceX's Starship rocket will launch. This launch marks the seventh test flight, featuring technological advancements and challenging maneuvers, including placing a simulated payload into orbit.
On Wednesday, January 15, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, SpaceX plans another test flight of its mega-rocket, Starship. This will be the seventh such flight, during which engineers will test new technologies and the rocket's ability to perform complex maneuvers, such as placing a simulated payload into orbit.
Starship is a two-stage rocket with a height of 123 metres. The first stage, Super Heavy, serves as the carrier module, and the second stage, Starship, is a spacecraft. The project's goal is to launch large payloads into orbit while simultaneously reducing transportation costs.
During this flight, the vehicle's new front flaps will be tested. These flaps have been reduced in size and repositioned to minimize their exposure to heat during re-entry into the atmosphere. Other changes include the propulsion system, where fuel volume has been increased by 25 percent. Vacuum insulation for fuel lines has been applied, and a new fuel supply system for the engines has been introduced.
Tests and experiments
During the flight, the first attempt to place ten Starlink satellite simulators into orbit will be made. Experiments related to atmospheric re-entry and landing are also planned, including a test of catching the ship and returning the Super Heavy booster.
Special attention has been given to tests of the thermal shield, which now utilizes the latest generation of protective tiles with a backup layer. On the upper stage of the ship, some protective tiles have been removed to allow for endurance testing in the areas most vulnerable to damage.
SpaceX emphasizes that the coming year will be crucial for the development of Starship. The company's goal is to launch a system that fully reuses the vehicle and to carry out increasingly ambitious missions. This includes sending people and payloads into Earth's orbit, to the Moon, and to Mars. The launch can be followed on Platform X.
During the previous sixth test flight in November 2023, not everything went according to plan. The carrier module, instead of returning to Texas, was directed to the Gulf of Mexico, and the second part of the rocket landed in the Indian Ocean.
