SpaceX's Starship Fifth Test Flight Likely to Be Postponed to September

TapTechNews August 12th news, according to the latest statement from SpaceX's chief executive Elon Musk, the company's highly anticipated Starship's fifth test flight is likely to be postponed until September. In June this year, the Starship completed its fourth test flight, achieving a historic breakthrough of successful soft landing of the booster and the spaceship's two stages. Since then, SpaceX has been committed to the preparations for the fifth test flight, including the testing of the second-stage engine and the launch tower, especially the highly anticipated and extremely risky tower capture technology.

It is this brand-new tower capture technology that has led to the postponement of the test flight. Previously, SpaceX had said that once it obtained the approval of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the fifth test flight could be carried out immediately. However, the tower capture technology is different from the previous flight plan, increasing the difficulty of approval.

Last week, SpaceX announced on social media X that the Starship was ready for the fifth test flight, but still needed to wait for FAA approval. During the waiting period, SpaceX will continue to advance the rocket recovery operation test and the preparations for the sixth test flight.

Elon Musk said on the X platform yesterday that the fifth flight of the Starship will take place in about 3 weeks later, which means the test flight time may be postponed to September. Previously, Musk had said that the test flight was expected to take place this month, but the risk of the tower capture technology seems to have extended the FAA's approval time.

Besides the tower capture, SpaceX may also conduct another key test in the fifth test flight - in-space engine ignition. Videos taken by local media in Boca Chica, Texas, show that SpaceX has already tested a vacuum-type Raptor engine on the second-stage rocket, which may indicate that in-space engine ignition will be carried out.

Also, TapTechNews noticed that after the fourth test flight, SpaceX also completely replaced thousands of heat insulation tiles on the second stage. Although this is the first successful soft landing of the second stage, due to improper installation of the heat insulation tiles, a fire occurred on the front flap of the rocket, which is in line with Elon Musk's previous prediction.

While waiting for FAA approval, SpaceX is also actively developing the next-generation Starship rocket. This month, the company successfully conducted the first test of the Raptor 3 engine. Compared with the previous generation, the new engine design is greatly simplified, and the thrust is improved and the weight is reduced by more than one ton through optimizing key components.

In the next few weeks, SpaceX may conduct a static ignition test or even a wet dress rehearsal. In addition, the company is building a second launch tower in Boca Chica and has newly built an engine test area to support up to 25 Starship launches per year.