SpaceX Gambled With Starship's Reentry Method, Says Senior Exec: 'There Was Still A Chance That This…Would Fundamentally Not Work'
What was the outcome of Starship's Flight 4?
Starship's Flight 4 was a successful test, achieving controlled splashdowns of both the Super Heavy booster and Ship. The mission demonstrated reusability of the massive spacecraft and the Super Heavy booster, with the booster performing a soft landing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Ship surviving reentry and performing a landing burn before splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
How did the Starship and Super Heavy booster perform during the test?
During the test, the Starship and Super Heavy booster performed successfully. The Super Heavy booster achieved a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Starship spacecraft ignited its engines, made a controlled re-entry to Earth, and had a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean2. The entire flight lasted one hour and six minutes from launch, and the key objective of re-entering Earth was achieved.
How does Starship re-enter Earth compared to other spacecraft?
Starship re-enters Earth's atmosphere using a combination of stainless steel construction and ceramic tiles for heat resistance. It relies on flaps instead of wings for control during re-entry, allowing for a more stable descent. This innovative approach, while risky, has shown promising results in recent flight tests.