Reportingsjr (talk | contribs) →Launch: Remove pure speculation |
Cammurray0420 (talk | contribs) extra info |
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| mission_duration = ~8 minutes, 40 seconds (achieved)<br>90 minutes (planned) |
| mission_duration = ~8 minutes, 40 seconds (achieved)<br>90 minutes (planned) |
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| orbits_completed = <1 (planned)<br>Not achieved |
| orbits_completed = <1 (planned)<br>Not achieved |
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| spacecraft = [[Starship Ship 25|Starship S25]] |
| spacecraft = [[Starship Ship 25|Starship S25]], |
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[[Super Heavy B9]] |
[[Super Heavy B9]] |
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|00:02:39 |
|00:02:39 |
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|Booster Most Engines Cut Off (MECO) |
|Booster Most Engines Cut Off (MECO) |
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|{{partial success|MECO was successful but damaged the booster}} |
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|{{success}} |
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|00:02:53 |
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|Booster boostback burn startup |
|Booster boostback burn startup |
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|{{success}} |
|{{partial success|12/13 engines were relit}} |
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|00:03:47 |
|00:03:47 |
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|Booster boostback burn shutdown |
|Booster boostback burn shutdown |
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|{{failure|Boostback burn aborted at 00:03:18 due to engine failures and vehicle was destroyed by flight termination system at 00:03:21}} |
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|{{failure|Super Heavy destroyed during boostback burn}} |
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|00:08:33 |
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|Starship engine cutoff (SECO) |
|Starship engine cutoff (SECO) |
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|{{failure|Starship destroyed during SECO}} |
|{{failure|Starship destroyed during or after early SECO at 00:08:05}} |
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|01:17:21 |
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Revision as of 16:49, 18 November 2023
Mission type | Flight test |
---|---|
Operator | SpaceX |
Mission duration | ~8 minutes, 40 seconds (achieved) 90 minutes (planned) |
Orbits completed | <1 (planned) Not achieved |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Starship S25, Super Heavy B9 |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | November 18, 2023, 13:03:00UTC |
Rocket | Starship |
Launch site | SpaceX Starbase |
Contractor | SpaceX |
Orbital parameters | |
Regime | Transatmospheric Earth orbit (planned) |
Periapsis altitude | 50 km (31 mi) (planned) −1,740 km (−1,080 mi) (reached)[1] |
Apoapsis altitude | 250 km (160 mi) (planned) 148 km (92 mi) (reached) |
SpaceX Starship flights |
The Second Integrated Flight Test (IFT-2) of the SpaceX Starship launched on November 18, 2023, from SpaceX's Starbase launch site.[2] Although the Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster exploded over the ocean and failed to complete its mission, SpaceX said it had "successfully lifted off under the power of all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster and made it through stage separation."[3] The Federal Aviation Administration issued a statement confirming that an anomaly had occurred and that there are no reports of public property damage or injuries.[4]
On November 14, 2023, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service concluded its environmental review.[5] The FAA granted the flight its launch license on November 15, 2023.[6]
Background
After the first test flight that happened in April 2023 and ended in the destruction of the Starship vehicle,[7] significant work was done on the launch mount to repair the damage it sustained during the test and to prevent future issues. The foundation of the launch tower was reinforced and a steel water deluge flame deflector was built under the launch mount.[8] Ship 25 was rolled to the suborbital launch site in May and underwent spin prime and static fire testing ahead of flight. Once that was completed, Booster 9 was rolled to the launch site to undergo cryogenic proof testing, spin primes and static fires of its set of engines. By November 15, Ship 25 was stacked onto B9 for launch.[9]
Development prior to the launch
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversaw the investigation of Starship's first flight failure, at the end of which SpaceX reported it had identified 63 needed corrective actions, 57 of which needed to be completed before another Starship launch license could take place. The remaining 6 actions are to be completed in the future[10][11][12] On September 8, 2023, the FAA concurred with SpaceX's report and closed the investigation.[11] The FAA also announced that the full investigatory report would not be released due to confidential contents including export control information.[10] FAA officials stated, "The closure of the mishap investigation does not signal an immediate resumption of Starship launches at Boca Chica."[13] The United States Fish and Wildlife Service had not yet started a formal review of SpaceX's modifications, and based on the 135 day review period, the launch could have been postponed to NET 2024.[14][15] The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received the final biological assessment from the Federal Aviation Administration. William Gerstenmaier, SpaceX's Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability, called for the FAA to increase licensing staff.[16][17] On October 19, the FWS surveyed the area around Starbase and the consultation with the FAA has been extended into November.[18][19] The FWS reviewed the changes to the launch pad, especially the water deluge system.[20] By October 31, 2023, the FAA had concluded the safety review portion of the launch license.[21][22]
On November 11, 2023, SpaceX announced that they were targeting a launch date of November 17, pending regulatory approval.[23] On November 14 the FWS concluded its environmental review.[24] On the same day the FAA gave its approval for launch.[6] On November 16, 2023, the flight was delayed one day,[25] due to a grid fin actuator needing to be replaced on B9.[26]
Changes from the previous flight
Significant changes implemented by SpaceX compared to the previous flight include an expansion of Super Heavy's fire suppression system in order to mitigate engine bay fires.[27] SpaceX re-qualified their autonomous flight safety system,[27] which had malfunctioned during the first flight.[28]
Other changes unrelated to the previous flights include a hot-stage separation system, in which Starship's second stage engines can ignite to push the ship away from the booster.[27] SpaceX replaced the hydraulic systems of Super Heavy Raptor engines with an electronic thrust vector control, citing fewer potential points of failure and more energy efficiency.[27]
The orbital launch mount and pad system was reinforced in a way that, according to SpaceX, should prevent a recurrence of the pad foundation failure observed during the first flight test.[27] SpaceX also added and tested a flame deflector to the launchpad.[27]
Flight profile
The spacecraft flight plan was to lift off from SpaceX's Starbase facility along the south Texas coast, then conduct a partial orbit around Earth.[29] The Super Heavy had a planned water landing in the Gulf of Mexico.[30] The Starship spacecraft was then to re-enter the atmosphere and to perform a water landing in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.[30][29]
Time | Event | November 18 |
---|---|---|
−02:00:00 | SpaceX Flight Director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading | Success |
−01:37:00 | Super Heavy (booster) propellant load (liquid oxygen and liquid methane) underway | Success |
−01:17:00 | Starship fuel loading (liquid methane) underway | Success |
−01:13:00 | Starship oxidizer loading (liquid oxygen) underway | Success |
−00:19:40 | Booster engine chill | Success |
−00:00:10 | Flame deflector (water deluge system) activation | Success |
−00:00:03 | Booster engine ignition | Success |
00:00:02 | Liftoff | Success |
00:00:52 | Max q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) | Success |
00:02:39 | Booster Most Engines Cut Off (MECO) | MECO was successful but damaged the booster |
00:02:41 | Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging) | Success |
00:02:53 | Booster boostback burn startup | 12/13 engines were relit |
00:03:47 | Booster boostback burn shutdown | Boostback burn aborted at 00:03:18 due to engine failures and vehicle was destroyed by flight termination system at 00:03:21 |
00:06:18 | Booster is transonic | — |
00:06:30 | Booster landing burn startup | — |
00:06:48 | Booster splashdown | — |
00:08:33 | Starship engine cutoff (SECO) | Starship destroyed during or after early SECO at 00:08:05 |
01:17:21 | Starship atmospheric re-entry interface | — |
01:28:43 | Starship is transonic | — |
01:30:00 | Starship Pacific impact | — |
Launch
The first launch attempt of the second integrated flight test occurred on November 18 at 13:03 UTC (8:00 a.m. EST, 7:00 a.m. CST).[29] The launch was originally scheduled for November 17, but was postponed by one day due to a failed grid fin actuator needing to be replaced.[31]
Starship launched as planned on November 18, 2023, though roughly three minutes behind schedule due to a pressure issue with the spacecraft.
Maximum aerodynamic stress was surpassed with no anomalies encountered. 2 minutes and 39 seconds after engine ignition, 30 of the 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster were successfully shut down, followed by successful hot staging with second stage engine ignition two seconds later.[32]
While Starship's second stage continued accelerating, the Super Heavy booster began its boostback burn. However, the booster exploded at 3 minutes and 21 seconds after launch, necessitating an FAA investigation. The second stage, upon reaching an altitude of 148 kilometres (92 mi), successfully shut its engines down roughly 8 minutes and 40 seconds after engine ignition, though telemetry was lost 32 seconds before. A few seconds later, Starship was destroyed by the Autonomous Flight Termination System.[32]
While the second stage planned to shut down it's engines at T+8:33, a frame by frame analysis of the SpaceX broadcast show the following sequence: 8:03 all engines off, from telemetry, 8:04 a series of faint irregular flashes of light, 8:04 expanding gas cloud first visible, 8:06 final altitude & velocity update, 8:12 gas cloud reaches largest apparent diameter. After some dead air, the commentators asserted startship was entering the coast phase at T+9:50 before finally announcing "we may have lost the second stage" at T+11:40. At T+12:20 the commentators speculated the Autonomous Flight Termination System triggered. An official failure analysis and the exact sequence of events is still pending.
See also
References
- ^ "Starship achieved trajectory estimate". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ^ published, Mike Wall (2023-11-16). "SpaceX's 2nd Starship launch on Nov. 18: How it will work". Space.com. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ Wattles, Jackie (2023-11-18). "Live updates: SpaceX Starship rocket lost in second test flight". CNN. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ^ @FAANews (November 18, 2023). "This information is preliminary and subject to change: A mishap occurred during the @SpaceX Starship OFT-2 launch from Boca Chica, Texas, on Saturday, Nov. 18. The anomaly resulted in a loss of the vehicle. No injuries or public property damage have been reported" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "faa.gov/media/72781". November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ a b Roulette, Joey (2023-11-15). "US FAA okays SpaceX license for second launch of Starship Super Heavy". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (April 20, 2023). "Starship lifts off on first integrated test flight, breaks apart minutes later". SpaceNews. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ Kolodny, Lora (2023-07-28). "SpaceX hasn't obtained environmental permits for 'flame deflector' system it's testing in Texas". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ^ Starship Receives License for Launch! | Countdown to Launch LIVE, retrieved 2023-11-15
- ^ a b Kolodny, Lora (September 8, 2023). "FAA orders Musk's SpaceX to take 63 corrective actions on Starship, keeps rocket grounded". CNBC. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Chang, Kenneth (2023-09-08). "F.A.A. Spells Out Needed Fixes for SpaceX's Starship Rocket". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (2023-09-08). "FAA closes Starship mishap investigation, directs 63 corrective actions for SpaceX". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ Wall, Mike (September 8, 2023). "FAA closes investigation of SpaceX's Starship rocket launch mishap, 63 fixes needed". Space.com.
- ^ Dvorsky, George (September 19, 2023). "Environmental Scrutiny May Push SpaceX's Second Starship Launch to Next Year". Gizmodo. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Grush, Loren; Hull, Dana (September 18, 2023). "SpaceX's Starship Still Needs Wildlife Agency Review to Resume Launch". BNN Bloomberg. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Robinson-Smith, Will (October 18, 2023). "SpaceX battles regulatory process that could hold up Starship test flight for months". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ Eric Berger (October 17, 2023). "Citing slow Starship reviews, SpaceX urges FAA to double licensing staff". Ars Technica. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ LabPadre Space (October 19, 2023). "LabPadre Space on X: "Fish and Wildlife Service is surveying the area around the Launch Site. Come tune in and watch live"". Twitter. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Davenport, Christian (October 17, 2023). "SpaceX to the FAA: The industry needs you to move faster". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ George Dvorsky (October 27, 2023). "Review of SpaceX Starship's Water Deluge System Critical to Next Launch". Gizmodo. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "twitter.com/wapodavenport/status/1719398989156544582". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "FAA completes safety review of SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy license". Reuters. 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ @SpaceX (November 11, 2023). "Starship preparing to launch as early as November 17, pending final regulatory approval → http://spacex.com/launches" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "faa.gov/media/72786". November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1723153469673283850". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ "twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1725231694645461403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1725236942218948777%7Ctwgr%5E530a56512638bd11930f0c08acc38a2029a3b0ca%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=59803.280". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ a b c d e f "SpaceX - Updates". web.archive.org. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ "Termination shock". Aerospace America. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ^ a b c published, Mike Wall (2023-11-15). "SpaceX gets license for 2nd launch of giant Starship rocket". Space.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ a b "SpaceX Starship IFT-2". SpaceX. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ Wall, Mike (November 16, 2023). "SpaceX delays second Starship test launch to Nov. 18 to replace rocket part". space.com. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ a b @SpaceX (November 18, 2023). "Official SpaceX livestream of the Second Integrated Flight Test" (Tweet) – via Twitter.