Starship Flight #7 [Live: 16.01.2025; 22:00 UTC]

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(Edited)

SpaceX is preparing for its seventh integrated flight test (IFT 7), featuring Ship 33 (version 2) and Booster 14 (version 1). This iteration introduces significant upgrades aimed at improving performance, reusability, and survivability during reentry.

Design Upgrades

  1. Smaller, Repositioned Forward Flaps:

    • The forward flaps are now smaller and shifted towards the tip of the spacecraft.
    • They have been moved further back (leeward) to minimize heat impingement on the hinge during reentry.

  2. Increased Propellant Capacity:

    • Propellant capacity has been increased by 25%.

  3. Improved Heat Shield:

    • A new generation of heat shield tiles has been introduced, featuring an additional layer beneath the tiles for added thermal protection.
    • For this test, many heat shield tiles will be intentionally removed to stress-test the vehicle’s structural resilience.

Firsts for Flight #7

  • Payload Deployment Test:

    • Flight #7 will include the first payload deployment test using 10 Starlink dummies, simulating satellite deployment.

  • Raptor Engine Reuse:

    • For the first time, SpaceX will reuse a Raptor engine from IFT 5, marking a critical milestone for engine reusability.

  • Challenging Reentry Profile:

    • The reentry profile for Ship 33 is specifically designed to push the spacecraft to its limits, exposing potential weak points in its thermal protection and structural systems.

Enhanced Tracking and Recovery Efforts

It appears SpaceX has dispatched additional ships from Australia to track Ship 33's reentry and landing. This increased effort might also hint at the possibility of recovering Starship post-flight, providing valuable data for future iterations.

Timeline of Integrated Flight Tests (IFT)

NameDateDays Elapsed
IFT 120.04.2023
IFT 218.11.2023212
IFT 314.03.2024117
IFT 406.06.202484
IFT 513.10.2024129
IFT 619.11.202437
IFT 716.01.202558

Insights and Analysis

  • Comparing Starship Versions:

    • Key Specifications of Starship
    Full Stack
    Height:120m
    Diameter:9m
    Payload capacity (fully reusable):100 – 150t
    Starship Spacecraft
    Height:50m
    Diameter:9m
    Super Heavy Booster Rocket
    Height:69m
    Diameter:9m

    Flight Trajectory

    Details of the mission trajectory can be found on SpaceX’s official page: Starship Flight 7.

    250116 starship ift 7 trajectory.png

    Live Streams

    There will be plenty of live streams available. Links will be added when available

    More Information

    Tim Dodd was lucky enough to get three guided tours around Starbase by Elon Musk:

    Tour 2024:

    Tour 2022:

    Tour 2021:

    Further information

    StarshipGazer.com: Useful Starship links
    Background information about previous SpaceX launches: Wikipedia
    FAA: SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
    FAA: Licensed Launches

    Starship OFT flight plan

    Lex Fridman: Starship: The most powerful rocket ever made | Tim Dodd and Lex Fridman

    SpaceX Starship Explosive Potential, and Big Bang Theory

    Sources

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