Starship’s Future Becomes Clearer as IFT-4 Launch Approaches

In March, the historic IFT-3 launch marked a significant milestone for SpaceX’s Starship program. Now, the company is gearing up for the next flight, IFT-4, with Ship 29 and Booster 11. Additionally, future versions of the Starship are already in development.

Preparations for IFT-4 are well underway. Ship 29 recently underwent a static fire test on March 25 at the suborbital launch pad B to ensure the ship’s systems and engines were flightworthy. Following this test, a single-engine Raptor firing was conducted from Ship 29’s header tanks, potentially simulating engine firing in space during IFT-4. Ship 29 has since returned to the Starbase production site for flight preparations. In parallel, Booster 11 successfully performed a 33-engine static test firing on April 5 and is now being readied for flight.

However, some work remains before both vehicles can be brought back to the launch pad. For instance, the hot staging ring for Booster 11 still needs to be installed, and Ship 29 has had many of its tiles stripped off for adhesive patches and tile replacement. Although sizable areas of Ship 29 are still devoid of tiles as of mid-April, progress is being made, especially with the addition of new nose tiles.

The main goal of IFT-4 is to test Ship 29’s reentry into the atmosphere and ensure all systems work effectively under maximum heating conditions. SpaceX is dedicated to giving Ship 29 the best chance of reentering intact, and additional work is being done on the heat shield to imropve its performance.

IFT-4 is expected to be similar to IFT-3 in terms of flight path and reentry location over the Indian Ocean. However, there are two significant aspects to watch out for during this flight. First, SpaceX aims to achieve an in-space restart of a Raptor engine, which was not accomplished during IFT-3. Second, the company wants to assess how well the booster returns to a designated point in the Gulf of Mexico near the launch site. Booster 10 encountered control issues during the final descent on IFT-3. To mitigate risks, Booster 11 will attempt a return to a “virtual tower” in the Gulf of Mexico, testing the feasibility of flying near the launch tower without endangering the actual structure. If successful, an actual catch attempt may be made at the Starbase orbital launch tower during the fifth Starship test flight this summer.

At the same time, preparations for future flights beyond IFT-4 are already underway. Ship 30 with all six engines installed has been spotted, while Booster 12 is currently undergoing engine installation. This combination is expected to fly on IFT-5. Ship 31 is stacked inside the High Bay and awaiting testing at the Masseys test site. Booster 13 is in Mega Bay 1, fully stacked and ready to fly, potentially on the sixth test flight of Starship. Booster 14 is being stacked in Mega Bay 1 and is anticipated to fly on the seventh test flight with Ship 32.

SpaceX has ambitious plans for nine Starship flights this year, as revealed by the FAA’s Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation. IFT-4 will be the second Starship flight of 2024, and the company has applied for a waiver from the FAA to exceed the currently allowed limit of five Starship flights per year from Boca Chica. The time between Starship launches has significantly decreased, from seven months between IFT-1 and IFT-2 to just under four months between IFT-2 and IFT-3. With IFT-4 targeted for May, there is a possibility of only a two-month gap between IFT-3 and IFT-4.

Considering the proposed cadence of one Starship launch every two months, the fifth Starship flight in 2024, potentially IFT-7, might take place in November. However, this would require further improvements in processing, along with the FAA waiver to achieve the goal of nine Starship flights this year.

Apart from spacecraft preparations, infrastructure upgrades at Starbase are also underway. Starbase has transformed from a small site with makeshift production tents to an important facility for SpaceX. Construction work has begun on a giant factory known as the “Starfactory,” which has already commenced production of Starship elements. Other upgrades at Starbase include the construction of an office building next to the Starfactory and a parking garage near the “rocket garden” where several ships are stored. The specific work groups that will utilize the new office building have yet to be determined.

Furthermore, assembly segments for a new launch tower are waiting at the Sanchez site, to be constructed in place of suborbital pad B. This tower will significantly change the facility’s skyline. Another upgrade in progress is at the Masseys site, which was previously a gun range purchased by SpaceX. Masseys is being equipped to handle static test firings of ships, and a flame trench is being installed to replace suborbital pad B as the primary engine testing area, potentially by year-end.

While preparations for future flights and infrastructure upgrades continue, SpaceX is also focused on upgrading and evolving the Starship itself. Version 2 of Starship is anticipated to debut later this year or early next year, featuring uprated engines, increased propellant capacity, and possibly modified fins. Version 3 of Starship is also in development, designed to carry approximately 200 tons to orbit in fully reusable mode. Version 3 will require upgraded Raptor engines and substantial height increase compared to earlier versions. Launch and testing infrastructure at Starbase and in Florida will need to be adapted to accommodate the enhanced capabilities of Version 3.

Overall, with IFT-4 just around the corner, SpaceX’s Starship program is progressing at a rapid pace. The company is continuously improving its spacecraft’s performance, infrastructure, and future versions, aiming to make life multiplanetary and push the boundaries of space exploration.