SpaceX wants to achieve several objectives during the IFT-4 flight, which is expected for June 2024. The Starship rocket must revalidate all previous stages.
We hoped for it for the month of May. Finally, the Starship’s next test flight should take place in June. In any case, this is the window of opportunity given by Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter) on May 11, 2024, in response to a question from an Internet user. According to SpaceX founder, IFT-4 flight will take place within three to five weeks (i.e. the first half of June).
Main objective of this new Integrated Flight Test, according to Elon Musk: ensure that the spacecraft – which is also called Starship, like the rocket – successfully re-enters the atmosphere, after its passage into space. “ The goal is for the Starship to exceed maximum warm-up or at least go further than last time “, he said.
“ The goal is for the Starship to exceed maximum warm-up or at least go further than last time »
Elon Musk
During IFT-3, which took place in mid-March, the mission ended during atmospheric reentry, precisely, with the reception of the last telemetry signals, 49 minutes after takeoff. In its report, SpaceX said it was able to collect useful data on the Starship’s control and the temperature affecting its heat shield.
Naturally, SpaceX is expected to revalidate all of the steps that allow it to achieve this critical sequence. This precedes the final phase of the flight, which consists of landing the craft in the ocean. Initially, there was talk of this happening in the Pacific; but on flight IFT-3, it was the Indian Ocean that was targeted.
Carry out a controlled return simulation of the booster
During theIntegrated Flight Test 4, there are other milestones that SpaceX should try to achieve. Concerning the main Super Heavy booster, it is reported of an attempt at a gentle landing. This should prepare SpaceX for the day when the Super Heavy’s return to Earth ends between the claws of the launch tower.
Success during IFT-4 could pave the way for a real-world test during IFT-5, expected later in 2024 (May 8, SpaceX did a static ignition test of the spacecraft that will be used for this test). This will be a sensitive moment, because a miss could cause damage to the landing zone and the launch tower.
Other actions should also occur during the IFT-4 flight, according to the Civil Aviation Administration in the United States, interviewed in April. However, they have not been detailed by the regulatory authority. What we do know, however, is that the FAA will conduct an environmental review for SpaceX’s operations in Florida.
The attempt to reignite a Raptor engine in space could also be planned — it did not take place during the IFT-3 mission.
The IFT-4 flight will finally not be the flight during which SpaceX will also operate an operational mission. There was talk for a time that the Starship would also be used to deploy Starlink satellites into orbit, since the vessel now reaches space. SpaceX boss Gwynne Shotwell, however, discarded this idea.
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