WASHINGTON SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk says a propellant dump caused the destruction of the Starship upper stage on a November test flight, giving him confidence that the vehicle can reach orbit on its next launch.
On that Nov. 18 launch, the Starship upper stage, or ship, was nearing the end of its burn to place it on a long suborbital trajectory when contact was lost. Hosts of the SpaceX webcast said it appeared the automated flight termination system was activated, but did not give a reason why, and the company provided few details since.
At a recent event at SpaceXs Starbase test site in Boca Chica, Texas, video of which SpaceX posted on social media Jan. 12, Musk said the failure was linked to venting liquid oxygen propellant near the end of the burn. That venting, he said, was needed only because the vehicle was not carrying any payload.
Flight 2 actually almost made it to orbit, he said. If it had a payload, it would have made it to orbit because the reason that it actually didnt quite make it to orbit was we vented the liquid oxygen, and the liquid oxygen ultimately led to a fire and an explosion.
That venting, he said, would have been unnecessary if the ship had a payload, presumably because it would have been consumed by the Raptor engines on the vehicle in order to reach orbit. He didnt elaborate on how the venting triggered the fire, or discuss the explosion of the Super Heavy stage shortly after stage separation.
Musk said that failure mode gave him confidence for the next Starship test flight. I think weve got a really good shot of reaching orbit with Flight 3, he said.
That third flight is currently projected for February, SpaceXs Jessica Jensen during a Jan. 9 NASA briefing, pending receipt of an updated launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration. Musk described a more ambitious flight plan for the mission with additional tests of Starship.
We want to get to orbit and we want to do an in-space engine burn from the header tank at the top of the vehicle, he said. Doing so would prove that we can reliably deorbit.
The flight would also test transferring propellant from that header tank to the main propellant tank, a demonstration that is part of a NASA Tipping Point award as a milestone towards transferring propellant from one Starship vehicle to another. The first ship-to-ship propellant transfer test is planned, he said, hopefully by the end of this year, but certainly by next year.
Musk said SpaceX will test the Pez dispenser payload door that will be used on later flights to deploy the full-sized Starlink V2 satellites, significant larger than the V2 mini satellites currently being launched on Falcon 9. We do hope to do this by the end of this year, he said of launching Starlink V2 satellites.
Those Starship tests will take place as SpaceX continues to increase the launch rate of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. The company performed 96 Falcon launches in 2023 and Musk said the company was planning 150 flights or thereabouts in 2024. Company executives previously set a goal of 144 launches, or 12 per month, for 2024.
That flight rate will include a planned turnaround of less than 24 hours between launches from the same pad by the end of the year. Musk added SpaceX was working to qualify Falcon 9 boosters to perform 40 flights. The company has, to date, flown the same booster up to 19 times.
Originally posted here:
SpaceX says propellant venting caused loss of second Starship - SpaceNews
- Elon Musk's SpaceX and Tesla get far more government money than ... - Quartz - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX fires up powerful Falcon Heavy rocket ahead of April 18 ... - Space.com - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX Dragon cargo ship departs space station and returns to Earth - Space.com - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX calls off 1st launch attempt of giant rocket in Texas - The Associated Press - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Watch SpaceX Starship evolve and explode on the way to its 1st space launch (video) - Space.com - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX achieves liftoff in Starship test but explosion ends flight early - Reuters - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX launches world's 1st satellite that can pinpoint carbon ... - Space.com - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- SpaceX Shifts the 2nd Launch of Its Starship Rocket to Saturday - The New York Times - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral with 23 Starlink satellites Spaceflight Now - Spaceflight Now - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Watch SpaceX's Starship launch on its 2nd-ever test flight today - Space.com - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Elon Musk's recent all-hands meeting at SpaceX was full of interesting news - Ars Technica - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- When will SpaceX Starship launch again? Here's what we know. - Mashable - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX: Axiom-3 astronaut launch pushed to Thursday at Cape Canaveral - Florida Today - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 4 people for a private mission to the International Space Station - WFDD - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Mission Im-pasta-ble: SpaceX Is Blasting Fusilli Into Orbit - The Messenger - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Axiom and SpaceX are disrupting Europe's traditional pathway to space - Ars Technica - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Crew Preps for Private Astronaut Arrival as Ax-3 Mission Nears Launch - NASA Blogs - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Environmental experts express concern about SpaceX after company's second test flight results in further damage to ... - The Cool Down - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Third Axiom Space private astronaut mission ready for launch - SpaceNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to International Space Station - Lufkin Daily News - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to space station - Newsbug.info - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- 'If it had had a payload, it would have made it to orbit.' Elon Musk reveals cause of Starship explosion (video) - Space.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 1st human spaceflight of the year on Axiom Space mission - Orlando Sentinel - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Meet the 4 astronauts of SpaceX's Ax-3 launch for Axiom Space - Space.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to space station - Mississippi Valley Publishing - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Launch Date Adjusted; Crew Harvests Plants and Conducts Fluid Research - NASA Blogs - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX Launches Historic Ax-3 Astronauts to Orbit - The Messenger - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to space station - Salamanca Press - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- What time is the SpaceX Ax-3 astronaut launch for Axiom Space? How to watch it live today - Space.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- UPDATE 2: Success as SpaceX transports first humans for 2024 with Axiom's first all European commercial astronauts ... - SatNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Go for Launch; Crew Continues Space Botany and Fluid Research - NASA Blogs - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Updates: Axiom Space Ax-3 astronaut mission launches Thursday on SpaceX Falcon 9 from KSC - Florida Today - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launch today: Rocket set for liftoff in Ax-3 mission to ISS - USA TODAY - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches third Axiom mission to ISS - SpaceNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 4 people for a private mission to the International Space Station - NPR - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SOURCES: Stripe & SpaceX Are Buying Back Their Own Shares - Newcomer - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Elon Musk's Starship 'almost made it to orbit' before violently exploding, Musk claims at SpaceX meeting - Livescience.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- TPWD to consider land swap with SpaceX at Boca Chica - Brownsville Herald - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Why SpaceX Is Joining Forces With a Tractor Company - Gizmodo - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- John Deere & SpaceX and Mexican GM Corn Ban - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST - AGInfo Ag Information Network - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX To Launch NG-20 To ISS On Tuesday (updated) - Talk of Titusville - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- 'We have doubled the number of nationalities aboard' ISS as all-European SpaceX Ax-3 astronauts dock at space station - Space.com - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- List of SpaceX launches 2024 - Space Explored - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket Tuesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base after series of delays - KABC-TV - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- TPWD Commission withdraws SpaceX land swap item from meeting - MyRGV - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- T-Mobile Reveals Quarterly Results and Discusses SpaceX Partnership - RetailWire - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX Set To Launch Starlink 6-38 Early Sunday Evening From KSC - Talk of Titusville - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- NASA Invites Media to First Intuitive Machines, SpaceX Moon Launch - NASA - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Blue Origin and SpaceX start work on cargo versions of crewed lunar landers - SpaceNews - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX Delays NG-20 Launch to NET Tuesday 12:07 PM - Talk of Titusville - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Trader Joe's and SpaceX Argue the US Labor Board Is Unconstitutional - Mish Talk - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX Appears To Be Flying This Slick Looking 737 - The War Zone - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Estimating SpaceX's 2023 Revenue - Payload - Payload - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- What You Need to Know about NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 Mission - NASA - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- US military hopes one day to move supplies, maybe troops, on SpaceX's Starship - Herald Palladium - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Weather Delays Launch of NASAs PACE Mission PACE Mission - NASA Blogs - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX rolls out Falcon 9 rocket to launch NASA's ocean-studying PACE satellite on Feb. 8 (photos) - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX Thursday Falcon 9 Rocket Launch From Vandenberg SFB Delayed Until Friday Due To Weather News Talk ... - 1590 KVTA - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Sonic boom could hit Florida with SpaceX launch of NASA Earth science probe - Tampa Bay Times - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- UPDATE 3: SpaceX launches NASA's PACE satellite with new capabilities to study climate, ocean and atmosphere ... - SatNews - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Ax-3 astronauts leave International Space Station in SpaceX Dragon, eye Friday splashdown - Florida Today - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- NASA, SpaceX, PACE in Florida: Where to watch Earth-science launch - Florida Today - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX targeting Feb. 14 for launch of Intuitive Machines IM-1 private moon mission - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- The SpaceX Axiom Space Ax-3 mission to the ISS returned to Earth - NPR - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Astronauts Undock in Dragon from Station for Earth Return - NASA Blogs - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Will SpaceX launch two Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral this week? - Florida Today - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches NASA's PACE satellite to study Earth's oceans, air and climate (video) - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX crew of 4 astronauts to land near Daytona Beach coast Friday morning - Daytona Beach News-Journal - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- List of all SpaceX crewed flights to space - Space Explored - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX, Intuitive Machines First Moon Mission - NASA - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Texas Billionaire's Push for Land Swap With Elon's SpaceX Is Total Crap - Gizmodo - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- The Secret to SpaceX's $10 Million Starship, and How SpaceX Will Dominate Space for Years to Come - The Motley Fool - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- How to watch SpaceX launch the private Intuitive Machines moon lander IM-1 on Feb. 14 live online - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Russia is using SpaceX's Starlink satellite devices in Ukraine, sources say - Defense One - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Launch Imminent: SpaceX Mission to the Moon Will Have Embry-Riddle Payload Onboard - ERAU News - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX accepts DOGE, Cardano announces updates as KangaMoon presale thrives - crypto.news - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX to launch Intuitive Machines lander Feb. 15 on 2nd try for NASA's commercial moon program - Space.com - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Elon Musk's SpaceX asks to move incorporation from Delaware to Texas - Austin American-Statesman - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Amazon Joins Elon Musk's SpaceX In Mission to Destroy Federal Agency Protecting Workers - VICE - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- 'Odysseus' SpaceX launch: Could it be 1st commercial lander to reach moon? - USA TODAY - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]