SpaceX Gears Up for Ninth Starship Flight Test: What to Expect

SpaceX is targeting May 27 for the ninth flight test of its Starship, marking a significant step in its ambitious space program. After an FAA review of the previous flight, which ended in an explosion, the company is ready to launch again, with a window opening at 7:30 PM ET (6:30 PM local time in Texas).

This upcoming launch is particularly noteworthy as it will be the first time SpaceX reuses a Super Heavy booster. This booster previously flew with Starship's seventh flight test earlier this year. SpaceX states that despite replacing single-use parts, it's reusing 29 of the booster's 33 Raptor engines.

Livestream coverage will be available on SpaceX's website and X profile starting about 30 minutes before launch, allowing viewers worldwide to witness this pivotal moment.

The eighth flight test in March encountered issues shortly after launch. The Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch site and was caught by the tower's "chopstick" arms. However, the ship experienced engine shutdowns, causing it to tumble and ultimately explode.

According to SpaceX, the likely cause was "a hardware failure in one of the upper stage’s center Raptor engines that resulted in inadvertent propellant mixing and ignition." To prevent recurrence, SpaceX has implemented changes, including "additional preload on key joints, a new nitrogen purge system, and improvements to the propellant drain system."

For Flight 9, the Super Heavy booster will splash down in the ocean instead of returning to the launch site. The Starship upper stage will attempt to deploy eight Starlink dummy satellites, and the company aims to test "several experiments focused on enabling Starship’s upper stage to return to the launch site."

In analyzing the explosion during Flight 8, SpaceX identified a "flash" near one of the center sea-level Raptor engines, leading to an "energetic event" and engine shutdown. Communication loss followed, triggering the spacecraft's flight termination software and self-destruct mechanism. The root cause was determined to be inadvertent propellant mixing and ignition due to a hardware failure.

Improvements include tightening bolts at critical junctures and enhancing plumbing to prevent unintended ignition of flammable gases. Future upgrades will incorporate the Raptor 3 engine with additional reliability enhancements.

The FAA, in conjunction with NASA, the National Transportation and Safety Board, and the U.S. Space Force, has reviewed SpaceX's findings and approved the return to flight after safety concerns were addressed.

Starship's development represents a significant leap in space transportation, aiming for full reusability to carry cargo and humans to Earth's orbit and beyond. NASA's Artemis III mission plans to utilize Starship for lunar surface trips, while Elon Musk envisions Starship reaching Mars as early as 2026.

Starship stands as the world's largest and most powerful launch vehicle, towering over SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket at over 400 feet. It comprises a 232-foot Super Heavy rocket and a 171-foot upper stage spacecraft. The Super Heavy is powered by 33 Raptor engines, while the upper stage has six.

With the launch approaching, the space community eagerly anticipates the outcome, hoping for a successful demonstration of Starship's capabilities and paving the way for future space exploration endeavors. Are you excited to see Starship fly again? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.

• Elon Musk
• SpaceX
• Starship

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Where can I watch SpaceX launch?

The webcast is available on its website and on social media platform X. Coverage will also be available on SpaceX's new X TV app.

Why did Starship Flight 8 fail?

In the case of Flight 8, SpaceX said one of the center Raptor engines in Starship suffered a hardware failure, details of which the company did not disclose. That failure enabled u201cinadvertent propellant mixing and ignitionu201d that caused the loss of the Raptor.

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