 The plume from Starship flight test 6 as seen from theInternational Space Station | |
| Mission type | Flight test |
|---|---|
| Operator | SpaceX |
| Mission duration | 1 hour, 5 minutes, 24 seconds |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | StarshipShip 31 |
| Spacecraft type | Starship |
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | November 19, 2024, 4:00 pmCST (22:00 UTC)[1] |
| Rocket | Super Heavy (B13) |
| Launch site | Starbase,OLP-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date |
|
| Landing site |
|
| Orbital parameters | |
| Regime | Transatmospheric Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | Initial: 8 km (5 mi) After relight: 50 km (31 mi)[2] |
| Apogee altitude | Initial: 190 km (120 mi) After relight: 228 km (142 mi)[2] |
| Inclination | 26.3°[2] |
 Mission patch | |
Starship flight test 6 was the sixthflight test of aSpaceX Starship launch vehicle. Theprototype vehicles flown were theShip 31 upper stage and first stageBooster 13.[3] The flight test started on November 19, 2024, at 22:00:00 UTC (4:00 pm CST, local time at the launch site).[1]
Although the flight had a similar profile toFlight 5, a suborbital flight to theIndian Ocean, it had several changes to gain flight data for future ship recovery and reuse. The shipreentered the atmosphere at a steeper angle to test the limits of the flaps, and certain parts were outfitted with newthermal protection materials. Certain areas of the heat shield were removed in anticipation of the addition of catch hardware on future ships, which will be needed to land the ship on the arms of the launch tower. Flight 6 was the first flight to include an in-space burn of a singleRaptor engine, demonstrating thedeorbiting capability of Starship. The launch occurred at a later time of day than previous flights to enable the ship to descend to the ocean in the daylight at the landing location for better visual observations.[1] This was the last flight of the Block 1Starship upper stage. Block 2 and eventually Block 3 will be used for future flights.[4]
Starship Ship 31 (S31) was rolled toMasseys Test Site at SpaceX Starbase in Texas for cryogenic testing on May 11, 2024.[5] During its first cryogenic test on May 12, an electrical anomaly occurred,[6] and Starship Ship 31 was rolled back to the production site for repairs on May 15.[7] S31 completed a successful cryogenic test in early July.[8] S31 completed a successful static fire on September 18.[9] It was rolled to launch site on November 11.[10]
Super Heavy Booster 13 (B13) was moved to theOrbital Launch Pad on October 22, 2024. While on the launch pad it conducted astatic fire of all 33 of itsRaptor engines on October 24.[11] It was rerolled to the launch site and stacked with S31 on November 14. On November 17 B13 and S31 conducted a partial tanking test ahead of launch.[12]
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The mission profile for flight test 6 mirrored the trajectory of flight test 5, withStarship launching on November 19, 2024, at 22:00:00 UTC (4:00 pm CST, local time at the launch site). At T+ 2:39, the Starship upper stagehot-staged fromSuper Heavy, and continued its ascent. Although Super Heavy was supposed to return toStarbase, the booster catch was called off due to a loss of communication to the launch tower. It was later found that during launch a communications and weather station antenna were bent from the engine plume.[1][13] Instead, Super Heavy came down for a controlled landing 32 km (20 mi) downrange in theGulf of Mexico where it soon broke up.[14] Itsliquid oxygen tank section continued to float before being sunk the following day.[15][16]
Shortly after,Ship 31 shut its engines down, entering a coast phase. The upper stageStarship spacecraft reached an initialapogee of 190 km (120 mi) and aperigee of 8 km (5.0 mi) at a 26.3 degree orbit, marking the first time Starship has had positive perigee. At 22:37:46, the Ship successfully conducted the first Raptor engine relight in the vacuum of space, which raised the apogee to 228 km (142 mi) and the perigee to 50 km (31 mi).[2] Starship reentered the atmosphere at 22:47:13, and at 23:05:24, Starship performed a controlled splash down in theIndian Ocean, which marked the first time Starship landed from space during daylight hours.[17]
| Time | Event[1] | November 19, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| −01:15:00 | Flight director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading | Go for propellant loading |
| −00:49:50 | Starship fuel (liquid methane) load start | Success |
| −00:49:21 | Starship oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start | Success |
| −00:41:15 | Super Heavy fuel (liquid methane) load start | Success |
| −00:35:39 | Super Heavy oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start | Success |
| −00:19:40 | Super Heavy and Starship engine chill | Success |
| −00:03:20 | Starship propellant load complete | Success |
| −00:02:50 | Super Heavy propellant load complete | Success |
| −00:00:30 | Flight director verifies go for launch | Go for launch |
| −00:00:10 | Flame deflector activation | Success |
| −00:00:03 | Super Heavy engine ignition | Success |
| +00:00:02 | Liftoff | Success |
| +00:01:02 | Throttle down formaxq during ascent (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) | Success |
| +00:02:32 | Super Heavy most engines cutoff (MECO) | Success |
| +00:02:39 | Starship engine ignition andstage separation (hot-staging) | Success |
| +00:02:44 | Super Heavy boostback burn start | Success |
| +00:03:38 | Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown | Success Burn diverted booster to Gulf of Mexico due to damage to the launch tower |
| +00:03:40 | Hot-stage jettison | Success |
| +00:06:25 | Super Heavy is transonic | N/a |
| +00:06:34 | Super Heavy landing burn start | Success |
| +00:06:51 | Super Heavy landing burn shutdown and catch | Partial failure Catch aborted due to failed tower health check. Booster diverted to a soft splashdown in Gulf of Mexico |
| +00:08:27 | Starship engine cutoff (SECO) | Success |
| +00:37:46 | Raptor in-space relight start | Success |
| +00:37:52 | Raptor in-space relight shutdown | Success |
| +00:47:13 | Starship atmospheric reentry | Success |
| +01:02:06 | Starship is transonic | N/a |
| +01:03:12 | Starship is subsonic | N/a |
| +01:04:56 | Starship landing flip | Success |
| +01:05:01 | Starship landing burn | Success |
| +01:05:24 | Starshipsplashdown | Success |
Astuffed toy banana served as the zero-g indicator, becoming Starship's first payload, though it remained within the vehicle for the duration of the flight.[18]
Ship 31's other half, which is assumed to be Booster 13
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