SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 2
Second launch of SpaceX Starship / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SpaceX Starship Integrated Flight Test 2 (IFT-2) was the second integrated flight test of SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. SpaceX performed the flight test on November 18, 2023.[4] The mission's primary objectives were for the vehicle to hot stage—a new addition to Starship's flight profile—followed by the second stage attaining a near-orbital trajectory with a controlled reentry over the Pacific Ocean, while the booster does a boostback burn with a propulsive splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.[5][6][7]
Names | IFT-2 |
---|---|
Mission type | Flight test |
Operator | SpaceX |
Mission duration | 8 minutes, 5 seconds (achieved) 90 minutes (planned) |
Orbits completed | Not achieved <1 (planned) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Starship Ship 25 |
Spacecraft type | SpaceX Starship |
Manufacturer | SpaceX |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | November 18, 2023, 13:02:50 (2023-11-18UTC13:02:50) UTC |
Rocket | SpaceX Super Heavy Booster 9 |
Launch site | Starbase |
End of mission | |
Destroyed | November 18, 2023, 13:10:55 UTC[1] |
Orbital parameters | |
Regime | Transatmospheric Earth orbit (planned) |
Periapsis altitude | <1,750 km (1,090 mi) (achieved)[2] 50 km (31 mi) (planned) |
Apoapsis altitude | 149 km (93 mi) (achieved)[2][3] 250 km (160 mi) (planned) |
Inclination | 26.5°[2] |
SpaceX Starship flights |
The vehicle successfully lifted off under the power of all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster and made it through stage separation. The booster was planned to land on the Gulf of Mexico, but instead exploded during its boostback burn. The Starship second stage continued to accelerate for over 8 minutes, reaching an altitude of 149 km (93 mi).[2] Towards the end of the second stage burn the Ship vented excess liquid oxygen, resulting in a fire and loss of the vehicle.[8]
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a statement confirming that an anomaly had occurred and that there were no reports of public property damage or injuries.[9] The FCC considered the launch as a failure and used this as a rationale for rejecting SpaceX Starlink as eligible for large US rural broadband internet subsidies.[10] Shortly after the launch, SpaceX made a statement on their website saying that "success comes from what we learn" from a "test like this".[11]