Observed by Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump, the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Super Heavy/Starship combination lifted off at 2200 GMT on 19 November from Boca Chica, near Brownsville, Texas.
Its primary aim was to enact a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The secondary goal was to re-land the Super Heavy stage on the Mechzilla gantry ‘chopsticks’ – a technical milestone SpaceX pulled off for the first time in October.
The colourful glow of Starship IFT-6’s re-entry plasma was captured by on-board TV cameras. Courtesy: SpaceX/X
While the suborbital test was successful in the former, it did not manage to repeat the latter feat this time. The landing attempt was ‘waved off’ for unspecified technical reasons, and the Super Heavy made a controlled landing/splashdown into the Atlantic Ocean instead.
Nonetheless, SpaceX achieved its main goal about one hour and five minutes into the test launch. There did not appear to be significant burn-through on the control surfaces and their hinges during the re-entry: all good signs.
Starship IFT-6 comes in for a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. Courtesy: SpaceX/X
The remains of crumpled craft will be analysed, further from the televised streaming (enabled by the Starlink network) of the mission, but SpaceX might already be wondering if it is worth attempting Starship’s re-entry on land next time.
Comment by David Todd:
Another milestone success – although the 190 km apogee was a little lower than previous flights. Overall, SpaceX will be pleased that it has apparently made progress on the burn-through issues on the flaps. However, its failure to repeat a chopsticks landing will be a concern. Time is not on the space giant’s side as it must prove that it can manage cryogenic refuelling in orbit, and soon. Doing so is crucial to providing a Starship-based Human Landing System lunar lander in time for NASA’s planned Artemis III landing attempt in two years’ time.
