SpaceX has managed to make history with the third Starship launch. It is true that it has not been impeccable. The booster failed to ignite the engines during splashdown and the ship was lost during the final phases of re-entry into the atmosphere. In addition, one of the three tests that had to be carried out in orbit was not completed properly. Still, several unique milestones in history have been achieved. And this, of course, has been possible thanks to the improvements that have been implemented in the ship after the first two attempts.
Both in April and November 2023 Departure from the Boca Chica spaceport was achieved. However, in April the separation of the two phases could not be completed and in November the ship exploded shortly after said separation. SpaceX engineers located the causes that led to both errors and implemented up to 17 improvements that have allowed Starship to go much further this time.
If everything continues in the same line, the fourth attempt should be the final one, in which the two phases of the rocket are recovered with the end of its reuse. There are probably still some more improvements to be made. But let's see for now which are the most important ones that have been made before this third launch.
Understanding Bugs to Make Starship Improvements
According to the research carried out by the youtuber specialized in this type of releases Scott Manley, previous failures must have occurred for excess fuel aboard the ship. This would cause a release of oxygen during the flight, which could cause the engines to catch fire and the subsequent explosion of the second phase.
This loss of oxygen is necessary so that the ship can release ballast as it ascends. However, one of the improvements made by SpaceX has been to perfect the system that facilitates that release, so that it is not excessive. Furthermore, it has reinforced the Fire extinguishing system automatic.
The tiles of the heat shield, since they have fallen in each reentry simulation carried out previously. Unfortunately, on this occasion, although no statements have yet been made in this regard, it is possible that they have not remained in place either, since the Starship has been lost just as it passed through the atmosphere. Even so, she has passed through the first layers successfully, so she just needs to strengthen the shield a little more.
New tests in orbit
This third launch also included the purpose of carrying out in-orbit tests. Both the opening of the gate of the cargo bay as the fuel transfer from one tank to another have been successfully achieved. Both phenomena will be necessary to make the use of engines more efficient on long trips, such as those to the Moon and Mars. It should also have been achieved Reignite one of the Raptor engines. This is necessary to control the movement of the ship in the future and choose whether to move between orbits.
That third test could not have been, but it is most likely that it will be part of the improvements of the fourth release.
The incredible work of SpaceX's Starlink antennas
Another improvement of this fourth Starship test launch has been the placement of more Starlink antennas on board. This has allowed us to obtain much better images of the ship during flight. But something unexpected has also been achieved that has never been done in the history of space flights: live transmission of the ship's re-entry into the atmosphere.
In these situations, the normal thing is that the telemetry is lost, producing something known as blackout. The antennas do not survive the violent entry into the first layers of the Earth's atmosphere. But in this case, at least initially, they have continued to work. For this reason, we have been able to see unique images that have never been enjoyed before.
SpaceX has achieved planned and unexpected improvements. What may come with the fourth flight is possibly fascinating.