Starship Flight Test 10 Recap

Starship flight test 10 featured booster B17 version 2 and ship 37 version 2. Key observations:

• One booster engine failed and did not restart. @StarshipCobson noted a recurring issue at the same engine position from flights 4 and 8. Source
• A grid fin locked up during booster reentry.
• An explosion occurred in the skirt section, possibly a vent line, though it appeared unusually energetic. Past flights had oxygen vents in these locations.
• Starlink simulator deployment succeeded, though one dummy contacted the door upon release. Previous attempts faced door issues.
• Zero-gravity engine relight worked, a key step for orbital capability. Current flights use a suborbital trajectory for safety.
• Rear flaps were damaged by heat and disintegrated, possibly during launch or reentry. Forward fins performed well due to leeward repositioning, enabling precise landing near the camera buoy.
• Tempering colors appeared on the leeward side, where heat tiles were previously located.
• Flap surface material buckled.
• Higher booster reentry angle saved fuel and worked effectively.
• Only one V2 booster and Starship remain before transitioning to V3. V3 cannot use Pad 1, and Pad 2 is under construction, potentially delaying the first catch attempt.

Starship Program Timeline

Flight Trajectory Comparison

Booster Speed

Booster Altitude

• Booster V1 + Ship V1 (IFT-3 to IFT-6):
  • Average Speed @ MECO: 5,455 km/h
  • Average Altitude @ MECO: 66 km
• Booster V2 + Ship V2 (IFT-7 to IFT-10):
  • Average Speed @ MECO: 4,539 km/h
  • Average Altitude @ MECO: 60.8 km

MECO at 160 seconds from IFT-5 to IFT-10. Ship V2’s heavier design reduces speed and altitude.

Starship Specifications

Source: SpaceX Starship Overview

Remaining Milestones for Starship

• Launch: ✅
• Stage separation: ✅
• Orbit: Almost (reached orbital velocity but slightly below orbit for controlled reentry)
• Bellyflop: ✅
• Safe booster landing: ✅
• Booster reuse: ✅
• Reentry without damage: ❌ (flap damage, heat tiles fell off)
• Safe ship landing: ❌
• Ship reuse: ❌
• In-orbit refueling: ❌
• Leaving low Earth orbit (LEO): ❌
• Human life support: ❌
• Moon/Mars return & landing: ❌
• Lift off from Moon/Mars: ❌
  Sources: SpaceX IFT-9 Mission Overview, Wikipedia Starship Flight Test 9

Falcon 9 Record

Booster 1067 launched for the 30th time, deploying 28 Starlink satellites. This marks the 523rd Falcon 9 launch overall.

Tim Dodd was lucky enough to get three guided tours around Starbase by Elon Musk:

Tour 2024:

• First Look Inside SpaceX's Starfactory w/ Elon Musk
• Join Elon Musk on a tour of Starship just before it launches! (w/ post launch interview)

Tour 2022:

• 2022 Elon Musk Explains Updates To Starship And Starbase!
• Go up SpaceX's Starship-catching robotic launch tower with Elon Musk!
• Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Merlin Engine!
• Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Raptor Engine!

Tour 2021:

• Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 1 // Summer 2021]
• Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 2 // Summer 2021]
• Starbase Launchpad Tour with Elon Musk [PART 3 // Summer 2021]

Further information

StarshipGazer.com: Useful Starship links
Background information about previous SpaceX launches: Wikipedia
FAA: SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
FAA: Licensed Launches

Starship OFT flight plan

Lex Fridman: Starship: The most powerful rocket ever made | Tim Dodd and Lex Fridman

SpaceX Starship Explosive Potential, and Big Bang Theory

Tim Dodd made a video contrasting Starship V1 and V2:
What's new with Flight 7's massively upgraded Starship?!?

Tim Dodd: How SpaceX Is Upgrading Raptor To Be The Ultimate Rocket Engine!

Vote for my witness: @blue-witness