SINC 2023 - banner

SpaceX succeeds fifth Starship test and lands SN15

Take off in Texas. Screenshot from the live coverage. www.spacex.com

Paris, 6 May 2021. – The fifth attempt succeeded: SpaceX successfully completed a high-altitude flight test of a Starship prototype from its Starbase in Texas yesterday.

It was the fifth attempt of a high-altitude test of Starship and the first one that did not end up with an explosion.

Similar to previous high-altitude flight tests, Starship SN 15 was powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude, SpaceX said.

SN15 performed a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent, it said.

The Starship prototype descended under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of two forward and two aft flaps on the vehicle, SpaceX said. All four flaps were actuated by an onboard flight computer to control Starship’s attitude during flight and enabled precise landing at the intended location.

SN15’s Raptor engines reignited as the vehicle performed the landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down for a nominal landing on the pad, SpaceX said.

Check Also

Space Café 33 minutes with Maya Glickman-Pariente, The Future of Satellite Operations: Embracing AI and Empowering the Next Generation

The  Space Café “33 minutes with Maya Glickman-Pariente“, CEO of SPACECIALIST, Head of Space Operations, SAS Founder of “My space academy,” in conversation with Torsten Kriening, publisher of SpaceWatch.Global was conducted on 14th March 2023, about the future of satellite operations and the role of AI, as well as her advice to the next generation of women in STEM.