SpaceX announces Starship Flight 6 launch and landing catch date, FAA approval obtained

-

-Advertisement-

SpaceX has announced the sixth Starship launch and landing catch test (IFT-6)date. According to Elon Musk’s spaceflight company, Starship Flight 6 test will commence on Monday 18th November with backup launch windows.

Interestingly, this time, SpaceX did not mention the delays in regulatory approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In our last Starship update, we reported that the leaked Elon Musk SpaceX meeting audio suggest that Flight 6 is not FAA license constrained.

Since the license is already granted to conduct the Starship IFT-6 — SpaceX announced the date for the launch and landing test. SpaceX announced the date on X and with a blog post on its official website explaining the objectives and possible outcomes of the Starship Flight 6 test.

– Advertisement –
SpaceX announced Starship Flight 6 (IFT-6) date on X (Twitter) with a flashback video of the Flight 5 test (IFT-5).

Starship Flight 6 Objectives

SpaceX outlined the Flight 6 Starship launch and landing test in its official update of the event. It’s exciting to know that SpaceX will try to catch the Super Heavy rocket booster (Booster 13) the same way it caught the Flight 5 booster (Booster 12).

Since all of these Starship flights are a giant and long-term test project. Each flight provides SpaceX teams data and experience that is used to improve the next flight test.

Starting with Starship Flight 5, a booster landing catch by the launch tower Chopsticks is added to the objectives of future flights. SpaceX will attempt to catch the Flight 6 booster as well but if all the safety measures are met and the possibility of the catch is almost 100%.

– Advertisement –
The moment when Starship Flight 5 lifted-off the Starbase Orbital Launch Mount (OLM). 2nd launch tower (front), Mechazilla launch tower (rear).
The moment when Starship Flight 5 lifted-off the Starbase Orbital Launch Mount (OLM). 2nd launch tower (front), Mechazilla launch tower (rear). Credit: SpaceX via X (Twitter).

According to SpaceX, the launch tower and Chopstick arms used to catch the Flight 5 booster are improved further to perform the Flight 6 catch even better. The leaked audio of SpaceX engineers suggests Flight 5 booster was a second away from disaster at landing catch.

Therefore, SpaceX has made necessary safety improvements for the Flight 6 launch and landing-catch test. SpaceX wrote in its blog post:

The success of the first catch attempt demonstrated the design feasibility while providing valuable data to continue improving hardware and software performance. Hardware upgrades for this flight add additional redundancy to booster propulsion systems, increase structural strength at key areas, and shorten the timeline to offload propellants from the booster following a successful catch. Mission designers also updated software controls and commit criteria for the booster’s launch and return.

Analogous to the fifth flight test, distinct vehicle and pad criteria must be met prior to a return and catch of the Super Heavy booster, which will require healthy systems on the booster and tower and a final manual command from the mission’s Flight Director. If this command is not sent prior to the completion of the boostback burn, or if automated health checks show unacceptable conditions with Super Heavy or the tower, the booster will default to a trajectory that takes it to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. We accept no compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public and our team, and the return will only take place if conditions are right.

Starship’s upper stage will fly the same suborbital trajectory as the previous flight test, with splashdown targeted in the Indian Ocean. An additional objective for this flight will be attempting an in-space burn using a single Raptor engine, further demonstrating the capabilities required to conduct a ship deorbit burn prior to orbital missions.

Starship Flight 6 Trajectory

The upper/2nd stage Flight 6 Ship 31 is set to make a splashdown landing in the Indian Ocean like its predecessor.

SpaceX will attempt to make a similar landing catch of the 1st stage Flight 6 Super Heavy booster like Flight 5. However, if it does not meet all the safety measures of the landing-catch, SpaceX will land it in the Gulf of Mexico.

SpaceX published the following infographic of the Starship Flight 6 (IFT-6) trajectory:

Starship Flight 6 trajectory infographic showing paths for both the 1st stage Super Heavy Booster 13 and upper stage Ship 31.
Starship Flight 6 trajectory infographic showing paths for both the 1st stage Super Heavy Booster 13 and upper stage Ship 31. Credit: SpaceX.

Stay tuned as we will be covering live updates of the Starship Flight 6 test and the developments in between.

Stay tuned for future updates on Starship and SpaceX, Follow us on:
Google News | X (Twitter) | Flipboard | RSS (Feedly).

Related Starship News

Iqtidar Ali
Iqtidar Alihttp://www.teslaoracle.com
Author of more than 1500 articles on Tesla, SpaceX, and EVs. His work has been liked and tweeted by Elon Musk and other prominent influencers. You can reach him on Twitter @IqtidarAlii

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest News

Tesla’s post-election rally hits a little bump, Wedbush raises TSLA price target to $400

Tesla (TSLA) has been making historic strides in a post-election rally until Friday last week resulting in the company...

Cybertruck wrapped in Obsidian Red looks out of this world (pics & cost)

The out-of-the-box stainless steel look of the Tesla Cybertruck is not for everyone. Many Cybertruck owners are inclined toward...

Tesla (TSLA) market cap reaches $1 trillion after 2 years as 3-day rally continues

Friday 8th November 2024 — Tesla (TSLA) has once again joined the $1 trillion club during intraday trading today...

Upcoming Tesla app feature lets you visually identify service issues in advance

In an upcoming over-the-air (OTA) software update to its fleet, Tesla (TSLA) is deploying a new feature that allows...
- Advertisement -

Starship updates: Flight 6 preps, Starship V2 progress, Launch Pad B construction at Starbase, more

SpaceX has been making a ton of progress on the upcoming projects at Starbase, Boca Chica Texas lately after...

Starship Flight 6 booster static fire test, 2nd stage catch next year, more updates

Last week we reported that SpaceX has moved the Flight 6 Super Heavy rocket booster to the Starbase, ...

SpaceX moves Flight 6 Super Heavy rocket to the launch pad for testing

Elon Musk's spaceflight and exploration company SpaceX is moving fast ahead for the Starship Flight 6 launch and landing...

Tesla Tips & Tricks

Leaked photo of the Tesla Cybertruck bed reveals 3 power outlets of 120 and 240 volts

As close as we get to the Cybertruck Delivery...

Here’s how Tesla Car Wash Mode works

Teslas are undoubtedly the world's most sophisticated production cars...

Tesla Quarterly Reports & Eearnings

Tesla (TSLA) stock rally continued for the 2nd day after the Q3 2024 Earnings Call and profit report

Tesla (TSLA) stock started rallying the next morning after...

Tesla (TSLA) vehicle deliveries grew 4% in Q3 2024 compared to the last quarter, 6% YoY

Tesla (TSLA) released its Q3 2024 vehicle production and...
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended for You