SpaceX launches 10th Starship test flight
BOCA CHICA, Texas - SpaceX launched the 10th flight test of its Starship spacecraft Tuesday evening from its Starbase facility in Texas.
The launch took off from Texas around 6:30 p.m., and landed about an hour later in the Gulf.
The ship launched, performed mid-flight maneuvers, and reentered the atmosphere successfully before touching down in the ocean.
SpaceX Starship Launch
SpaceX Starship 10th test launch
The launch, which follows investigations into the loss of a Starship during a previous flight and a static fire anomaly, includes hardware and operational changes aimed at increasing reliability.
The successful test flight followed two scrubbed attempts earlier in the week.
What they're saying:
During the test, the Super Heavy booster will attempt a series of flight experiments on a trajectory toward a landing point in the Gulf. Unlike previous missions, it will not return to the launch site for a catch. The booster's primary test objectives will focus on its landing burn, including a test of backup engine functionality by intentionally disabling one of the three center engines. The booster will then transition to two engines for a final hover before dropping into the ocean.
Following stage separation, the Starship upper stage will aim for several in-space objectives. It plans to deploy eight Starlink simulators, which are expected to burn up upon reentry. A relight of a single Raptor engine is also planned while in space.
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The upper stage's reentry will include several experiments to gather data for future design improvements. A number of heat shield tiles have been intentionally removed to test vulnerable areas, and different metallic tile options, including one with active cooling, will be tested. The test is also designed to stress the structural limits of the rear flaps during reentry.
SpaceX said the dynamic nature of developmental testing means the schedule is subject to change.
The Source: Information in this article is from SpaceX.