Close Menu
Stratnews GlobalStratnews Global
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • IITs: From Labs to Launchpads
    • Paris Airshow Highlights Aircraft Deals Amid Aviation Uncertainty
    • Hungary to Sell Key Defence Assets to 4iG as Election Pressure Mounts
    • Starlink Applies to Launch Satellite Service in Southwestern Switzerland
    • Voyager Technologies Soars on Market Debut, Reaches $3.8 Billion Valuation
    • Experts Say Education and AI Tech Key in Dengue Prevention at Asian Dengue Summit
    • Tesla Begins Robotaxi Rollout With Model Y in Austin
    • Stuck at Security: The Global Navigation Conundrum and Military Implications
    Stratnews GlobalStratnews Global
    Write for Us
    Friday, June 13
    • Space
    • Science
    • AI and Robotics
    • Industry News
    Stratnews GlobalStratnews Global
    Home » SpaceX Prepares for Fourth Starship Test Flight with Successful Fueling Test

    SpaceX Prepares for Fourth Starship Test Flight with Successful Fueling Test

    Kanika SharmaBy Kanika SharmaMay 21, 2024Updated:May 21, 2024 Industry News No Comments3 Mins Read
    Starship

    SpaceX has successfully completed a significant prelaunch test for its Starship rocket, marking a key milestone as it prepares for the vehicle’s fourth test flight.

    Launch rehearsal for Flight 4 complete pic.twitter.com/Gh8s7n4JIQ

    — SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 20, 2024

    Successful Wet Dress Rehearsal

    On May 20, 2024, SpaceX conducted a “wet dress rehearsal” at its Starbase site in South Texas. This involved filling both stages of the Starship rocket with supercold liquid oxygen and liquid methane. SpaceX announced the completion of this test via a post on X, sharing four photos of the procedure. “Launch rehearsal for Flight 4 complete,” SpaceX stated.

    The Starship Rocket: A Technical Marvel

    The Starship rocket consists of two stainless-steel stages designed to be fully reusable. The first stage, known as Super Heavy, is a massive booster, while the second stage, simply called Starship or “Ship,” is a 165-foot-tall (50 meters) spacecraft. When stacked, the vehicle stands about 400 feet (122 meters) tall, making it the tallest rocket ever built. It also holds the record for the most powerful launcher, with about 16.7 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, nearly twice the thrust of NASA’s Space Launch System moon rocket.

    Powerful Propulsion

    The Super Heavy booster is powered by 33 Raptor engines, while the Starship spacecraft is powered by six Raptors. These engines burn liquid oxygen and liquid methane, which SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has highlighted as propellants that can be sourced on Mars. This aligns with SpaceX’s vision of making humanity a multiplanetary species.

    Previous Test Flights

    Starship has undergone three test flights so far, in April 2023, November 2023, and March 14, 2024. The first flight was short-lived due to stage separation failure, leading to the vehicle’s intentional detonation four minutes after launch. The second flight achieved stage separation and lasted twice as long. The third flight was more successful, ending about 50 minutes after liftoff when the spacecraft broke apart upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.

    Goals for the Fourth Flight

    Elon Musk has stated that the primary objective for the upcoming fourth flight is to successfully navigate through maximum reentry heating. SpaceX aims to launch this flight in about two weeks, although the timing is contingent upon several factors, including regulatory approvals.

    Regulatory Approvals and Future Plans

    SpaceX has applied for a launch license modification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is still pending. Additionally, the FAA is overseeing an investigation into the events of Starship’s third flight, which could impact the timeline for the fourth launch.

     

    SpaceX continues to push forward with its ambitious goals for the Starship rocket, aiming to make significant advancements in space exploration and transportation. The successful wet dress rehearsal is a promising step towards the vehicle’s next test flight and its ultimate mission to help humanity settle the moon and Mars.

    Author

    • Kanika Sharma
      Kanika Sharma

      View all posts
    Featured
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit Telegram WhatsApp
    Kanika Sharma
    Kanika Sharma

      Keep Reading

      Paris Airshow Highlights Aircraft Deals Amid Aviation Uncertainty

      Hungary to Sell Key Defence Assets to 4iG as Election Pressure Mounts

      Starlink Applies to Launch Satellite Service in Southwestern Switzerland

      Voyager Technologies Soars on Market Debut, Reaches $3.8 Billion Valuation

      Experts Say Education and AI Tech Key in Dengue Prevention at Asian Dengue Summit

      Tesla Begins Robotaxi Rollout With Model Y in Austin

      Add A Comment
      Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

      Latest Posts

      IITs: From Labs to Launchpads

      June 12, 2025

      Paris Airshow Highlights Aircraft Deals Amid Aviation Uncertainty

      June 12, 2025

      Hungary to Sell Key Defence Assets to 4iG as Election Pressure Mounts

      June 12, 2025

      Starlink Applies to Launch Satellite Service in Southwestern Switzerland

      June 12, 2025

      Voyager Technologies Soars on Market Debut, Reaches $3.8 Billion Valuation

      June 12, 2025

      Experts Say Education and AI Tech Key in Dengue Prevention at Asian Dengue Summit

      June 12, 2025

      Tesla Begins Robotaxi Rollout With Model Y in Austin

      June 11, 2025

      Stuck at Security: The Global Navigation Conundrum and Military Implications

      June 11, 2025

      BAE Systems and Hanwha Partner on Advanced Satellite System for Global ISR

      June 11, 2025

      World Bank Slashes Economic Forecasts as Tariff Uncertainty Grows

      June 11, 2025

      Subscribe to News

      Get the latest sports news from NewsSite about world, sports and politics.

      • Astronomical Events
      • Space Missions
      • Industry News
      • Science
      StratNewsGlobal Tech
      Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
      © 2025 StratNews Global, A unit of BharatShakti Communications LLP
      • About Us
      • Contributors
      • Copyright
      • Contact
      • Write for Us

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.