SpaceX Successfully Launches Sixth Starship Test Flight Without a Catch
On November 19, 2024, SpaceX launched its sixth Starship test flight from Starbase, Texas, with a splashdown landing for the Super Heavy booster. Despite plans to attempt catching the booster, SpaceX opted out due to unfavorable conditions, marking safety as the priority.
CEO Elon Musk shared the objectives for this mission: restarting the Raptor engines in space, daylight landing, testing higher re-entry heat, and preparing for a faster/harder booster catch. While several notable objectives were achieved, the booster was not caught mid-flight.
A quirky detail of the launch was the inclusion of a banana aboard the rocket, symbolizing SpaceX’s approval process for carrying payloads with the FAA. This step potentially paves the way for more official payloads during future flights, with launches expected as soon as 2025.
Following this, SpaceX may launch the seventh test flight by the end of 2024. There’s a possibility that the company may push forward for another test before Christmas but could defer this to early 2025.
< Summary >
Header:
SpaceX successfully launched its sixth Starship test on November 19, 2024, without a mid-flight catch of the Super Heavy booster.
Detail:
The Starship lifted off precisely at 4:00 p.m. CT from Starbase, Texas, with the Super Heavy booster landing into the Gulf of Mexico approximately seven minutes after launch. Despite favorable conditions initially, SpaceX canceled its plan to catch the booster for safety reasons. CEO Elon Musk outlined the mission's main objectives: restarting Raptor engines post-vacuum, landing in daylight, testing peak re-entry heating, and attempting a faster booster catch.
Main Points:
- SpaceX launched its sixth Starship test, landing Super Heavy with a splashdown due to lack of favorable conditions for the catch.
- CEO Elon Musk tweeted about the test’s core objectives, including vacuum engine restart and testing full re-entry.
- For the first time, a symbolic payload (a banana) was carried, hinting at SpaceX’s preparation for future official payloads.
- SpaceX is rapidly continuing its testing and could attempt a seventh flight before the close of 2024.
< 핵심내용 요약 >
헤더:
스페이스X는 2024년 11월 19일 여섯 번째 스타쉽 시험 비행을 성공적으로 발사했지만, 중간 비행 부스터 회수를 시도하지 않았다.
세부사항:
스타쉽은 오후 4시 텍사스 시각에 정확히 발사되었고, 약 7분 후 슈퍼 헤비 부스터는 걸프만에 착수했다. 비록 안전이 최우선인 상태에서 적절한 상황을 확인한 스페이스X는 부스터 회수를 시도하지 않기로 결정했다. CEO 엘론 머스크는 주요 테스트 목표로 진공 상태에서 랩터 엔진 재가동, 낮 동안 착륙, 높은 재진입 열 테스트 및 더 빠르고 강한 부스터 회수를 제시했다.
주요내용:
- 여섯 번째 스타쉽 테스트 비행은 부스터 회수 없이 걸프만에 착수하며 성공적으로 이행되었다.
- CEO 엘론 머스크는 주된 목표로 랩터 엔진 재가동 및 재진입 열 테스트가 포함된다고 밝혔다.
- 이번 테스트에서 스페이스X는 상징적인 첫 페이로드로 바나나를 실었으며, 이는 향후 FAA 규제에 적응하기 위한 과정이었다.
- 스페이스X는 2024년 말 전에 일곱 번째 비행을 시도할 가능성이 있으며, 2025년 초까지 이어질 수 있다.
Leave a Reply