SpaceX’s Starship IFT12 Test: Fine but could have been better
IFT12, the latest Starship test, took place late yesterday May 22nd in the United States (between 01:am and 02:am may 23rd in Western Europe). We shouldn’t be overly negative about this IFT12, even if we can’t help but feel a little disappointed.
It focused on numerous innovations compared to the previous test, IFT11. Most of these went smoothly. The spacecraft’s flight (39) was satisfactory, but the restart of the new engines proved deficient for the launcher (B19). So, there’s still room for improvement and SpaceX needs to hurry because time is running: it’s too late for showing off at the company’s IPO which will take place on June 12, 2026. The Artemis III mission is scheduled for next year.
Innovations
Numerous and remarkable improvements are worth noting: a new launch platform, an improved spacecraft’s thermal protection, new Mechazilla service tower’s « chopstick, » integration of the hotstage into the top of the launch vehicle, simplification of the engines and their environment, and safer propellant supply system.
The new launch platform is spectacular. It is much more compact and appears more solid, or « robust, » as the SpaceX presenter put it. The modification aims to allow for a faster succession of launches. As with previous tests, a deluge of ultra-cold water accompanies the engine ignition, and it worked perfectly. The liftoff was very clean, on time, and without any propellant leaks. The full rocket went through MaxQ (the point of maximum mechanical stress) without incident. The only minor hitch was that halfway after this point and separation of SuperHeavy and Starship (at 1 minute 40 seconds after launch), one of SuperHeavy’s 33 engines shut down. The thermal protection is remarkable for its aesthetics and undoubtedly its safety, since the line at the end of the shield is perfectly straight, offering no rough edges that could allow the ultra-hot plasma to get some hold during the EDL and effectively it suffered no damage. The Mechazilla’s gripper chopsticks, which are mostly designed to grasp the Super Heavy launcher at the very last moment of its return (this time was used only at departure), are much shorter and therefore stronger. The hotstage is integrated into the launcher and is thus recoverable (and lighter). It functioned perfectly. The third-generation « V3 » Raptor engines (33 for the launcher and 6, including 3 vacuum engines, for the ship) are admirable for their simplification, which limits potential malfunctions. Their ignition and the ascent to altitude of the launcher with the ship, and then of the ship alone, were flawless. The maximum altitude reached was 168 km. The flight was therefore suborbital, but it was not intended to be more. Splashdown was expected by an observation vessel in the Indian Ocean off the northwest coast of Australia, and this is where it took place.
Disappointments
One might be disappointed by the engine restart. It failed for the launcher after separation from the ship (the ignition took place but was immediately cut off). The ignition of the spacecraft’s engines (3 sea-level and 3 vacuum) was successful, but one of the vacuum engines shut down after only 40 seconds (out of the planned 7 minutes). Furthermore, the engine restart of the ship was poorly controlled in the flight final moments, as only 2 sea-level engines could be restarted out of 3. However, attitude control was almost perfect (« almost » because verticality upon landing could not be achieved) and landing not too hard.
Prospects
So, although there’s still room for improvement, there is no need to despair. It was not ignition but sustained combustion that failed. Crucial milestones such as taking off, MaxQ, hotstaging, flight and arrival were perfect. Finally, let’s not forget that these tests began in April 2023, and that three years to develop such a new and massive rocket as Starship is not an excessively long time.
The next test should only involve minor adjustments.
Title illustration: Starship touching the Sea. Credit SpaceX
Liens :
Article Space.com :
