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SpaceX has been granted a launch license for the fourth test flight of its huge moon rocket.
Starship, the most powerful launch vehicle ever built, is scheduled for liftoff on Thursday. The launch window opens at 8 a.m. ET and will last for 120 minutes. You can watch a livestream of the flight test on SpaceX's website, which will be available approximately 30 minutes before liftoff.
The Starship vehicle, consisting of the upper Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy rocket booster, will be launching from SpaceX's private Starbase facility located in Boca Chica, Texas.
SpaceX received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for a flight test on Tuesday. The agency confirmed that the company had fulfilled all safety and licensing requirements for the test flight.
The FAA stated that SpaceX presented three scenarios for Starship's entry into the atmosphere that would not warrant an investigation if the vehicle is lost. These scenarios include a thermal shield failure, partial loss of control during flight, and an engine failure during landing.
The agency stated that if there is a different anomaly with the Starship vehicle or the Super Heavy booster rocket, an investigation may be needed.
Furthermore, the FAA has approved the mission plan which includes both controlled and uncontrolled entries for the Starship vehicle. If SpaceX decides to go with an uncontrolled entry, they must inform the FAA before the launch. In this case, if the Starship vehicle is lost, it will be considered a planned event and no investigation will be necessary.
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - MAY 31: Boeing's Starliner spacecraft sits atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at Space Launch Complex 41 as preparations are made for NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test on May 31, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. After a first attempt on May 6th was scrubbed, NASA and its mission partners are scheduled to try again at 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. The mission will send two astronauts to the International Space Station. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
On May 31, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Boeing Starliner spacecraft is seen perched on top of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at Space Launch Complex 41. This setup is part of the preparations for NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test.
NASA and its mission partners will make a second attempt on Saturday, June 1 at 12:25 p.m. to send two astronauts to the International Space Station. The first attempt on May 6th was scrubbed. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Each test flight of Starship aims to achieve specific goals that enhance the knowledge gained from previous flights.
SpaceX's current focus is on showcasing the capability to bring back and reuse both Starship and Super Heavy. The main targets include successfully carrying out a landing burn and gentle splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico with the Super Heavy booster, as well as accomplishing a controlled entry of Starship.
If successful, Starship is expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX made multiple software and hardware upgrades on Starship to incorporate lessons learned from the third flight.
SpaceX announced that the fourth flight of Starship is intended to advance us towards a future where space travel is more easily accessible. The company is focused on the rapid development of Starship, testing flight hardware in real-life conditions to gather valuable insights. The ultimate goal is to create a fully reusable transportation system capable of carrying both crew and cargo to destinations such as Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The upcoming flight will mark the continuation of SpaceX's efforts to push the boundaries of space exploration. Through a series of wild test flights, the company is working towards perfecting the technology needed for achieving frequent and reliable space travel. Each test flight brings SpaceX closer to realizing its vision of a sustainable and efficient space transportation system.
The first two attempts to get Starship to orbital speeds in 2023 ended in explosions, with the spacecraft and booster erupting into flames before reaching their intended landing sites.
SpaceX is known to embrace fiery mishaps in the early stages of spacecraft development, saying these failures help the company rapidly implement design changes that lead to better results.
SpaceX focuses on developing rockets quickly by using a method called "rapid spiral development." This involves building prototypes fast and intentionally testing them to learn and improve at a quicker pace than relying solely on ground tests and simulations.
Following the failed first and second Starship test flights, SpaceX quickly turned these setbacks into learning opportunities and emphasized the importance of learning from failures.
The SpaceX Starship spacecraft took off from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas on March 14, 2024. This was the third test launch of the Starship, which is known as the world's most powerful rocket. It plays a crucial role in NASA's mission to land astronauts on the Moon and aligns with Elon Musk's vision of establishing a colony on Mars.
The SpaceX Starship spacecraft lifts off from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on March 14, 2024. SpaceX on Thursday carried out the third test launch of Starship, the world's most powerful rocket that is vital to NASA's plans for landing astronauts on the Moon and Elon Musk's hopes of eventually colonizing Mars. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
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SpaceX's Starship reached new heights in a monumental test flight, but unfortunately, it was lost on reentry. The third test flight, which lasted nearly an hour and took place in March, successfully achieved several milestones. However, instead of splashing down in the Indian Ocean as planned, the spacecraft broke apart after reentry.
Starship's success is crucial for SpaceX, as CEO Elon Musk views the rocket as vital to the company's goal of sending humans to Mars.
In addition, NASA has chosen the Starship spacecraft to transport astronauts launched from the United States to the moon for the first time in over 50 years as part of the Artemis program. This move puts NASA in competition with China to establish a permanent lunar outpost and pave the way for settlements in deep space.
Editor's P/S:
The upcoming fourth test flight of SpaceX's Starship marks a significant milestone in the company's relentless pursuit of advancing space exploration. With each flight, SpaceX pushes the boundaries of technology, testing the limits of reusable spacecraft and aiming to revolutionize space travel. The controlled entries and the ability to reuse both Starship and Super Heavy bring us closer to achieving frequent and reliable space missions.
SpaceX's rapid spiral development approach, coupled with its willingness to embrace failures as learning opportunities, demonstrates their commitment to innovation. Despite setbacks, the company continues to make rapid progress, with the ultimate goal of establishing a sustainable and efficient space transportation system. As SpaceX continues to refine Starship through test flights, the future of space travel looks increasingly promising, opening up new possibilities for deep space exploration and unlocking the secrets of the cosmos.
