SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 5

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Starship integrated flight test 5
Mission typeFlight test
OperatorSpaceX
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftStarship S30, Super Heavy B12
← IFT-4
IFT-6 →
 

SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 5 (IFT-5) will be the fifth integrated flight test of a prototype Starship launch vehicle. The prototype vehicles planned to be flown are the Ship 30 upper-stage and Booster 12.[1]

SpaceX is expecting to perform the flight test in late June.[2][3] In April 2024, Musk stated that the flight could involve a catch of the Super Heavy booster with the tower, if B11's 'virtual tower' landing is successful in IFT-4.[4]

Background[edit]

Further information: SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 4

Development prior to launch[edit]

During a company all-hands in April 2024, Musk expanded briefly on the goals of flight 5 and that the first tower landing could occur pending the Super Heavy booster's virtual landing performance during flight 4.[4]

Vehicle testing ahead of launch[edit]

Design revisions on Ship 30 include a new vent on the liquid methane tank and another vent with a new valve design on the liquid oxygen (LOX) tank. Two arrays of small radio antennas were redesigned and relocated near the payload bay instead of the ship's nosecone, with one array concealed beneath the ship's heat shield.[5]

Static fire testing of Ship 30 occurred in early May in preparation for flight 5.[6] This was the last static fire conducted at the now-demolished Suborbital Pad B, as future tests will use the static fire stand at Massey's Test Site.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ NASASpaceflight (May 8, 2024). SpaceX Static Fires Ship 30 in Preparation for the Fifth Starship Flight. Retrieved May 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ RGV Aerial Photography (May 19, 2024). Starbase Weekly, Ep.116: Ship 26 Testing at the new Test Stand!. Retrieved May 19, 2024 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "SpaceX aims to launch Starship after Memorial Day". KVEO-TV. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Bergin, Chris (April 6, 2024). "Some interesting notes". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  5. ^ "Moving into the Thirties: What's New on Starship 30?". Ringwatchers. May 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  6. ^ Ali, Iqtidar (May 9, 2024). "SpaceX readies Flight 5 Starship with a static fire test ahead of Flight 4, Starbase updates". Tesla Oracle. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
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