Second Starship flight: A big step forward for SpaceX despite explosions

Despite a spectacular takeoff with all Raptor engines apparently working well, the Starship avoided taking off sideways (crabbing) this time, but both parts of the launcher were unfortunately lost.

super heavy assures

However, unlike the previous flight, this second mission is much more successful. On the one hand, the launcher has once again made changes to Mac 1 and MaxQ, which is important for an evolving launcher. On the other hand, the main platform, Super Heavy, continued to function satisfactorily until separationseparation, It was only after this separation that various malfunctions led to the Super Heavy’s self-destruction, with the starship itself destroyed a few minutes later. At the time of writing, we do not know why self-destruct was activated and whether this mode was done automatically or manually.

many positive points

Other positive points, although yet to be confirmed by telemetry, are that two innovations on Starship worked well. Be it the arrangement to prevent the launcher from flying away like a crab and above all the clever and daring arrangement that allows separation of the two stages of the starship.

In the end, Starship’s ground infrastructure did not suffer significant damage as it did during the first launch attempt in April. The new deluge system, which comes on when the engine starts, also apparently worked well. As a reminder, its purpose is to reduce temperatures reaching several hundred degrees, but above all to reduce the effect of the acoustic wave of take-off and therefore the acoustic shock of engine ignition.

Therefore this second test flight can be described as very promising spacexspacex And gives a glimpse of a third, even more accomplished flight. On this topic, it seems that within ten days, a new Starship will be installed on its launch pad, in the best case and unless the FAA apparently finds something to complain about, a third attempt from January 2024 !

Article by Remi Decorte Published 11/17/2023

it’s done ! Just seven months after the first attempt partially failed, the FAA has given SpaceX the green light for a second test flight of Starship. Initially scheduled for today, the launch, which once again promises to be spectacular, has been postponed to Saturday.

After several weeks of uncertainty over the length of the regulatory process, SpaceX has finally received authorization to fly Starship. It was issued by the FAA, which oversees private launches in the United States, after multiple reviews related to launcher safety, environmental protection, and financial responsibility. Just minutes after the official announcement from the FAA, Elon MuskElon Musk And SpaceX announced the return of Starship flights this Friday. Due to a small setback they had to postpone this second flight till Saturday. This launch can be watched live Social NetworksSocial Networks and website InternetInternet From SpaceX. It’s scheduled from 2:00pm Paris time, but check back.

a significant number of improvements

To authorize Starship to fly again, SpaceX was forced to make several modifications and adaptations to the launcher, but also to make part of the ground infrastructure necessary for the takeoff of the most powerful launcher ever built. Elon Musk has confirmed the implementation of over 1,000 improvements, 63 of which were imposed by the FAA to improve flight safety and performance.

On the ground, the launch pad and launch tower, which were heavily damaged during the first attempt, were reinforced and equipped with an impressive deluge system. The purpose of this system, which is activated when the engine is started, is to reduce temperatures which reach several hundred degrees, but above all to reduce the effect of the acoustic wave of take-off and therefore the acoustic shock of engine ignition. Is. , As seen during the first flight, this wave can cause significant damage around the launch pad.

Two innovations on Super Heavy

One major modification to the launcher is related to the separation of the Starship’s two stages which did not function correctly during the first test flight. The traditional technique used by all launchers with ignition of the engines of the upper stage (Starship) after separation from the main stage (Super Heavy) has been abandoned. SpaceX is choosing a bold option with engines that will be fired before the two stages separate. The engines will ignite only approximately two minutes and forty seconds after liftoff when the core stage engines begin to shut down. To protect the main stage from burning and exploding, the barrels of the six Raptor engines will be oriented towards the outside of the stages.

Another innovation, this time to prevent the launchers from flying like a crab as had happened during the first attempt and which was explained by a surprising choice of housing the non-oriented engines in the outer crown of the bay. In its new configuration, Super Heavy will be equipped with a more efficient electronic steering system that will allow it to direct the engine nozzle to maintain the launcher’s trajectory in its predetermined corridor. Finally, and we hope we will not reach this situation, the self-destruct system of the launcher, which helped it function during the first flight, will be more “radical”.

World’s most powerful launch vehicle Starship may fly for new test on Friday

Article by Remi Decorte, published on 11/14/2023

With the announcement of road closures in Boca Chica, the imminent arrival of a second Starship launch is confirmed; SpaceX has mentioned a possible date of November 17 on its website. However, not all regulatory lights are green. The FAA, the only organization granting flight authorization for Starship, is awaiting an environmental report from the federal agency responsible for the safety of life in aquatic environments. the wildlifethe wildlife (FWS).

More than six months after the first flight of Starship, whose fate is known, a second launch seems imminent. At SpaceX Starbase, where rocketrocket The giant will take off, we are ready to ignite the launcher’s powerful engines. Only flight authorization is missing. We will explain this to you.

Environmental review findings awaited

According to various US websites, the regulatory challenges associated with Starship’s flight are now primarily focused on finalizing an environmental review, which is currently the responsibility of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The agency evaluates modifications to the rocket, infrastructure, and ground part of Starship. Last week, the FAA, which oversees private launches in the United States, announced it had completed a safety review of Super Heavy and Starship, but it still had to review the FWS report before making a decision on authorization of Starship’s return. Is waiting for. flight.

many endangered or threatened species

To understand the position of the service in charge of protecting life in the aquatic environment and wildlife, which has a wrongful role in delaying the flight of the giant rocket, you should know that the SpaceX launch base, Starbase, is surrounded by Virgin Places that serve as habitat and refuge for endangered animals such as the red knot jaguarondijaguarondipopulation ofocelotsocelots And this sea ​​turtlessea ​​turtlesincluding the Kemp’s Ridley, which nests on the beaches of Boca Chica, one of the world’s most endangered sea turtles. One of these accommodations has even been designated as essential for a speciesspecies D’BirdBird Endangered, Piping Plover.

Yet Starship launch is a risky test flight

The Starship which is about to fly has undergone changes compared to its first test flight. Among related devices and elements, Elon Musk stressed that the separation system of the giant rocket “represents” The most dangerous part of flying “and postponed” Don’t expect too much from this second flight », adopting a less optimistic tone than usual.

As per the plan, the mission flight plan will remain the same as the first partially failed attempt. After separation, the Starship will make a brief passage through “space” at an altitude of about 250 kilometers, after which To revolve aroundTo revolve around Almost completely around the Earth. Finally, he will enter theAtmosphereAtmosphere To make a controlled water landing in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.

SpaceX: Second Starship launch attempt could happen in December

Article by Remy Decorte, published 10/30/2023

Just five months after Starship exploded during flight, SpaceX says it is ready to fly its giant rocket again. While waiting for the FAA, the US government’s civil aviation agency, to authorize Starship’s return to flight, the company is preparing for a second attempt that could take place in December.

A few days ago, SpaceX representatives,AmazonAmazon And Blue Origin met with several political figures and members of the Senate Space and Science Subcommittee and alerted them to the procedures. certificationcertification and flight authorization from the FAA, the federal aviation agency that regulates private launches in the United States, the duration of which slows down their space operations. These companies clearly do not want to escape the FAA’s regulatory control, but are seeking greater efficiency in the process of issuing launch licenses. Today, flight authorization requests can take up to 135 days!

Flight authorization granted within a few weeks

Apparently his views were listened to. Shortly after this meeting, the FAA said it was committed to issuing an opinion on authorizing a second integrated flight of Starship, sooner than the 135 days allowed by its certification process.

So in this regulatory context it makes more sense now that SpaceX is readying its giant rocket for a second demonstration flight, only five months after the first partially failed attempt. You should know that this launcher has been ready since mid-September.

Multiple Starship flights in 2023 and 2024

Aware that the purpose of an American team lunelune With 2025 out of reach, the company SpaceX has announced plans to perform at least two Starship flights this year – which seems difficult to achieve for us – and several other flights during the year 2024. If care has been taken in specifying the number of missions targeted in 2024, we know it is planning a large demonstration transfer classtransfer class The amount of fuel between a starship in the manned version (but which will be uninhabited at the moment) and a starship in cargo mode.

Artemis III in sight

Whereas NASANASA While Artemis II is preparing, whose launch is scheduled for the end of 2024, the next mission, Artemis III, is the one that will allow two Americans to land on the Moon aboard SpaceX’s Lunar Starship. But, LisaLisa Watson-Morgan, Program Manager manned landing system (HLS) said it is concerned about SpaceX’s Starship development program, which could delay the return of Americans to the Moon by several years!