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Starship flight test 5
Fifth launch of SpaceX Starship

Starship flight test 5 was the fifth flight test of a SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. SpaceX performed the flight test on October 13, 2024. The prototype vehicles flown were the Starship Ship 30 upper-stage and Super Heavy Booster 12.

After launching and delivering the Starship upper stage into a suborbital trajectory heading toward a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, the Super Heavy booster turned around and fired its Raptor engines to return to the launch site. As the booster approached the launch pad it slowed to a near hover and did a horizontal slide maneuver to line itself up with two massive "chopstick" arms on the launch tower, dubbed "Mechazilla." The arms then closed around the booster before the engines shut down.

The rocket launched on the morning of 13 October 2024, one day after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a launch permit that had been delayed since early August and after weeks of increasingly public feuding between SpaceX and the FAA.

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Development prior to launch

Technical development

During a company all-hands in April 2024, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk expanded briefly on the goals of flight test 5, stating that the first tower landing could occur, depending on B11's virtual landing performance during the fourth flight test.1 In June, Musk stated the heatshield tiles on the flight 5 vehicle will be twice as strong along with a new ablative protection layer underneath.2 The process of removing the old Thermal Protection System began on June 11.3 Multiple tests occurred with the hydraulic arms on the launch tower in preparation for the booster catch.4

Vehicle testing ahead of launch

Static fire testing of Ship 30 occurred in early May in preparation for flight 5.5 This was the last static fire conducted at the now-demolished Suborbital Pad B,6 as all subsequent tests use the static fire stand at Massey's Test Site.7 Booster 12 moved to the launch pad on July 9.8 The booster performed a spin prime test on July 12; it was the first time a spin prime test was performed since Booster 9 in August 2023.9 A static fire of Booster 12 was completed on July 15 and Ship 30 static fire was conducted on July 26.1011 On September 21, S30 was stacked onto B12, with SpaceX claiming that this stack was for Flight 5, "pending regulatory approval".12

FAA dispute and environmental concerns

On June 12, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that no mishap investigation would be required prior to the launch of flight 5.13 In anticipation of the fifth flight, SpaceX applied for a communications license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with a start date of July 19.14 In early August, SpaceX claimed that both stages were ready to fly for flight test 5.15

In September, SpaceX communicated that the FAA had shifted their license approval timeframe from later that month to November, and wrote about issues with the FAA's licensing processes for Starship flight tests.1617 SpaceX claimed that government paperwork prevented it from flying Starship quickly to meet commitments to the Artemis program.18 In a statement to journalists, the FAA reiterated that the license authorizing Starship test flight 4 also allowed for multiple flights of the same vehicle configuration and mission profile. However, because SpaceX chose to modify both in an attempt to "catch" the Super Heavy booster through a return-to-launch-site maneuver, it triggered a more in-depth review because of the changed impact location of the hot stage ring and the sonic boom that would be generated.19 The delay was described as being 60 days because of the required consultation with the US Fish & Wildlife Service for the sonic boom effects and also 60 days of consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service for the impact on ocean wildlife. This was repeated by the FAA on October 2.20 Despite this, the FAA issued a license for the launch on October 12, without offering any explanation as to what prompted the change.2122

Mission summary

The mission profile for flight test 5 differed from the previous flight. While Ship 30 splashed down in the Indian Ocean, as Ship 29 did, B12 shut off its engines thirteen seconds earlier and returned to the launch site for a catch.23

After launching and delivering the Starship upper stage to an altitude of 69 kilometers (43 mi) on a trajectory heading toward space, the Super Heavy booster flipped around and fired its Raptor engines to return to the launch site. As the booster approached the launch pad the launch mount reactivated its water deluge system to prevent destruction. The booster slowed to a near hover and did a horizontal slide maneuver to line itself up with two massive "chopstick" arms on the launch tower, dubbed "Mechazilla." The arms then closed around the booster before the engines shut down.2425

The upper stage Starship spacecraft reached an apogee of 212 km (132 mi) before a controlled water landing in the Indian Ocean. Video showed minor damage to the control flaps during re-entry, but despite this, it splashed down with high accuracy in the water near a pre-positioned buoy that captured footage of the splashdown. Ship 30, which was never intended to be recovered, erupted in a large fireball about 16 seconds after it hit the water.26

Flight timeline

TimeEvent27October 13, 2024
−01:15:00Flight director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loadingGo for propellant loading
−00:49:50Starship fuel (liquid methane) load startSuccess
−00:48:40Starship oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load startSuccess
−00:40:40Super Heavy fuel (liquid methane) load startSuccess
−00:34:03Super Heavy oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load startSuccess
−00:19:40Super Heavy and Starship engine chillSuccess
−00:03:20Starship propellant load completeSuccess
−00:02:50Super Heavy propellant load completeSuccess
−00:00:30Flight director verifies go for launchGo for launch
−00:00:10Flame deflector activationSuccess
−00:00:03Super Heavy engine ignitionSuccess
+00:00:02LiftoffSuccess
+00:01:02Throttle down for max q during ascent (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)Success
+00:02:35Super Heavy most engines cutoff (MECO)Success
+00:02:40Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging)Success
+00:02:45Super Heavy boostback burn startSuccess
+00:03:41Super Heavy boostback burn shutdownSuccess
+00:03:43Hot-stage jettisonSuccess
+00:06:08Super Heavy is supersonic—
+00:06:30Super Heavy landing burn startSuccess
+00:06:54Super Heavy landing burn shutdown and catchSuccess
+00:08:27Starship engine cutoff (SECO)Success
+00:48:03Starship atmospheric reentrySuccess
+01:02:34Starship is transonic—
+01:03:43Starship is subsonic—
+01:05:15Starship landing flipSuccess
+01:05:20Starship landing burnSuccess
+01:05:40Starship splashdownSuccess

Reactions

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised the flight stating "Congratulations to SpaceX on its successful booster catch and fifth Starship flight test today!".28 Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield hailed the flight, declaring that "there was an enormous step forward in human capability today."29

Fellow aerospace manufacturers also congratulated SpaceX including Blue Origin,30 Stoke Space,31 and Rocket Factory Augsburg, with the latter commending the company's "incredible feat of engineering" and commenting that at its current pace, the European space industry has "no chance" of catching up to SpaceX.32 André Loesekrug-Pietri, president of the Joint European Disruptive Initiative, made a similar statement, calling it "a huge slap in the face to the Europeans, who are leaving history".33

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 5.

References

  1. Bergin, Chris [@nasaspaceflight] (April 6, 2024). "Some interesting notes" (Tweet). Retrieved April 6, 2024 – via Twitter. https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1776676390735163511 ↩

  2. Looking Ahead To The Next Starship Flight. NASASpaceflight. June 10, 2024. Event occurs at 19:56. Retrieved June 10, 2024 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvBXUlwLQ08&t=1196s ↩

  3. @starshipgazer (June 11, 2024). "The removal of all of Starship 30's heatshield tiles has begun" (Tweet). Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Twitter. https://x.com/starshipgazer/status/1800563250851164363 ↩

  4. SpaceX Gears Up for First Super Heavy Booster Catch. NASASpaceflight. July 1, 2024. Event occurs at 12:40. Retrieved July 7, 2024 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpc8Kcg8lNE&t=760s ↩

  5. NASASpaceflight (May 8, 2024). SpaceX Static Fires Ship 30 in Preparation for the Fifth Starship Flight. Retrieved February 28, 2025 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENxjR--cVHg ↩

  6. Booster 11 Lifted Onto the OLM for Pre-Launch Testing. NASASpaceflight. May 12, 2024. Event occurs at 3:10. Retrieved June 5, 2024 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vryxbHvkmkM&t=190s ↩

  7. Weber, Ryan (December 27, 2024). "Four flights in the books and major infrastructure upgrades headline 2024 for the Starship program". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved February 25, 2025. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/12/2024-starship-program/ ↩

  8. SpaceX Rolls out Potential First Catch Booster – B12. NASASpaceflight. July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX3Tfz30bts ↩

  9. Booster 12 Conducts First Super Heavy Spin Prime Since Booster 9. NASASpaceflight. July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKExuKk32_o ↩

  10. SpaceX Static Fires Booster 12 for Fifth Starship Flight Test. NASASpaceflight. July 15, 2024. Event occurs at 54:18. Retrieved July 15, 2024 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x7YjQAs4Vg&t=3258 ↩

  11. @NASASpaceflight (July 26, 2024). "Ship 30 fires up at Masseys ahead of Flight 5 of Starship" (Tweet). Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Twitter. https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1816965411876876757 ↩

  12. @SpaceX (September 21, 2024). "Starship stacked for Flight 5 and ready for launch" (Tweet). Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Twitter. https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1837613770736390558 ↩

  13. Clark, Stephen (June 4, 2024). "We know Starship can fly—now it's time to see if it can come back to Earth". Ars Technica. Retrieved October 13, 2024. https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/we-know-starship-can-fly-now-its-time-to-see-if-it-can-come-back-to-earth/3 ↩

  14. "OET Special Temporary Authority Report". apps.fcc.gov. Retrieved June 23, 2024. https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=initial&application_seq=135020&RequestTimeout=1000 ↩

  15. Foust, Jeff (September 11, 2024). "Congress, industry criticize FAA launch licensing regulations". SpaceNews. Retrieved September 11, 2024. https://spacenews.com/congress-industry-criticize-faa-launch-licensing-regulations/ ↩

  16. "SpaceX says Starship launch license delayed to November". The Business Times. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/transport-logistics/spacex-says-starship-launch-license-delayed-november ↩

  17. "STARSHIPS ARE MEANT TO FLY – SpaceX – Updates". spacex.com. September 10, 2024. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240910162523/https://www.spacex.com/updates/ ↩

  18. "STARSHIPS ARE MEANT TO FLY – SpaceX – Updates". spacex.com. September 10, 2024. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240910162523/https://www.spacex.com/updates/ ↩

  19. Beil, Adrian [@BCCarCounters] (September 11, 2024). "We asked the @FAANews about the recent @SpaceX update, regarding the timeline leading up to Flight 5. The FAA responded with a statement, about the timeline" (Tweet). Retrieved September 11, 2024 – via Twitter. https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1833960344886063318 ↩

  20. Beil, Adrian [@BCCarCounters] (October 2, 2024). "We asked the @FAANews about today´s published NOTMARs for Starship Flight 5. The FAA confirmed that the statement from September 11, still stands, and Starship Flight 5 is not expected before late November" (Tweet). Retrieved October 3, 2024 – via Twitter. https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1841565160210575816 ↩

  21. "Dynamic Regulatory System". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved October 12, 2024. https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/DRSDOCID173891218620231102140506.0001?modalOpened=true?modalOpened=true ↩

  22. Wattles, Jackie (October 12, 2024). "SpaceX gets approval for Starship launch amid standoff with FAA". CNN. Retrieved October 12, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/12/science/faa-spacex-starship-test-flight-5/index.html ↩

  23. "Starship's Fifth Flight Test". SpaceX.com. October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024. https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-5 ↩

  24. SpaceX Launches Starship Flight 5 (and Catches A Booster). NASASpaceflight. October 13, 2024. Event occurs at 03:31:58. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC87WmFN_As ↩

  25. McDowell, Jonathan (October 25, 2024). "Jonathan's Space Report No. 838". planet4589.org. Retrieved October 28, 2024. /wiki/Jonathan_McDowell ↩

  26. McDowell, Jonathan (October 25, 2024). "Jonathan's Space Report No. 838". planet4589.org. Retrieved October 28, 2024. /wiki/Jonathan_McDowell ↩

  27. "Starship's Fifth Flight Test". SpaceX.com. October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024. https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-5 ↩

  28. Wattles, Jackie (October 13, 2024). "Highlights: SpaceX launches Starship test flight 5". CNN. Retrieved October 14, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/science/live-news/spacex-starship-launch-5-10-13-24/index.html ↩

  29. Chris Hadfield [@Cmdr_Hadfield] (October 13, 2024). "There was an enormous step forward in human capability today. Makes me even more excited for our collective future. Congratulations to all @SpaceX!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Twitter. /wiki/Chris_Hadfield ↩

  30. @blueorigin (October 13, 2024). "Congratulations!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Twitter. https://x.com/blueorigin/status/1845443643894603981 ↩

  31. @stoke_space (October 13, 2024). "Congratulations!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Twitter. https://x.com/stoke_space/status/1845445694326440231 ↩

  32. @rfa_space (October 14, 2024). "Congratulations to @SpaceX, what an incredible feat of engineering! Mars, here we come" (Tweet). Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Twitter. https://x.com/rfa_space/status/1845808087594365287 ↩

  33. "L'exploit de SpaceX, une « immense claque » pour les Européens" [SpaceX's feat, a "huge slap in the face" for Europeans]. Le Point (in French). October 16, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024. https://www.lepoint.fr/science/l-exploit-de-spacex-d-elon-musk-une-immense-claque-pour-les-europeens-16-10-2024-2572869_25.php#11 ↩