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With the successful completion of its third flight - the Integrated Flight Test 3 (IFT-3), SpaceX is now setting the stage for the fourth flight of its revolutionary spacecraft, the Starship. The fourth flight, also known as the IFT-4 mission, is expected to take place as early as May. The mission will see the pairing of Booster 11 with Ship 29, the latter of which is already back at the launch site for its Static Fire test campaign.A Review of Starship's Flight 3
The third flight of SpaceX's Starship, which saw a partnership between Ship 28 and Booster 10, lifted off from Orbital Launch Pad A in Boca Chica, Texas. Immediately after liftoff, all 33 engines on Booster 10 were ignited, marking a significant leap forward for the world's largest rocket.
"Starship’s Raptor engines have ignited during hot-staging separation. Super Heavy is executing the flip maneuver" - SpaceX (@SpaceX)
Unfortunately, Booster 10 experienced a roll oscillation during its glide down to the Gulf of Mexico and was unable to stabilize before crashing. The cause of this failure is yet to be determined, but the data collected from this flight will be crucial in paving the way for future missions.
The Next Step: IFT-4 Preparations
Following the IFT-3, Ship 29 was rolled out and lifted onto Suborbital Pad B to resume its engine test campaign. This campaign is expected to include at least a six-engine static fire and possibly a single-engine static fire similar to that of Ship 28.
"Ship 29 is rolling back to the launch site for its Static Fire test ahead of flying on IFT-4." - Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)
Booster 11, which has been on the right side Mega Bay work stand since November 20, has already completed its cryogenic proof testing and is ready for static fire testing.
Looking Forward: SpaceX's Goals for Starship
During the Satellite Conference, SpaceX’s Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell stated that Starship should be ready to fly again in about six weeks. She further mentioned that the goals for the Starship program this year are to reach orbit, deploy satellites, and recover both stages.
"Most likely, though, the goal for Ship 29 is to complete the in-space burn that couldn’t be done on Ship 28 and try to have vehicle control during reentry." - Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s Chief Operating Officer
While it is still unclear whether recovering both stages means just soft water landings or catching a booster and ship, SpaceX is undoubtedly making significant progress towards achieving these goals.
Conclusion
With each flight, SpaceX is taking one step closer to achieving its ambitious vision for the Starship program. The upcoming fourth flight, scheduled as early as May, will be another critical step in this journey. The company's continuous efforts to learn from each mission and apply those learnings to future flights is a testament to its commitment to innovation and progress.
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